How many to try...

[Kidsfeet]

...before you start picking favorites??

I'm very new to Cigars and have tried close to 30 now.

I found that I really enjoyed only about 8 of them. I really find I prefer the Robusto size at this point as well.

Some of my Favs so far include the Macanudo Cru Royale, Perdomo Lot 23, CAO Anniversaire Cameroon, Undercrown, Oliva Serie 5 Melanio and Ashton VSG.

So, am I cutting myself short (no pun intended) by starting to fill my humidor (I'm seasoning a 25-50 atm) with a few of each of these, or should I keep trying others to develop my palate a bit more before doing that?

I have a list of about 30 others to try or have been recommended still.

Thoughts?

 

[Guarantee]

I will try as many as I can afford. Always pick up new sticks because you never know when you will find something you really like. My palate has changed alot since I started smoking and I like stuff now that I didnt care for in the past. So trying new or old cigars is an ongoing lifelong process.

 

[Phillsl]

there is nothing wrong with keeping a healthy stock of smokes that you enjoy on hand. but definitely continue trying smokes, my palate has changed drastically since i started smoking many years ago, there are even a few smokes that i loved a few years ago that i cant stand now.

 

[Kidsfeet]

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[StogieNinja]

This advice is not original to me, but it is advice I pay forward to everyone I talk to:

Buy one. If you like it, buy three. If you still like it, buy five. After that, if you still consider it box-worthy, go for it.

I've been smoking about twice a week now, for a couple years. I've only purchased a couple boxes in that entire time, everything else has been fivers. The number of box-worthy cigars has been very small, and my palate has changed a LOT in those two years.

My advice would be to rotate. Try a new cigar, and then a favorite. That way you know at least half of the experiences will be great, and you'll still work your way through new sticks.

Also, purchase a few different sticks with similar characteristics (like wrapper leaf) and see which of those you like. Take notes on each stick so you can refer back to them. Eventually you'll start noticing trends and you'll be able to hone in on what you really like over time.

Or, alternately, try a brand sampler with several different wrappers. I don't much care for Thompson as retailer, but here's a great sampler:
http://www.thompsoncigar.com/product/PDR-1878-CRAZY-8-TORO-SAMPLER/83490.uts?form_state=sourceCodeFlyoverForm&sourceCode=4325

The 1878 line is pretty good, and will give you a chance to compare several different types of wrappers from the same line.

 

[SurpriseMVP]

This advice is not original to me, but it is advice I pay forward to everyone I talk to:

Buy one. If you like it, buy three. If you still like it, buy five. After that, if you still consider it box-worthy, go for it.
QUOTE]

I agree with this for somone new to cigars. Don't buy boxes because your pallette will change as it develops. I smoke 225-250 cigars a year and have been for quite a long time. When I know something is good or has good aging potential I tend to go deep and stock up on 4 boxes of the same cigar.

 

[Jason_HLC]

I'd suggest you keep trying new stuff while stocking your humi with a couple of each of the sticks you REALLY liked. Probably not best to invest in more than 3-5 of any one stick at a time while you are still finding your way.

You'll be glad if you leave a little space in the new humi for an occasional impulse buy or new favorites you stumble on to at the shop.

There are a ton of good sources for cigar info, starting here at botl of course. I've found everyone I interacted with on this site to be really helpful and generous.

If you look online for a positive review of a cigar you've enjoyed. then you may find a kindred spirit...someone with likes and dislikes that closely match your own. Check out the other cigars that reviewer recently wrote good things about and maybe you'll get lucky!

 

[Robertsndr68]

I'm a year into "serious" cigar smoking and I still actively try as many new blends as my budget allows me to.

 

[mistaforty]

When you lose count as to how many you've tried ...try some more. Cigars are an evolution. They change through the times with the smoker. Different crops, blends, sizes, shapes- your mood, smoking opportunities, situations, locations, reasons to smoke ...even when you think you've narrowed it down you can learn or try something to change your whole smoking experience. I guarantee that there are seasoned smokers reading this right now who smoke something now that they didnt prefer before and by contrast don't currently smoke something they thought once loved.
At this point of having tried only 30 different smokes, you have a universe of opportunity ahead of you to expand in every way.

If you enjoyed 8 out of 30 ...then there's 16 out of the next 60 waiting for you ...it never stops