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I am just wondering where or when I might get the idea I found a cigar considered to be better for smoking than fertilizer? Nothing too special, just worthy of an hour or so of time.

As a noob, I'd prefer to avoid having a few hundred sticks taking up space.....forever..... because I don't want to smoke them in a few months or a year

I bought a few bundles a couple years ago and went through probably 50 or 60 cigars. I really had no idea whether they were even worthy of compost for the garden. There are still a couple in the humi. I am sure there are a few here and there that could pass as dailies, but 10 cigars with a disposable lighter and free shipping? Not likely there's much there to build on. Also a few 5 packs, but have no recollection of what they were like.

I've read some postings without having to go too far back thanks a BOTL from an island in the Pacific who likes to dredge up some old threads. Honestly, some of the info is good, but you guys have a bit of a cryptic nature to a lot of your posts. I get it. Too much info on decent smokes that goes for low(ish) prices isn't really the best move for those who wish to keep a market that way.

So here's the noob, trying to sort through the encryption, fake hype and sarcasm. I gotta say, a lot of you guys do well protecting your turf.

OK, enough BS. Next post I'll try for discussion

Disclaimer:All IMO

I've had various LGCs and generally likes them, and Olivia does some good blends. Of your list, I wouldn't seek out any of the others at this point, though I haven't had the Black Bear or AAA to be fair.

Specifically I'd suggest some Tatuajes or La Fflor Dominicanas. Generally I'd suggest to focus more on whether or not the smoke is enjoyable. Flavor and profile preference will come in time. The while thing is highly suggestive, so find what works for you. You'll pick up plenty of suggestions as you go

Welcome to the asylum (which I'd also recommend minus the Insidious and Schizo). Hope you enjoy your stay. We don't focus on guarding info so much as we do heaping abuse

It would be a lot easier for people to give you suggestions if you just told us what you prefer...

Mild/medium/full
Wrapper/origin country preference
Price point/range
Size (if you care)

Agreed with all of this. I’ve been smoking for 20 odd years and never really paid too much attention to it. Things like Relative Humidity, aging, hell, even humidors, were not paid attention to. I smoked a lot of Macanudos (still do), Punch and Romeo Y Julietta.
Now I’m trying develop my palate , same as you. It’s tough. Some of this stuff I know I should like, I don’t. I still like a good Kuba Kuba for Gods sake! The thing that helps me is listening to some of these guys here ( and yeah, taking some abuse) and trying the samplers and 5 packs. Soon you’ll start picking out what you like and why.
Look if your gonna die doing this you might as well smoke what you like and what’s good. Finding the intersection of those two is the key.
Or not. I dunno. Just enjoy the process

Honestly, CBid has a great selection of 5 or 10 cigar samplers, I would start there.

Oliva
Caldwell
CAO
RyJ
Kristoff
AJ Fernandez
Southern Draw
Camacho
Perdomo

Add some random singles on to the order and you should be getting into your groove in no time.

Yep, all good suggestions. I would add La Aurora to the list. You can get 1495s, 107s, and other 5vers for a good price on here.

And stop bullchitting yourself!! Your going to buy a whole bunch of stuff. Lots and lots. And you're going to bleed money into cigars. Accept your fate. It's always unattractive to refuse to accept your fate.

Them caronas are something special. Just picking papa send me an address I will send you a box of smokes.

If on a scale of 1-10 a medium is 5, I am probably focusing on 3.5-7

The Cohiba Red has been a good starting point. So I thought I might try some other Cameroons. I have some either in the humi or on the way that I haven't tried yet Oliva Serie G, CAO anniversary, La Perla and pretty sure a Partagas sampler that has a Cameroon

Maduro corojo and criollo are probably of interest.

I bought a bunch of cigars in the last four weeks. In 5 or 10 packs I am looking for < $4/stick. That's for a good auction price, not just an everyday price. I bought an EP Carillo single (La Historia) that will sit for a while at around $7 and I bought the EP Carillo Trilogy sampler for $24. I am toying with picking up a few well regarded singles and would try a few at <$15. Again these would likely be set aside for a while while I am shuffling through yard 'gar territory and working on what I think I like.

I have been smoking mostly robusto sizes. I don't object to something up to a 6/60, but it seems like that would be a fair amount of added burn time? Is burn time directly proportional to size? I have completely ignored Churchills for that reason alone.

I used to spend 200 a week on smokes that was my limit. Now I might not buy any but then boooom I spend 500 on new stuff. I was looking back on one site that I buy alot from. I started rough math and hit 5000. I quit looking then and said dam I have a problem. Haha

Thank you Corey, That's very kind. Also thanks for pointing out the spelling. You know I had to go back and correct :)

The last few weeks I told myself I wasn't going to bid on anything past Monday but then I always seem to bid on something into the next week. Then since I'm going to get a shipment anyway I might as well check what else is there. Then I'm several hundred in and thinking don't bid past Monday. Don't bid past Monday. Now it's Tuesday and I have six winning bids. Well... maybe next week.

Haha! After paying shipping onthe first item I am pretty well obligated to order many more lots.

^ yes I bought some not terribly long ago I personally like the box pressed version. I don’t think all of them are box pressed but if I remember correctly the slimmest one is 54 ring. Box press kinda makes them feel a little better My opinion

In furthering a little on post #2 I will go on about what I thought about the 5 Vegas AAA. That was maybe one of the first smokes I thought about as I smoked it. I mean thought about trying to do more than pass the time blowing smoke rings. I do like to blow smoke rings.

The pre-lit draw was a little sweet and a little peppery. At least that was the flavor of the wrapper.
I lit with a sort of spicey peppery flavor for the first half dozen or so draws after which it settled down nicely into a fairly robust burn with plenty of smoke without heating up. The draw was firm but not tight. The flavor was pretty well rounded, but I can't break it down descriptively. I just haven't developed enough of a palate to describe it.

The burn continued and I enjoyed it. I guess I'd best describe that the flavor matured through the second third and became fuller. That's all I can say for now.

As I finished the last third I was catching a moderate buzz off the nicotine. Until now this was one of the fuller smokes I'd had.

I have another (bought two singles here at CB). I will be more involved in the next one as I work through just exactly what I am learning.

I mentioned in a previous post I had been buying a bunch every week for the past month. So I have about 300 or so sticks, mostly in 5s and 10s that I will be smoking. I am going to try and smoke 4 or 5 a week. I want to do them close enough together so as to have some recollections of the past smokes for comparo.

Anything I mention that you have smoked and would like to offer up a step above would be a great way to look up and start to separate the also-rans from the improved or exceptional.

Some others that will come along as I smoke them...Buffalo Trace, some AB Tempus Series, Robert Caldwell samples, Oliva "O" "G" "V (not Melanio)" "MB3" Gilberto, Bolivar, Partagas sampler, Monte Platinum, Comacho Corojo, La Aroma de Cuba and a bunch more......and of course still clicking and buying

when I first started smoking cigars regularly, I kept a notebook and tried to make notes on each new cigar I tried. I'm kinda lazy and that became too much work, so instead I wrote some descriptive words on the back of the cigar's band....over-all rating - (good, bad, ugly, exceptional); main flavors in the mouth; main flavors on the retrohale; mouthfeel (dry, creamy, oily, bitter, tar); construction/burn; ambient aroma...

used those to make (re)purchasing decisions and to determine the composition of those cigars and country of origin in order to buy similar ones...

then after a while, it became apparent that I favored some brands over others, as many of their offerings were consistently good: Fuente, Padron, My Father, Illusione, Tatuaje, La Flor Dominicana/Litto Gomez Diez, Crowned Heads, Liga Privada, Viaje, Warped, AJ Fernandez, DrewEstate, CLE, Eiroa...

Even with those go-to brands, it's best to sample their various offerings, like a fiver, instead of blindly buying a box.

There have been a few thousand views on this thread in less than a week. That seems strange there would be that many people checking up on the compost heap. That's way more than you guys who just hang around here. What kind of fetishists search "dog rocket'?

Well, to each their own.

I appreciate the help and suggestions as I engage in this. It won't stop me from making mistakes, but it will certainly keep me on the lookout for a better smoke. I believe the only way I'm going to make real headway is to smoke 'em if I got 'em. Well, I had to pick up a 50 liter tupperdor last week 'cause the postman keeps bringing more smokes and the 19 liter from the week before to take the overflow from the two 150 desktop humidors (c'mon definitely more like 100) couldn't manage the latest order. This Saturday will bring another box....I think I am covered for now .

So like I said, thanks for the ideas and suggestions. I am poking around other threads as well to see who's smoking and recommending what. My shipping week at CB ends on Wednesday so i was able to make a suggested buy with this week's order. Got a fiver of Tat Havana VI and a couple single LaAurora 107. Also another 90 or so mostly fivers and some multiple singles...Hoyo Excalibur, Hoyo La Amistad Gold, CAO Flathead V660, CAO Pilon, CAO L'Anniversaire Cameroon, Macanudo Inspirado Orange and several others

So I am sure some seasoned guys will just shake their heads and wonder why bother with some of the choices. I'll just say I'm working on a palate. I have to find out what **** tastes like. If I can't tel the difference myself, I might as well buy the $1 sticks. Actually, my buys range from $1.50 - $4 per stick.

As before, if you've smoked it and can offer a suggestion that improves upon it within fair budget constraints, I am anxious to hear

Today's smoke was a AB Prensado Gran Toro BP. Picked up 5 in a "Buddy's Big Baller" 15 pack with Cohiba Nicaragua and Monte Platinum for 32.50. Let's call it 2.50 a stick to my door

I took notes while I was smoking.

I still don't really know black pepper from white pepper in cigar taste, oh well
Bullet punch.
pre light wrapper taste very slightly sweet with a very slight white pepper
The light and first cold draws were tobacco, leather, white pepper and wood
first 1/3 i see the cigar holds a light well and burns very evenly
there is a mild background fruitiness but the initial flavors prevail
I noticed the smoke to be cool as I took my time with it. When smoking it too quickly the flavors were much less pronounced as the smoke became warmer and not as appealing
At the halfway point I ended up too slow and it was close to out. A little flame around the ash end of the wrapper and I found the maintenance to produce some added sweetness for a couple puffs
Getting into the last third I am mindful to let it rest a little between draws to keep the smoke on the cooler side. I am still rewarded with ample smoke
As I get to the nub I feel the nicotine has come on in the last third
It finishes with much of the initial wood, leather, tobacco, mild white pepper and a background very subtle candy sweetness like root beer

Cliff note version please........

That's like TLDR, right?

It was OK good.

That'll fix it.

Most guys who smoke good cigars don’t buy them here. There really aren’t that many quality smokes sold here. Most of what is sold is marketed by Cigars International which is the parent company of CigarBid.

Those cigars are mostly crappy second and third quality smokes with a recognizable band attached. Many of these “same” cigars will be of a different blend next year. Why, because CI owns the label they can band any craptastic cigar with said label.

Do yourself a favor and research the independent manufacturers such as Arturo Fuente, Don Pepin Garcia and others. There cigars tend to be top quality and are consistent from year to year.

Grab some don pepin originals here and a Caldwell sampler. That’s what I’d buy if I were shopping here right now those should be able to be had under 5$ a pop. I’d go 5.50 on a max bid per

Padron are also very consistent from year to year.

Just going by the "views" on the main Cigar Discussion page. 3386 counts as a "few" thousand. I didn't even have to take my shoes off to count that one.

Thanks Jake. I have picked a five sampler of the Caldwell with good hopes. Have the Pepin on the radar, but haven't made a buy. How about EP Carillo?

Well then there is hope for the 1.8%

See....i can do numbers

Four tee NINE!