Need some recommendations

[BigEasy]

I've been smoking cigars for a few weeks now. I've been buying singles from the small tobacco store in town, the girls working the counter know nothing about cigars. Now I'm getting ready to place my first order and need some advice. The first cigar I smoked was a Rocky Patel vintage 1999 connecticut. I was expecting more of a wow factor from my first real cigar. I found it very boring and weak.

Don Tomas Maduro forced my way to about the halfway point and threw it away
Rocky Patel The Edge decent smoke but no wow factor
CAO Concert enjoyed this one more but still didn't wow me.
Perdomo lot 23 enjoyed this one as well

I have smoked two cigars so far that I immediately had to go out and get more of, CAO Brazillia and Oliva G maduro. The Oliva did get a little strong towards the end. I'm really liking the pepper and spice flavors. So what would you guys recommend that I try next? Thanks, Randy.

 

[Cigarth Vader]

If you liked the Oliva G definitely try out the Oliva V. Give the Drew Estate Undercrown a shot as well, I would recommend the Corona Viva size.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

Anything by crowned heads. Their main lines I find very distinctively different. Have fun

 

[ATL]

If you liked the concert, try an under crown viva and a regular San Cristobal from Ashton. Also give the tatuaje brown label a whirl. The above recommendations are solid, too. Try a four kicks corona gorda.

 

[itsaaron]

I'll second the crowned heads vote

 

[Jmphotog]

I third third the crowned heads .. Oliva v Melanio maddy is great .. Rocky decade is great .. Room 101 serie HN .. Nica rustica and KFC .. Those should def WOW you lol let us know what you think!

 

[Agentskull]

My father le bijou

 

[Jmphotog]

BigEasy you should def look into the newb trade

http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php/67690-BOTL-Newbie-Sampler-Thread-2-0?highlight=newb

You will def get wow'ed my a Sr. BOTL member there and get a nice jump start on what you'll like and don't like

 

[SDShark]

If you like the pepper/spice flavors, go with Don Pepin Garcia (blue label) and My Father. I think you would like the Flor de Las Antillas.

If you want to give maduro another shot, try the Jaime Garcia reserva especial.

Let us know what you think!

 

[Jaybird]

I think as a new cigar smoker I wouldn't overwhelm your experience. Ease into it. Expect let downs! La Gloria N is a solid new comer stick and not a heavy hitter, easy to come by and solid. Oliva V is a good choice as is the AF Maduro Rothschild most B&M will have those. Padron anything should WOW you and again easy to come by. Undercrown are my go to stick! I feel special when, and if I get gifted some of the hard to come by ones as I tend not to be able to shop for them. Diesel is a good choice but M.O.W IMHO is a better all around WOW stick, again easy to obtain, or anything Crowned Heads! Don't even think about going to CC as the list gets LONG as does the price tag. Good luck! Keep us posted!

Cheers
Jay

 

[THEMISCHMAN]

All of of the above are solid recommendations. Here are a few things I would recommend.

Crowned Heads: Jericho Hill, Headley Grange, you could also look for the Six Shooter sampler, but at the end of the day you can't go wrong with anything Jon puts out.

Tatuaje: Havana VI Verocu, Ambos Mundos, La Casita Criolla, and Reserva, again most Tats are really good. Famous has a Tatuaje sampler you could try. Use BOTLORG get 15% off your order.

Don Pepin/My Father: My father and Friends Sampler, it has 8 sticks that are really good.

I'm not a big cigar sampler person but I do like ones that contain sticks from one maker. That way you can try a variety of that persons different cigars.

http://www.famous-smoke.com/tatuaje+10+cigar+sampler+cigars/item+44036

http://www.famous-smoke.com/crowned+heads+six+shooter+cigars/item+43739

http://www.famous-smoke.com/my+father+8+cigar+collection+cigars/item+38706

 

[Griz]

you didn't mention budget, I really like the old 5-vegas from CI, they are cheaper and I think have a close resemblance to the COA's you mentioned. If you get me your address, I would be hap[py to mail a couple 5-vegas your way to try them out. Just remember, I am a cheap date and dont spend big bucks on smoke. I have some but it is rare.
5-vegas
El Mejor Espresso
La Gloria N or Black series

 

[BigEasy]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. For budget I'd like to stay at $10 and under a stick. As far as the newb trade, being brand new to cigars and not having a good b&m near me I'm worried my end of the deal would disappoint.

 

[problemsolverjc]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. For budget I'd like to stay at $10 and under a stick. As far as the newb trade, being brand new to cigars and not having a good b&m near me I'm worried my end of the deal would disappoint.

In addition to all of the great suggestions above, I would add to the list epc new wave and maduro. Also aging room maduro and stulac lord.

I think everything mentioned is under $10 a stick online. If you choose to order from Famous-smoke.com there is an additional 15% off if you spend $50 using promo code BOTLORG

On the noob trade, you can always do a cash deal. There are a number of brothers who are very willing to sponsor that type of trade.

 

[Griz]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. For budget I'd like to stay at $10 and under a stick. As far as the newb trade, being brand new to cigars and not having a good b&m near me I'm worried my end of the deal would disappoint.

you are mistaken, I dont want a trade, I want to send you a gift so you can try some new stuff without any expense, comon, just give me your addy in a PM and I will shoot some sticks out to ya. Besides, If you think you will get my address...... That AINT gonna happen cause I DO NOT accept gifts I think you will really like the 5-vegas if you like COA, get me that addy so you can try some new sticks

 

[sullen]

my recommendation:

stay away from patels, they're all crazy overpriced low quality tobacco.
basically 2$ cigars masquerading as premiums.
the rest of his 29856935765796189365 lines are no better than the 2 you tried.

 

[SFerrojr]

I would veer away from the RPs, much better cigars out there for the price. Give some of these a try.

Olivia V and Olivia O
Crowned Heads Four Kicks or Jericho Hill
My Father Le Bijou
La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor

Check out our site sponsors and try out a few five packs, see what you think. All can be had under your $10/stick budget, especially with the Famous BOTL discount.

Agree with JMPhotog, check out the Newbie trade. Sponsors are great generous guys who are just trying to get you started, not be blown away by your selection. Plus most of them have vast collections and very refined pallets and would be able to pair up some new stuff for you to try based on what you send.

Good luck, and Welcome!

 

[GVH]

I've been smoking cigars for a few weeks now. I've been buying singles from the small tobacco store in town, the girls working the counter know nothing about cigars. Now I'm getting ready to place my first order and need some advice. The first cigar I smoked was a Rocky Patel vintage 1999 connecticut. I was expecting more of a wow factor from my first real cigar. I found it very boring and weak.

Don Tomas Maduro forced my way to about the halfway point and threw it away
Rocky Patel The Edge decent smoke but no wow factor
CAO Concert enjoyed this one more but still didn't wow me.
Perdomo lot 23 enjoyed this one as well

I have smoked two cigars so far that I immediately had to go out and get more of, CAO Brazillia and Oliva G maduro. The Oliva did get a little strong towards the end. I'm really liking the pepper and spice flavors. So what would you guys recommend that I try next? Thanks, Randy.

Randy - welcome! First things first - don't buy more than a five-pack of anything for several months. If you can stick to that advice, as most of the BOTL'S here will tell you, you will save a lot of money. It is really better to buy some more singles from the B &M - even if it costs you more - and explore different brands, vitolas, regional flavors (i.e. Dominican vs. Nicaraguan vs. Ecuadorian). For my two cents, I would avoid purchasing anything made by Altadis, General Cigar and Rocky Poo-tel. There seems to be an inverse relationship between the size of the ads and the quality of the smokes.

Read cigar reviews by competent reviewers - and check out reviews by the BOTL'S here. Make a list of what you think you want to buy and check the reviews. My favorite reviewer is The Katman - and he's wickedly funny. My palate aligns very closely with his, and, unlike a lot of "professional" reviewers, he doesn't cater to any cigar manufacturer.

Finally, learn about Cigarbid.com and CigarAuctioneer.com. The prices you will pay on the auction sites are typically 50% or less of catalog "discounted" prices and 25% of B & M prices (depending on the state you live in).

Your palate will evolve over time, and what seems great to you today may seem like dog crap in a few months. Take your time and purchase some of the smokes the BOTL'S have listed in response to your post. You have to find out what you like and it takes time - months. You will probably do OK with anything made by Don Pepin and Jaime Garcia (My Father and their other smokes), Tatuaje (also made by the Garcias), Crowned Heads (some made by the Garcias), AJ Fernandez (not Diesel!), Drew Estates Undercrown, Nica Rustica & Herrera Esteli, 601 Red, Green or Steel, PDR and Perdomo.

Good Luck!

 

[3/5King]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. For budget I'd like to stay at $10 and under a stick. As far as the newb trade, being brand new to cigars and not having a good b&m near me I'm worried my end of the deal would disappoint.

you are mistaken, I dont want a trade, I want to send you a gift so you can try some new stuff without any expense, comon, just give me your addy in a PM and I will shoot some sticks out to ya. Besides, If you think you will get my address...... That AINT gonna happen cause I DO NOT accept gifts I think you will really like the 5-vegas if you like COA, get me that addy so you can try some new sticks

That's not fair! You can't sit in your corner winging grenades and call off guards lol :tazerblas

As for cigars. You won't go wrong with the recommendations of Pepin and tats and crown heads.....oh my? Banana ha

I'd also like to recommend illusione rothschild for a cheaper stick.

 

[CWS]

All cigars below can be had for less than $10. You can buy fivers most places and on Monster

Oliva V
Cain Daytona
Cain F
Alec Bradley Sun grown
Aging Room QUattro F55
Intemperance
Cromagnon
San Lotano Habano
San Lotano The Bull

Just to mention a few