Two Cigar Mistakes you have made.

[CanuckSARTech]

1) Don't be afraid to post a review. Ok, if you don't post it, at least write it down. You'll grow as a cigar smoker. I know I did.

Oooooh. Good point. I may start a thread on this later....

[jacksfull]

Especially for BOTL's in the USA:

1) Use your humidor space wisely. Don't load up on NC's without exploring other options first. You will soon find that CC's are readily available and need not be any more expensive. Aged CC's are lovely. Aged NC's are still NC's.

2) Be willing to explore a broad range of brands, sizes and price ranges. Smoke what you like, not what you think someone else will be impressed with. There are a lot of cigar snobs out there who have it dead wrong!

Let me clarify that last part, as I do not mean to imply that you'll find that kind of attitude or misinformation on FoH. Quite the opposite, in fact.

A few things I hear elsewhere quite often (or read on other Internet sites):

* The more you spend on a cigar, the better it will be. - WRONG!

* Ring gauges under 50 are not worth smoking. - WRONG!

* All CC's in the US are fakes. - WRONG!

* NC's are better than CC's because they're aged before they're released to be sold. - WRONG!

* CC's are over-rated and only desirable because they're banned in the USA. - WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

[toto]

1. Trying PCs of each will quickly give you an idea of the flavor profile of each marca. Cheaper and still a good 45min smoke.

2. Get at least one vendor that you can trust.

[cigaraholic]

Don't give up on a brand because you start off with a bad experience.

Always carry a few more cigars than you think you'll need.

[mbrody]

It is a mistake to write off a Marca/Vitola after only one or two samples.

Try sampling 3 or more, and do so over a period of time (say 6 months: 1st 30 days; second 3 months; third 6 month).

Keep notes.

[cgarner]

1. Cutting too much off the cap

2. Smoking too fast.

[TMS36]

1. Spending way too much on NC's like Davidoff and Padron between trips out of the country.

2. Not embracing net shops sooner

[audio1der]

Don't even bother buying a desktop humidor unless it's specifically for dry-boxing. Go big; you'll need the room.

Don't buy cheap butane.

(there are so many more...)

[matthew261]

1. Overhumidifying--in the beginning I thought my humi had to be at 70/70. This resulted in VERY tight draws. Once I figured out that 60-65 rel humidity was acceptable for storage, I also discovered a far better smoking experience.

2. Buying fakes. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. It's worth the money and the wait to get my supply from Czar. I trust them and like them.

[sloth]

-quit video games or other expensive hobbies... and start writing or painting...

-don't fall in love with cigars while broke.

[Guest rob]

Colts "realisation" about it becoming a chore is a great point. Your cigars are not as fragile as you think they are. They dont need mothering.

For years I worrried about all sorts of things - though Ive now learnt not to sweat the small stuff.

Seriously new guys - trust me on this - but small issues, like a week at 5% lower RH than desired - IS NOT going to kill your cigars.

[Habanos2000]

1. buy a bunch of singles of various marques and sizes before you make box purchases.

2. don't feel that you need to spend a ton of money on a fancy humidor to store your boxes. A cooler with 65% beads works just fine.

[Ken Gargett]

1. monte C's

2. cuaba.

[CanuckSARTech]

1. monte C's

2. cuaba.

LOL.

But damnit, Ken, you liked the Cuaba Piramides EL!!!!!

Wait a minute....

What about Guantanamera?!?!! You rate that better than the Monte C's and the general line of Cuaba's then??!??!?!! GASP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cambridge1]

Two mistakes I've made:

1. not using beads for humidity control

2. not buying a sample pack of cigars before buying boxes

[habone]

MISTAKE 1. smoking cigars

MISTAKE 2. buying cigars

[MPS]

1. Quality not quantity: Choose your purchases wisely. A vendor that will inspect your cigars and make sure they look great and smell great is priceless. Nothing worse than a box of plugged or underfilled Habanos.

2. Storage is key so age yourself: I have some nice vintage stuff that I didn't age myself and I smoked a lot of terrible and mediocre vintage stuff I didn't age myself. Aging stuff yourself will save a lot of heartache down the road. I have a friend who did so and he is reaping the rewards, me too because he is crazy generous

[CanuckSARTech]

MISTAKE 1. smoking cigars

MISTAKE 2. buying cigars

LOL!!!!!!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOO true!

[thechenman]

1. Always buy from a trusted vendor.

2. Always start with samplers/singles before jumping straight to boxes.

And in the wise words of Strayvector...alway smoke what you like and like what you smoke...even if it is a Guantanamera.

[Cubanface]

If you are seriously thinking about getting into cigar smoking for some time....

1. Invest in quality accessories. Buy a good cutter, good lighter, and a nice big humidor with a good humidification system. Its like buying a big shitty truck if you don't do this. You know your going to be spending a lot of money down the road if your lighter, cutter or humidor isn't up to par. Even if you don't use them for the rest of your life, you will be able to sell them on Ebay or a similar site.

2. Try to smoke cigars with another person or as many people as you can. The best cigar ever made can't hold a flame to the best cigar experience. If you've ever smoked on the beach with good friends or family, or smoked on your wedding with the most important people in your life you know that feeling. There's nothing like it. A great cigar experience beats a great cigar every time.

[LeafLover]

If you are seriously thinking about getting into cigar smoking for some time....

1. Invest in quality accessories. Buy a good cutter, good lighter, and a nice big humidor with a good humidification system. Its like buying a big shitty truck if you don't do this. You know your going to be spending a lot of money down the road if your lighter, cutter or humidor isn't up to par. Even if you don't use them for the rest of your life, you will be able to sell them on Ebay or a similar site.

2. Try to smoke cigars with another person or as many people as you can. The best cigar ever made can't hold a flame to the best cigar experience. If you've ever smoked on the beach with good friends or family, or smoked on your wedding with the most important people in your life you know that feeling. There's nothing like it. A great cigar experience beats a great cigar every time.

"A great cigar experience beats a great cigar every time." ----- well said Cubanface.

[cigcars]

-don't fall in love with cigars while broke.

*GUILTY--*

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

1. Wasting money on non-Cuban cigars.

2. Spending money on women, instead of on cigars. ("A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a Smoke" - Rudyard Kipling.)

[88keys]

2. Spending money on women, instead of on cigars. ("A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a Smoke" - Rudyard Kipling.)

The great pianist Arthur Rubinstein said you have to be even more careful with your cigar than with your wife. "You can always make up with a woman, but if you're not careful your cigar will go out completely."

At one time he owned a vega in the Vuelta Abajo and had cigars made up with personalized bands. Of course he could afford anything but as he got really old (I heard him play on his 90th birthday!) his favorite was Montecristo #3.

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

2. Spending money on women, instead of on cigars. ("A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a Smoke" - Rudyard Kipling.)

The great pianist Arthur Rubinstein said you have to be even more careful with your cigar than with your wife. "You can always make up with a woman, but if you're not careful your cigar will go out completely."

At one time he owned a vega in the Vuelta Abajo and had cigars made up with personalized bands. Of course he could afford anything but as he got really old (I heard him play on his 90th birthday!) his favorite was Montecristo #3.

Artur [the Polish spelling: he disliked his name being rendered and pronounced as Arthur] was, to my mind, the greatest pianist of his time. The quote attributed to him sounds like vintage AR. The Commies, of course, confiscated his vega, so he had no choice but to turn to "regular" cigars.