How did you get in to cigars?

[Justmi]

Hey guys, my first ever topic so hope its an interesting thread (let me know if I'm reopening an old thread).

How did you get into your hobby and ritual of smoking sticks? I thought it would be fun to share our favorite stories.

Me, my dad used to smoke cigars when he ran a factory in Portugal as a young man making it in the world. When he retired, he wanted to live the good old days, so apart from buying those mid-life crisis toys like a fast car, he bought a humidor choke full of Montes. (Probably why I always have Montes in my humidor, the smell and bands mean something to me). I hated cigars then but would watch him light up after lunch on the veranda in Spain enjoying the glow of the mid-day sun. Fast forward many years, I got into whiskeys a few years ago and one day wondered whether a cigar would pair well with it. A quick trip to Davidoff of London and a Siglo I Tubo later, I was smoking and sipping away. Apart from greening out on it as I puffed like I was smoking a Marlboro Light, it was and still is the best cigar experience I have had yet. Maybe I'm chasing rainbows but the first few puffs was like the first time I drank a real cup of coffee, so rich and pungent. Then I found FoH and the rest is history.

[demiurgic]

Awesome story brother. I got into Frank Sinatra because of my Dad. Somehow, although we may not like our Pop's ways or things we're not yet able to appreciate (like cigars and whisky), eventually, I've noticed I can see the truth to "the apple does not fall far from the free".

- Another Chip of the 'ol Block~

[assassin]

My into cigars was not quite as nostalgic as yours Smithy, as a non smoker for about 10 years I decided to celebrate Australia day with a bottle of Glenfidich 15 year. As a cigarette smoker previously I had dabbled in "cigars" of the milk bar smoke shop variety---you know the ones I mean neglected dried out rubbish, and was never impressed in fact hated the poxy things not knowing any better.

However I decided to lash out and buy an expensive cigar to pair with the 15 yo single malt I found a Padron Family Reserve 46 maduro, I think I paid about $65 for it thinking wow thats pricey so it must be good.

Wow what a revelation! I never knew a cigar could be so good --rich chocolate coffee notes and rich creamy dense smoke. The second part of the revelation came as it lasted nearly 2 hours! what? Do you know how many shots of whiskey you can have enjoying a 2 hour cigar?--Suffice to say I couldnt find my bed that night but I do remember enjoying the cigar so much I used a toothpick to smoke it down to the last 1/2 inch.

Since then I have graduated to Cubans which I find a step up from the Nicaraguan offerings but still enjoy a high end Nic every now and again.

I have been a dedicated cigar fan ever since.

My choice of single malts is now Aberlour A"Bunadh now at cask strength %69--superb whiskey!

[nikesupremedunk]

Since I started smoking in high school, I was fascinated by cigars and how people could smoke them for hours because the Dutch masters I tried tasted like dirt and the black and milds I had once in a while had my whole mouth tingling after 10 minutes.

Growing up, i always heard about Cubans and how they are the best cigars on earth and being "illegal" in the US made me want to try them even more. I kind of forgot about it for many years until my friend in Japan sent me a pic of him trying one which sparked my interest again. Since I couldn't buy a CC, I decided to try a NC first just to see if it was any better than a Dutch masters. I was so surprised at how enjoyable it was, and I was hooked since then. I found FOH which made things really bad for my wallet but I'm glad I discovered the wonderful world of cigars.

[hdryder]

[quote name=neilbrace'

Sorry if there is a sapling or grammar mistake….English is not my native language; I noticed this forum have a lot of English Nazis.

thx

I understood every sentence

[brazoseagle]

I googled (Hobbies more expensive than golf)!

[ramon_cojones]

I wanted to be a boss!

[Rushman]

I googled (Hobbies more expensive than golf)!

Hah, not when I was an avid golfer anyway.

---

I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=20.631727,-87.070650

[Cohiba Stevie]

I wanted to be a boss!

I really like this guy.

My i have had 2 intros to cigars. First was when i was in majorca and it was the most terrible holiday i had ever been on, everywhere outside of palma is a tourist dump, the place was full of pensioners and louts. My friend had given me €300 to buy him cheap cigarettes that i was meant to buy on the last day so i was not keeping them in the room, but i was so bored by the 3rd day i went to the local tobbacconist to get it over with. I was looking very depressed, the man behind the desk asked me what i wanted and he was astounded when i gave him €300 and said "as many boxes of mayfair cigarettes this will get me". He was very appreciative of the custom and we got talking, i told him that i was having a terrible time and was very bored. He told me i could pick any cigar from their modest selection. I picked a monte 4 because i had heard of them in the sopranos. I took it back to the apartment and was immediatley intrigued. I didnt smoke for a while after that until i visited my first proper cigar shop in dublin and ive been hooked since. Although im not crazy about monte 4s at present, i always keep some in the humi.

[Paul3]

I noticed this forum have a lot of English Nazis.

I noticed this forum HAS a lot of English Nazis. Sorry just couldn't resist that one.

Seriously though, great story on your intro to cigars. I've always enjoyed coffee with my cigars, more so than with any scotch though I'll admit I haven't sampled more than a few brands. Any top recommendations on coffees based on your experience in the trade?

As for my own start in cigars I sort of stumbled into them while stationed in Germany back in 1999. Walked past a cigar shop in downtown Wurzburg and figured I'd try the mystical Cuban cigar. Being American there was the "it's illegal so it must be good" theory. Of course at the time I had zero real knowledge of what was good or bad or that Cuban cigars were in beginning a period of lower quality/flavor then they had been known for. I was just happy to be trying something I hadn't had before. Really started to enjoy cigars several years later as a once in a while thing to relax and pass a little time. Since then I've found that I smoke them both for appreciation of the flavors, but also as a reason to sit back and relax on my own or with good friends and family.

Great thread idea Justmi

Cheers

[neilbrace]

I noticed this forum HAS a lot of English Nazis. Sorry just couldn't resist that one.

Good catch, Damn you.

[Cohiba Stevie]

Lol. That made me chuckle

[davidsan]

There was a cigar divan down the road from my work that I would pass everyday. When the doors were open

You could get a good whiff of tobacco and the place always intrigued me. I never smoked cigarettes or anything previously but I was having a rough day I just broke up with my girlfriend of a few years and had a fair bit to drink and decided to go into the store and pick up a cigar. I think it was a Monte but can't really recall which one. A few months later I had to pick up some cigars for a mates 21st and got talking to the owner and the hobby just snowballed out of control from there. This was about 2008. I only wish I'd found out about FOH all those years ago!

[SerieT]

i wanted to be like Tony Sopprano

[NJP]

As a kid at the holiday house we would have huge family dinners, then as I was told to go to bed it would be cigar time for the men of the family. My uncle has always smoked cigars and he's the reason I do.

[PoohBore]

I went on holiday to Varadero in Cuba and said a few times to the group I was with that I liked the smell of the cigars and those smoking them seemed very chilled out.

Next thing I know a cigar is in front of me with a rum. And that's was it

[PigFish]

Is Monica Lewinsky a member??? I want to hear her story... Anyone?

-the Pig

[neilbrace]

Is Monica Lewinsky a member??? I want to hear her story... Anyone?

-the Pig

I remeber her first cigar; white house petit corona; today she likes the New York - Hampton sampler

[Paul3]

Is Monica Lewinsky a member??? I want to hear her story... Anyone?

-the Pig

I think you would actually have to rearrange the title of this thread just a bit to hear that story.

[Guest Chastroboy]

I always enjoyed the smell of cigars.

My friend had his first child last week (a perfect young lady called Grace) and I was determined to mark it in a good way.

So I bought the whiskey, living in Scotland I was clued up.

Then ...the cigar. Not so easy. How large? How strong?

Lap of the gods we ended up with Cohiba Siglo 1's to mark his daughters birth, both mine and his first cigars (cuban or non cuban).

We sunk a rediculous amount of wine and scotch, which I am sure wont be frowned upon here..and both came to the conclusion that cigars not only added to the conversation, but made the occasion.

There is something about these bundles of leaves that struck a chord with us both. Cigars seem..right?

[Justmi]

I remeber her first cigar; white house petit corona; today she likes the New York - Hampton sampler

If she did respond with her story I think we would all go green behind the gills reading her tasting notes.