Help for the newbie

[CigarAsh]

As a newcomer to the FOH and to Cuban cigars, I'm more than overwhelmed by the variety of cigars and styles of cigars.

My question is - if you wanted to smoke the perfect cigar, what would you be looking for in that cigar? What flavors, sizes and shapes do you look for that, for you, makes a cigar your perfect, sublime experience?

So, describe the qualities of your idea of a perfect cigar. Then name the cigar(s) that you think will give you that experience. Then, lastly, please send me one of each of your cigar choices so I can continue with my empirical research (hey, it was worth a shot )

[mazolaman]

Different strokes,different blokes......

For me something that is about a 42 ring,5 to 6" long.

Mid brown wrapper,with a nice oily sheen to it,that you can taste on your lip.

easyish draw,plenty of smoke,with rich flavours.

Hence my new found love........Gold Medals.

I also enjoy figurados,as their shape gives an interesting smoking experience.

[El Presidente]

Is their a perfect golf club in your bag?

I love a 5 wood. It is my Partagas 898. Dependable, feels right, always confident with it.

I struggle with my 3 iron. It is my Quai D'Orsay. I have a feeling it is me but I have never played it with confidence and we are just not in love.

4 iron however and I am in the zone. My Magnum 46

Now Smithy would have a completely different feeling about his clubs. Each one has a role but we gravitate to different ones.

I know I have been no help but Nirvana in the world of cigars (particularly Cuban) is a personal thing ....and elusive!

[OZCUBAN]

Is their a perfect golf club in your bag?

But Nirvana in the world of cigars (particularly Cuban) is a personal thing ....and elusive!

Nailed it Rob

And Elusive it is

OZ

[Fuzz]

Is their a perfect golf club in your bag?

According to my mate, yes there is... a 5 iron! He used it for every single shot; driving (the head of his driver flew off one arvo at the range), chipping, getting out of the bunkers, everything except putting... right up until the point when he wrapped it around a tree trunk!!

Another mate's set of clubs are absolutely perfect... perfectly new that is, as they've never been used on a course!! Jase my friend, you know I'm talking about you!!

As for the perfect cigar? Who knows? For now it might be a Partagas 898, in a few years your tastes may change and now a RASS is perfect for you. Nirvana may be the perfect cigar, but the journey finding it is pretty awesome too!!

[gigabyte056]

Love the golf analogy.

To each his own and even when you get that perfect cigar, it's like chasing the dragon , it rarely is recaptured.

[Kangaroo495]

For me the perfect cigar must consistently offer, rich tobacco flavours/aromas, and possess a degree of "complexity". And by consistent, I mean every cigar, every time, every puff. A complex cigar is one that keeps you interested, that distracts you from whatever you are doing because of its amazing aroma/flavour or it's changing notes. The price must also be reasonable.

Despite the great popularity of the Partagas 898, which I admit is a decent stick, I've only found one cigar which fully meets the above criteria:

Monte Especiale #2

If I could only smoke one cigar for the rest of my life, it would be this one.

[nonameno]

Hello Fellow FOHers,

Wow! I think the Prez played it very well, and I particularly liked this line, 'I know I have been no help but Nirvana in the world of cigars (particularly Cuban) is a personal thing ....and elusive!'. Naturally, he has been a great help, and the golf analogy was fun and accurate. The journey and the hunt is half of the fun.

Let the games begin....

Thank you,

Curtiss

[CigarAsh]

Is their a perfect golf club in your bag?

There are no perfect clubs in my bag. They've all been bad and have been put into time out in the golf closet. Once they realize the error of their ways, I have promised them just one last chance!

Guys - I do get the golf and "different strokes" analogy. I guess what I'm looking for is what your stroke is and more importantly why. If you love the Partagas 898 - what's the flavor and the sensations it gives you that makes it so good?

My elusive goal is to find out what people look for from a cigar and what cigar hits that special spot for them. I fully intend to enjoy the search for the cigars that do that for me (my first Monte #2 was a perfect cigar - the following ones, not so much - perhaps it was the quantity of good bourbon I drank that first night?). To that end, Rob - pick me out some good robustos for the sampler I just ordered from the Czar. My future love of Cubans now rests in your hands!

[ramon_cojones]

You're not getting the answer you're looking for because what people want is mostly mood driven, and only partially objective. I look for different things but if you want underlying traits it would be the entertainment factor for me. I can't smoke a cigar that doesn't hold my interest or is too mild or uninteresting.

[Vortigan]

I also enjoy figurados,as their shape gives an interesting smoking experience.

x 2 on that for me.And for the same reasons I love Robustos,never found one I didn't like.For me the RG just opens up the flavour profiles and allows the cigars to express themselves.And they just feel good and right in my hand.

[El Presidente]

Guys - I do get the golf and "different strokes" analogy. I guess what I'm looking for is what your stroke is and more importantly why. If you love the Partagas 898 - what's the flavor and the sensations it gives you that makes it so good?

Partagas 898 V

I love it because it has a consistent personality of its own. Rich, medium full to full, Partagas Spice, some lingering stewed fruit notes, black coffee. Good levels of smoke which are heavy and viscous, the aroma at cold bold, aroma of smoke serious and brooding.

I love the feel of it in my hand, it fits comfortably in my mouth so it ticks all the tactile boxes.

[SCgarman]

Partagas 898 V

I love it because it has a consistent personality of its own. Rich, medium full to full, Partagas Spice, some lingering stewed fruit notes, black coffee. Good levels of smoke which are heavy and viscous, the aroma at cold bold, aroma of smoke serious and brooding.

I love the feel of it in my hand, it fits comfortably in my mouth so it ticks all the tactile boxes.

Rob, if you had to pick a shorter duration cigar than the party898 which would you pick? Say, a cigar that lasts between 45 and 60 minutes.

[El Presidente]

Rob, if you had to pick a shorter duration cigar than the party898 which would you pick? Say, a cigar that lasts between 45 and 60 minutes.

Bolivar Petit Corona

Upmann Magnum 46

HDM Des Dieux

Bolivar Corona Extra

[Maron76]

I love the feel of it in my hand, it fits comfortably in my mouth so it ticks all the tactile boxes.

Boy, I could go anywhere with this one! I will just say that my wife shares the same sentiment as you Rob, LOL

I think I found my new sig, hahaha....

I am in the same boat as you, cigarcrash, looking for that perfect stick. I have been at this for a few years myself and have yet to find my goto stick. Don't get discouraged, it is a fun journey my friend.

[CigarAsh]

I am in the same boat as you, cigarcrash, looking for that perfect stick. I have been at this for a few years myself and have yet to find my goto stick. Don't get discouraged, it is a fun journey my friend.

Definitely not discouraged. Probably just a little impatient. I have my go to NC sticks. Just really wanting to explore and learn it all at once. I'd kill to be able to walk into a good shop stocked with Cubans and take in the look and smell of all the different cigars. I love a good shops humidor. It just feels like the right place to be.