Venturing into cigars (...as a side. I'll never abandon my pipes!)

[cobguy]

Be prepared to buy another, larger humidor relatively soon...CAD.

+11 !! :mrgreen:

My seasoning failed or something. It was a pain in the summer to keep it dry here in Michigan.

For very moist or dry climates (I'm in Arizona), the Tupper-Dore just can't be beat!
Here's the basic set-up:

 

[andrew]

http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/cigar-accessory-discussion/276966-kitty-litter-set-up.html
Use dry kitty litter (the silica kind) to lower the RH. Where I live I don't have to do anything in the summer and then in the winter I need to recharge it at least once a week.

 

[jkrug]

That's a real nice set up you have there. Been enjoying cigars more as of late myself and have been considering purchasing a humidor for myself. ::

 

[iamn8]

My all time favs include Cubans and non. There's few things as good as a MC#2, a Partagas sD no4, or Cohiba Esplendido, but Padrons Reserve lines and Fuetes OpusX come seriously close. One of my favorite memories is of smoking a Monticristo #2 while sitting in a stunningly beautiful tiny tobacco shop at the King David hotel in Jerusalem. I chatted for awhile with the owner and he is kind enough to ship to me when I ask. I would agree that there are non Cuban cigars that I'd consider a lateral move more than a step back, especially if you introduce age. A 5yr old Opus or a Padron Millinium are biblically good even the standard Padrons and Fuente lines are world class. Beyond those two brands I have little experience. Once I'd smoked their cigars, I just wasn't motivated to weed my way through the oh so very crowded Cigar world that exists today.
Enjoy your new kit!!! Cigars are wonderful!

 

[fearsclave]

Nice humidor. Cigars are my other major vice, but a very rare indulgence; I'd rather have a nice Cuban once or twice a month than less nice ones regularly. It's going to be really interesting to see what happens to Cubans once demand from the US market kicks in; I'm afraid that prices are going to skyrocket and quality decline to meet the increased demand...

 

[Chasing Embers]

Oliva's "V" series offers some very good maduros. Love to kick back late in the evening with a churchill and a glass of scotch.

 

[andrew]

This is the thing with cubans, yes they are usually amazing if aged and stored proper, but the price point is just really hard to justify. Once the embargo is lifted I have a feeling their going to be way more expensive then they are, or production will be ramped up so much quality control will take a huge hit. If you're smoking non-cubans, don't try and get a cuban tasting non-cuban, as that's where it becomes a lesser experience. When you're smoking cigars with leaf that's native to where they're from, it's a totally different experience and offers flavors you'll never find in a cuban. If I can get them direct from someone who's gone to cuba, then I'll grab them by the box, like a montecristo for me just takes the cake for any cigar hands down, but when you start venturing into stuff like Oliva series G, series O, JdN's they have a richness and body you'll never find in a cuban cigar, especially maduro's. Like where I live you can't get Oliva's or anything like that, it's basically JdN's, Macanudo, Davidoff, you just can't get alot of non-cuban cigars as the price point is still going to be about 15$ for a premium non-cuban, so most people will put out the extra 5$ to have that monte for their once in a while treat. I only have maybe 1-2 cigars a month, but I'm reaching for my non-cubans more than my cubans, it may be the fact I have alot more non-cubans and good suppliers to get more, and I paid roughly the same for my cubans as I got them direct from cuba, but it just takes a special occasion to light up a cigar you know is worth 20-25$ minimum when you have a whole humidor full of under 5$ non-cubans and I enjoy them a whole lot still.

 

[newfie]

Andy said:

I also love Nicaraugans and find they have a totally different taste profile which isn't trying to be cuban.

Agreed 100%, and that's coming from a Canadian who travels to Cuba often and therefore has easy and economical access. If I take a box of PSD4s as an example, the difference buying them in Canada (legally, from a B&M) and buying in Cuba pays for the all-inclusive vacation there.
I will also agree that Fuente makes some unbelievably good cigars, and some quite economical as well, like the King "B". Unfortunately, the bulls**t supply and demand games they (the Fuente lads) play with premiums to control prices prevent me from supporting them very much.

 

[mso489]

If I want a great cigar and don't want to break the bank about it, I prefer Dominicans. I think Cubans got pumped up because you couldn't get them in the U.S.

 

[andrew]

I think Cubans got pumped up because you couldn't get them in the U.S.

They were already legendary before the embargo, and JFK stocking up on them before the embargo is a testament to the legend.

Also pretty much every popular cigar company started in cuba then had to flee, taking their seeds with them, and growing cuban seed in a different climate producing an inferior product. Only now that cigar companies are moving away from using cuban seed in favor of native tobacco is making non-cuban cigars something special.

 

[fearsclave]

I am basically going to agree with pretty much everything Andy said.

 

[cobguy]

Today, I prepped my binders and wrappers and will be rolling my own cigars this next week ... very excited! :mrgreen:
I got the leaf from WholeLeafTobacco.com and it's good quality leaf with some age on it.
The fillers are Dominican Ligero, Paraguay Flojo Viso (smells awesome!) and Nicaragua Seco.
I'll be using a Dominican Binder and an Ecuador Maduro Wrapper.

 

[andrew]

Today, I prepped my binders and wrappers and will be rolling my own cigars this next week ... very excited!

Now that is cool. How long are you going to age them once their rolled before you give it a go? Make sure you upload some pics of your mishaped attempts. :lol:

 

[cobguy]

Make sure you upload some pics of your misshaped attempts.

Lol ... I'm sure the first couple will be, ummm, interesting. :wink:

How long are you going to age them once they're rolled before you give it a go?

I'm starting with aged tobacco so just long enough in the humidor to get the RH at about 70%
If this project works, I'll start rolling enough to knock them back for a few years though.

 

[deuce26]

I'm still a bit more of a cigar smoker. A manufacturer you must try is AJ Fernandez. He is putting out some amazing and reasonably priced cigars. Start with the New Worlds.

 

[mrbigglesworth]

I find it nice to go back and forth: pipes to cigars to pipes... Ditto on the Brickhouse, shaintiques.

 

[sthbkr77]

Drew Estate's Kentucky Fire Cured is very accessible if you're normally into smokier pipe blends.

 

[andrew]

I'm starting with aged tobacco so just long enough in the humidor to get the RH at about 70%

Well play with the leaf proportions until you get something you like and then you let them sit at least 3 months so the flavors marry, of course you don't have to, but it will make for a better smoke in the end. I also find 70% a bit high for my tastes, I find 65% gives way better flavors, I had a few cigars I really love over the summer that were at 70% and I found them kind of harsh and acrid where they'd been amazing in the winter around the 65 mark.

 

[cobguy]

A manufacturer you must try is AJ Fernandez

+11 ... great sticks at a good price!

let them sit at least 3 months so the flavors marry

That's the eventual plan ... much longer even.

I'm seeing some info out there that says smoke it in the first couple of days or else wait several months.

The moisture from your binder / wrapper can reactivate the oxidation and create some ammonia ... so they say.

Other sources say 1 week out and 2 weeks in (humidor) to prevent this from happening.

I also find 70% a bit high for my tastes, I find 65% gives way better flavors

Agreed! I keep my sticks between 65-68% depending on temperature ... 70% would just be a minimum to come down to.

 

[gogosamgo]

Nice little setup! I do enjoy s good cigar from time to time!