4dot the Apostate

[4dotsasieni]

Well, I suspect that this will have me branded as a traitor to the cause, but I have, at least for the moment, switched from pipes to cigars.
It all started at a friend's backyard barbecue, when he lighted a cigar, and the aroma of that stick hit me like a ton of bricks, bringing back a flood of memories from the short time ages ago when I became a cigar smoker -- a time when cigars were a lot cheaper and not as much in vogue as they are today, and I could afford to buy by the box.
So I dug out my old humidor, ordered a couple of sample packs online, and I'm now happily enjoying a voyage of discovery through various makers' offerings - many of them brands that didn't even exist when I last smoked these things.
I must say that cigars are a lot easier to smoke than pipe tobacco - no tamping, no relights, no cleaning afterwards. But whether I stay on this path remains to be seen. I still haven't found that one "perfect cigar" that satisfies as much as a bowl of pipe tobacco. Stay tuned for further developments.

 

[andrew]

Hey cigars are great, but you still haven't found that cigar that satisfies you as much as the pipe. What cigars are you smoking that you like? I love a good cigar but it's too time consuming for a daily thing.

 

[cortezattic]

Maybe it's just a summer weather phenomenon. But like you said, cigars don't have the pipe's PITA factor.

 

[papipeguy]

In addition to my pipes I smoke a box a week of Camacho Toros. Pipes and cigars can peacefully coexist.

 

[cobguy]

Welcome back to the "Stogie Side"
I still enjoy my cigars quite a bit and work them in when time permits.
What types are you tending to enjoy most?

 

[4dotsasieni]

So far, my favorite is a brand I'd never heard of before, a "Garo," apparently a small operation started by a chiropractor in 1995. The "Maduro Especial" is especially tasty.

 

[andrew]

http://joyacigars.com/about/ Try one of these 4dot. They're the official cigars of the white house.

 

[cobguy]

That Garo is a nice looking stick!
In the same price range are Bahia Maduro and Sancho Panza Double Maduro.
The Sancho Panza Double Maduro is a favorite of mine.

There are always some minor construction issues but the taste to price ratio is worth it.

 

[agnosticpipe]

It seems to me the obvious choice would be to get a little old cigar smoking pipe like the little BBB I recently posted about, and stick your cigars in it to smoke. Hey you'll get the best of both worlds.

Check with misterlowercase, he seems to have a good handle on these pipes. (or just use a small bowled pipe you already have, just don't ghost one of your Sasienis)

I don't think you're an apostate though. Baccy fun comes in many forms, and I still enjoy a nice cigar from time to time. Bolivar Cofradia is one of my faves. I get them form JR Cigars. (I'm not associated with them in anyway)

No matter what you do, have a fun enjoyable time! :lol:

 

[conlejm]

This may be counterproductive, but C&D's Habana Daydream and Billy Budd both have a fair amount of cigar leaf in their recipe, and they also sell chopped cigar leaf. But ... probably no substitute for a nice cigar. I smoke cigars when I do yard work.

 

[settersbrace]

I smoke them both and gave up a long time ago to try to compare apples to oranges.

I can say that as a pipe smoker and cigar smoker, when you cross over between the two the flavors seem to intensify. In other words if I break from the pipe to smoke a Padron Aniversery, I can really enjoy it because my taste buds are getting a refreshing break from the norm of pipe smoke. Then when going back to the pipe, my old rotation tastes fresh and new again. No shame in enjoying both, in fact I approve this message!

 

[bigboi]

I also get a hankering for a nice cigar. Right now Habana Daydream fulfills this craving for me since my wife won't let me go out and buy cigars due to the price

 

[mrjerke]

Do yourself a favor and smoke a Herrera Esteli. They're superb.

 

[ravkesef]

Cigars are great in hot, humid weather, but if you haven't found one that satisfies as much as a pipe, well, ...there's your answer.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

I love my cigars, but as of late I've preferred my pipes. Just like pipe tobacco there are so many great sticks out there to try. I've tried over 300 different cigars and I haven't even made a dent in the variety that's on the market today.
4dot - me and a few of my friends from the Cigar Geeks web forum are getting together this coming weekend in Olympia, WA. This will be our 4th year for getting together for the weekend. We hang out and eat good food, take in a Tacoma Rainers baseball game, make a trip to Smokey Joe's Cigar Lounge, (where the Seattle Pipe Club meets) and just enjoy a ton of great cigars all weekend. If I recall you are relatively close to where we will be. If you really want to explore the world of cigars, stop by for a visit and smoke a few with us.

 

[philobeddoe]

I too, keep a small humidor full of cigars for the times when I just want a change of pace or I'm craving a tobacco flavor I can't find in my pipes. I prefer lighter cigars and I especially like the Macanudo Cafe series. With my pipe tobacco I like lots of Latakia and plenty of Orientals or heavier nic Burley flakes or full flavored Virginia flake. But with cigars I seem to prefer the lighter Conneticut wrapped sticks. Most of the Maduro's I have tried have tasted....a little too barnyardy for my tastes. I am still trying more though.

 

[fadingdaylight]

Nothing wrong with switching it up a bit. I am a fan of both as well. I just recently started discovering all the wonderous varieties of cigars out there. My budget limits my cigar purchases though, pipe tobacco is far more affordable.
Try a Diesel - Unholy Cocktail. The Arturo Fuente Hemmingway is another top notch cigar in my book. Both pack a ton of smooth, creamy flavor.

 

[misterlowercase]

It seems to me the obvious choice would be to get a little old cigar smoking pipe like the little BBB I recently posted about, and stick your cigars in it to smoke. Hey you'll get the best of both worlds.

That's a great idea!
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/restoration-questions-re-odd-bbb-pipe-pics

Cigars are great in hot, humid weather, but if you haven't found one that satisfies as much as a pipe, well, ...there's your answer.

I agree.

I can say that as a pipe smoker and cigar smoker, when you cross over between the two the flavors seem to intensify. In other words if I break from the pipe to smoke a Padron Aniversery, I can really enjoy it because my taste buds are getting a refreshing break from the norm of pipe smoke. Then when going back to the pipe, my old rotation tastes fresh and new again. No shame in enjoying both, in fact I approve this message!

Totally true --- I've experienced the same thing with the palate shift!

 

[allan]

BLASPHEMY!!
Well, maybe not
I still have a large humidor with really fine cigars (mostly robustos and Churchill sizes ) that I keep in good shape for my buddies when we do our monthly poker game and occasionally I'll try one out.
So much less details to handle - no filling tamping relighting preparing etc etc. Which is why I stopped smoking a pipe in the first place many years ago
There's room for both in your life