What is an Aficionado

OHRD · 10-22-2009, 10:16 AM

So, I've been a member of Cigar Asylum for only a couple months but I love the dialogue I get her, the encouragement from BOTL’s, and the wide variety of cigar related news and review. I’ve also been a member of another “CA” forum for close to two years. However, recently I’ve been blasted for some of the cigars I talk about, that they are not “up to aficionado” standards and was even suggested that I should stop talking about cigars until I work through my bad taste issues. When I mentioned that I desire to find value and work on a tight budget, it was suggested that I had it all wrong—I should smoke less often and smoke better stuff. Well, if I am currently smoking 5-8 cigars a month, averaging $5 or less a stick, should I reduce my smoking to twice a month so that I can smoke up to “Aficionado” standards?

Of course I am not deterred by the statements and I’ll keep smoking and talking about the value smokes I come across. But, this begs the question for me, what is an “Aficionado” and what does that mean for those of us on tight budgets that enjoy smoking more often rather than more expensive cigars? I agree that overtime my palette will develop and I will be more distinguished at what is good/bad, but I will never feel comfortable spending $15+ on a cigar that does not have some grand occasion connected to it, such as the birth of my second child.

Thoughts???

10-22-2009, 10:16 AM	#1
OHRD Garage w/ couch & ashtray Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Matt Posts: 1,377 Trading: (39)	What is an Aficionado So, I've been a member of Cigar Asylum for only a couple months but I love the dialogue I get her, the encouragement from BOTL’s, and the wide variety of cigar related news and review. I’ve also been a member of another “CA” forum for close to two years. However, recently I’ve been blasted for some of the cigars I talk about, that they are not “up to aficionado” standards and was even suggested that I should stop talking about cigars until I work through my bad taste issues. When I mentioned that I desire to find value and work on a tight budget, it was suggested that I had it all wrong—I should smoke less often and smoke better stuff. Well, if I am currently smoking 5-8 cigars a month, averaging $5 or less a stick, should I reduce my smoking to twice a month so that I can smoke up to “Aficionado” standards? Of course I am not deterred by the statements and I’ll keep smoking and talking about the value smokes I come across. But, this begs the question for me, what is an “Aficionado” and what does that mean for those of us on tight budgets that enjoy smoking more often rather than more expensive cigars? I agree that overtime my palette will develop and I will be more distinguished at what is good/bad, but I will never feel comfortable spending $15+ on a cigar that does not have some grand occasion connected to it, such as the birth of my second child. Thoughts??? __________________ Did I tell you my garage has a couch and an ashtray? My wife doesn't let me sleep or smoke inside.