I have a few questions maybe you guys could answer.

A good friend of mine turned me on to cigars a couple months ago. I've found some smokes that I really enjoy, completeley by accident. R&J reserve maduro, ONYX, Padron, Macanudo maduro, Ramone Allones and a few others.

I've read a lot of hype about certain manufactures, but what kills me is how many different versions each one has. For example: Romeo Y Julieta; reserve maduro, reserve real, aniversario, medallas de oro. What do all these different versions mean ? Are they like menthol, lights, ultra lights, 100's and kings ?

I smoked two A Fuente that burned horribly crooked, and didn't taste all that well. Then I smoked one that had me burning my fingers trying to get all I could. Is this because they were from a different year or a different reserve ? And what does reserve mean ?

Other than looking at the price, how do you know if a cigar is worth buying ?

I have a journal where I paste the bands and add my comments, however uneducated they may be. This seems to help remeber what I would or would'nt like to smoke again but is purchasing a cigar you have'nt smoke before a total guessing game, or is there some formula that can be applied to reduce the chance of getting a dud ?

Watch the posts, or search old ones. Pay attention to people who seem to have similar tastes to your own. It a reliable method for trying new smokes without sticking your neck out too far. Buy 5 packs or samplers when you want to take a chance. And still you will end up with some cigars you don't care for. In 6 months some of those will be decent smokes, others never will be. Give or trade the losers away.

Welcome....

Eternal questions! First off, pretty "mature" selections for a newbie. Hats off to your friend for starting you out on some good stuff instead of $1 sticks.

1) How do you tell the difference in the different lines from the same brand? EXPERIENCE. Meaning, you smoke them and/or you smoke enough to understand what reviewers are talking about when they rate construction, draw, flavor profile, etc. For instance, if you like the RyJ Reserve Maduros (good cigar!), you may or may not like the regular line. The Vintage line is much milder and smoother, but you might like the fuller tast of the maduro...perhaps the Anniversario will tickle your fancy. In general, they are different blends/wrappers/agings/etc.

2) As far as the guessing game when buying, hopefully you have a knowledgable local tobacconist who can make good suggestions based on what you know you like. Also, stay glued to these boards....WEALTH of wisdom and experience here. Also, do a search on these boards for some of the cigars you like or are curious about. Chances are, there have been comments posted before.

Best wishes!!!

By the way, since you seem to be starting off with the real deal cigars, perhaps you should try Bucanero...they have a few maduros....Clasico, Full Sail, Peg Leg.....very popular cigars. And you gotta get hold of some CAOs.

Pretty accurate observations there Baracuda. I haven't been smoking as long as some of the people here, but I have noticed that:

I.) It's a cigar jungle out there. Zillions of brands and styles, most of them overpriced and rough on the taste buds.

II.) High price doesn't always equate to a great cigar.

III.) Personal taste is highly subjective, one person's beloved is another person's yard cigar; even your own tastes will change, what seemed special in that special moment will grow stale, or even offensive.

I like your strategy about smoking it down till it burns your fingers. That's the best measure I've found yet of what defines a good cigar. Listen to your taste buds, not the hype. Oh yea, and forget your pride and go straight for the coolidor, it's inevitable anyway.

Hey Cuda,

I used to have a car named after you. Darned thing spat oil and rusted in the front quarterpanel above the wheels. But, I got chicks. I think...

Unless you have a price range, the world is wide open to you. In a year or 2, and many different sticks a few hundred bucks later, you'll know your favorites. What'll happen is you'll branch out and experiment with recommendations and always go back to a tried and true favorite that you'll want to have in the humidor all the time. I've been a BOTL for about 5 years now and this board has been a 30 hit a day habit for me since sometime last year. There are many cigar veterans here, and the auction section is too convenient. C-BID knew what they were doin'. Have fun, make deals, get to know the faithful by readin' the board, and by all means, enjoy yourself.

Hey guys,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Your advice and comments hvae been noted and will weigh in future purchases. After reading some of the posts I see how the forum can be helpful in reducing the chance of getting a dud. By the way, IT Super Fuerte, I'll be bidding on some when I see them.

Welcome cuda. it wasn't 1 month ago when I was in exactly your shoes. These guys here will help you out. Trust me! The way I found nice cigars was samplers. I wouldn't really recommend random samplers, as they are hit and miss. I'd suggest brand samplers, like a Gurka sampler. And if you like Ramon Allones, you'd like some of the Torano line also. Specifically the Exodus Silver seems to be rather similar. I'm a rather large Allones fan myself, and I've recently become a Torano fanboy. I'd highly recommend picking up a Torano sampler! I did and it's changed me.

Welcome, Cuda. What you haven't bumped into yet, but will, is the cigar that tastes great the first time you smoke it and is ho-hum the next time, and vice versa. Cherchez la cigar.

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Author: eleltea Date: 10/18/2004 10:58 AM

tastes great

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Less filling

Hey baracuda,

Welcome, to the madhouse. You have recieved some great advice, especially about getting the coolerdor ready. I might add, that when you find a cigar that others are raving about, and you don't care for, there is always the trade board. I also believe in keeping a few to age for awhile. It's amazing what a year does for fuller bodied smokes.

Later

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

P.S. mmmmmm Torano Signature Perfecto. mmmmmmm

Tried the Tarano signature, excellent

Got a coupl CAO's to try: Mx2 and Brazillia, still looking for the R&J Aniversria, the local shop doesn't carry 'em.

Thanks for the suggestions and looking forward to getting to Know you guys and doing some trades

ah, the Toraño Sig ... one of my favorite cigars

Welcome baracuda! May your coolador overflow and your humiditifiers never run dry!!

LOLOL

Neal

Welcome baracuda!

Torano Sig, CAO MX2 & Brazilia, 3 of my faves.

Tim

Newbie myself, and echoing the advice about reading the boards. I've traded with a few outstanding gentlemen and have gotten the chance to try some great smokes. There have been some smokes that have come highly recommended that I didn't like, and there have been cigars that I liked the first time around, but didn't care for the next one I lit. And I've developed a liking for a few "go to" smokes that I've found to be very reasonably priced, such as Puros Indios, Bacarrat, Don Tomas, among others.

After joining this forum, a single bad experience with a specific cigar or a manufacturer in general doesn't stop me from giving that particular smoke or manufacturer another try some other time. While first impressions count, people, but more especially, cigars, deserve a second chance.

I'd still like to try some Partagas, or Graycliffs or Davidoff, but they're way out of my price range, unless I could work a trade. But, I figure, if I keep up on the boards, someday I'll get the chance.

Happy Huffin'.

Russ

If you like the MX2 and the Brazillia, you must try the CAO Black. This one in my opinion is one of the best cigars out there. For the price it is the best. Just my opinion though. Try it and tell me. If you want I will send you one. Email me at [email protected] Jason

better yet post your email and I will email you.