Getting into Cigars

[MortarMessiah]

I enjoy pipe tobacco and it's become more than a hobby of mine it's become part of routine and is something I look forward to everyday. I know a lot of cigar smokers feel this way about cigars. I been holding off on getting into cigars because Im already buying a lot of pipe tobacco. But I only smoke a pipe at home, at work I smoke cigarettes. Id like to stop smoking cigarettes and switch to cigars but I really don't know where to start. I want smaller cigars, something easy to smoke at work. Good tobacco cigars that aren't cheap like gas station cigars but also won't break my bank

 

[The Libertine]

Bandidos are great. Comes in a variety of flavors. $79.99 for 120 of them.

 

[pantsBoots]

Just like with pipe tobacco, you'll have to buy singles or maybe a five pack to decide what you like. See what people post in the what are you smoking threads and notice what comes up often - not a bad place to start. Pay attention to which country's cigars you favor - for that reason, I'd recommend puros to begin with.

I wouldn't follow the above advice at first - 120 cigars is a lot if you don't end up liking them.

Personally, you can't go wrong with Cubans, Fuentes and Padrons. Davidoff is good if you've got the funds. Aladino has changed a lot of peoples' minds regarding Honduran tobacco, especially mine. Illusione and Tatuaje are also good starting points.

I'd avoid expensive, premium cigars until you know you like them.

If you find some you like, post up here and people are generally happy to recommend further brands. There's a lot out there. Happy hunting!

 

[Sigmund]

Or just stick to the pipe and buy a couple of small bowl pipes

If you can be happy with cheaper cigars then some small ones would do the trick. I just know cigars can get real expensive, real fast. Dumping cigarettes is always a good thing IMHO.

 

[jttnk]

There are plenty of sampler packs of cigars in smaller sizes, I’d go that route to find what you like. Proper storage is critical for enjoying them. Tupperware type container and Boveda humidity pack is all you really need to get started.

If you can give some details on flavors you like recommendations can be narrowed; Spicy, peppery, smokey, woody, nutty, chocolate, sweet, etc…
Also, strength, will play a role. Do you like strong tobacco or lighter tobacco?

It’s a fun journey, and this from a guy who hated cigars until I understood pipes and quit inhaling cigs. (But, honestly, still has one or two when the opportunity arises, just don’t buy them or keep them around!)

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Cigarpage.com

Personally, I'd stay away from their house brand stuff. They usually have good variety packs, though.

 

[Pooh-Bah]

Toscanos hardly even count as cigars, because they aren't what one pictures from the word "cigar" in form or flavor, but they may be up your alley. They can be smoked from either end (and, in fact, it's not uncommon to cut one in half to smoke later or share with a friend immediately).

Little stick of Dark-Fired, peppery smokey smoke, and unlit it smells like a fresh black plastic floor mat.

 

[JoeW]

Small cigars are often different from the larger versions of the same brand, but still good, in addition to cheaper and quicker. You can get a sampler of small cigars at cigarplace.biz: 20 different minis for $49.99 (Little Cigars Sampler - Cigarillo Best Prices CigarPlace.com - https://www.cigarplace.biz/mym-little-cigars.html). I'm still working through the sampler myself: it's a decent selection.

For small cigars, I usually lean toward the Drew Estates coronets: they're around $2.25 each in tins of 10, the quality is good enough for me, and I can actually buy them locally. I prefer the Undercrown Shade, Maduro, and Liga 9s. Arturo Fuente Cubanitos are also good, but a little more expensive.

In most cases, larger versions of the same brands will be better in quality, so don't let minis turn you away from larger ones.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

You might like Black & Milds... Some people will say bad things about 'em on the forums, but I like them and I don't care. Haha

It fits the bill... Small cigar, made with pipe tobacco, for a quick break. You can let them go out and fire it back up later.

It will only cost you about 89 cents to know if they're actually garbage.

I have always suspected that at least a few of the Black & Mild naysayers have never tried one.

For me, a cigarette is the perfect way to smoke on a short break... I tried to find a replacement for years with no luck.

 

[dottlejockey]

I'll second bandidos. Have smoked these here and there for many years. About the best value i've found. If you want a shorter smoke, check out Hoyo De Monterrey Excalibur. These are excellent, too.

 

[brian64]

I'll second bandidos.

I'll third them. No better bargain for small cigars IMO...they're a hand-made version of Backwoods but less expensive and taste better.

 

[MortarMessiah]

Or just stick to the pipe and buy a couple of small bowl pipes

If you can be happy with cheaper cigars then some small ones would do the trick. I just know cigars can get real expensive, real fast. Dumping cigarettes is always a good thing IMHO.

Well I roll the pipe tobacco into cigarettes sometimes, and smoke them like a cigar. That seems to do the trick pretty good. But I get funny looks because it looks like a joint.

 

[prairiedruid]

4th for Bandidos

 

[prairiedruid]

Also Bandidos come in a 60 pack for $45 if you don't want 120 at first.

 

[rakovsky]

You might like Black & Milds... Some people will say bad things about 'em on the forums, but I like them and I don't care. Haha

It fits the bill... Small cigar, made with pipe tobacco, for a quick break. You can let them go out and fire it back up later.

It will only cost you about 89 cents to know if they're actually garbage.

I have always suspected that at least a few of the Black & Mild naysayers have never tried one.

I think I still have a 20 year old pack of black and milds. I smoked two of them from the pack last year and they were fine.
It's a fine brand. A little nice sweetness, no problems.
They are advertised as using pipe tobacco.

 

[Brendan]

Honestly... Macanudo Ascots in either Cafe or maduro, Arturo Fuente Cubanitos and Esquisitos and Aladino Santis (these are 6" long so you may need an hour or more to smoke in one sitting)

Otherwise, there are cigarillos in the 19-22 Ring gauge which is closer to cigarette size but I've only tried Cubans which you may not have access to. Although, I haven't had the non-Cuban Hoyo De Monterrey Excalibur minis, a fair few fellows here smoke them on the regular.

Have you any experience with cigars at all or are you starting completely from scratch?

 

[MortarMessiah]

I think I still have a 20 year old pack of black and milds. I smoked two of them from the pack last year and they were fine.
It's a fine brand. A little nice sweetness, no problems.
They are advertised as using pipe tobacco.

Well actually I do like Black & Milds and it's funny you mention them, because I have been smoking them lately at work. I'm just not crazy about Aromatics and flavored tobacco. I want a legit cigar with a good proper taste. I basically want a full size cigar but in a small package that's easier to smoke at work. I work in construction. I've tried some cheroots, and they were okay but the ones I got tasted funny. They were unlabeled next to the register at my local cigar store

 

[MortarMessiah]

Monterrey Excalibur minis, I've been hearing and reading about. I think I'm gonna try them. The Romeo and Juliet minis too.

 

[Pooh-Bah]

Another recommendation occurs to me:
Vincent Manil has a couple different sizes of little cigar made of his Belgian Burley. Iirc (and if I can properly describe what I recall), the stuff's a little floral, kinda like if I were to try imagining a fusion of Oriental and Cigar leaf.

https://www.smokingpipes.com/cigars/tabac-de-la-semois/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=429805

 

[MortarMessiah]

Another recommendation occurs to me:
Vincent Manil has a couple different sizes of little cigar made of his Belgian Burley. Iirc (and if I can properly describe what I recall), the stuff's a little floral, kinda like if I were to try imagining a fusion of Oriental and Cigar leaf.

https://www.smokingpipes.com/cigars/tabac-de-la-semois/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=429805

I been meaning to try the pipe tobacco. Last time I went to order , it was out of stock. But it's been on my list