Premium cigars. Wasted on new smokers?

Hey Y'all,

I just recntly began smoking and have only enjoyed a handful of cigars, most recently a Padron Executive.
I've enjoyed cigars ranging from Oliva's, Gurkha's, Cao's, and the Padron. I was thinking of picking up a Patargas black series and possibly a Fuente Hemmingway, but I'm afraid such a fine smoke may be wasted on a new guy.

I say this on the heels of me smoking the Padron Executive, I feel like I may be missing something with these fine sticks. I savored several great flavor profiles but was hard to pick out anything distinct, anything that jumped off the page at me.

Is this normal for a new smoker? Have I ruined my palate somehow? Should I seek out a more plain cigar waiting to refine my palate, or will it come naturally?

[Col. Kurtz]

Buy 'em, smoke 'em and enjoy 'em.

IMO, you're not missing out on anything; maybe you can't describe it in the terms you see posted here, but I bet the flavors are there.

Worst thing to do is smoke bargain basement smokes that may turn you off to the hobby.

You'll appreciate them in time. Smoke on.

Edit to say: you enjoy them. A wise hog once said, smoke what you like and like what you smoke.

[RightAJ]

Smoke everything and anything when you start, just to get a feel for what is out there. After a while you will develope your palate and start to find your stogie nitche. There are plenty of great cigars... though alot of the pricy sticks are great, there are just as many everyday sticks that can be fantastic too!

aj

[markem]

smoke what you like

just don't buy large quantities since tastes change surprisingly fast when you first start out.

[OLS]

Originally Posted by markem

just don't buy large quantities since tastes change surprisingly fast when you first start out.

There is a lot of good advice here, but this might be the most important. Heed it well.

When I started smoking it was casual cause a few friends were into it. They would give me cheap and sometimes throw away sticks. Occasionally I would be given something better. I don't think I appreciated those sticks like I would now, BUT I knew I liked them, and they were much better than the normal fair I had thus far.

Now I really like cigars and have a list of sticks to try, and some I like to keep on hand. I guess I am saying that those "premium" cigars are what turned it from a "sure I'll go hang out and have a cigar" to a hobby.

Maybe the value isn't the same, but a good cigar is a good cigar.

They weren't all universally accepted "good" cigars either. A Hemingway and a Padron 4000 were what really pushed me over, but I had several punches that got me paying attention.

The more I try the more I learn about what a cigar can taste like, and more about what I like about them.


Thanks to you all that list has grown leaps and bounds...it'll be years before I can even get my hands on all the cigars on my list

[jimmyk26]

Like has been said above, a good cigar is never wasted on someone who likes cigars even if they are new to the hobby. Smoking good cigars right away is a good thing, you will develop experiences that will help define what you like.

Congrats on getting this far!

[RevSmoke]

Smoke them. Let your tastes develop.

Hey, if you smoke lousy cigars it might turn you off to smoking them all. Just because you cannot describe it doesn't mean you didn't enjoy it.

[kgraybill]

You might want to check out the Indian Tabac samplers. you can get a wide variety to help find what you are looking for without breaking the bank.

If that Padron exec. did not do it for you try the Padron Principe.

[bobarian]

When starting out, try as many different blends and brands as you can afford. Try to take notes or research the country of origin(s) of the tobacco. If you find you like Padron's, try some other Nicaraguan smokes to see if its the tobacco you like or just the particular blend. Try different sizes of the same cigar, often each size will have a slightly different profile. Lastly as others have already said, "Smoke what you like" and enjoy!

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by bobarian

When starting out, try as many different blends and brands as you can afford. Try to take notes or research the country of origin(s) of the tobacco. If you find you like Padron's, try some other Nicaraguan smokes to see if its the tobacco you like or just the particular blend. Try different sizes of the same cigar, often each size will have a slightly different profile. Lastly as others have already said, "Smoke what you like" and enjoy!

Bob is a wise man.

Originally Posted by bobarian

When starting out, try as many different blends and brands as you can afford. Try to take notes or research the country of origin(s) of the tobacco. If you find you like Padron's, try some other Nicaraguan smokes to see if its the tobacco you like or just the particular blend. Try different sizes of the same cigar, often each size will have a slightly different profile. Lastly as others have already said, "Smoke what you like" and enjoy!

Originally Posted by pnoon

Bob is a wise man.

Bob and Peter are wise old men.

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen.

I had been tossing around the idea of picking up a 5 pack or possibly a box. I'm going to hold off on that and grab a sampler and hopefully grab a humidor+sampler combo. Thanks for the great knowledge, gents.

I gotta agree with the 'try everything' philosophy. I've probably smoked 75+ different sticks in my 10 weeks so far, ranging from $0.80 cheapies to $30.00 Padron 40th Anniversary sticks, and I've barely scratched the surface of what all is available out there.

Best thing I've found is to keep a log of what you smoke. Try to rate each stick from 1 to 10, make notes on what flavors you can pick out, would you smoke it again, etc. After you finish your review, try to find some other reviews online by the 'pros' for the same cigars and see how yours compares. If my review is way off, and I like the cigar (not worth trying a cigar again if I didn't lke it the first time), I'll try another one to see if I can pick up on some of the flavors that the pros mention. Over the last few weeks I've really noticed my ability to match up with the 'pros' improving.

Another thing to keep in mind, just because a cigar is expensive doesn't automatically make it good. Conversely, a $2 cigar can be just as enjoyable as a $20 cigar. If you like it, then roll with it. If later you find your tastes shifting, then go with the flow.

It's actually kindof fun to go back and re-smoke some of the first cigars I tried to see if I still rate them the same way. A lot of times I find my perceptions have changed because the 'bar' for a good cigar keeps getting moved around with each new stick I try.

[bobarian]

On the money, Chris. Except dont give up on a smoke based on a single experience. Sometimes you get a bad stick. Revisiting is also a good idea, as your palate changes a smoke you may not have liked may appeal to your tastes in the future.

Originally Posted by bobarian

On the money, Chris. Except dont give up on a smoke based on a single experience. Sometimes you get a bad stick. Revisiting is also a good idea, as your palate changes a smoke you may not have liked may appeal to your tastes in the future.

Very true. The first CAO Brazilia I smoked was severely green. Halfway in it tasted like pure ammonia. I let another one age for a month and it was one of the better smokes I've had so far.

[Kreth]

Originally Posted by Dark Jester

Best thing I've found is to keep a log of what you smoke. Try to rate each stick from 1 to 10, make notes on what flavors you can pick out, would you smoke it again, etc. After you finish your review, try to find some other reviews online by the 'pros' for the same cigars and see how yours compares.

Except, I think ratings are overrated (no pun intended). I take notes on flavors, and basically just give each stick a thumbs up or thumbs down. Even when I post a review, I just note construction, burn, flavors, and summarize whether I liked it or not. Ratings are too subjective.
Posted via Mobile Device

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Dark Jester

I gotta agree with the 'try everything' philosophy. I've probably smoked 75+ different sticks in my 10 weeks so far, ranging from $0.80 cheapies to $30.00 Padron 40th Anniversary sticks, and I've barely scratched the surface of what all is available out there.

Wait a sec...

You've only been smoking cigars for 10 weeks and you're already planning a on a 20 cubic foot-ish freezerdoor?

Holy ****. I think you're the first new guy who has ever listened when we say "that won't be big enough, get a larger humidor/coolerdor".

Originally Posted by T.G

Wait a sec...

You've only been smoking cigars for 10 weeks and you're already planning a on a 20 cubic foot-ish freezerdoor?

Holy ****. I think you're the first new guy who has ever listened when we say "that won't be big enough, get a larger humidor/coolerdor".

Yeah buddy. Like I said in the Freezidor thread, I was gonna just build a cabinet, but it takes a lot of time and money that I'd rather spend on more cigars. And I don't really want to fill a vinotemp in 6 months and need another one. I'll just plan ahead and go big. i should be set on space for a year or two unless my wife lets me spend even more...

Originally Posted by Dark Jester

Yeah buddy. Like I said in the Freezidor thread, I was gonna just build a cabinet, but it takes a lot of time and money that I'd rather spend on more cigars. And I don't really want to fill a vinotemp in 6 months and need another one. I'll just plan ahead and go big. i should be set on space for a year or two unless my wife lets me spend even more...

I do believe the feeling I have right could be jealousy, maybe even green with envy. Here's to ya, partner.
(I'd post a thumbs up smiley here, its a no-go on my Blackberry)