Noobish perceptions/misconceptions.

[Kid Montana]

Though not a seasoned cigar pro by any means, I've had enough smokes to know what I like, what makes for a good tasting cigar in general, and when a cigar really lacks an essential quality. When I first began smoking, however, I held a lot of mistaken perceptions.

Several of the first cigars I ever smoked were fairly dried out, uncared for, and cheap. In particular there were a couple pyramides of an un-remembered brand that were very acrid, very spicy/peppery and bitter. Because of this, I thought this was a characteristic of the pyramide vitola, having not realized the differences in manufacture, tobacco quality, humidification etc etc. Regardless, since then I've had a distinct unconscious preference for parejos vs. figurados.

Anybody else recall a completely bizarre perception or misconception you may have once held about cigars?

 

[Spanishcedar]

I once thought that Cuban cigars were rolled on the thighs of nubile virgins... come to find out, it wasn't a misconception at all! They actually are!!!


Seriously though:

I thought by reading reviews I was going to be able to know what the cigar tasted like... come to find out I've got a different taste for cigars and so does everyone else.

 

[Gavin]

I was under the belief that all maduros were strong.

 

[4cbln3]

I thought short, little ring gauge cigars couldn't kick my ass, but we all know better now, right Isy?

My link

 

[Yesi]

This is a great topic.

When I first started smoking, I thought a Connecticut Shade wrapper on a cigar signified a flavorless, boring, or bitter smoke. The more Connecticuts I tried, the more I realized this stereotype was not always true. (As in the case of the Oliva Connecticut Reserve or Cusano 18, for example.)

 

[jmpeace501]

I've been smoking cigars since I was about 17 or so, and I got my first humidor as a present from my wife when I was 21 (before then I'd just buy 2 or 3 at a time from the cigar store). I used to think that you were supposed to season your humidor at least once a year, and I also used more distilled water than you needed to (maybe that's due to some OCD as well). lol. Didn't seem to do any harm for a while, but over the years it caused enough damage that I had to get a new one recently, which has been seasoned only once.

 

[Devil Doc]

I read a magazine article in Playboy about handmade cigars before I smoked my first, 39 yrs ago. So as far as I know, I've always been an expert.

Doc.

 

[PhatCat]

Best lesson to learn as a noob is don't over think things. Everything. It's supposed to be a relaxing activity. Not a "oh crap, do I leave the cello on or take it off?!" freak-out fest.

Also, all the eager beaver questions that we all seem to ask when we sign up on this forum are somewhere in the archives. About 99% of these questions have been asked or covered in conversation before. Go back and read more. Have patience, the answers are out there.

*cue x-files theme*

BR

 

[uptown_isy]

I was under the belief that all maduros were strong.

I used to think the same thing when I first started smoking cigars 13 years ago.

I thought short, little ring gauge cigars couldn't kick my ass, but we all know better now, right Isy?

My link

YES WE DO! LMAO! :laugh:

 

[Spad31]

Best lesson to learn as a noob is don't over think things. Everything. It's supposed to be a relaxing activity. Not a "oh crap, do I leave the cello on or take it off?!" freak-out fest.

Also, all the eager beaver questions that we all seem to ask when we sign up on this forum are somewhere in the archives. About 99% of these questions have been asked or covered in conversation before. Go back and read more. Have patience, the answers are out there.

*cue x-files theme*

BR

Yep. Perfect answer.

Trey

/Mellowed out; calmed down; edumacated newbie tool

//Reads a lot...

 

[DirtyDave]

Best lesson to learn as a noob is don't over think things. Everything. It's supposed to be a relaxing activity. Not a "oh crap, do I leave the cello on or take it off?!" freak-out fest.

Also, all the eager beaver questions that we all seem to ask when we sign up on this forum are somewhere in the archives. About 99% of these questions have been asked or covered in conversation before. Go back and read more. Have patience, the answers are out there.

*cue x-files theme*

BR

Great post. As a noob myself, the search function is invaluable.

As for my own misconceptions... I used to belive that swisher sweets were good cigars. I also used to think that cigars that had fancy packaging were better. Glad I'm past that!

 

[BlindedByScience]

I used to sweat bullets about the RH moving around a point or two. After time, you realize that if you ask a bunch of "experts", you'll get recommendations from 58% to 75%, with perfectly reasonable explanations for every one of them. What it boils down to is personal preference.

My cabinet is set to 63%; it runs a point or two higher in the bottom, a point or two lower in the top, and I realized it just doesn't matter.....

 

[LilBastage]

I always thought more expensive meant better when I first started really getting into cigars. Then, I found Padron 2000 maddies...

 

[w00ts!te]

I thought Gurkha was the greatest brand ever made. :blush:

 

[B.HOBS]

I used to think that cigars were just big cigarettes. Apparently not the case.

 

[fivebyfifty]

I used to think bigger and thicker was better. But , my wife says that's not the case and not to worry.

 

[bluue13]

I used to think the same thing about all maduros being strong.

 

[b.dawgson]

I was under the belief that all maduros were strong.

I'd agree with this. More along of the lines that color of wrapper was directly related to strength.

 

[The Black Cloud]

I used to think bigger and thicker was better.

I used to too. After a while I realized most of the time I just don't want to sit down with a cigar for two hours. I also used to think the drugstore brands were viable options. Those were dark times, my friends.

 

[Not A Nice Person]

I used to gravitate toward 52-54 ring gauges exclusively, and thought bigger = better, stronger, cooler burn, etc.

Now I love the corona gorda size. SO much tastier.

~Boar