Picking the first cigar from the box

[dB69]

When you open a box of cigars, do you pick the first one

- randomly?

- in a specific order?

- based on the condition of a cigar?

I pick mostly the fifth from the left first, but sometimes randomly. I'm not any superstitious, it just happens to be like this...

It would be nice to know the behaviour of other people. Am I alone with my silly habits?

[bstarrs]

For some reason I usually go for the ugliest one in the top row.

[tmac77]

For me it really depends on the type of box.

For the tightly packed dress boxes (mostly the 13/12 config.) I pick whichever one yields itself up the easiest to lessen the chance of any damage to the cigars. I normally do this as soon as I receive the box. I also remove the spacer from the bottom layer before placing it in my humidor. I find that this allows the remaining cigars to get more air circulating around them as they rest and age in my main humidor. The single removed I place in my desktop with a note on the boxcode.

SLB's I just pick out the lucky devil who seems the most eager to be cremated.

[Puros Y Vino]

I try to roll one out from the middle. Don't want to pry my hamfists at the foot or head for fear of mauling a stick.

[TMS36]

First from the right in dress boxes and top middle for cabs

[Rogers72]

I typically grab the ugliest off of the top row too. Grabbing the ugliest and easiest has been my strategy for years now...

[sg1234]

Call me superficial, but it's all about appearance and condition. I will always reach for the cigar on the top row with the biggest crack or the ugliest wrapper, just to get it out of the box.

[cgarner]

the easiest one.

[david9985]

As an occasional cigar smoker and someone relatively new to smoking, I haven't yet bought a full box to choose from. However, I'm in agreement with a couple you: when I have more than one of the same cigar, the ugliest will be smoked first. This ensures the best lookers remain in the humidor and also the logic that the best looking cigars somehow deserve to age that little bit longer!

[thechenman]

I just grab whichever one...does not matter.

[melies]

Always the ugliest one from the box

[peanutpete]

the ugly one here to

[rdb6]

The easiest to remove is first for me.

[BradNC]

I go for the ugly duckling first...if there is one.

[Cig]

Doesn't usually matter to me, but I always grab from the middle of the row.

[CanuckSARTech]

+1. I try to go for the fuglies first, get them out of the way. Doesn't mean they're not going to be a good cigar, often it's quite the opposite.

Completely agreed.

Generally, I'll pick from the center three of the top row. Basically, the center one, and the one on either side of it, and just start picking away to see which one pops up. I actually go for the darkest/oiliest one first, but it's all just a crapshoot generally. There's definitely no hard and fast rules with Cuban cigars. I just get what I get.

[Azksig]

the easiest one.

X2

[Dbone]

Guess I go right to left, but I try not to think about it to much

[CBL]

I'm also one for smoking the uggo's first. If they're all pretty, I'll just smoke one of the first 3 from the left (whichever one come out easiest)

[kcheek]

Ugliest/damaged wrapper - 1st

If all looks good, top center.

[Omskakas]

1st I pick is most often the ugliest. Second is usually one with the oiliest wrapper and that looks properly rolled.

With SLB's I just pick one from the top.

[android]

Call me superficial, but it's all about appearance and condition. I will always reach for the cigar on the top row with the biggest crack or the ugliest wrapper, just to get it out of the box.

Ditto

[josie67]

Whichever comes out first.

[Chicago]

Always the one in the top row with any damage, cracked wrapper or foot, etc.

[LeafLover]

I always smoke one ROTT, so the ugliest one on the top 13 or bottom 12 gets sacrificed first. The box goes to bed for 30 days.