Whats the best cigar to smoke on my 21st birthday?
I am turning 21 in a few days, and will be having a bottle of glenlivet 18yr old amongst friends. I also want to have a cigar. My knowledge on cigars is very limited, so what is a good cigar that you would suggest? Thanks
Tags: cigar, Cigars, few days, turning 21
July 29th, 2010 at 7:12 am
I answered this question for another guy. Here’s what I wrote for him:
The best cigars you can legally get in the US are cuban seed plantings from the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Honduras. Only the wrapping leaf is grown in Connecticut. They are sold under many of the Cuban brand names: Montecristo, Romeo y Julietta, Cohiba, Partagas, H, Upmann. There is a small difference in the band that indicates they aren’t Cuban grown. There are also some great non-Cuban origin cigars: AVO, Padrone and CAO. Any of these brands are good and shouldn’t disappoint. If you’re from NYC, there are some great locally rolled cigars I could point you to.
Really, what most people don’t understand, it is the size and gauge of the cigar that matters more for most cigar smokers. Like other things, length and thickness makes for a different experience; the shape dictates a lot of the taste.
The standard cigars sizes are:
Robusto 5" x 50
Lonsdale 6.5" x 42
Corona 5.5" x 42
Churchill 7" x 47
Panatella 6" x 38
Double Corona 8" x 49
Toro 6 x 50
Giant 9" x 52
Anything smaller is not a standard cigar, it’s a cigarillo. Castro smoked only Churchills (as did Churchill), Diplomáticos.
If you’re not a real smoker, get a robusto or two; they’re mellower. Length does not mean a longer smoke as you only smoke until it tastes bitter. Unlike a cigarette, a cigar has a start, middle and finish that taste differently.
Here are my recommendations all Robustos based on NYC prices…
COHIBA XV 550 CIGARS – about $9 per
MONTECRISTO CLASSIC Robusto – about $8 per
H. UPMANN SIGNATURE DOUBLE EAGLE – about $6 per
ROMEO Y JULIETA CERTIFIED VINTAGE 2001 NO. 3 CIGARS – about $5 per
Prices can vary a lot from state to state. I buy them by the box so that’s why I’m saying about for individual prices.
I’m giving you all this info so if you can’t find these specific cigars at your local store, you can still make a good informed decision about what they do have.
If you live near the Canadian or Mexican border you can cross over and get real Cubans. US Customs will seize a box, but rarely if you only have two or three. If you’re 18, you’re legal to buy cigars in both Canada and Mexico – and to have a whisky to go with it. If you are Canadian, ask again about best cigar in Canada and I’ll tell about Cubans.
If you go through with it, ask how to light a cigar and I’ll answer that one too.
July 29th, 2010 at 7:12 am
smoke a philly blunt
July 29th, 2010 at 7:12 am
any gurkha or cohiba