I use to love a great cigar many years ago, had a guy who worked for me who went to Cuba and brought back cigars.. if a stem had poked thru he gave them to me and I gladly smoked them. He’d get 40$ a piece. So what are you guys smoking these days? What’s a very good cigar that doesn’t have a steep price? I’ve been craving for some reason..

Price is relative.
All so called “Premium” cigars aren’t considered cheap.

I smoked H Upmann for years but they became a scarce for awhile. 
Since then my taste changed and didn’t want a Honduran or Nicaraguan filler anymore plus thier ring size seemed too big. 
As I got older I wanted something a little milder. 
 

Now I smoke a Macanudo Hampton Court. It’s the most mild cigar I ever smoked with a Connecticut wrapper and filler from the Dominican Republic. 
 

It has a 42 ring and being 5” long it’s just right 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

4 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Price is relative.
All so called “Premium” cigars aren’t considered cheap.

I smoked H Upmann for years but they became a scarce for awhile. 
Since then my taste changed and didn’t want a Honduran or Nicaraguan filler anymore plus thier ring size seemed too big. 
As I got older I wanted something a little milder. 
 

Now I smoke a Macanudo Hampton Court. It’s the most mild cigar I ever smoked with a Connecticut wrapper and filler from the Dominican Republic. 
 

It has a 42 ring and being 5” long it’s just right 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

I smoked a few Mac’s many years ago, use to pay like 7$ for them, those were Dom. Repub.. they were very good smokes in those days and affordable. 
 

What about Cuban leaves? Are they legal now to import? I mean I’m not gonna drop 30$ on a smoke, but I’d go 20$ easily.. 

Nope

It’s been illegal to import anything from Cuba since the 60’s. 
I understand that now you can’t import anything that’s made in Cuba even from another country either.  
 

You can find a quality hand made cigar at most locations especially the small  independent makers for a “reasonable” price, but they’re still gonna be more than all machine made mass produced ones 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

Now a days, it’s only once in a while when fishing.

 

Arturo Fuentes Hemmingways and Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real in corona. I also have a few Padron 1926 #35’s in natural, these are kind of strong for me which explains why I still have them, excellent cigar though.

 

Mostly it’s the Romeo y Julieta’s, a little milder, although that may be due to the diameter of a coronas, and more affordable when ordered by the box on line. The Hemmingway’s taste like crap when relit, which is all the time when fishing, the R y J’s do not.

My cigar voyage was a fun one while it lasted.  I traveled in some groups when I was working that had access to some pretty exclusive sticks including Cubans.  They weren’t a favorite of mine though.  I started with macanudos because of their mild smoke and very good flavor.  I started experimenting when they had quality issues and inconsistencies with their center flavor leaves.  I started attending a local cigar shop event that was the first Wednesday of every month.  For $30 you got 2 hand rolled cigars made on site by rollers brought in from the different brands.  Along with that you got all the booze you could drink and hors d’oeuvres you could eat.  It was a great time and I learned a lot about cigars from the rollers that spoke English.  I worked my way through all the various wrappers (Connecticut/madero/blonde/natural, etc) and as my palate got more refined, I zero’d in on what I liked.  I ended up really liking PUNCH. I was fly fishing and also bass fishing where there were hoards of mosquitoes, black flys and gnats and I found out a cigar kept them all at bay.  I couldn’t smoke full size sticks all day so I added Hoyo De Monterrey mini smokes to my humidor.  They were great tasting and came in a tin I could store in the boat or my pocket.  They were “dry cured” and didn’t benefit from a humidor.  Unfortunately I liked them so much, I started buying them by the sleeve and smoking them very regularly at home vs the occasional full size stick.  When I was getting ready to retire 5+ years ago both my wife and my best friend fishing partner asked me to give up the cigars generally for my health, not that I had any problems.  The day I retired, I had my last small cigar and while I always said I would allow myself an occasional smoke, I haven’t had one since either full size or small.  I have a tin of small ones and a humidor with some Cubans and Dominicans, but they are for guests.  I do miss them because I truly liked the taste of a good cigar but so far, I haven’t fired one up.  It’s always a possibility. 😂 

I would say my "daily" is a My Father Judge Grand Robusto that runs about $12/stick. It just won CA's 2024 COY. Others in that price range is the Oliva Serie V Melanio Torpedo and Perdomo 30th Maduro Churchill (sizes I prefer). And if you want something special, but accessible, it's hard to beat the Fuente Anejo Shark #77 or a Padron 1926 #48 for about $25. These are medium-full smokes, so you'll turn green if you haven't had a cigar in a while.  

For you guys who smoke cigars while you’re fishing, how do you manage the cigar and rod all at the same time?  I’ve been taking one with me most evening trips.  I’m normally lighting it up about an hour before dark, roughly the time when I’m picking up more active baits and making some progress down the bank.  So not exactly the sit back and chill time of throwing a slow finesse worm where you can take a couple puffs between casts.  So I try to figure out which way the wind is blowing and stick it on the downwind side of my mouth while I work my way down the bank. Sometimes I’ll stick it in my tool holder and let it smolder while I do something.  I feel like there has to be a better way.  I think @Choporoz mentioned a cigar clip in another thread but I haven’t figured that one out.  Also, my method doesn’t work well for short cigars because the heat of the burn gets real hot on your face if you mistake the wind.

 

Also in the context of this thread, I’ve been working my way through a bunch of different ones.  I’m still learning.  I know I like Acids but I haven’t smoked one lately.  I got a couple variations on them.  I grabbed a couple deadwood’s (fat Betty, crazy Alice, sweet Jane).  I brought a few back from Honduras.  Then a couple others that the descriptions stuck my fancy.  So far the Leather Rose petit corona (4x43) has been the best and I think I would get it in the torpedo (5x43) to try.  I really liked the box pressing of the acid 20 and it is an easy smoke.  It isn’t sweet like the other acid series though for anyone looking for that same profile. 

I haven’t had a cigar in 5 years.  I promised the wife I would give them up when I retired.  Everyone has a pallet that is different for taste.  I enjoyed different sizes for different situations.  A lot depended on how much time I had to devote.  Ring size didn’t matter as much.  For a sit down quick smoke I really enjoyed a Punch Robusto.  If I had more time I like a lot of different sticks in the Corona size.  For fishing, I smoked a Hoyo De Monterrey in a cigarillo size.  Easy to handle, not a long smoke and good taste.  I used them to keep the bugs at bay for the most part but for me an enjoyable smoke was being able to relax and slow smoke for enjoyment.  

Best thing happened to me.  We backpacked to 11,000 feet.  At camp we smoked a cigar each.  I puked my guts out into a small stream.   Cured me.  It’s been 2 decades since.   No thank you. 
 

enjoy people!   I have enough in my life trying to wipe me out.  Haha. 

3 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

For you guys who smoke cigars while you’re fishing, how do you manage the cigar and rod all at the same time?  

 

Longer cigars, like Toros, Torpedos, Churchills work best for me. I have them in my jaw while my hands are on my rod and reel. It's hard to explain, but you don't want them burning too hot where they're producing smoke the entire burn, but you want them to produce smoke when you puff with your mouth fully closed.  If they're producing too much smoke, you inhale air with your mouth and nose by making a "smile" where there's a gap between your mouth and cigar, so when you inhale the cigar isn't producing too much smoke and you're letting air bypass the cigar. 

 

A slight breeze definitely helps so that your exhale of cigar smoke isn't being retrohaled into your lungs.

 

Also, the better the cigar, the easier it is to fish and smoke. Don't smoke a crappy $8 cigar for this situation, get something nice so that you're enjoying the fishing, cigar, and scene.

Good advice, @Junger.

 

Cigar Minder clip is probably what I referenced at some point.  I have a few of them around; in the garage, on the UTV, on the boat, on a kayak, etc.

   I also keep an ashtray on the boat, though I mostly only use it when working on tackle or maintenance, not fishing.   I generally just keep the cigar in my mouth while fishing.  I've been smoking cigars for decades and it just comes naturally now.  That said, the cigars that I smoke while fishing or cutting the grass or working in the garden are not the same cigars that I smoke in the while sitting and devoting attention to the cigar.  I have spent years looking for the perfect 'yard gar"; something cheap, not particularly strong; a cigar that will burn even and slow while I absentmindedly puff away.  

   I won't be much help on brand suggestions, @casts_by_fly, as I do not like infused or flavored cigars.  I will say that my wife used to like CAO Moontrances, Javas, and NUB Nuances back when she smoked flavored cigars.  I like and respect the owner/blender of the company that makes Acids; you may want to check out some of their other stuff - other lines of infused, and non-infused.

   If you have not already done so, I think you should try one or two non-flavored cigars just to see if you enjoy them, also. It is a whole different world of experiencing the true tobacco flavors, though admittedly not for everyone. 

Hi gents,

 

Thanks for that.  That's all helpful advice.  I think I'm coming down the same path (longer cigars, keeping it in my mouth, etc) and just need more practice.

 

@Junger- I've definitely noticed the difference in the smoke based on how hot the embers are running.  I think that's where I need to refine my technique.  I am probably getting it too hot and that is impacting things as you noted.  And no, we're not talking about gas station cheapies.

 

@Choporoz I think the clipminder is what I remember you mentioning also. I'll have a look.

 

I have had a few non infused also.  When we came back from Honduras this spring I brought back 3 different cigars (5-packs of each)- one milder with a connecticut wrapper, one medium to full with a maduro, and a romeo y julietta (original production location...).  Then in other instances with the guys I've had a couple others, though not sure what they were.  In my latest order I added a couple as well.  I smoked the My Father La Opulencia Robusto already and it wasn't for me (too big/heavy).  I've got a Karen burger Halftime (4x60, medium-full, maduro wrapper) still to go.  Incidentally I did end up ordering a bunch from the overall brands owned by Acid.  I didn't realize it at the time but know now.  Drew estate, Acid, and deadwood were all in my order  The Drew estate tabak especial was okay (it's an infused).  The deadwoods have been good.  I haven't gotten to the acids yet but the Kuba is on my list.  The Liga Privada brand from them looks a non-infused traditional cigar that I will want to try.  At this stage, I'm throwing things at the wall to see what sticks- infused and not, dark and light wrappers, different shapes and sizes, etc.  So far, I am liking longer over shorter for in the boat (no difference at home), darker wrappers over lighter, though the La Opulencia with an Oscuro was too much as a whole (I won't hold that against all oscuros), and the box pressed is a nice feature.  Also, 'infused' is a broad term that could mean heavily flavored or just a hint of something.  When I get through this set that I have, I'll make another broad order of some different things to try.  We also have a pretty good shop that is ~35 minutes away that I'm going to try to make a trip to.  Nothing like in-hand knowledge.

 

 

Enjoy that Liga Privada!  When those first hit the streets maybe 15 years ago, the LP9 and T52 were widely hailed as two of the best cigar blends you could buy.  

I get to watch my buddy smoke and fish and I've watched Junger smoke and fish many times too.   It's pretty impressive.  I'd turn green...

I smoked the Drew estate fat bottom Betty tonight.  It was a good smoke overall.  It is an infused cigar with a sweet tip but not what I’d call flavored.  It had a good flavor, but the wrapper didn’t want to stay lit.  It was definitely the most uneven burn I’ve had on a cigar yet.  It was a tough one to smoke in the boat since I was constantly up and down touching it up.  But, I’d have one at home and will probably get one in my next order.  

 

@Choporoz- the T52 is the one I was looking at.  Next order…

Bait Monkey has a cousin, Stogey Chimp.  SC recommends that you get acquainted with CigarBid and/or Cigarauctioneer.  Shipping is high.  Taxes are high.  Takes time time to sort through thousands of auctions, and can be addictive.   Dangerous side-effects notwithstanding, you can sample a wide variety of cigars scored at sometimes very good deals.  

 

    Current primary fishing cigar is Ramon Bueso Connecticut toro and churchill,  bought in bulk on cigarbid for around $3 apiece, taxed and shipped.  Mild, well-built, good flavor, and, stays lit and burns cool and straight with little attention. 

 

  There is an inherent problem with very good, cheap auction cigars.  If they don't fetch high enough bid prices, they inevitably aren't building enough base to make up the profit differential at normal retail and will disappear.   Happens every time I find the perfect dirt cheap auction cigar.  And the search will resume.

 When I was in Iraq the second time (contractor this time), I got into cigars pretty hard. There were quite a few of us that would go together and buy some. When we’d transit through Jordan, Kuwait or Dubai, we’d always get some Cohiba Cubans (the real cohibas) for like stupid prices. But hey, I was a government contractor making good money, so thanks to all the taxpayers, I was able to buy some cohibas. Haven’t put one to my lips in almost 15yrs now though… 

Suggestions for mild maybe sweeter cigars for beginners?

The most mild premium cigar I’ve ever had is a Macanudo. 
The sweetest is a mass made Swisher Sweet

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

11 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

Suggestions for mild maybe sweeter cigars for beginners?

Acid blondie, blue label original.  38x4.  It's a smaller cigar to begin with so not a 90 minute commitment.  Light flavor, slightly infused, sweet tip.  It stays lit, smokes easy.  And not expensive.  

11 hours ago, Mike L said:

The most mild premium cigar I’ve ever had is a Macanudo. 
The sweetest is a mass made Swisher Sweet

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

I may have to try a Hampton court

 

8 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

Acid blondie, blue label original.  38x4.  It's a smaller cigar to begin with so not a 90 minute commitment.  Light flavor, slightly infused, sweet tip.  It stays lit, smokes easy.  And not expensive.  

Only thing I've smoked so far is dead wood sweet janes...this sounds similar

When I first started cigars I used Macanudo Golds in the Hampton Court size, besides being light enough for a rookie the tubes work well to keep them from getting crushed in the tackle box. Fairly hard to find but one can order them from one of the bigger online stores.

53 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

I may have to try a Hampton court

 

Only thing I've smoked so far is dead wood sweet janes...this sounds similar

Not dissimilar. I smoked a sweet Jane a couple weeks ago. It was fine. Similar profiles for lightness and sweetness.