Hello all, just want to start this by saying I was a 2 pack a day smoker for 24 years up till 2 years ago. I've always had a cigar once in a while but didn't care what it was it was just something to smoke at a wedding,golf outing or whatever.
About 3 months ago I felt I could start smoking cigars without feeling the urge to start smoking.So with the advice of a friend i joined cigar bid.Well thanks...now I'm an addict. I started off with a Torano sample pack and loved them. I have also purchased a Gurkha sampler and a rocky Patel , which I haven't tried yet, and a Padron 1964 anniversary sampler.
The Gurkha beauty was good but hard to draw , believe it or not i didn't like the Padron at first but I can't stop thinking about when I'm gonna smoke one again, it was really really a good cigar. I also loved the Torano exodus 1959, i really enjoyed that cigar as well.But I said all that to ask this. Do you think because the torano's where the first "real" cigars i smoked that my palet just enjoys them. The Padrons just are a better cigar in everyday but I enjoyed the torano's much better then the Gurkhas. Just curious if anyone out there smokes a "comfort cigar" something that always treats the right doesn't break the bank and is good everytime. I Love the torano's just curious if you guys love the first cigar you smoked still.
Thanks Jim

Welcome Jim, from another Jim.
Smoke what you like.

The first cigar i smoked was a White Owl. Thought i was gonna hurl.
Welcome Jim.

I smoked through a lot of Pepins, Patels, CAOs when I started. The first cigar I ever smoked though, was a Camacho triple maddie. I loved it and have always kept 5-10 in the humi. Save the Padrons and high end stuff for special occasions and smoke through all the bargain cigars you can get. After time your palate will change and things you liked before you will no longer care far. Its a great hobbie and its easy to go from a 50 count humidor to a 500 count winedor that you can't fit another box in to save your life. Welcome to the madness and stick around a while. Lots of great and knowledgable botl here.

Thanks guys and I hear that I went from a 20 cigar humidor to a 100 in about a week and I can't bid anymore for lack of room...it is a fun a hobby and addicting.

Was there tobacco in that white owl?

Welcome! As a new smoked myself I really don't have answers to your questions other than go with what you like, just wanted to say hi and welcome to the forums!

Elliot

Orion.

Use the search function for coolidors and humidity beads.

And the Thonginator

he he good question. I think it had newspaper in it.
It was 29 years ago. MD 20/20 and a White Owl.
🌫

Aloha from Hawaii. 👍

Some excellent pieces of advice have already been mentioned and as far fetched as some of them may be (...e.g., buying a 500 ct. wineador...), they aren't. Keep reading the forum topics, you can learn a LOT from these guys.

As far as your question goes, my first "real" cigar was a Hemingway Signature at Casa Fuente so in my first few months of this hobby, that was my comfort stick. However, as time marched on, so did my palate. While I have a bunch of Hemingways in my coolerdor, they haven't been my first choice for a few months. I think I've gone from a mild / mild-med guy to more of a med / med-full one. I also started enjoying maduros a lot more so my buying habits have changed.

You really should smoke what you like but take a leap of faith once in a while and try something new, something different, otherwise you'll never broaden your horizons and truly enjoy the hobby.

Oh, and I can't believe this hasn't already been asked of you (...especially with JB already posting...) but:

Pancakes or waffles?

I agree that you should smoke what you like. We all have different palates. I'm not a Torano fan (at least not the ones I got from cbid) and the Gurkha Beauty is something this Gurkha lover would classify as mediocre. I liked the one padron that I have smoked, but can't justify more on a cost vs enjoyment basis.

^ buy some Delicias or 2000 maduros and bury them for a year or two.

absolutely. consistency and superb value.

Keep in mind that most of your better cigars smoke MUCH better after having "napped" for 12-18 months. Likewise with crappy cigars, age makes them crappier.

Gurkha is one of those love'em or hate'em brands. It's been said that quite of few of them are "CI" exclusive meaning they are Gurkha in name only. Buyer beware on those. If its not listed on the brand website, its more likely a mediocore stick capitalizing on the name.

On the other hand there are many Tatuaje limited runs and spho exclusives that are fine smokes.

Welcome to this crazy hobby.

PM Jaderose and ask him for a noob sampler.

😳 😳 😳 😳

Three points for Orion:
1) Run, and burn your CC now before you are introduced to better cigars.
2) Beware the Thonginator and the Noob/Vet Trade before you are introduced to better cigars. It's a trap I tell you!
3) Wear a thick skin. Take everything as a joke. And remember no one can count.

smoke a good one.

+1
Damnit, I wish i had gotten this advice 6 months ago.

+1 to that!