The rest look like non-cuban "Cubans". Which are inexistant in the non-embargo world if I understand it right...
Is it true that you just puff on cigars, and not actually inhale the smoke? Curious is all
For me, it's the taste and the "medicinal effect" (easily lost through indulgence); I don't much notice the scent.
What do you usually smoke? If you aren't getting the aroma off My Father cigars, you are really missing out.
If you like the medicinal effect, try a San Cristobal Revelation Leviathan (6.5x64). That size will pump out a decent amount of nicotine.
Any recommendations for where to start with cigars?
I have no idea how to take the properties of what I do like and find that in another cigar I haven't tried.
The level of humidification and rest time is crucial. Water affects the rate of burn and flavor profile.
Thanks for the primer! I'll have to keep a note of what properties I like to research others. I guess I should find out more about Ecuadorian Sumatra. Truth be told I've never tasted a difference in shapes, but I probably don't smoke enough to be able to notice.
Interesting, this is the first I'm hearing about resting cigars.
I noted that if I buy a VSG and smoke it right when I get home that it tends to taste a little off. Maybe too acrid. I had no idea what to chalk this up to. When I let it sit in my humidor for a while, I like the taste better, it is less acrid and sweeter. I found this counter intuitive because my humidor isn't very well regulated. Not being a huge collector I only keep 6-10 at a time and my humidor and humidifier are pretty low rent. I don't measure the humidity, I just refill the liquid on a periodic basis. To me it seems like the cigar should have its best humidity coming straight from my cigar shop's humidor.
It's entirely probable it does have its best humidity coming from the shop, and maybe my palette / preference is unrefined.
Thanks for your reply, Anax. I'll answer your PM soon.
I could go for mild or full bodied. I like coffee, earthy flavors, and spicy flavors. Fruits are fine, but I'm not so big on nutty flavors. I'm not drinking these days (meds), so I'd prefer something that stands on its own. Though something that pairs well with coffee sounds good. Not sure how long I'd be able to spend with a cigar, as I'm not that experienced. I had a few cigars in college, but I've mostly smoked from a pipe or smoked kreteks. Right now I don't have a humidor, but I wouldn't mind investing in something to get me started.
Been wanting to explore more cigars and based on this thread I've recently picked up a wide variety of new cigars to try. I usually just smoke Ashton VSGs as my go to but wanted to branch out.
It's been awesome weather where I am this whole week. Mountain Laurels are blooming in the back yard and it has been amazing outside, perfectly sunny at 70. Perfect time to go on a "cigar tour" and I've smoked 5 cigars in 6 days. My goal was to try different stuff and see where my tastes are. Here are my notes, being a cigar noob feel free to chime in and tell me if I'm missing a boat somewhere.
Rocky Patel Royale Robusto
This one was right up my alley. A lot like the VSGs I've been smoking. Perfect tobacco spice, and good chocolate and espresso. Will be getting more.
My Father Crema #3
Very nutty. Despite not having a darker wrapper, it came off as a strong cigar for me. Went well with the bunnahabhain I paired with it. If I go for this again will get a smaller size if it comes in one.
My Father 1922 Le Bijou
This stick was doomed from the start. After removing the band, some of the adhesive pulled part of the outer wrapper off, so I started with a hole in the top of the leaf wrapper. Never had a cigar where the band adhesive was attached to the leaf.
It went out twice while smoking it and the way it burned was off. It didn't burn to nice fine white ash. The smoke was yellowy instead of blueish and the whole smoke was off. I didn't like it very much. Too much chemical and nicotine in the taste. Too many things went wrong for me to say this is a bad cigar or not, but it wasn't for me. I may try it again some day to see if the one I got was a lemon. t.
Illusione MJ12
A pleasant smoke. Mild but still a hint of tobacco spice. Kind of boring over all.
Ashton ESG 22 salute
Being a VSG fan I always see this one next to the VSGs in the cigar store, but always pass it up. At 22 bucks how can it be better than my good ole 12 dollar VSG? I smoked this one today in the sun with some nice talisker scotch. Loved it. It's probably considered mild, but mild doesn't really describe it for me. Subtle but complex is more accurate. First cigar I've smoked that really had multiple flavor profiles. On the inhale it was like a white tea, turning into a mild tobacco spice like pipe tobacco smells, and ultimately changing into nutty aftertaste. A cigar this mild usually bores me, but this one was amazing. I usually only smoke larger cigars a bit past halfway but I burned this one all the way to a nub.
Verdict: Just ordered a box and a new humidor to put them in.