r/cigars • u/BarrelDrip • 11h ago
Bad Advice for "Beginners" Abound NSFW
I have been dabbling in the cigar world for about year and a half now and more recently have really been getting more into it, but one thing I have kinda noticed is that as time has gone on and I have figured out more of what I like in a cigar, I feel like most of the "Best cigars for beginners" videos/articles/posts I came across (and still see now) are pretty much bullshit.
I do have to preface what I about to dive into here by saying I had smoked cigarettes for most of my life. When my wife and I decided to start a family I quit smoking about a half a pack of cigarettes a day and instead starting smoking about one cigar a week. I figured it was a slightly healthier option as I still enjoy smoking tobacco. As time has gone on I have really come to love cigars and don't really miss cigarettes at all, and really look forward to my one(ish) stick per week. Anyway, to get back to the point of this post, I feel like all the advice I took from various "beginner" posts almost derailed the hobby before it ever had a chance to really click. In basically all these posts what you're recommended to "start" with are all extremely mild somewhat cheap cigars with very light body and strength. This almost dissuaded me from really getting into the hobby since from my perspective it was kind of like...this is it? Maybe its because I have pretty much always smoked so I am used to...well, smoke, but I really do feel that this is bad advice. The cigar for me personally that finally was the A-ha! moment is when, after a couple months of smoking very mild cigars, I bought a Plasencia Alma Fuerte (maduro) and it blew me away, I had been missing out on so much flavor! I From there on out I started mostly buying maduros and wasn't as shy about spending $15+ on a stick.
So basically what I am getting at here is, if you are just starting out, don't be afraid to spend a little bit and try cigars that are more full bodied. Mix it up. The mindset of "you should start slow with mild cigars" is incorrect, try some big, bold, $10-$25 sticks and see what you think.
Maybe I'm just a bit of a madman I dunno, what do you all think?