So, How Did You Get Here?

[Colt45]

I guess I started smoking cigars, on and off, about twenty five years ago, give or take. I don't really recall how or why I was drawn to them, what made me want to try them. Early on, specifics were unimportant - producer, country of origin, where the tobacco came from, etc. Having a few drinks with friends, get the urge, run up to the drug store for some Candela Garcia y Vegas..... (knowing, even then, that they weren't tops).

Cuban cigars were never really on my radar. As I became more interested in cigars, I'd do some research, try some things, find what I liked, what I cared less for, become more aware of differences, as well as similarities - understand hype versus reality, at least subjectively for me personally.

So you start to hear and read about Cuban cigars - how much different can they really be? More reading, more research. I'm still not overly interested, but begin to consider it, and regardless, enjoy the process of finding out about something new.

I begin to research Cuban cigars in earnest, still feeling that there cannot really be that much of a difference, and not taking as gospel what I read. But if so many extoll their virtues, there must be something to it.....

So I spend countless hours reading, researching, on my own - what to believe, who to trust. I find a few sites online..... One of them is Cigar Czar. This was before our forum as we all know it today - before Rob had a forum.

I'd read with a smile about cigar dinners, slow race horses, beetle infestations, etc. That site changed and became Club Czar - cigars, watches, pens..... At this point, I've already spent, literally, a few years filling shopping carts, from a couple of sites, but never pulling the trigger - afraid for a few reasons.

A friend gives me a few Montecristo No. 5. They stay in the humidor for months - they can't be that great, can they? (reverse snobbery, as my mom called it). When I finally spark one up, I can sense there is something....

Rob's site suggests joining so as to be able to acquire cigars - light is green for now - I hem and haw. The forum comes online in February 2005 - I hem and haw - I'm not a forum type of guy. I finally make the decision and join in May 2005......

I've seen, and learned much - friendship, laughter, loyalty, fraternity....

So, here we all are....... With apologies for the lengthy post, what brought you here?

[riazp]

What brought me here is I was reffered onto here by a fellow botl. My first cigar forum was a forum run by a big cigar magazine that we all know of, and that place was just no longer fun to interact with. Then i stumbled upon this forum, and well i've called it home since. Probably one of the best things to happen to me, i've made some great friends here, i've had the privilidge to smoke with many of your. Rob is a class act. The guys here are class acts. Truly a great place.

[Ophidion]

You are all stuck with me because of Simon, Riaz and Frank.

[riazp]

I gladly take the blame Kev

[Ophidion]

The fact that we met totally at random in a LCDH while I was on vacation for my birthday is pretty awesome. I think I asked you if you were smoking a JLS 2 or an SLR A and it started there.

Looking forward to your next visit

[Vcool]

Just wandering the internet looking for a home after getting tired of watching the endless trolling and political donnybrooks at the other forum I frequent.

Puff Puff.....

[nikesupremedunk]

I wanted to join a friendly forum that would help me expand my knowledge and understanding of CC's, and FOH was the only one that fit the bill!

[Warren]

Well my mommy and daddy loved each other very much and one night when the TV broke down.

Oh you mean how did I find this forum.

It all started out with watches really. I had been broken into and the bastard stole all my watches.

I started looking for an Oris dealer to replace the one that was stolen and Rob just happened to be the first place I looked.

It was at this point I also noticed he sold some fine Cubans and for some reason no other watch dealer was doing this.

I had smoked a few cigars years earlier but had drifted away from smoking and hadn't given it much thought.

The rest is history and now the guys can't get rid of me.

[geosmoke]

I found this forum in '07-'08 when I start smoking cigars. I didn't have (and still don't have) any friends with this passion in their blood so I spent hours and hours online searching and reading about Cuban cigars. This is how I found this forum and the czar website. I only joined FOH this summer although I've been reading the posts for quite a few years.

[UpInSmoak]

Rob, Ken, and Smithy hooked me with their video reviews. After watching a couple of comical reviews on YouTube, I knew that these knuckleheads were my long lost brothers.

[dangolf18]

I was referred here by a couple BOTLs. Been active on CA Forum for a while, but honestly I've gotten sick of that place. Fell in love with cigars about 3 1/2 years ago while vacationing in Paris. First cigar was a Cohiba Siglo I and it continues to be my favorite CC to this day (ok, maybe not entirely true, the '10 release of the Behikes are pretty difficult to beat).

[ohioldd]

Brutusthebuckeye! Good bloke!

[al321]

On my honeymoon, my wife and I went to a resort in Anguilla where I had my first Cuban cigar. Remember one night after dinner, I ordered a glass of McCallan 30 and had the restaurant manager pick out a Cohiba for me. Damn, I wish I knew what that cigar was. My wife and I walked down the beach back to our villa while I smoked the cigar and drank the scotch...it was glorious!

A couple years of trial and error buying Cubans online and here I am. The outstanding service and genuine brotherhood keeps me coming back.

[bolivr]

One of the threads came up in a google search back in 2008. I found I was reading through more and more thinking these guys are great, I think I will fit in here real well. Too many other forums allow bullshit trolling and chest beating. I have made some good friends here. Viva FoH!!

[SMQQKIN]

Found the CC reviews on the web and then found the forum.

The rest is history. I am hooked!

[Hazza]

I got jipped into buying some horrible NCs for forty bucks a stick. Really terrible ones. Decided I would do some research so next time I kinda knew what I wanted. After watching the FOH reviews on you tube for a week or two, I discovered they had this forum and joined up. Never regretted it. The people you meet here really are one of a kind and it's a great resource for cigar lovers

[smokum]

Just plain lucky I guess. Was tired of NC...was tired of British taxes...going to Windsor Canada once a year wasnt working out. Found this place in a search. Got interviewed by the Prez and the rest is history. Its been a mutually good find judging by the full humidor both at home and in my OLH !

[PigFish]

I figured that palling around with Rob would get me better cigars and joining the forum was a requisite. The plot failed. As a friend I get abused more than ever!!! -LOL Much better to kiss up to Lady Lisa...

When at the RTDA a few years back, he refused to approve my order (through Czar) to buy 1000 Havana Honeys to pass out at the strip clubs. He has got some nerve... let me tell you!

Now I stay around because of Guy, and to irritate Ross and Ken.

Cheers. -

[ZinZan]

Smoked cigar off and on for a couple of years basically buying singles at B&M and occasionally when overseas buy a box at duty free, share it among friends who also dabbled. Didnt have a humidor, basically smoked it as fast i got it. Until my boss was goin Cuba for business, he doesnt smoke cigars btw. Asked him to buy a couple boxes ie Coros and HDM Epi 2.

Now i'm thinking, im buying a box of Coros now i really need a proper humidor, bought the seconds at cheaphumidor.com. Wanted to be a perfectionist when seasoning it, reading up and researching all forums and blogs bumped into FOH. Didnt stay long at other forums, too much angst not much camaraderie and help. Been here ever since then.

Now the funny part about the boxes from Cuba, my boss came back with 5 sticks of cigars.

[gigabyte056]

Looked up cigar reviews on Youtube.

Found a couple of odd balls reviewing the exact Partagas I was looking to know more about.

Decided to join to see if the humor lingers on in the forum and got hooked.

been smoking Cubans only for the past 11 years since my father gave me a cigar when I joined the army.

[winelover]

I migrated here in early 06 from VCC and before that SC. I found FOH a more fun place to be with a more inclusive international outlook than I'd found elsewhere

[dcse]

Recommended by Trevor.

Addicted by the humour, honesty and enthusiasm of the Fellowship of the Cigar.

Inspired by the Rebel knights fighting the Sith lords of government.

Guided by the gentle authority of all contributors.

[Lotusguy]

Got lost surfing the web a couple of years ago and still looking for the exit

[mk05]

Got lost surfing the web a couple of years ago and still looking for the exit

Same, I was looking for cat videos.

[tdlfoto]

googled up some cigar reviews a couple years ago. mostly boring. found FOH video reviews. enthralled by the somewhat bohemian nature of the reviews on kens deck, I tuned in all the way to the end, the outtakes. sold!