One for the cigar smokers

[.philmypower.]

I am a non smoker and was given a cigar last week as a tip for clearing up a tree at work. I must say I had it with a glass of scotch and really enjoyed it. Now I don't want to become a smoker but I wouldn't mind say having one or two a month whilst relaxing, wether it be fishing in the summer or after shoot days.

The cigar I was given was worth around fifteen quid and in a tube, what I was wondering is how important is a humidor. Also what cigars would you recommend as there seems to be hundreds to choose from.

Thanks

[la bala]

dont go there, one or two will become more. keep those lungs clean mate, from a breathless old geezer who started smoking at the age of 11

[shoot and be safe]

Showing your age now Phil.

Are you sure you should be smoking after your adventure to the pigeon hut

 

Happy New Year by the way

[.philmypower.]

I'm younger than you pal, maybe little jay ( maglad ) could light them for me lol.

Happy new year to you pal.

dont go there, one or two will become more. keep those lungs clean mate, from a breathless old geezer who started smoking at the age of 11

I hear what your saying buddy but surely the odd cigar wouldn't harm.

[simongeorge_kelly]

it doesn't matter if you have 1 or 100 they all do the same damage.I give up 12 years ago and feel so much better for it

[la bala]

I'm younger than you pal, maybe little jay ( maglad ) could light them for me lol.

Happy new year to you pal.

 

I hear what your saying buddy but surely the odd cigar wouldn't harm.

i gave up smoking for a week once in my life, and after a week i decided i would have 1 panatella in the morning and one in the evening. after three weeks i was buying two packets of six, a day. stay clean mate.

[.philmypower.]

Thank you jabb, so probibally best to buy tubed. I'm aware not to inhale which is why I can't see the problem. Wanted to avoid a humidor if possible as seems a lot of fuss for a dozen cigars each year.

Any suggestions which tubed cigars or is it personal preference.

[southwest_colonel]

Tubed cigars have a reasonably good shelf life outside of a humidor - up to 12 months in a fairly typical British climate. As JABB says, if you start buying loose you really would need a humidor (as the cigar will quickly dry out at ambient humidity). Ideal RH is 67%-70%. If you don't want to limit yourself to tubed options - as it does limit things somewhat after a time - you can put together a makeshift humidor with a tupperware container and a special pouch which will maintain a certain humidity. As a plastic tub will breathe less than a cedar lined humidor it's wise to go for a slightly lower RH (65-67%) to help counter the slightly more favourable situation for mould development.

 

As for which cigars to try next... Personally I would avoid falling into the Montecristo trap - they make some lovely smokes, but the sheer quantity that are produced means that there are terrible issues with quality control and consistency. Particularly with the No4. That said, the Petit Edmundo is a good, consistent smoke (and available tubed). If you're new to smoking, I'd recommend something by H.Upmann (the Magnum 46 is a good choice which comes tubed). Romeo y Julieta No2 and Short Churchill are also both approachable cigars which come tubed. If you want to pay a little over the odds, you could try a Cohiba SIGLO II - it's a good cigar, and can be had for about £17, but given it's size should be about £5 less... It's the Cohiba effect though.

 

Try a few and find what works for you. I'd normally warn off things like Partagas or Bolivar for someone starting out as they pack a punch - but if you're body can cope with the hit, you may enjoy their fuller flavour profiles. You may also find you like the slightly 'sweeter' and more straightforward style of some of the more premium non-Cuban cigars.

 

In true Yahoo answers fashion I shall justify myself... I'm a cigar importer, blogger, and columnist. You could say it's a hobby which got away from me a little bit. I've never smoked cigarettes, and can go months on end over the summer without sampling any of my wares - so I like to think that I'm not addicted. Sadly, none of the cigars I import are tubed, so have been unable to pitch anything of my own. For my blog, if you've got time to kill, have a look for the Cigar Monologues (entirely non-commercial, just a review and lifestyle thing).

 

 

it doesn't matter if you have 1 or 100 they all do the same damage.

 

Quite right, 1 or 100 will do no long-term damage whatsoever.

Edited January 2, 2014 by southwest_colonel

[.philmypower.]

Tubed cigars have a reasonably good shelf life outside of a humidor - up to 12 months in a fairly typical British climate. As JABB says, if you start buying loose you really would need a humidor (as the cigar will quickly dry out at ambient humidity). Ideal RH is 67%-70%. If you don't want to limit yourself to tubed options - as it does limit things somewhat after a time - you can put together a makeshift humidor with a tupperware container and a special pouch which will maintain a certain humidity. As a plastic tub will breathe less than a cedar lined humidor it's wise to go for a slightly lower RH (65-67%) to help counter the slightly more favourable situation for mould development.

 

As for which cigars to try next... Personally I would avoid falling into the Montecristo trap - they make some lovely smokes, but the sheer quantity that are produced means that there are terrible issues with quality control and consistency. Particularly with the No4. That said, the Petit Edmundo is a good, consistent smoke (and available tubed). If you're new to smoking, I'd recommend something by H.Upmann (the Magnum 46 is a good choice which comes tubed). Romeo y Julieta No2 and Short Churchill are also both approachable cigars which come tubed. If you want to pay a little over the odds, you could try a Cohiba SIGLO II - it's a good cigar, and can be had for about £17, but given it's size should be about £5 less... It's the Cohiba effect though.

 

Try a few and find what works for you. I'd normally warn off things like Partagas or Bolivar for someone starting out as they pack a punch - but if you're body can cope with the hit, you may enjoy their fuller flavour profiles. You may also find you like the slightly 'sweeter' and more straightforward style of some of the more premium non-Cuban cigars.

 

In true Yahoo answers fashion I shall justify myself... I'm a cigar importer, blogger, and columnist. You could say it's a hobby which got away from me a little bit. I've never smoked cigarettes, and can go months on end over the summer without sampling any of my wares - so I like to think that I'm not addicted. Sadly, none of the cigars I import are tubed, so have been unable to pitch anything of my own. For my blog, if you've got time to kill, have a look for the Cigar Monologues (entirely non-commercial, just a review and lifestyle thing).

 

 

 

 

Quite right, 1 or 100 will do no long-term damage whatsoever.

Thanks, that's just the info I was looking for

[Fisherman Mike]

Tubed cigars will keep on the shelf. Try and keep them at below 18 deg. and keep the tube sealed.

If you buy loose or a box, as soon as the air is involved, keep them below 18 deg and 75% ish humidity ( Humidor )

Remember, a cigar is a different smoke, the smoke is wafted around the mouth and exhaled. Never taken into the lungs.

With the utmost respect they become more addictive than cigarettes and very soon the OP will be buying cigarette sized cigars like Café Crème and smoking them similar to a cigarette.

 

Also consider life insurance premiums in the future.... one a month, or six a year makes no difference to all of the life insurance underwriters.....your a user of tobacco products full stop and premiums will double...Might not be a consideration now but if you ever need to get a life insurance policy to take care of the family or support a mortgage you will be crippled.

 

When I went to my doctor a few years back he said "are you a smoker" to which I replied "no not really perhaps a cigar at Christmas, or Birthday probably less than 6 a year".... ....he wrote on my medical records........................................smoker.!

[jef]

Pigeon Watch never fails when it comes to advise! That's why I love it.

 

JF

[team tractor]

Smoke is smoke be it off a fire or cigar . They'll all kill you in the end.

Lost an old friend in November to it and both grandads . The girlfriend lost her mum to it at 50 years old and left her mum less at 14 .

 

What you have to remember it's the poisons in the things besides nicotine etc. the ex met a girl who was given until her 20 th birthday to live after discovering that her body had reacted to the one poison over only 18 months of smoking.

 

I've got asthma and realise how nice it is to breath now after years of working in dust . My age is 32 but my lung age is 70+ without inhailers

[Paul223]

Poor Nicky, two young kids in the house and a husband who wants to play with matches

 

 

 

 

Feel for her I really do!

[humperdingle]

I enjoy the occasional cigar, but usually the little Cafe Creme sized Cuban ones.

 

Regarding the addictiveness... It's rather personal willpower, surely?

 

I can have a cigar and not smoke another for weeks. Similarly, occasionally, I smoke a couple of cigarettes if I'm out shooting etc, but then won't touch one for weeks or months.

[welsh1]

I enjoy the occasional cigar, but usually the little Cafe Creme sized Cuban ones.

Regarding the addictiveness... It's rather personal willpower, surely?

I can have a cigar and not smoke another for weeks. Similarly, occasionally, I smoke a couple of cigarettes if I'm out shooting etc, but then won't touch one for weeks or months.

Then you are a smoker,even the occasional fag or cigar makes you a smoker,ask yourself this,knowing that there are a cocktail of carcinogens in each one you smoke that have the potential to kill you,why have the occasional one.

 

You are a smoker,just because you leave weeks or months between fixes does not make you a non smoker,you are addicted,otherwise you would not need to ever smoke one.

[humperdingle]

Then you are a smoker,even the occasional fag or cigar makes you a smoker,ask yourself this,knowing that there are a cocktail of carcinogens in each one you smoke that have the potential to kill you,why have the occasional one.

You are a smoker,just because you leave weeks or months between fixes does not make you a non smoker,you are addicted,otherwise you would not need to ever smoke one.

Because I enjoy it... Occasionally...I'm not addicted to sex, but I enjoy that (occasionally), too

[welsh1]

Because I enjoy it... Occasionally...I'm not addicted to sex, but I enjoy that (occasionally), too

I bet the cancer wards don't have many people in there with sex related cancer.

[humperdingle]

I bet the cancer wards don't have many people in there with sex related cancer.

Dunno, look at Michael Douglas

 

Everything in moderation and all that. The OP wanted advice on cigars. I'm sure he's aware of the risks

[shoot and be safe]

Don't do it Phil, look at the trouble you're causing.

 

 

 

 

RUN PHILIP,RUN

[old rooster]

Interesting range of responses, I'd have to say that I fall into the "don't do it" camp.

 

As a smoker for many years, packed up over 25 years ago, when my then wife fell pregnant I can say that I feel better now than I did then.

 

If you have massive will power and don't become addicted that is fine, if you don't inhale that lessens the cancer risk but you also have to bear in mind the added risk of mouth cancer.

 

Maybe it is a bit like drug taking; some, myself included, never went beyond smoking a bit of weed whereas others get sucked in to the whole range of experiences with inevitably negative results.

[fenboy]

Look how cigars effected jimmy Saville , you dont want to turn out like him do you ?

[welsh1]

Look how cigars effected jimmy Saville , you dont want to turn out like him do you ?

Now then ,now then, now then, behave

[bmfrank]

Interesting range of responses, I'd have to say that I fall into the "don't do it" camp.

 

As a smoker for many years, packed up over 25 years ago, when my then wife fell pregnant I can say that I feel better now than I did then.

 

If you have massive will power and don't become addicted that is fine, if you don't inhale that lessens the cancer risk but you also have to bear in mind the added risk of mouth cancer.

 

Maybe it is a bit like drug taking; some, myself included, never went beyond smoking a bit of weed whereas others get sucked in to the whole range of experiences with inevitably negative results.

very similar to drinking booze i guess

[delburt0]

I smoked 20 regal a day then stopped for 6 months it was hard then one evening I played a snooker match for a few quid against a well known player, (around Barnsley anyway)

I won on the black and thought I'd have a single hamlet from behind the bar (when u could smoke in pubs) the next thing I thought was I'll just have another the day after, this snowballed onto 5 a day then 10 then back on the cigs as they where cheaper 5, 10, 15, 20

Whay hey back to square one,,,,,

That was around 12 yrs ago.

As it stands I stopped again 14 months ago.

I hate smoking.

Smokers smell.

I'm really anti smoking.

I'm confident I will never smoke again as it has to be the biggest disgusting habit anyone could have weather 1 cigar or 10 b&h ...

Edited January 3, 2014 by delburt0

[.philmypower.]

Wow, thanks for all the advice guys, I never asked weather I should smoke just weather a humidor was needed.

I drink a few pints a week but don't class myself as a drinker and don't consider what I'm doing will have much affect on my life. I sure a dozen cigars a year won't hurt you. I'm the only non smoker at work surely all the passive smoking I have to put up with is worse for my health.

I have a very active job, maybe could do with loosing a stone but not too overweight. Live a active life style. I'm sure people that eat fast food most weekends is worse and that's a choice.