When your friend knows nothing about cigars...

[Bohn007]

Often I find myself smoking with people that say they like cigars but when it comes to it, they don't know what they like and typically say "something mild". What would you give a "newbie" that they might enjoy? 

[gweilgi]

 

Monte #4.  

Not too big, not too small, not too demanding or strong yet flavourful enough.

Above all, it's not such a heartbreak when those friends take a few puffs and then drop it or stub it out....

 

 

[NSXCIGAR]

Good cigars for beginners have been discussed in multiple threads over the years:

 

[Bohn007]

@NSXCIGAR, just when I thought I was being creative with a topic that I hadn't seen since joining. Damn newbie. ?

[LordAnubis]

I would go with something that has a lot of flavour to be honest, small. A petite corona or smaller. HUHC, bolivar petite corona or corona junior, monte 4 or 5. I wouldn't go with anything too mild. I start friends off on something quite full flavoured so they experience what it's all about. Make sure they have something sweet to drink with it incase the cigar turns into a nicotine hit. And then let them take a puff of whatever i'm smoking so they can experience a different taste.

[Danimalia]

I'm with LordAnubis... I would recommend something that is medium in body, but has a lot of flavor. Also, a cigar that will not take too long to smoke. This was something I kind of picked up on from the pipe tobacco blender GL Pease. He writes about how new smokers are frequently given something very light and mild. While this is likely to be inoffensive, it's also not going to really give them an idea of what smoking is all about. It takes time and experience to pick out super delicate and subtle flavors. Better to give them something that they will be able to appreciate and pick up on right away. That was true in my experience as well, looking back. I started off smoking a lot of Connecticut Shade wrapped, mild cigars, and while I enjoyed smoking, I wasn't able to really pick up on much. The first cigars that really spoke to me, where I was able to understand what people meant when they were describing different flavors were the medium-ish Oliva Serie G and the very strong Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970. 

 

Nowadays, I like to recommended Padron (the basic/core line) cigars to new smokers. They're not too strong/full, but they have plenty of easily recognizable flavors to pick up on. I think the HdM Petit Robusto would be a fine choice among CCs.

[joeypots]

 

When your friend knows nothing about cigars...

 

Give him an Avo

 

[luv2fly]

Gave a friend  a PLPC and he loved it.  Now he is mooching off me at every turn!  Happy to assist him in his journey.  His wife is less than pleased with me.  She thinks I am bringing her hubby to the dark side.  hate to tell her that he was the one that brought me since we have known each other for 30 years.

[Smoke6]

I recently started handing out Quintero Favoritos and the Vegueros line as they are decent smokes for the $$.  If someone does snub it out after a few puffs I'm not out a lot of money.  Also, not too strong but interesting enough for the beginner.  I like them myself for puttzing around the garage or for yard work. 

[Akela3rd]

I've given Favoritos to non-cigar friends and they do prove to be popular. Not too mild and a good size so they really feel like they've been given a proper grown up cigar!

[golfgar]

Gave away a whole bunch of Partagas Super Partagas on a recent fishing trip and all but one of the guys liked them a lot and if they abandoned the cigar early the cost and the rarity were no problem.  (the other guy liked grape white owl blunts there is no accounting for lack of taste)  None were regular cigar smokers BTW.

[potpest]

I'd pull out an Upmann. Its a good middle of the road Cuban with tons of great flavours which tends to appeal to all smokers. Suggest a Connie 1 or a Royal Robusto. If you don't like them then you probably don't like cigars

Sent from my Wileyfox Swift using Tapatalk

[PigFish]

13 hours ago, Bohn007 said:

Often I find myself smoking with people that say they like cigars but when it comes to it, they don't know what they like and typically say "something mild". What would you give a "newbie" that they might enjoy? 

... a butt from the ashtray, or one of the NC that I have in the garage. While I love to share and introduce people to the hobby, I am tired of sharing 15 year old cigars with people who like Bud Lite and Pepsi Cola... Sorry mate, I am no help. A good cigar to a 'casual' smoker is a waste of a good cigar!

Cigars to enthusiasts, people I mentor, I enjoy. Ask any of the 100 or more people I have sent cigars to. The rest of humanity does not deserve one of my cigars.

Cheers! -Piggy

[Akela3rd]

... a butt from the ashtray, or one of the NC that I have in the garage. While I love to share and introduce people to the hobby, I am tired of sharing 15 year old cigars with people who like Bud Lite and Pepsi Cola... Sorry mate, I am no help. A good cigar to a 'casual' smoker is a waste of a good cigar!

Cigars to enthusiasts, people I mentor, I enjoy. Ask any of the 100 or more people I have sent cigars to. The rest of humanity does not deserve one of my cigars.

Cheers! -Piggy

Harsh, but fair.

[Smallclub]

9 hours ago, LordAnubis said:

I would go with something that has a lot of flavour to be honest, small.

Exactly. Going the "mild" route, in my experience, is often counter-productive. People are underwhelmed and tell you "I don't get the point"…

[mrsgucia]

Vegueros perfect cubans for a newbie. 

[Smoking Ninja]

It all depends if they are into cigars or really want to get into cigars.  I offered few newbies who just wanted to have a cigar some Gurkhas cigars I bought when I was still a poor college student and knew nothing about good cigars.  Some are still in my 20 count humi with no care and the newbies I offered to really liked that mild and dry aged flavor...  One of them even paid me for a few.  I said, sure go ahead and grab as many as you would like!  Newbies who just want to have a cigar and don't care much are not getting my real collection unless they really want to pay for it!!

But for someone who are interested in learning and wants to try nice things.  I offer them some nice NC like Illusion or Padrons first!!

[Bill Hayes]

HDM 2

[stogieluver]

Giving a nice CC to a casual smoker is a waste of a good cigar.  They simply can't recognize the quality of a CC compared to any average or even below average NC.  If you want to give them a CC, give them a Favorito or a JP. 

If they become really interested in the "hobby", then you can bring them along slowly with better quality stock.

[wade1979]

HDM E2

 

[raymond5737]

19 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Good cigars for beginners have been discussed in multiple threads over the years:

 

You can't go wrong with an Oliva Series V, any shape works they are all mild to medium and taste good for rookies and aficionados... There is nothing wrong with building up the Cuban experience once you see how they do with a non Cuban. I'm facing a similar dilema with my neighbor whose wife just had a baby. I think that I'm going to follow my own advice.

[dowjr1]

Epi 2 is the play.

[Elvis]

Macanudo. Or hand them a PSD 4 and tell them it tastes just like a vanilla milkshake.

[Akela3rd]

You can't go wrong with an Oliva Series V, any shape works they are all mild to medium and taste good for rookies and aficionados... There is nothing wrong with building up the Cuban experience once you see how they do with a non Cuban. I'm facing a similar dilema with my neighbor whose wife just had a baby. I think that I'm going to follow my own advice.

Yeah, don't start babies on Cubans, they dribble too much and make the end wet.

[fabes]

Interesting responses to an interesting concept. What do you share with another human being that is interested in something you're interested in...? Some of you have said to give them the crap you don't care about, others say give them something great so that they can also know the experience and share in the pleasure, ultimately deciding if they personally care for it or not. It's rather telling about our character hearing how each of us reacts to one another.