Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? - Page 3

pnoon · 05-28-2013, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rennD

Mine were a mixture of online and offline (herfs and phone calls).

Pnoon got me into this, gave me a parachute (with holes) and kicked me of the cliff.

Mo The Man, SD Beerman, Goatlocker, Poker, markem, and Leo (not active on this forum) to name the others. Of course, there are many more over the years (sorry if I didn't list you).

Thanks to all! I will continue to learn from and appreciate your knowledge and experience.

Now that made me LOL

MichaeldeL · 06-06-2013, 03:14 AM

Most probably my dad and uncle. I remember how my uncle would come over on Saturdays and share a Toscano with my old man out on the porch. It was like a weekend ritual.

longknocker · 06-06-2013, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonumberone

For me, it was Dball, hands down.

Dball Started Me Down The Dark Slope & Shilala Down The NC!

bstarrs · 06-06-2013, 12:06 PM

I've really learned a lot from Rob Ayala and all the people on Friends of Habanos over the years. Rob does some of the best reviews IMO on youtube. I'm soaked up a lot of knowledge about Habanos from them.

As for NCs I lurked here for awhile before joining and I'm enjoying learning about the other side of cigars as I have been a solely CC smoker thus far. There's so many brands of NCs to learn about so having resources like this board really helps.

jaycarla · 06-09-2013, 03:34 PM

Easy one, Papajohn. Knows what I like better than I do. Understands cigars and what it is to enjoy a cigar.

maninblack · 06-09-2013, 07:50 PM

I blame Mac for my maduro addiction. Damn enabler.

Jbailey · 06-09-2013, 08:14 PM

Offline: My brother for the first push.

On/offline: Everyone I meet at my first herf "Mega Mob 1". They pretty much shoved me down the "slope".

icehog3 · 06-10-2013, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jbailey

On/offline: Everyone I meet at my first herf "Mega Mob 1". They pretty much shoved me down the "slope".

That puff-puff-pass was EPIC.

sevans105 · 06-10-2013, 01:00 AM

Offline-my buddy Ethan. Jerk just moved to Cali on me this last week. He was one of the few guys my age in this backwater town with a brain in head. Killed many many cigars and just a couple of bottles of bourbon, scotch, and whiskey. He never even bothered buying his own humidor. Just kept his stash in mine. Crud. Now I'm gonna have to find a new cigar buddy.

Online-Shilala has been a great influence and friend. Chingas, who doesn't stop here too much anymore, pushed me into the fantastic world of CC's with a couple of Team Death bombs. I still have a couple of those original CC's he sent me. Not sure I'll ever burn that Partagas.

Good thread. Good memories. That's what cigars are for me. A chance to spend an hour or two deepening friendships and making memories. Some of those friends are here.

Mr. Grimes · 06-10-2013, 10:20 PM

I have to say both online and offline bluegil (Andy S.) has been my biggest influence. If it weren't for him I wouldn't have gotten into cigars or joined CA. So if he reads this, thanks brother. He's a wealth of information and never tires of answering questions.

Zanaspus · 06-11-2013, 04:32 PM

Online is easy: Tom of Icehog fame. He needed some DPG blues, I sent them, he returned Cubans and promptly made my marriage slightly less smooth.

Offline: Just too many folks to pick one.

Smoother · 07-20-2025, 08:41 AM

My friend Stephen. He also got me into wine.

icehog3 · 07-20-2025, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zanaspus

Online is easy: Tom of Icehog fame. He needed some DPG blues, I sent them, he returned Cubans and promptly made my marriage slightly less smooth.

Offline: Just too many folks to pick one.

Hope it all smoothed out the last 12 years, Tony!

G G · 07-20-2025, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

Hope it all smoothed out the last 12 years, Tony!

Talk about a Blast From The Past!!!!! 12 years. woohoo.

BigDawg · 07-22-2025, 02:52 PM

In person, it would have to be a guy named Jerry Millick. He was an older guy who owned the Tinder Box franchises in Charlotte. He hired me, shortly out of high school, back in the mid/late 70s.

Not only did he give me basic beginners education into the world of hand made cigars, he told me that customer would not have faith in my advice if they didn't see me smoking. So, he told he wanted to see me smoking cigars during my workday and to encourage that told me that anything I smoked during my work hours was free.

Online would be a little tougher. My best idea would be that, in the late 90's, there was a small cigar shop that opened up along the route I took going back and forth to work. One of the guys was named Kevin. He introduced to a site (don't if I'm allowed to mention it). A lot of the guys on that site frequently completed box passes and I jumped in on them as much as possible. So while I can't say that Kevin gave me any specific knowledge, he pointed me in a direction where I was able to experience a lot of cigars, many of them with a lot of age on them, that I likely would never have had the opportunity to try.

Hope this wasn't too longwinded . . .

icehog3 · 07-23-2025, 07:29 AM

Not at all, Bill. And please feel free to mention the site, we're not catty 'round these parts.

Brian D. · 07-23-2025, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

Not at all, Bill. And please feel free to mention the site, we're not catty 'round these parts.

Well, Chainsaw is certainly catty.

BigDawg · 07-23-2025, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

Not at all, Bill. And please feel free to mention the site, we're not catty 'round these parts.

The site was called Herfers Paradise. I believe that it has been defunct for a couple of years now.

shark · 07-23-2025, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDawg

The site was called Herfers Paradise. I believe that it has been defunct for a couple of years now.

Herfer's Paradise still lives on, under a new location:

https://www.cgarbb.com/

https://www.cgarbb.com/register

shark · 07-23-2025, 03:16 PM

Kevin still posts there too

06-06-2013, 03:14 AM	#42
MichaeldeL Just in from the Storm Join Date: Aug 2012 First Name: Michael Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4 Trading: (0)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? Most probably my dad and uncle. I remember how my uncle would come over on Saturdays and share a Toscano with my old man out on the porch. It was like a weekend ritual.

06-06-2013, 12:06 PM	#44
bstarrs Still Watching My Back Join Date: May 2013 First Name: Braeden Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 223 Trading: (3)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? I've really learned a lot from Rob Ayala and all the people on Friends of Habanos over the years. Rob does some of the best reviews IMO on youtube. I'm soaked up a lot of knowledge about Habanos from them. As for NCs I lurked here for awhile before joining and I'm enjoying learning about the other side of cigars as I have been a solely CC smoker thus far. There's so many brands of NCs to learn about so having resources like this board really helps.

06-09-2013, 03:34 PM	#45
jaycarla Mossy Hoosier Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jay Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 828 Trading: (7)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? Easy one, Papajohn. Knows what I like better than I do. Understands cigars and what it is to enjoy a cigar. __________________ “I bet Eli doesn't even have one touchdown today, ... I'm the best Manning" -Peyton Manning

06-09-2013, 07:50 PM	#46
maninblack Will smoke for food Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Kevin Location: Where the hoot owls f$ck the chickens Posts: 10,637 Trading: (80)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? I blame Mac for my maduro addiction. Damn enabler. __________________ Proud member of the GMCGTPWHAFA

06-09-2013, 08:14 PM	#47
Jbailey Brewcifer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Madison, WI Posts: 5,218 Trading: (17)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? Offline: My brother for the first push. On/offline: Everyone I meet at my first herf "Mega Mob 1". They pretty much shoved me down the "slope". __________________ "Sent to spy on a Cuban talent show first stop- Havana au go-go." Field Marshall Douche Bag.

06-10-2013, 01:00 AM	#49
sevans105 Alpha Zombie Wolf "Sceve" Join Date: Jul 2010 First Name: Scott Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 1,786 Trading: (30)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? Offline-my buddy Ethan. Jerk just moved to Cali on me this last week. He was one of the few guys my age in this backwater town with a brain in head. Killed many many cigars and just a couple of bottles of bourbon, scotch, and whiskey. He never even bothered buying his own humidor. Just kept his stash in mine. Crud. Now I'm gonna have to find a new cigar buddy. Online-Shilala has been a great influence and friend. Chingas, who doesn't stop here too much anymore, pushed me into the fantastic world of CC's with a couple of Team Death bombs. I still have a couple of those original CC's he sent me. Not sure I'll ever burn that Partagas. Good thread. Good memories. That's what cigars are for me. A chance to spend an hour or two deepening friendships and making memories. Some of those friends are here. __________________

06-10-2013, 10:20 PM	#50
Mr. Grimes Just in from the Storm Join Date: Mar 2013 First Name: Cass Location: Enid, OK Posts: 24 Trading: (0)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? I have to say both online and offline bluegil (Andy S.) has been my biggest influence. If it weren't for him I wouldn't have gotten into cigars or joined CA. So if he reads this, thanks brother. He's a wealth of information and never tires of answering questions.

06-11-2013, 04:32 PM	#51
Zanaspus Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Aug 2009 First Name: Tony Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 492 Trading: (3)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? Online is easy: Tom of Icehog fame. He needed some DPG blues, I sent them, he returned Cubans and promptly made my marriage slightly less smooth. Offline: Just too many folks to pick one. __________________ If you're gonna be a lamb, you might as well be a sheep.

07-20-2025, 08:41 AM	#52
Smoother Just in from the Storm Join Date: Jul 2025 Posts: 9 Trading: (0)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? My friend Stephen. He also got me into wine.

07-22-2025, 02:52 PM	#55
BigDawg Just in from the Storm Join Date: Mar 2025 First Name: Bill Location: Oldest City in the US Posts: 29 Trading: (0)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? In person, it would have to be a guy named Jerry Millick. He was an older guy who owned the Tinder Box franchises in Charlotte. He hired me, shortly out of high school, back in the mid/late 70s. Not only did he give me basic beginners education into the world of hand made cigars, he told me that customer would not have faith in my advice if they didn't see me smoking. So, he told he wanted to see me smoking cigars during my workday and to encourage that told me that anything I smoked during my work hours was free. Online would be a little tougher. My best idea would be that, in the late 90's, there was a small cigar shop that opened up along the route I took going back and forth to work. One of the guys was named Kevin. He introduced to a site (don't if I'm allowed to mention it). A lot of the guys on that site frequently completed box passes and I jumped in on them as much as possible. So while I can't say that Kevin gave me any specific knowledge, he pointed me in a direction where I was able to experience a lot of cigars, many of them with a lot of age on them, that I likely would never have had the opportunity to try. Hope this wasn't too longwinded . . .

07-23-2025, 07:29 AM	#56
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 72,045 Trading: (60)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? Not at all, Bill. And please feel free to mention the site, we're not catty 'round these parts. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

07-23-2025, 03:16 PM	#60
shark Cigar Smokin' Patriot Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Ron Location: Michigan Posts: 3,640 Trading: (0)	Re: Who's been your biggest cigar influence on & offline? Kevin still posts there too __________________ Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds