Pipe Tobacco - Cigar Translators Wanted

[Meerly John]

Hello everyone. I have smoked a pipe for a year now, and while I am still a novice, I have been obsessed for the last year. I can say with confidence that I can keep up with, at least as an observer, any conversation posted here about the nuance of flavor and smoking experience of pipe tobacco.

On Friday I had my first real cigar, a Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro. It was so fantastic. After once cigar I now have a medically diagnosable problem with Cigarbid. That being said, I think I would struggle to describe the experience in the way I know I could with a pipe blend. I am at a loss as to what to look for moving forward other than the one cigar I know I like. I know that I simply need to experience more cigars, but I was hoping to expedite the process.

Please, anyone who feels like it, give me your spiel to a piper about what the deal is with cigars. How would you prime a piper who is looking to getting into cigars? Any and all explanations, anecdotes, and even constructive heckling are welcome.

I think this will help myself and anyone else looking at getting into cigars to develop some frame of reference to guide my/their initial purchases. Thank you!

 

[Streeper541]

I now have a medically diagnosable problem with Cigarbid

That's rich... Yeah, cigars can be a problem. It's almost cheaper to be an alcoholic. ?

 

[litup]

That's rich... Yeah, cigars can be a problem. It's almost cheaper to be an alcoholic. ?

Unless you choose to be a fancy alcoholic and only drink expensive wines and single malt Scotch.

 

[litup]

As a pipe smoker that only occasionally dabbles in cigar smoking, I've often wondered if there are any close approximations that can be drawn between the varieties of tobaccos used for pipes and those used as fillers/wrappers for cigars. For example, if I'm a Virginia/Perique smoker, are there specific wrappers I should look for in a cigar that will remind me of the Virginias? Is there a region I should look for that will impart that peppery flavor of Perique?

 

[TheIronMonkey]

As a starting point, if possible, my suggestion would be to go to a local tobacconist and talk to him or her about what you like in terms of pipe tobacco and get some suggestions and buy a sampling of different kinds of cigars with different wrappers and fillers.

 

[Jimmy_Jack]

First Id say stay clear of Rocky Patel. People will yell at me for this and its honestly me being a snob.

Talk to your tobacconist. Dont avoid maduro, it doesnt mean strong. Smoke slowly and enjoy. I found blends with peruvian tobacco to be enjoyable. Youre not going to find the same melange of flavor you do in pipe tobacco though. Totally different beasts.

 

[jvnshr]

Hello everyone. I have smoked a pipe for a year now, and while I am still a novice, I have been obsessed for the last year. I can say with confidence that I can keep up with, at least as an observer, any conversation posted here about the nuance of flavor and smoking experience of pipe tobacco.

On Friday I had my first real cigar, a Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro. It was so fantastic. After once cigar I now have a medically diagnosable problem with Cigarbid. That being said, I think I would struggle to describe the experience in the way I know I could with a pipe blend. I am at a loss as to what to look for moving forward other than the one cigar I know I like. I know that I simply need to experience more cigars, but I was hoping to expedite the process.

Please, anyone who feels like it, give me your spiel to a piper about what the deal is with cigars. How would you prime a piper who is looking to getting into cigars? Any and all explanations, anecdotes, and even constructive heckling are welcome.

I think this will help myself and anyone else looking at getting into cigars to develop some frame of reference to guide my/their initial purchases. Thank you!

Get a Tupperware, 1-2 packs of 65% Boveda, voila you have a tupperdor. Order some samplers and see what you like.

 

[HitchensDog]

I mostly smoke pipes these days, but in the Summer, I tend to smoke one or two cigars a week. The flavors I enjoy in pipe tobacco don't correspond to the flavors I enjoy in cigars. They're very different in my opinion. I would also agree with ordering a cigar sampler to zero in your preference. Try different regions, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, etc. They all have their own characteristics.

 

[briarbuck]

Agree with the above poster. I smoke more by region than brand. Nicaragua, Dominican and Cuba are my go to's.

 

[pantsBoots]

Hello everyone. I have smoked a pipe for a year now, and while I am still a novice, I have been obsessed for the last year. I can say with confidence that I can keep up with, at least as an observer, any conversation posted here about the nuance of flavor and smoking experience of pipe tobacco.

On Friday I had my first real cigar, a Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro. It was so fantastic. After once cigar I now have a medically diagnosable problem with Cigarbid. That being said, I think I would struggle to describe the experience in the way I know I could with a pipe blend. I am at a loss as to what to look for moving forward other than the one cigar I know I like. I know that I simply need to experience more cigars, but I was hoping to expedite the process.

Please, anyone who feels like it, give me your spiel to a piper about what the deal is with cigars. How would you prime a piper who is looking to getting into cigars? Any and all explanations, anecdotes, and even constructive heckling are welcome.

I think this will help myself and anyone else looking at getting into cigars to develop some frame of reference to guide my/their initial purchases. Thank you!

Completely different - there is nothing that compares between the two, except for those gimmicky cigars that contain pipe tobacco (sort of like Black n Milds for the Instagram crowd, IMO).

I came to pipes 2 years ago after smoking cigars for 15 years. Your best bet is to sample things - and there is a lot out there - and see what grabs your goat. Once you start finding things you do (and don't) like, post a thread in the cigar room sharing your discoveries and some of us would be more than happy to offer recommendations.

Glad to hear you liked that Rocky Patel. I have never quite cottoned to any of the Rocky Patel offerings, but they must be liked by someone because they're still being made.

 

[DanWil84]

I come from cigars which I still enjoy from time to time. The suggestion of Javan buying a Tupperware box with a airtight seal and some bovedas is the best, I've never bothered to buy a wooden humidor.

Don't try to get the same in a cigar that you get from pipe tobacco, for me completely different animals. You might say a Maduro or Oscuro wrapper is like a chocolaty / espresso tasting burley, but all other comparisons are out. If you want a guesstimate on what the cigar will offer you check on the country of origin of the tobacco. Don't let the rolling factory fool you, they buy tobacco from around the globe. There is also a difference in blender and factory, a lot of blenders and brands don't have their own rolling factory but have them 3rd party rolled. For a good news source and reviews I like Halfwheel.com a lot.

Just have a lot of fun buying and smoking, enjoy the ride and take your time.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Yes, cigars and pipes are different animals, but, there are cigars that will give floral, grassy, spicy notes, etc., so there will be some correlation as a starting point using what they enjoy in pipe tobacco.

 

[solideogloria86]

Smoke a Padron 1964 Maduro. That's the benchmark for an incredible cigar. Then go back to smoking pipes, because it's cheaper and just as good. ?

 

[Streeper541]

Unless you choose to be a fancy alcoholic and only drink expensive wines and single malt Scotch.

I was not a fancy one, just a passably functional one. ?

 

[Jimmy_Jack]

I’ll save you some trouble and time. Most new world non Cuban cigars are not very good. There are exceptions.

Non Cubans
Padron
Tatuaje Cigars
Warped Cugars
Bespoke Cigars aka Casdagli Cigars
Illusione Cigars

Cubans
H Upmann
Vegas Robaina
Bolivar
Montecristo

Seek those out. You’ll taste the best of what the cigar world has to offer.

 

[cshubhra]

I don’t think a correlation can be made between cigar and pipe other than the fact they are both tobacco. To me the experiences are different and both enjoyable

1. I echo getting a sampler. I would also suggest an Oliva sampler. The best value there is right now. I recommend Oliva Serie V Melanio
2. Padron limited editions (I like 1926 the most) will give excellent experience if you want to go premium.
3. My Father 1922 Le Bijou and La Aroma De Cuba are my favorite from the My Father portfolio. I like construction to be flawless and My Father has not stayed as per my standards of construction
4. I mostly mentioned Nicaraguan- but I smoked through a box of Ashton Dominicans and they were all excellent
5. If you are looking for milder smoke - Connecticut Shade Wrappers are way to go
6. I have mostly been satisfied with Rocky Patel. If you like them, they will offer you good smoke although Oliva might be better
7. If you want to go the boutique route - My Favorite boutique cigars come from Caldwell Cigars
8. Be careful- Many boutique cigars including some popular ones which I would not name suffer from construction issues
9. AJ Fernandez does excellent work in my opinion
10. Not wildly popular but I like 601 cigars (Blue and Green) from Espinosa - but they pack a Nicotine punch

 

[cigrmaster]

When I was smoking cigars and pipes, it became very clear that pipes tasted so much better and I dumped cigars for pipes. The blend that did it for me was Escudo. Once I smoked that a number of times, I was done with cigars. When I costed out pipes versus cigars, the difference was night and day. I built a 20 plus year cellar for around 18 grand. I was spending 25 grand a year on cigars so it was a no brainer.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I’ll save you some trouble and time. Most new world non Cuban cigars are not very good. There are exceptions.

Non Cubans
Padron
Tatuaje Cigars
Warped Cugars
Bespoke Cigars aka Casdagli Cigars
Illusione Cigars

Cubans
H Upmann
Vegas Robaina
Bolivar
Montecristo

Seek those out. You’ll taste the best of what the cigar world has to offer.

That's a pretty decent list.

 

[anotherbob]

join a cigar forum. You'll have to earn it like you did with the pipes.

 

[Meerly John]

Good to know I should categorize by country of origin and wrapper. I'm going to keep a cigar journal.

I've got several of your brand recommendations on my list and I'll be hunting samplers this weekend. Boveda packs are on their way, and I'm gonna get a sturdy sealed tupperware.

I will say, Padron must be very good. I looked them up on cigarbid and the only thing they had in stock was an ashtray. Did a little more research, and I won't be buying more than one at a time anytime soon $?. I'm going to see if my local tobacconist has one on Saturday.

Thank you all very much, lots of good advice. Now to dig into the cigar section.