howd you start in cigars

D

Darb85

Gotta get my flat six fix
I know its been asked a million times, in thousands of treads but figured its time to start a new one.

My story is probably like a few but here it is.

I went to florida with a buddy and at the time i was smoking swishers. after smoking 3 of those around him he took it out of my mouth and threw it to the ground and said thats it, we are going to a real cigar shop. We went, I bought a AVO tubo in an orange metal tube(havent seen one since) Smoked it really enjoyed it. the next day i went to the store and bought my swishers, smoked one puff and threw them away. I went a bought a 5 pack sampler at the shop and then about a month later, joined this place. Its all been down hill from there.:D:chk

alright so whats your story?
 
The year was 1992 in Venezula with my military buddies after getting out of the jungle and we lit up some ISOMs and it has been down hill from there. Then in 1996 or 1997 got into the cigar business by selling cigars on consignment to high end bar, clubs, hotels, resorts, supper clubs, golf courses, etc. I gained a lot of knowledge from that and developed the business before my friend sold it. Since then I have had a chance to experience many (hundreds) of different sticks from around the world. I must admit I have increased both my knowledge and love for the cigar. Thanks for sharing.:tu
 
I started the summer before I went to college. A good buddy of mine had me try a cheap Phillies that was enjoyable at the time. I smoke a few of these in college but then me and some friends launched a trip to our local B&M and bought some of the good stuff. Downhill, ect... I still smoke with that friend that got me into cigars, but we are doing better for selection now. I have also gotten a few other people to enjoy real cigars and my roommate is the latest victim. It is currently the best help to getting through college. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:eek:ffice" /><o:p></o:p>
 
Started by pilfering from my Dads tobacco shop when I was about 15. Had my first Cubans in 1987 and 1991 in Paris. A couple (litterally) of the last Cuban Davidoffs. Who knew. To bad I had no idea what I was smoking at the time. I knew they were good but that was about it. I typically have smoked 1-2 a month until I discovered CS and now I'm up to a couple a week if I can find the time. Since I have joined CS my exposure to top shelf cigars has really gone up. I still love my Padron x000 and Punch as a any day smoke but wow have I really seen what a great cigar can be.
 
Been years since I had a cigar, and had NO clue. Friend gave me a Kuba Kuba and then off I go!

Quit smoking cigarettes and have sinced moved away from flavored (although I will have one occasionally, like an Acid here and there.)

Has been 5 months and no cigarettes, no more cough, no more weezer!! 2 humis, a coolerdor, and building a safe-i-dor. Between Fantasy Football and CS I am in danger of developing Carpel Tunnel by Thursday!!!!
 
I had an unbanded, large cigar gifted to me at my bachelor's party. I inhaled about every draw and gnawed on that thing like a piece of licorice. Needless to say, I got very sick and vowed never again to smoke one of those nasty things. We all see where that got me.:ss
 
Freebie machine made sticks sent out in sundrie packs with re-supplys in Vietnam. That and the chewing tobacco plugs.
 
Smoked Dutch Masters and Swisher Sweets in middle/high school. My buddies bought me a huge Punch for my 18th birthday. I've always been interested in fine tobacco. I've smoked boutique cigars since I turned 18 but didn't get really interested until I was a bit older. The first time I met my father-in-law (2002) he gave me two Fuente's and that's what really got me going down the slope. He's since bought me my only humidor and filled it up every Christmas, but now I have to fill it myself in between:ss
 
Started with a Phillies Blunt just about 2 years ago. My mom's been smoking cigarettes since just after I was born, and she knows I hate it. I figured if I sat down with her, and lit up a stogie it'd get under her skin, and it worked better than I could have imagined. She put hers out, and walked away. I bought another pack or two, and after about 3 more of the Phillies I decided to hunt for something that wouldn't leave a horrible taste in my mouth. I picked up a H. Upmann Robusto, which is to this day, my favorite go-to cigar. From then on I just had to keep trying more, and I'm so glad I did. And as of August 19th I'm 21 and old enough to start delving in to the world of accompanying drinks a.k.a. fine liquors :tu. Already have a pint of Gentleman Jack, and I can't wait to try the Single Barrel, Makers Mark, various Scotches, Aged Rums, etc.
Adam
 
Buddy of mine (regc7, that punk) choose a moment of weakness (I was rather drunk) and started me on Games. Then onto Acids, and it was just downhill from there.
 
As a kid, I remember when my brother came to visit (he's 20 years older than me), he brought his pipe with him. I still remember the smell of the tobacco. Anyway, a guy in the office beside me at work smoked a pipe, and when he'd get back from a smoke break, I'd smell it and it reminded me of my brother's pipe.

One day I was talking to my roommate and mentioned the pipe story, and he told me that he occasionally smokes cigars, which I never knew.

Fast forward a few weeks, I was getting my oil changed, and decided to walk around the shopping plaza. Found a drugstore, bought some Jewel Sweets and Jewel Blacks. Later the next evening, he and I smoked them. He always smoked Swisher Sweets, and preferred them, but I liked the Jewels Sweets better.

A week or so later, we went into a cigar shop and he bought some swishers and I bought a couple of cheapo regular cigars. They were decent, and that started my slide down the slope.

A couple weeks later I found Club Stogie, started browsing around, found out about Cigars International and grabbed a humidor from ebay and a couple taster packs from CI, and then found myself at the Devil Site. And that sealed my slide. It's now just a matter of how far I'll slide...
 
I had messed around w/ Swishers and Backcountry off and on for quite a while as well as stints w/ the pipe here and there. I always thought it was weird how I like cigars and pipes, but absolutely detested cigarette smoke. Turns out I just knew better. :tu Anyway, I got a hankerin' to fire up a cigar again and went by the local discount tobacco shop and they only had some JM's and a Matacan brand. I give the JM's a shot and liked it better than any other cigar I had had before that.

Long story short, I get the bright idea after smoking my "real" cigar to get online and google JM and find out just what I had bought and do a little research to try and find a better place to buy some finer cigars. I end up here and about a month later I just finished my coolidor today and am waiting for it to stabilize. :chk I think someone here surely must owe me some $$$. :r
 
For me the fascination for cigars started at a very young age. It was the sharp smell of Schimmelpenninck panatelas smoked by an old friend of my parents that caught my interest. The old doctor is still alive, he must be in his eighties today, and still chain-smoke his panatelas! I tried his cigars one time but naturally disliked it and focused my interest for smoke on pyrotechnics instead! :cool:

About ten years ago I started to buy single cigars, mostly milder Cubans and Davidoffs, but it was not until I stumbled over some decently aged RyJ Cedros De Luxe No. 3 that I realized how good cigars actually can taste and what peace they can offer to the soul.

Six years ago my wife and I went to Mexico. She got me my first humidor as a gift and o’boy, that is something she really has regretted! :D The high price of Cuban cigars in Mexico made me try out different local brands but they were all big disappointments!

On our honeymoon in Italy, we stayed at a very nice place in Tuscany and the owner of the hotel always had an Antico hanging in his mouth. They did not smell that good but I traded one for a Danish cigar (My Own Blend Honduran robusto) and it actually tasted very good.

These first experiences made me very curious about how much cigars actually can differ in taste and I have since then tried over 200 different brands (counted as Arturo Fuente is one brand, Camacho is another, OpusX is still an Arturo Fuente etc.). Little did my wife know what kind of monster she unleashed! ;)
 
Was a smokeless tobacco guy in high school, and in college. Shortly after college I stopped using smokeless and smoked regular cigs. Menthol of course. Every one in awhile I would buy some phillies or something like that. Then driving down the road one day I saw a billboard for a local B&M. Went in one day, owner showed me the slope and I jumped right on down.

Tbh I credit cigars for my kicking the habit of cigs, and smokeless tobaccos. I used to get cravings for both when I quit. But the 3-4 cigars a week I smoke have made it to where I do not even get cravings anymore. And I feel a lot healthier.
 
I was at a b-day party :bl . Somebody there went on a vacation and brought back some ISOM's. I had one and it's "still" the best cigar I've had since, wish I could remember who made it, I'm guessing it was real cause it tasted so good. But thats what got me hooked. I've never smoked cigs, have had a pipe only a couple times out of my life. I started to look into cigars, searched the internet, thats how I found this place. I bought my first humidor after that I discovered what true meaning of the words "slope" and/or "free fall" as some people like to call it :ss.
 
My girlfriend's brother started smoking cigars a few years ago (her and I have been together 4+ years now). He got into it quite fast, and I would have like one a month or less out of his collection. I don't even know/remember what they were. Actually, come to think of it, I don't remember any specifics about my first cigar. Well last year my girlfriend bought me a humidor with a bunch of sticks, but it is only in the past 4 weeks or so that I really started tumbling down the hill.
 
My brother gave me an H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon about two years ago, from that point on I started collecting and reading about cigars. Just the taste and how it lasted long enough for us to sit and enjoy the time was really great. Since the I have found other officers at work and we have a cigar break. We will sit around and wait to see what the other person is smoking.
 
Smoked a few Swisher Sweets in my late teens early twenties but never got into (real) cigars until hearing Rush Limbaugh when I was in my 30's.
 
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