A clouded subject

[Bizzaro Stormy]

From time to time I go to my back porch with a good book, a drink of some sort, and a cigar. I sit, read, puff away, and watch the sun go down while enjoying the beauty of God's Earth. I am aware that smoking in general is frowned on and in fact railed against quite strongly in the United States, so I make a point of keeping my hobby as a treat for when I do not want contact with others. It serves as a way to enjoy a few moments of complete solitude and reflection. I occasionally smoke with others but not often.

I was wondering how other cigar smokers enjoy their hobby. Are you more social about it or solitary? Is it viewed as more acceptable, or perhaps obligatory, in some countries or social situations? Also do you have a favorite brand, or size for when you just want to watch the world for a few brief sweet moments?

 

[FalloutJack]

I'm not a smoker, but I don't care if other people smoke. It's not that everyone in the US (or any majority in the US) objects to smoking itself, the act of doing. What a large number of them are always going on about is smoking being done in their vicinity when they work or relax publically or something like that. Not so much the WHAT, as the WHERE. There is a further additional chunk that is, of course, against smoking not because grown adults smoke, but because they don't want the youth to be taken in by this kind of thing. These things happen.

Your main concern - given that you smoke on your own property - is really the health nuts. And by health nuts, I don't mean any person trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I mean, the obsessive people who just can't tolerate other people's habits, the kinds of obtuse pains in the ass who would get on your case even if you were vaping (using an electronic cigarette) even though it isn't the same thing.

I'm perfectly fine with other people lighting up. It's their business.

 

[GabeZhul]

I'm fine with other people smoking (as long as they are not literally doing it into my face), but I am discouraging any family members from doing so. I don't care what other people do with their health, but I prefer having my loved ones be around as long as possible, thank you very much.

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

I used to smoke cigars but they're just too strong for me. For some reason you get less flack for it. I do like to occasionally indulge in a pipe with some cherry tobacco, which seems less accepted. As I do have a nicotine habit I tend to vape(use an electronic cigarette) rather than smoke a tobacco cigarette, though sometimes tobacco ones are all that's available. I'll be blunt I've actually been yelled at more for an electronic cigarette than a tobacco one, and it occurs to me why. It's not the health nuts who spend all day at vitamin stores that do it. It's the cringe worthy extreme left anti-fun brigade who want everything taxed and regulated to death except for what they approve of. The reason I think this is because E-Cigs are really not that well regulated or taxed, and some people with sticks up their but that bend them unbearably to the left hate to see people enjoying life.

As for smoking the occasional cigar on your back porch, there's no problem with that, it's legal after all. If someone does come up and start to harass you about it, tell them to get the hell off your property before you call the police.

 

[R.K. Meades]

Cigars are great for relaxing after a stressful day, especially when paired with a glass of something decent. The big question tends to be where you stand on Cuban product. Personally, I haven't found a Cuban cigar that can match some of the gems that are made elsewhere. (esp. Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic) The cigar cabinet on my desk has three varieties: Davidoff's Nicaragua Robusto, Oliva's Connecticut Reserve Churchill, and Illusione's Fume d'Amour Viejo.

I was wondering how other cigar smokers enjoy their hobby. Are you more social about it or solitary? Is it viewed as more acceptable, or perhaps obligatory, in some countries or social situations? Also do you have a favorite brand, or size for when you just want to watch the world for a few brief sweet moments?

There are times when a friend or two may accept the offer, but most of the people in my social circles only approve of smoking when it's a 'herbal remedy.' I prefer enjoying the simple pleasure of a cigar while alone. If there were multiple people smoking different varieties within blowing distance of each other, it would ruin the experience. Additionally, who wants to kiss when your mouth tastes like an ashtray?

The guy two houses down from me very occasionally has a cigar (though doesn't appear to smoke at all outside of that). It smells like gently toasted dogshit - what brand would that be?

I can't help you there. Cigars are like cologne-- when you find a good one, you will never forget that fragrance.

 

[Bizzaro Stormy]

The guy two houses down from me very occasionally has a cigar (though doesn't appear to smoke at all outside of that). It smells like gently toasted dogshit - what brand would that be?

Clearly this one.

It's a Mierda Culebra #2

It's unusual for most smokers, even those who enjoy a good Culebra, but your neighbor must have been thinking of you when he got it.

I'm not very knowledgeable about cigars just yet but I find it interesting to experiment with different sizes and brands. I've found that a glass of port, or a rum and coke go well with most. At my bachelor party we had Fuentes and brandy. Oddly I didn't care much for straight brandy but the cigar was very nice.

 

[Bizzaro Stormy]

Cigars are great for relaxing after a stressful day, especially when paired with a glass of something decent. The big question tends to be where you stand on Cuban product. Personally, I haven't found a Cuban cigar that can match some of the gems that are made elsewhere. (esp. Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic) The cigar cabinet on my desk has three varieties: Davidoff's Nicaragua Robusto, Oliva's Connecticut Reserve Churchill, and Illusione's Fume d'Amour Viejo.

I was wondering how other cigar smokers enjoy their hobby. Are you more social about it or solitary? Is it viewed as more acceptable, or perhaps obligatory, in some countries or social situations? Also do you have a favorite brand, or size for when you just want to watch the world for a few brief sweet moments?

There are times when a friend or two may accept the offer, but most of the people in my social circles only approve of smoking when it's a 'herbal remedy.' I prefer enjoying the simple pleasure of a cigar while alone. If there were multiple people smoking different varieties within blowing distance of each other, it would ruin the experience. Additionally, who wants to kiss when your mouth tastes like an ashtray?

Indeed. I make certain to smoke when my wife is out and then rinse my mouth before she comes home. She doesn't mind my smoking so long as she doesn't have to share the experience with me.

 

[Shraggler]

I don't typically smoke cigars, but I've been smoking off and on (more on than off) for about 10 years.

A couple of summers ago I went up to Vancouver B.C. for a get-together and a guy brought Cuban cigars. I had to help "demonstrate cigar operation" as no one besides myself was a smoker. One guy had enough after a couple of puffs so he gave me his cigar, so I was then awkwardly standing there with two, very nice Cuban cigars. Since I was the only smoker, I subconsciously assumed everyone knew how to smoke a cigar and knew the differences between cigars and cigarettes. I'd periodically inhale a bit of the concoction as I released the smoke, and other people started doing the same, not knowing what I was doing. They'd take big pulls, inhale, and immediately start coughing and complaining. Amateurs.

A friend of my father's has an entire room dedicated to cigars, humidors all over the place.

It's the cringe worthy extreme left anti-fun brigade who want everything taxed and regulated to death except for what they approve of. The reason I think this is because E-Cigs are really not that well regulated or taxed, and some people with sticks up their but that bend them unbearably to the left hate to see people enjoying life.

Sadly, that may soon be the case in my state. There's a push to get vaporizers and the associated materials taxed as much as, or more than, tobacco products. It's very plainly a money-grab, but there seems to be a large amount of support for the bill.

 

[Tanis]

I quit back in high school...so, yeah.

Not really a fan of it myself.

But, as long as the person doesn't BATHE in the smell or try and puff it in MY face...
I don't really care.

Smoke, snort, shoot, drink, shove-up-your-bum, etc/etc/etc...
Anything you want, it's your life.

Just make sure it's not going to harm anyone else directly.
SEE: Drunk drivers, chain smokers in front of the ENTER sign, crack heads with babies.

 

[Bizzaro Stormy]

I quit back in high school...so, yeah.

Not really a fan of it myself.

But, as long as the person doesn't BATHE in the smell or try and puff it in MY face...
I don't really care.

Smoke, snort, shoot, drink, shove-up-your-bum, etc/etc/etc...
Anything you want, it's your life.

Just make sure it's not going to harm anyone else directly.
SEE: Drunk drivers, chain smokers in front of the ENTER sign, crack heads with babies.

A nice thing about cigars is that they cost too much to chain smoke. So it's easy to wash the smell off you clothes since they never get saturated. The closest I've come to hurting someone with a cigar was when my dog saw me smoking and figured since it was in my mouth it was a treat. She tried begging for it. I scratched her behind the ears and kept the cigar away from her. The scratching kept her happy so all was well.

 

[Bizzaro Stormy]

So I considered starting a new thread for this but this one is still relatively fresh. With that in mind I'm considering purchasing a humidor in the next few months. Does anyone have any recommendations on what I should look for in one? I rarely keep many cigars around but it would be nice to keep them fresh for a while without thinking about it. Oddly the few I've looked at online had weird prices. The one that held the most cigars, around 300, was the cheapest and the ones that held fewer cigars were more expensive. Is there some reason for this?

 

[Niflhel]

I smoke cigars occasionally, though I haven't smoked enough to develop a preference yet. I'd definitely like to try more cigars, but the price is holding me back. A decent cigar (as in, one bought from a proper tobacco shop, not those you can buy in the average kiosk) will set me back at least 8 euro.
Normally, when I want to enjoy some good tobacco I light my pipe up instead. It's much cheaper (around 16 euro for 50 gram of Dunhill or Samuel Gawiths product lines which is enough for ~15-20 standard size pipe fillings), and it's a true treat for the tongue. A mixture of Virginia and Perique with a bit of Kentucky and I'm in heaven!

I can definitely relate to you. Whenever I light up a pipe or cigar I'm filled with calmness, the everyday stress dissapears and I just sit there and savour the taste. Whether it's a pipe or a cigar, it usually take a while to smoke it - and you have to pace yourself, drawing slowly lest the flavour is ruined by the tobacco burning too hot.

I think the hobby is a bit less unhealthy than cigarettes (which I do smoke, because addiction!) since you (usually) do not inhale. Why would you inhale, there's no tastebuds in the lungs!

So I considered starting a new thread for this but this one is still relatively fresh. With that in mind I'm considering purchasing a humidor in the next few months. Does anyone have any recommendations on what I should look for in one? I rarely keep many cigars around but it would be nice to keep them fresh for a while without thinking about it. Oddly the few I've looked at online had weird prices. The one that held the most cigars, around 300, was the cheapest and the ones that held fewer cigars were more expensive. Is there some reason for this?

The price of a humidor is affected by the quality of the wood and the workmanship put into it. You do not need a very expensive humidor, unless you just fancy the way it looks. Some wood sorts may be superior to others when it comes to a humidor, so I'd look a bit into that if I were you.

I'd advice you against buying a humidor with room for 300 cigars. It's quite unlikely you'll need that much space, and worse, if one of your cigars comes with a blind passager in the form of a tobacco beetle, your whole collection can be ruined before you even notice.

 

[Bizzaro Stormy]

The price of a humidor is affected by the quality of the wood and the workmanship put into it. You do not need a very expensive humidor, unless you just fancy the way it looks. Some wood sorts may be superior to others when it comes to a humidor, so I'd look a bit into that if I were you.

I'd advice you against buying a humidor with room for 300 cigars. It's quite unlikely you'll need that much space, and worse, if one of your cigars comes with a blind passager in the form of a tobacco beetle, your whole collection can be ruined before you even notice.

I had not thought of the beetle possibility. Thanks for mentioning it! I hadn't even thought about seasoning the wood till I read that they need it. It hadn't occurred to me before but it makes sense considering that they are meant to keep the cigars from drying out. I've looked at a few online and I think somewhere between a 50-100 cigar box might be a good idea. Then again I've never had more than a dozen in the house at any one time, the left overs from the bachelor party, so anything more than a 25 might be excessive. I like the look of the glass topped ones I've seen and you can look inside without opening it very often. However, that means it has two seals instead of one so I'd definitely need to get one that is well made, if I want to go that route. Either way I'm going to take my time to make certain I get one I like.