1st Cigar in 3 Years - My thoughts

[ssjones]

I was a casual cigar smoker for many years before picking up the pipe. But, I haven't had a cigar in the past three years, after my first pipe smoke. My daughters boyfriend smokes both, so I gifted him cigars along with pipe tobacco for his birthday last month. My usual cigar smoke was a Henry Clay brand. Not a pretty cigar, but smoked well and for the price, I thought there were fine.
I stashed one Henry Clay in my neighbors humidor and smoked it this evening out on the porch with them. I was very much underwhelmed and I have no desire to try a cigar any time soon. The upside of course is they are a bit more convenient, well sort of. You do have to worry about tapping the ash and need to stick somewhat close to an ashtray. The pipe burned wonderfully, just like I remember. My biggest disappointment was the flavor. Well, there was none. Am I that used to heavy Latakia blends that a cigar leaf in comparison is so bland? The other negative was sticking a fat ringed cigar in my mouth versus my slim, primarily vulcanite stems. The draw just didn't feel comfortable after the easy draw of a pipe. It was like sucking spaghetti thru a straw. A big thumbs down in both areas versus the pipe. I won't be in any hurry to smoke another any time soon.

 

[javajunkie]

If you like bold latakia flavors, try some of the Tatuaje broadleaf cigars, or an Undercrown from Drew Estate. WORLDS of difference from that old-school Henry Clay.
FWIW, I was smoking bold and complex cigars, and Nightcap was what helped me finally learn pipe. I feel a lot of the newer Nicaraguan cigars have some communality with full, Lat forward pipe blends. But that is just me.

 

[oklansas]

The pipe burned wonderfully

Hehe, The pipe reigns supreme, even in your subconscious!

 

[ciderguy]

You may need a more robust cigar. I'd recommend a La Gloria Cubana Serie R, just smoke it in a comfortable chair as they can be a tad when it comes to the nicotine. The bad draw sounds like a construction problem with the cigar or an improper humidity level. One of the nice things about pipe smoking is that we can always repack if the draw is wrong.
Before taking up the pipe my regular cigar was one of the larger maduro Padróns. I found them to be a medium strong expression of earthiness, dark chocolate, and a mild spiciness. I can't really see them standing up to a heavy Latakia in depth of flavor.

 

[brewshooter]

A cigar to me is one of those rare occasion things. Maybe every three or four months I'll swing by the local shop that has a decent humidor and pick something up to smoke that night. I'm certainly not an aficionado, but I do find I enjoy the CAO Brazilias quite a bit.

 

[allan]

Tonight was poker night and all the guys smoke cigars as I did in the past
Since I have a large collection I just let them smoke mine
I enjoy sharing but really feel no need to indulge
I just quietly smoke my pipe

 

[papa]

IF, and when, Gurka Grand Reserve, cognac. Cigars were my choice for many years, however I find ANY pipe filled with any tobacco, much better.

 

[ssjones]

Thanks for the commments, perhaps I'll give it another shot with a different brand, if the circumstances are right. (right place/right time..)

 

[flippinbird87]

-Sorry about the tag I just added, I was trying to use the search and I put it in the wrong box. My bad lol. Maybe someone can remove it?-
~flippinbird87

 

[ciderguy]

flippin, this happens to me all the time!

 

[thesmokindragon]

Double or triple moduro (Comacho Triple Moduro) should do the trick,

mmm-mmm but watch out as the strength creeps up fast and a cigar/much

larger dose of Lady N
The Comacho Triple Moduro is one tasty stick....a good 1 hour

45 minute smoke at least...smoke slow and steady or it will

put you down ;-)

 

[ohin3]

Try a Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve. My preferred size is actually the lancero. Something about that long skinny oily black cigar that just makes my taste buds smile. Deep dark spicey cocoa and coffee flavours with a bit of earth and leather to anchor it.

 

[ssjones]

That Rocky Patel sounds interesting. But, at $8/stick, that is $2 less than a tin of MM965 which last a lot longer than one smoke. We'll see, I visit Cigars International a lot in PA, it looks like they carry that line. I'll save it in my tobacco notes phone doc.