I love cigars
 

TFP doesn't have a place for me to post about this. I envision a SMOKING FORUM in the Academy. Although I'm sure it would be dominated by conversations about marijuana.

I'm kidding about the Forum but I am an avid cigar smoker. I visit cigar boards regularly and have learned a lot in the past six years about the manufacture and enjoyment of cigars.

I could talk forever about the finer points of various cigars and which ones are my favorites and why. I won't bore the general populace but if anyone's interested let it be known here and we'll start a discussion.

I love cigars as well. Now that I'm thinking about it, I really need to restock my humidor.

I prefer a good medium bodied, full-flavored smoke that lasts 45-90 minutes or so. Nice and slow. Maybe a number 3. I like the Dominicans. Right now I have a case of Rocky Patels. Haven't opened them yet though. It's a collector's edition, numbered and signed.

Sometimes I like the small spicy numbers too.

I enjoy them alone, in intimate company and with good friends. I like to lounge around or stand up at a bar. Good conversation and accompanied by a brandy or single malt scotch. Haven't paired with wine yet.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
- Sigmund Freud

And sometimes it's a big brown dick with an uptight asshole sucking on the wet end.
- George Carlin

ive only ever had a handful to commemorate the birth of friends' baby boys. although good ol cubans tasted the best.

i dont think you guys can have any in your neck of the woods.

i quit smoking cigarets over three years ago. now i suck on these...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...oppocigars.jpg

...while golfing, mowing lawn, or just hanging out on the deck.

I don't recognize those, uncle phil. Is that a Thompson bundle perhaps?

I like a dark rich cigar. The best come from Nicaragua. The volcanic soil is excellent for fine tobacco. And everything being grown originated from Cuban seed. I think a quality puro from Nicaragua is better than the best Cuba has to offer right now.

Look around for a stick called Lempira Fuerte. It's a full flavored Nicaraguan that will keep your attention.

no, they're dominican, imported by my wholesaler in new port richey, florida. i buy equal amounts of churchills and coronas. they're relatively inexpensive and, every once in a while, i'll get one that tastes so good i want to eat it.

i've not really been impressed with thompsons. their sampler packages always tasted a little bit dry, and it's hell to get yourself off their call-list afterwards.

I have a client who sells cigars online out of his bedroom. One man operation doing over $100,000 in business every month. That's what I call a business.

There are many things to be had through alternative sources if ya know what I mean.

That is pretty impressive though I cannot imagine what his bedroom smells like. I hope he has a good fire system too. I have never smoked a cigar but I had been around numerous people who have, I have to say some of them smelled quite nice. Especially when compared to cigarette smoke.

I buy a lot of cigars online. There's a good chance I've bought cigars from your client, Hal. Can you say his business name or website?

I don't want to compromise him by saying how much business he does online. I'm not really supposed to release that info.

I have a pair of cuban cigars I bought a couple of years ago as souveniers on a trip there. If I rememer right, one's a romeo y julieta and the other is a corona.

They're just sitting in a drawer in their unopened little tin sleeves. Will they have degraded substantially by now or would only an aficianado notice the difference?

Ok, please allow me as a non-smoker (i HATE cigarette smoke, don't have an opinion of cigar smoke 'cause I haven't really been around it, and have never smoked a thing in my life...) to ask...

What is the appeal about smoking a cigar? I know a few friends who don't smoke cigarettes but love to smoke cigars, and I've always been puzzled by this. I've asked them and they can't really put it into words, and I've never really been satisfied by the explanations that they give... so I'd like to put it out there for y'all to enlighten me.

I'm a non-smoker. I absolutely hate the smell of cigarette smoke, and I'm loathe to think of the chemicals contained therein. However.... I have enjoyed a few cigars, and I wouldn't be opposed to doing so in the future.

Cigar smoke is much different from cigarette smoke....very much so. Cigarette smoke smells toxic....tinny, chemical...it smells like something you shouldn't be breathing in, and rightly so. Cigar smoke, however, has an rich, inviting smell, and pipe smoke has an even better smell. I don't know the real differences, but I'm sure those posting here will be able to give you the details.

I think enjoying cigar smoke requires a bit of refinement, just like drinking scotch or other whiskeys. You often can't just pick it up and enjoy it off the bat. You have to train your mind and senses to really enjoy the textures and nuances that are in a number of varieties between products.

thought the same thing when i read the title.

hope this works....

edit. can't seem to embed. (user error).

Honestly, the best way to know is to pull them out and take a look. If they had any parasites or bugs, they're probably ruined by now. If not, then they might be a bit dry, but if you put them in a humidor and let them sit for a week or two, they'll probably be okay.

Baraka, I hope you aren't implying that cigar smoke is healthier, there are studies to prove otherwise. As for me, screw it, I'll die anyway, I might as well enjoy myself. I think you're spot on though.

Oh, no, no. I'm pretty sure all smoke is pretty bad for you. It's smoke, after all. The thing about cigar smoke is you're supposed to taste it, not inhale it. But you are still exposed to carcinogens regardless.

yellowmac, I find smoking a cigar to be very relaxing. And a well rolled cigar made from fine tobacco is one of the last hedonistic pleasures I still allow myself. I often play poker online in the evening and I always smoke. The casinos don't allow cigars so it's a particular pleasure to enjoy one at home.

I've only ever had one cigar, and it was a shitty little 75p pencildick of rolled-up ash that was pre-cut at the end, that's how shit it was. I was wasted with my mate and as we were on a double shot of brandy I said we should have cigars with it as a joke, and the barman said they sold them.

Needless to say, they were awful.

I bought a couple of cigars today. I'm interested in trying them properly and I asked the chap in the tobacconist for advice on what to buy. I've got a Romeo y Julieta and a Santa Damiana. I'm excited.

Can you guys offer me any advice on the proper smoking technique?

Take your time. Don't rush the smoke or you may burn too 'hot' and ruin the cigar. Secondly, if you smoke too fast (many cigarette smokers do this), you will most likely get sick.

First, remove the band. Then light your cigar with a wooden match or quality lighter. As you light your cigar, turn it as you draw so that it burns evenly (like rotisserie). When inhaling, I like to 'zip' the smoke across my mouth before I exhale. Pause. Enjoy the smoke. Sometimes I inhale a bit through the nose after exhaling (sort of aftertaste). Put the cigar down (in an appropriate ashtray) sometimes. That helps prevent smoking too fast. Let the ash drop off naturally. If it goes out, don't worry, just relight it (it's ok if you do this within w couple of hours, otherwise, your cigar will go skunked , 'cold smoke', it's nasty). Depending on the size, a cigar should last anywhere from 30 minutes for a mini, to upwards of 3 hours + for the Churchill sized ones.

So relax, kick back, and enjoy your cigar, have some conversation, and swirl your brandy.

Post pics if you can!

I used to smoke the thin cigars called Clint's that had a vanilla taste and smell. Gave them up when everyone else started doing it.

Hey Guys,

Do you know or have been smoked Indonesian cigar? I am Indonesian cigar producers and would like to share and could be open trade with some nice guys/importers here.

Cheers,
Ferry

A cigar is as good as memories that you have when you smoked it.
~Raul Julia

I used to enjoy cigars years ago with a good friend. We would sit in this old hotel, smoke a cig and drink some very nice scotch.

I still enjoy scotch but gave up cigars because too many asshole posers found it trendy. Usually guys who wear sweaters tied around their necks, smoke a cigar like a joint and cough after a swig of the smoothest single malt.

Kinda like this guy

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9KqaGwLTV3...weater%2B2.jpg

Can't say I have been much of an avid cigar fan, I mainly smoke cigarettes or dip, I have had an Acid Kuba Deluxe once. It smelled very nice but the taste left something to be desired. I recently started using a pipe, which actually is much more difficult than one would think.

Some friends and I just put some money in and order about two hundred dollars worth of nice cigars. I bought a Gurkha, can't remember the type though, I will being smoking it sometime this weekend. I will be sure to tell ya all how it was.

Romeo and Juliets are one of my fav's
When it starts getting bitter nearing the end, dip the part you smoke in wine and it brings out even more flavours.
(note - not the end that's on FIRE)