New guy trying to find myself

[kkipp9]

Hello, recently addicted cigar guy here. I just started into serious cigar smoking after I discovered real ciagrs that do not break the bank. I was an occasional machine made guy thinking that was all I could ever afford. I still cannot taste all of the nuances of the cigars that I smoke but some flavors are starting to come to me. Anyway, I have found that 5 Vegas has so many varieties and that they are all pretty decently priced. I want to keep my single stick price to under ten dollars if possible. So far, I have mainly been smoking their sticks. Gold Classic, Classic, Miami, Maduro The Miami seems to draw me in. I have ventured into some Gurka and Diesel and whatever comes in the sample packs that I get. Nothing sticks in my mind from the Gurka line. The Diesel Hair of the Dog is good and flavorful for me. I guess the question is concerning getting too focused on one brand. 5 Vegas does have so many though. I have not really found any of them that I do not like, but then again I cannot yet taste all of the flavors. Based upon what I have laid out and the types that I like are there any suggestions for other sticks that I should explore in my price range. Eventually I want to get to a point where I have a single "go to" stick with others just for variety.

I am also looking for empty wooden boxes. I am going to a coolidor since my little 50 stick humidor is way too small.

Thank you for the help in advance.

 

[DanLAXX1]

Here you go bud http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php/75114-What-are-your-go-to-cheaper-brands
Check out this thread, should help you out a little bit!

 

[rdomfoto]

Welcome from Chicagoland!

Check out that thread, definitely.

 

[ga_stogies]

Welcome from somebody who had a similar background many moons ago...there is a ton of good info in the thread posted above

 

[StogieNinja]

Based upon what I have laid out and the types that I like are there any suggestions for other sticks that I should explore in my price range.

Hair of the Dog is a pretty bold stick. Based on that and the Miami, I'd look at:
-My Father
-Don Pepin Garcia (DPG) Blue label
-El Centurion
-Oliva V
-Joya de Nicaragua 1970
-Camacho Corojo
-Four Kicks

Slightly less pepper-bomby, but still full of flavor:
-Caldwell Long Live the King.
-Headley Grange

If you want to look at some darker cigars, try:
-Ramon Bueso Genesis
-Nica Rustica
-PDR 1878 Oscuro
-RoMa Craft BA XXI
-Anything by Tatuaje or Liga Privada

Eventually I want to get to a point where I have a single "go to" stick with others just for variety.

Variety is the spice of life. The more you smoke, the more you'll realize you'll want a variety on hand for different occasions. Your palate will change from winter to summer, and from morning to evening. I've been at this for years now, and I don't have a single go to. I have about 20!

I am also looking for empty wooden boxes..

It costs about $6 to ship a single empty box, and goes up for more. If you're going the coolidor route, I'd highly recommend the cigar trays from cheaphumidors (best price is on eBay), or else go to your local cigar shop and ask for empties, they'll usually just give them to you, though some places charge a buck or two.

Here you go bud http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php/75114-What-are-your-go-to-cheaper-brands
Check out this thread, should help you out a little bit!

Definitely check this thread out!

 

[jcolan1]

Welcome from MD

 

[Wicket]

Welcome from CO!

 

[Madcox]

Welcome from Atlanta Georgia!

 

[oside]

Welcome from San Diego!

 

[Ducttapegonewild]

Welcome, from the Great State of Texas!!!

 

[Catawbamatt]

Welcome....that cheap cigar thread will be excellent help. My vote is for the Tatuaje Tattoo. I haven't had anything that can beat it for the price.

 

[Splatt]

Welcome from the beach. That cheap cigar thread is pretty much what I live by on my budget

 

[jonesry09]

Welcome from MN!!

 

[Eric_kruger]

Welcome from mn! There's a lot of sticks under the ten dollar price that are great, I think I have only picked up a handful that are over that price, and I now have a wineador and a 25 ct almost full! As someone less than a year in, try a few, then try some more, the flavors will come with time. I still smoke sticks I tried months ago and say "hey, that's a new flavor".

 

[jrtaster]

On my self-imposed and totally arbitrary budget, an "expensive" stick is any cigar/vitola regularly available for $ 6 or more. I treat myself to such a stick once or twice a week at the most.
My daily go to choices are for cigars retailing (on a regular basis, not on CBid or waiting around for specials or deals) for ~ $3.
I feel lucky that the likes of AJF overruns are still available. A couple of the JR Alternatives are also darn nice smokes in that same price range. CI has announced the AJF overruns are "going" to be discontinued (the robusto version already seems to be gone).
I will looking for a good successor to the AJF's, possibly "the 90+ Nicaraguan Seconds." Meanwhile the AJF robustos provide me a good 1 1/2 hour-smoke, smooth, firm ash, bitter-free and totally enjoyable experience.
The OP will hopefully find HIS go-to smokes as enjoyable as mine, even if his budget varies a lot from mine.

 

[herfdog]

I need to ask about the "haïr of the dog" that sounds like a stick for the herfdog. ROFL.

Jrtaster you'd HATE to live north of the border. Our super taxes makes that your 6$ sticks are near 14$ in local stores lol.

I do hope the whole FDA ordeal does not ruin it for you guys. If they take example on their canadian neighbors, you'll all be in that same situation.

Heck, I say its time to fill as many coolerdor as possible, just in case. Lol.

Kkipp - bonjour! Et bienvenue from Montréal.

 

[kkipp9]

Thank you all for the great advice. As I said, I am still working to find the best way to store and enjoy my cigars. I have been trying many different brands. I have not taken the time to take notes of any of them other than by memory. That is probably a mistake of mine that I will pay for in the future. I guess that I will just have to smoke them again and figure it out.

 

[DanLAXX1]

You'll find your way regarding storing. That's not too difficult. I would recommend against getting one of those cheap humidors and going the tupperware/cooler route instead. I've had nothing but trouble with those things no matter how long I season them or what humidifying medium I use. As far as not keeping notes, that's perfectly fine. I don't take notes, although I do have a log book that I haven't used yet. But I find that you always remember the memorable and the not so memorable cigars. Or you can save the labels of the ones you like and just toss the others. Either way, don't get caught up in reviews or trying to taste all the different nuances of the cigar. This has been said in other threads, just relax and you'll have a much more enjoyable smoke!