Let's talk cigars

[WesternCancer]

Anyone got any tips on cigar game? Can you bust out a stogie in any old bar are do you run to much of a risk of being "That guy"?

I've used them with much success at house parties before, I personally wouldn't take them to a bar as they take forever to smoke.

What I did at the parties (3 so far):
They were at various friends houses that I knew smoked occasionally at least. I asked them before hand if I could smoke some "awesome cubans" (younger people won't know the difference especially if you take off the label/tag and take that off or you look like a douche)

When I got to their house my friend was super stoked and told his friends that I had a cigar. I pulled it out ran it under my nose smelling it, looked at some girls in the corner smiled and lit it. Went over to them and started talking (got a makeout with one of the girls later in the night logistics were bad)

But basically you post up at the party looking badass with a big cigar, if you take huge drags it also looks super cool and the bitches love it. I had some girls approaching me asking about the cigar and how I knew the dude throwing the party.

 

[basil]

To me a cigar and glass of scotch is celebrating something, usually with the boys. I'm not doing it to pose or pull, its for enjoyment.

Having said that, the few times I have been smoking and women have been around most have been really intrigued. At one time I was celebrating with a few boys at one of there places when my boys roomate and a bunch of her mostlly lesbian, some bi, friends joined us enexpected. Because I was the guy showing my boys how to cut, light, smoke em and I'd provided the good the girls were all over me, asking if they were really from Cuba, whats it taste like, can i try. I didnt wanna share, there was one girl I was interested in so after strict instructions not slobber all over it 'get nasty with it Monica' I gave her a go with good results. Make sure if you do share you lay down the ground rules, one of my boys didnt and some chicks did the Bogart.

So from then I learnt - if I'll be smoking around women who are likelly to be in the target market, I buy some Minis. Cigarillos I think they are really called but Cohiba, Montecristo and I think Romeo Y Julieta call em Minis. They are about the size of cigarets and come in similar packet, but are made like cigars. I only tried the move once and the girls liked it and from the Cohiba i tried the taste was pretty fair. If you have the cash and really want to impress get some good Petit Coronas or Rubustos (Robustos are a little shorter but fatter than Coronas). They are your best bet, smaller size without looking like toys. Ask for ones with smooth flavours, (hints of cocoa/choc and cream are a hit) for girls who may be curious and want to join. I've personally had the Cohiba Robusto and would highlly recomend it for girls and newbies. The Cohiba Siglo II is a Petit Corona and a bit more ballsy, richer tobbaco taste with hints of spice, I enjoyed it, but maybe not best introduction. I also had a smaller RyJ quite a few years ago and really enjoyed it, I think it was a Petit.
Asks the girls if they have smooked a hookah before, if they have tell em they will be blown away, its much better. Stress its nothing like cigarets, you dont inhale the smoke. I hate cigarets.

Love to see someone really try and incorporate it as game and perfect it. Would really suit high flying, suit clad, business or working with model types. My experience is very limited, as I said its usualy just me and few of my boys celebrating somewhere quiet.

--

Oh and on the storage issue, I never keep mine for more than a week or two. Friend of mine got given some top of the line Montecristos for his 21st, kept them in little wooden gift box, put that in a big zilploc baggy and was saving them for another special occasion. He pulled em out 18 months later for a huge occasion and they were mouldy. Damn tragedy. Unless your an uber fan and are going to drop big dollars on a real humidor, smoke em when you buy them or risk loosing your money to grow some fungus, they need to be kept at precise humidity and I dont think there are many climates around the world that provide it naturally.

 

[Enfant_Terrible]

How to cut cigars

 

[Cincinnatus]

What scotch or brandy is good with the Hemingways?

Lately I've been drinking Glenmorangie Scotches, mostly the Lasanta and Quinta Ruban, aged in Sherry and Port Casks... But they're probably a little too sweet to properly complement the cigar. For the Hemingway series I usually have a bottle of Bowmore on hand, strong enough to cut through the cigar flavors, but not so strong as to hide them on your next puff.

 

[Hades]

I'm pretty fond of the Arturo Fuente Hemingway series. Fuente moved operations to the Dominican Republic after the 1960 Cuban Embargo. Smooth burn, great flavor, and none too expensive.

Highly recommended. Enjoy with a dram of Scotch or brandy.

oh totally, every time I hit up the cigar bar I buy a fuente
everyone there recommended them and I can definitely see why
~7 bucks and they're excellent

 

[johnwu]

Anyone got any tips on cigar game? Can you bust out a stogie in any old bar are do you run to much of a risk of being "That guy"?

Cigars can add a level of sophistication to your persona, but you really shouldn't be smoking them to get women, the main reason for smoking cigars should be for your own personal pleasure.

With that in mind, cigars can add a little bit of an extra flare, but to not risk being "that guy" you are already going to have a lot of social connections or already dress the part. Anything less than casual-business attire and you end up looking like "that guy", casual-business attire and up makes you look entirely badass.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/ Decent place for someone starting to smoke cigars to learn the basis.

 

[Cookie]

I don't have a cigar game, but I do have a pipe game. I own several really cool old fashion pipes, and they always attract attention. My routine goes let this: I ask a girl if she has a light, if she says yes then I whip out my pipe. This gets me a pretty good opener and I usually start telling her about how cool smoking it is/let her try smoking from it.

 

[Enfant_Terrible]

Cigar noob experience notes:

-ordered a coffee/chocolate flavored cigar at my local cigar shop, it's a Tabak Especial robust. The wrapper smelled and tasted like coffee and chocolate mmm, like certain girls I like.

-know the parts of the cigar:
Quote: "The parts of a cigar are divided into four basics: the cap (or tip); the head; the body and the foot. The foot is the part you light and the tip is the part you cut off. A cigar is made up of three components: the filler; the binder and the wrapper. The filler is the "stuffing." "
source

I saw some cigar cutting/lighting videos on youtube but like an idiot I cut the foot part, lighted it, puffed on the cap part and wondered for a good 5 minutes why no smoke came out of my mouth. Cut the cap/tip part guys and cut a little of it.

-Don't inhale, don't puff every few seconds, don't rush, don't be in a hurry, and smoke while on a full/empty stomach. Enjoy and savor the goddamn thing! Otherwise, you'll throw up like I did 30 mins after finishing the cigar.

More detailed info here.

I still enjoyed my smoke despite the cigar sickness (was an interesting night), will smoke some more in the future.

2 good videos on cutting, lighting, and smoking cigars:

 

[Cincinnatus]

Enjoyed an Arturo Fuente Exquisito last night, about to smoke another one... About $3.00 per stick at the local cigar store. Smoked it while drinking bourbon.

A fellow at the store was telling me that a $7.00 Fuente stick was rated by a popular publication as one of the top 15 cigars the last two years in a row. I'll probably smoke one on my birthday.

 

[Prosal]

My favorites are

Trinidad Robustos T
Partagas Lusitanias
Upmann Magnum 50
Romeo y Julieta Dukes (unfortunatly now rare, but god I loved those bad boys)

Given the outrageous prices of cigars in FSU (western prices x 1.5), I never travel without cigars in my suitcase. For long stays (one month and more), I usually bring a box of 50 Upmann Magnums.

Most girls in FSU enjoy to take a puff.

[attachment=11730]

 

[Gator_McKlusky]

I went through a big cigar phase in college and would spend $50 every paycheck on top name brands. Call me low class, but my favorites were always Acids and others by Drew Estates. The Acid One is a great smoke.

 

[brownman]

I personally endorse the Montecristo 2, Ramon Allones Special Select or Cohiba Siglo 4 if you are beginning. It's a shame you can't enjoy Cuban cigars in the US.

You feel like a boss smoking a Cuban and having some scotch in a suit, having a pretty girl on your arm is the icing on the cake.

 

[K Galt]

I've been smoking cigars for a few years. Tried all sorts of brands, have gotten my hands a few Cubans, and have one in my cigar box right now, waiting for a real special occasion. A friend of a friend brought it back from Germany and gave it to him, but he doesn't smoke cigars, so he gave it to me. Right now, along with the Cuban, I've got a Romeo y Julieta Cedro Deluxe, a Padron 3000, a Gurkha Assassin Robusto, a CAO Brazilia and an El Rey Del Mundo Rothschild in my box. This is the lowest amount of cigars in the box I've had since I started smoking them - don't have the money to replenish right now. But I usually buy a couple every few weeks, smoke one, and bring one home to put in the box. I usually keep about 10-12 cigars, all of varying brands and styles, so I can have one whenever I feel like at home.

Here's a tip for those who'd like to collect a few cigars, but don't wanna drop the dough to by a humidor - get an empty cigar box and buy a drymistat stick. Most tobacco shops will sell them, but I'm sure you can order them online as well. Just put one of those atop all the other cigars in your box, check it about once a week to make sure it's filled with water and keep the box in a cool, dark place, and you can keep your cigars indefinitely. I've had my drymistat stick for over 3 years and absolutely zero problems with any of my cigars. I've even thrown some dried out Punch's in the box and they re-humidified perfectly in a couple of weeks.

Check it out: http://www.drymistat.com/index.html

 

[Monte Cassino]

Partagas D No. 4

 

[Prosal]

Received today a box of H Upmann n° 2 (piramides).

Rather strong, very smooth and spicey. A deliciously luxurious smoke I really enjoyed after lunch. Twenty minutes later, I was cutting and lighting a second stick. In the mid-priced category, one of the best cigars I've had the pleasure to encounter.

If someone is in EU and interested by good deals, I usually order my cigars here (Gibraltar) by the way. About 2/3 of the price in retail stores in Paris. Never ever had a problem, nor of delivery, nor of quality.

 

[birdrussell]

I love Cuban cigars and not just because they are prohibited in the US but because they are just a bit better than most cigars on a whole as a whole. The cheapest Cuban is as good as a high dollar Dominican or Nicaraguan. I like Romeo y julieta #1. Takes about 20 mins to smoke if you want a longer smoke buy a bigger number it's pretty simple in it's concept. Montecristo and the aforementioned Cohiba are also top notch. Lets see... Partegas are great as well. I'm not sure if it was a one or two time fluke but I really really like Davidoff's. My favorie smoke todate that isn't Cuban. They are simply delicious and you don't have to worry about the Cuban embargo. I would recommend rolling down to your local cigar shop and chopping it up with the sales clerk. They are always but always pretentious snobs when it comes to cigars. they take that shit seriously but, are otherwise really cool people who want to introduce the next aficionado into their ranks. Oh and pick up a copy of cigar aficionado while you're there. It reviews and great articles on other baller shit like watches, scotch whiskey, yachts and shit. Good luck man. Enjoy your new hobby.

 

[Comte De St. Germain]

Didn't know where else to put these thoughts, but as a long time cigar smoker I'd heavily suggest giving pipes a go for more day to day smoking. I love smoking cigars, but it's a monthly thing I set time aside for as I don't like smoking up the house.

Pipes on the other hand after the upfront initial cost for a good pipe is about a few dollars worth of tobacco for a good hour or so of smoking. And considering the price of sticks add up and if I'm not down to leave a place at the drop of a hat it's damned good.

Cigs are now for me a mobile party thing or if I have 5 minutes or less to get my fix. Can also drop your pipe and smoke the rest later if you haven't finished a bowl.

Right now with my love of tobacco it looks like cigars when I'm drinking/chilling at a fixed place or venue while taking it easy, pipe when just relaxing while having a bit of time to myself or with a group of friends, and cigs when I'm feeling extremely social or venue hopping like a rabbit.

Like with all vices I'm feeling more and more that I have to enjoy it at its best and this is the nice middle ground I've found.

Cheers!

 

[sterling_archer]

My hobby is working with wood and steel. And of course I wanted to make pipe. My first pipe was not good enough to be smoked because of the wooden stem. Stem was pierced with hot wire and that burned inside made taste awful. But it looks pretty good for a first pipe I made. It is a churchwarden type (I like LOTR).

So for the next one (I am currently drying and seasoning ash wood for it) I plan to order preworked bent long stems from ebay or amazon. They are made from materials such as vulcanite.

Unfortunately I don't have access nor money to buy and experiment with briar which is best wood for pipes.

Comte, what are your experiences with pipes, which do you got, I am really interested and I am pleasantly surprised someone on this forum talks about pipes.

P.S.
I agree on cigs thing, same as me, just a "social smoker".

 

[Comte De St. Germain]

My hobby is working with wood and steel. And of course I wanted to make pipe. My first pipe was not good enough to be smoked because of the wooden stem. Stem was pierced with hot wire and that burned inside made taste awful. But it looks pretty good for a first pipe I made. It is a churchwarden type (I like LOTR).

So for the next one (I am currently drying and seasoning ash wood for it) I plan to order preworked bent long stems from ebay or amazon. They are made from materials such as vulcanite.

Unfortunately I don't have access nor money to buy and experiment with briar which is best wood for pipes.

Comte, what are your experiences with pipes, which do you got, I am really interested and I am pleasantly surprised someone on this forum talks about pipes.

P.S.
I agree on cigs thing, same as me, just a "social smoker".

One of my good friends is the expert on pipe and pipe materials. I only own one and it was on his recommendation. A very nice and solid briar pipe by the way.

And I've only had said pipe for a short while. I can only really tell you about the aesthetics of it due to my own lack of experience.

Pipe smoking both looks and feels nice. It definitely had more bite, but now after a few goes that I've gotten used to it and learned to mitigate it for a more positive experience. The first few goes were like with my first cigar. Kept inhaling on accident lol and having my throat burn. Definitely a worthwhile investment now that I know the difference just on that different feel alone. If anything it taught me a lot about patience.

Granted in my friend's words "Man you're like speedy Gonzales slow the fuck down and learn to enjoy it." which is more or less my goal here. I'm the kind of guy who can smoke a Churchill sized cigar in about 30 minutes.

Granted this comes from my love of smoking up a room, and it definitely affects the kind of chicks I attract. But that's a whole different topic to discuss.

 

[sterling_archer]

What type it is, here is interesting reference: