Beginner cigar

[JMac]

I'm not a smoker and I have only tried a cigar once in a blue moon. However I have read this thread with interest although I have no idea about the brands discussed.

What would be a good beginner cigar? (if there is such a thing) A co-worker of mine loves Romeo y Julietta's with Havana Club rums.

Any suggestions??

[RobertBurr]

Start with the Macanudos. I like the Hampton Court.

They're generally milder and a little more refined that some others in their price range. The year 2000 was exceptional, if you can find some of that vintage.

Macanudo remains the top selling brand in the United States because of its smooth and mild flavor made possible by its beautiful Connecticut shade wrapper and choice filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. The binder is from Mexico and the blend results in a silky, smooth flavor that is always consistent and satisfying. Macanudo Robust is a more medium bodied blend. The Maduro is made with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. All Macanudo are consistently smooth and pleasurable with excellent construction.

[KINGSTON]

CAO Gold
Casa Torano Natural
Cabaiguan From Pete Johnson
Fonseca
Ashton Classic
..................... These are classic mild smokes in the Cigar Industry. Most of these cigars can be found at any local cigar shop. No offense Robert but Mac's are as mild as flavorless. Mac's are the Bacardi of the cigar world.

[Lew Barrett]

No question that as your taste for cigars grows, you will seek out more flavorful profiles. I have a hard time enjoying mild cigars, even those others classify as good ones, but that could be me. I'd say that you can start with good Dominican brands as much as I'd tell you which ones by label to try. To me, Dominican cigars have the most friendly profiles for new and infrequent smokers. A fine cigar in the category might be something everyday in Carlos Fuente's lines, for example. If you develop a taste for cigars, it won't be long before you find yourself able to decide for yourself which profiles you enjoy best, and like rum, it can be a bit of a moving target. I know my taste in cigars well enough now to figure out by origin what I am likely to enjoy, but also like rum, you never really know until you sample some.

I expect Kingston's advise will be valuable, as he is a pro in the field.

[Count Silvio]

I'm not a smoker and I have only tried a cigar once in a blue moon. However I have read this thread with interest although I have no idea about the brands discussed.

What would be a good beginner cigar? (if there is such a thing) A co-worker of mine loves Romeo y Julietta's with Havana Club rums.

Any suggestions??

Romeo y Julieta No. 1 is certainly a good beginner cigar, its not too heavy and not too light. La Libertad Robusto is one of my staple cigars but I would also recommend trying Cuaba cigars. I think I had Cuaba divinos back in the summer last year and I really enjoyed it alongside a nice glass of Venezuelan rum.

[MattG]

Im in the same boat as JMac...Although I usually smoke Romeo y Julieta No.3, Is there a big difference between this and the No.1? Probably a stupid question! :P

[JMac]

Thanks for the input....a popular cigar store here in Vancouver also recommended the Macundo's as beginner cigar as well as a Fuentes?

[Matusalem]

No offense Robert but Mac's are as mild as flavorless. Mac's are the Bacardi of the cigar world.I generally agree with your assessment of Macs & Bacardi, but at the same time find Robert's suggestion well placed.

It really is subjective, but often I do find that beginners are looking for a cigar that has little or less flavor. Something that does not present any competition to the accompanying glass of rum or whatever else.

Im in the same boat as JMac...Although I usually smoke Romeo y Julieta No.3, Is there a big difference between this and the No.1? Probably a stupid question! :PNo question, *asked innocently*, is stupid. My own dumb question, are we talking about Cuban Romeos or Dominican /other? I wouldn't say I have an enormous amount of experience with the numbered RYJs of either (Dominican or Cuban), but have smoked a few of the Cedros & Deluxe No.1s -3s

My experience in general with same sequenced items, the blend usually is very similar but the difference in size can play a minor to significant part in how one enjoys the vitola.

In addition, I often find the thinner in girth the cigar of a line, it tends to be a bit more robust than larger girths of the same lineage - (likely due to slightly higher ligero leaf ratio:confused:). Just my own experience tho'.

That said, my guess is if you like the No.3 you won't hate the No.1 of whichever smoke you are inquiring about (assuming my experience applies).

[Count Silvio]

No question, *asked innocently*, is stupid. My own dumb question, are we talking about Cuban Romeos or Dominican /other? I wouldn't say I have an enormous amount of experience with the numbered RYJs of either (Dominican or Cuban), but have smoked a few of the Cedros & Deluxe No.1s -3s

I assumed Cubans, didn't even realize there is a Dominican Romeo y Julieta out there. Cigars from the same company but different continent for the American market?

[Matusalem]

I assumed Cubans, didn't even realize there is a Dominican Romeo y Julieta out there. Cigars from the same company but different continent for the American market?There are indeed, Count. I ask (I figured you were talking about the Havanas) but suspect we might be talking about both in this thread.

As a tip, if you like the RYJ Cedros 1-3, the Coronitas are absolutely a Best Buy very similar / same taste. While their factory designation lists as machine made - they have been totally handmade... at least for the last 3-5 years.

[Lew Barrett]

I assumed Cubans, didn't even realize there is a Dominican Romeo y Julieta out there. Cigars from the same company but different continent for the American market?

Not the same company. Because of the US' peculiar relationship (really, non-relationship) with Cuba, cigars from entirely different sources and manufacturers are branded with the same names, even the same model numbers, but come from entirely different sources.

The tangle of branding and trade name infringement will be the devil to sort out when and if we become free to trade with Cuba again. As an aside, I believe US based manufacturers are frequently guilty of intellectual/commercial/branding property infringements. Illustrative in this case, for example is "Cohiba", which is to me a purely Cuban invention that has been shamelessly ripped off by US based companies. But be that as it may, no Cuban cigars are allowed in this country and any similar brandings are not the same marques with different blends for US consumption. Old "Cuban" brand names being sold in this country as R&J, HdM, St. Luis Rey, etc., etc, etc, are sold by different ownership, under a tangled web of completely messy and enormously screwed up proportions.

[Hank Koestner]

There are a number of well made cigars out there for someone new to cigars.
You can't go wrong with those mentioned here, and you can also ask your tobacconist to point you to something you might like.

[JMac]

Well I picked up some Romeo y Julietas #3 (2) for a belated b-day present. They seemed to be the most recommended and the person at the cigar store did recommend them as well but not with dark or black rums. She suggested light/amber rums??

[Count Silvio]

Well I picked up some Romeo y Julietas #3 (2) for a belated b-day present. They seemed to be the most recommended and the person at the cigar store did recommend them as well but not with dark or black rums. She suggested light/amber rums??

Probably because the Romeo y Julietas (atleast the cubans are not) are not as robust as say El Dorado 15 so a medium bodied to light rum might be more suitable. I think that is what he meant.

[Matusalem]

Probably because the Romeo y Julietas (atleast the cubans are not) are not as robust as say El Dorado 15 so a medium bodied to light rum might be more suitable. I think that is what he meant.I agree with this assessment.

At the same time, I think it is very much up to the individual's taste when it comes to pairing. And depending on the individual, I also think it is inherently wrong to simply assume cigar and spirit must be equally yolked. Using that as a rule of thumb constant, can prove challenging + un-enjoyable imho.

This sort of inquiry is tough to respond concisely to. The only solid advice I can offer is one needs to experiment, keep an open mind, and try to retain what you learn / discover along the way.

[SuperCorona]

Well I picked up some Romeo y Julietas #3 (2) for a belated b-day present. They seemed to be the most recommended and the person at the cigar store did recommend them as well but not with dark or black rums. She suggested light/amber rums??

Try an Upmann Mag 46 or a Punch Punch with a dark rum. Those are on the milder side, but have enough flavor and body to hang in there with a glass of Pampero.

[JMac]

Try an Upmann Mag 46 or a Punch Punch with a dark rum. Those are on the milder side, but have enough flavor and body to hang in there with a glass of Pampero.

copy that....I'll try HC 7 year or Matusalem Classico....keep your fingers crossed...

[Hank Koestner]

I think those are good choices. As Matusalem said, it does take experimenting to find what you like. I think the idea is to find a pairing that compliments each other, and one does not over power the other.
I love the Mag 46, mild to medium, very creamy and excellent flavor.

[Lew Barrett]

I find it's easier to overpower the cigar than it is the rum. Somehow, the rum usually comes back to itself, but a poor pairing can leave the cigar flat. Have I imagined this?

[Chris]

I find it's easier to overpower the cigar than it is the rum. Somehow, the rum usually comes back to itself, but a poor pairing can leave the cigar flat. Have I imagined this?

I have had the same experience as well. Otherwise flavor-full cigars can almost completely disappear when paired incorrectly.

[Matusalem]

I have had the same experience as well. Otherwise flavor-full cigars can almost completely disappear when paired incorrectly.This is why (imho) it is safer to pair downward the spirit rather than contemplate if the cigar and spirit are bold enough to compete with each other.

[SuperCorona]

This is why (imho) it is safer to pair downward the spirit rather than contemplate if the cigar and spirit are bold enough to compete with each other.

Most definitely! There are times when I know what I want to smoke and then decide on a drink that will pair well with the cigar. Other times, I decide on the drink first. Finding those combinations is very satisfying. cheers.gif

[Hank Koestner]

I find it easier to start with the cigar first, then try to decide what rum might pair with it. Unless, of course, I go with a pairing that I have found to be good on a prior attempt. I might do this if I started with a rum, then decided to have a smoke.

[Lew Barrett]

All the great minds agree, then!cheers.gif

[Don Piero]

JMAC, welcome to the dark side LOL. Here's a twist.

If you are new to cigars, I would first try it with a port as it is a taste that will almost alway compliment the cigar. You may start to seek a more flavourful cigar - along the R&J line, I like the Belicoso or the Exhibition No.4.


Enjoy!cigar.gif