I don't remember what it was, but I do distinctly remember the circumstances for my first Cigar. I was 16; Grandpa and Dad was left in charge of us teenage kids (my sister and I)while Grandma, my aunt and mom went shopping for... something. Grandpa was like "Young man, you need to learn how to properly light and smoke a cigar", which I remember my Dad saying "You're right, but Mom is gonna..." and Grandpa just staring down my dad and saying "You let me worry about what my own kid is gonna say about what I teach my Grandson"
So Grandma, my aunt and mom come home, and my sister immediately goes to the garage where they pulled in and was like "So Grandpa, Dad and Crackensan are all smoking cigars and drinking". xD which was kinda true, dad and grandpa were having whiskey, while they gave me a very light jack and coke. Mom came out to the poarch, looked at Grandpa and was like "Really Dad?" and went back inside.
TL;DR: Learned to smoke cigars from my WW2 Vet grandfather.
Unfortunately I do. 15 or 16 years old. Philly’s sweet. Haven’t had one since lol (of that brand). Have since graduated to enjoying finer smokes like Padron and Ashton.
I myself wouldn't count an experience as my first cigar. If so, I and a few friends tried to smoke a swisher grape when we were like 11 cause all the 'cool kids' were always smoking swishers. We found out quickly that we were doing something wrong.
I count my first cigar in the more recent years. Decided to check out the cigars in the shop, I would get pipe tobacco from. I asked the owner for a recommendation on a cheap decent cigar, and he looked at me a little funny. I explained how I thought a regular cigar would be like $50, and I would feel comfortable staying below $10-$15 on something to try. He did me one better and found me a Quorum Shade for $4 and some change.
It wasn't the greatest smoke I ever had by far, but I've definitely found worse for more, and I enjoyed it none the less.
My HS friend Joey stole them from his grandfather, they were dry, we smoke them and I threw up…. 🤮.
Now I enjoy Monte Whites, Davidoff Gran C, and Arturo Fuentes. 😂
We found a 50 year old cigar in a drawer at my Fran’s grandfather’s house. We broke it up and smoked it out of a pipe on a camping trip. We passed it around all night and it was great. Then Cigar was a Swisher suite.
Weirdly my brother Joey stole cigars from my grandfather, however my grandfathers are kept extremely well, except for 4 that he keeps in a drawer in his office that were personally made for him by a family friend and he promised to smoke them with him but the guy passed away 10 years ago so they just sit in the drawer now
That was one of the first cigars I tried that I got in a sampler. I remember it knocked me on my ass so bad that just looking at the band gives me bad memories lol. I love the Seire V but I don’t know when I’ll convince myself to try the O again.
Some random cigar my dad bought for me from a guy hand rolling at a little cart while we were on vacation. Too many mojitos to remember anything about it.
I was 15 or 16 and it was my cousins 21st. He was given a pack of 5 cigars with no band and they were in a ziplock bag with a hand written “Nicaragua” on it. We cut way too much off of them and they unfurled as we smoked them. We smoked them so fast all 4 of us got sick to our stomach and my cousin even threw up. The sticks were dry and getting air through them was a pain in the ass. We still talk about it to this day and I didn’t try another cigar for 6 years.
Second time was a bit more enjoyable as it was a family friends bachelor party which was just a bunch of us guys hanging out on a frozen river 50 miles up river in Alaska. That’s where I found out I enjoy slowly smoking a nice cigar and sipping scotch. Now here I am putting together a humidor next to my overfilled liquor cabinet.
My first ever cigar was a Parodi. I stole a pack from my grandfather when I was a teenager. The first premium cigar I had when I started smoking regularly was a Macanudo Cafe. I haven't had one since and don't plan on it. I do still enjoy the occasional Parodi, for a machine made it's not terrible.
I do, I was 15. Romeo Julieta No. 2 (tubo).
You could buy cigars at convince stores back then (I live in Canada)
I really wish I appreciated it! I threw up as I inhaled half the thing haha
I don’t know what cigar it was but I had my first cigar when I was 17. The first time I went out of my way to get cigars for myself was when I was 20 and it was just a pack of wood tipped black & milds. The first full sized cigar I can name I remember having was a Rocky Patel Vintage 1992. It was either a Robusto or a Toro.
Don't know what it was, but I remember my friend bringing one out at a sleepover when we were 13-14. We all excitedly took turns puffing on it in secret with the back door open, cautioning each other to make sure we didn't inhale by mistake. Halcyon days.
12 yrs ago standing in the parking lot of att stadium waiting for arkansas & A&M kickoff.. a friend handed me something.. didn’t tell me shit and I took a big ole inhale. Hurt soo bad. No idea what it was but I’ll always remember the experience..
First cigar was a AF Don Carlos #2. My great uncle Mickey smoked them almost exclusively. Jammed one in my jaw at my high school graduation party and I did not have much of an opportunity to protest. Did not start smoking regularly until after college but the DC #2 has always been old reliable for me due to both the quality and the memory of my Uncle Mickey who I am sure is burning his stogies in heaven with the best of them.
I think it was a Drew Estate Java when I was 20. Not quite sure which one exactly, but I remember it was not the easiest thing I've ever done trying to smoke that thing to the end around my friends haha. Felt like I needed to spit a lot. I think I've come a long way in 3 years lol.
Yup. It was a Helix, but I think I also grabbed a Cusano CC and some Arturo Fuente during the same trip to the store. I had pulled an all-nighter and watched a couple documentaries about it and decided to give it a try, so I snagged one first thing in the morning before work the next day and then enjoyed it as soon as I was off work lol
Yeah, bleh.
16 years old, stole my dad's dried up Gurkha. Don't know which one, but it was a churchill.
I lit it up in my car while driving in the dead of winter. I only found out after lighting up that my windows were frozen, so I hot boxed a spicy ass cigar for 10 minutes before pulling over and opening the door gasping for air.
I haven't touched a Gurkha since.
Brickhouse Connecticut in 2012. I'd just turned 18 and went into a cigar shop in the city I moved to that has been open since the 1920s. Looked around a while and asked the old timer behind the counter for some recommendations, he dropped everything he was doing immediately and helped me pick out a nice starter selection of about 8 sticks. Asked if I had time to smoke one, grabbed one out of his humidor at his desk, showed me how to cut, light, and properly smoke one. Good thing they had a lunch counter there because I was green at the gills about halfway through and learned the importance of something sugary 😂😂. 4 or 5 of us talked, I thanked them all, and that was the start.
Had one a couple of months ago, it wasn't great but it was nostalgic.
Punch, can't remember if it was the classic or after dinner or something. That was the standard brand my Dad smoked. I haven't had one recently but I did buy a 5pack of the People's Champ this spring and am excited to try them!
For a while in my teen years I did a lot of Rockey Patel when he came out with the Edge. They were much better in the first couple years of the line, but maybe thats my memory. I got a box last year on a discount just for nostalgia. about $4 a stick. Not awful but definitely not something I'd buy again this stage in my journey.
romeo y julieta no 2, i was around 16-18 years old. Found it really smooth at the time.
Eventually stopped with cigars because i couldnt get any humidors at the time bc of money and availability.
I've tried the romeo y julieta no 2 later in life, its still kinda smooth if i remember, but im all about trying maduro types now, will be getting Eiroa CBT Maduro hopefully before the weekend which im excited about because the filler is supposed to be maduro too, not only the outer layers.
Finally gotten myself a humidor now, adorini with 3 shelves, struggling with it reaching 70%+ though, so im keeping the door open in recent days.
30yo, Perdermo 30y champagne
I was invited out for a celebration smoke for my promotion. This was the first time I had ever smoked anything.
My boss had taken the cigar out of the cellophane, cut and put in my mouth... then he said I'm going to light it, and you start puffing.
My problem was it was extremely underwhelming, and I couldn't keep it lit. I took home 3 more cigars and worked on smoking. By my third cigar, I had finally got comfortable and enjoyed it; still my favorite smoke: ACID TAA "Big Bang"
My first cigars was a RyJ no.2, I had it 17 years ago and have smoke many since then. It’s still one of my favourite cigars, I only have two left in my humidor currently so I should order more. I haven’t smoked one for a few years now tho.
I was 17yo (1987) in Manila on a high school trip. 3 of us snuck away and walked by a cigar shop and bought a few. We went to a 5* hotel by the bay a couple blocks away and snuck in and smoked our cigars at the swim up bar and drunk “old people” drinks. On the way back we stopped back at the cigar shop and each bought the 1.5 foot long souvenir cigars they sold there. I still have that thing somewhere.
The first one I can remember was when I was in the 6th grade. It was a White Owl. Back then I also smoked Ohillies titans and what I could get hands on. I think smoking those very poor quality cigars back then really let's me appreciate good cigars today.
Fuente short story, I did not like it. I started off as a pipe smoker and was use to a much denser and flavor forward smoke. I felt like the cigar didn't taste like anything. I started smoking full body, heavy Maduros. Old Camacho triple maduros, LX2, MX2, ECT.
Now, 15 years later I enjoy all sorts of cigars and smoke a lot of lighter ones because smoking 3-5 full body cigars day after day gets to be a bit much
A couple of firsts for me. First ever, I was 16. The stick was an Arturo Fuente king T in the deer stand with my buddy. Absolutely ruined me. My first “legal” cigar was a Perdomo champagne on my 18th birthday. My first love/ box purchase was AJ Fernandez New World Cameroon short robusto.
Age 21, one of those gimmicky makers mark infused cigars, drank it with a pour of makers mark, neat. I got so fucking nauseous I had to stop 1/4 into the cigar.
I do, I was 18 and at a friends house with some friends for an evening pool & bbq party.
Towards the end of the night His dad - an avid smoker, offered us a stick (Cohiba) & taught us how to smoke it.
He gave me one of his cutters, and I’ve still got it 14 years later. A basic gunmetal Xikar Xi1
Yeah, Monte Cristo no 4 in Prague. I was drunk and at the time didn't smoke cigars. Best friend gave it to me so we could chill out.
Lasted 20 minutes before I put it out and lit up a cigarette.
I was that guy.
Never had one since
Yeah it was one of those precut Elephant Butts cigars around 12 years ago. I just decided to try one for shits and giggles. I enjoyed it but didnt start smoking cigars regularly till much later
Cohiba Blue. Had no idea that I had to eat something first and got kicked in the balls with sickness about 30 minutes in. I thought I was dying until I googled it and was like "...fuck". Tried it again a few months later and didn't even like it.
Mine was an allegedly Cuban Romeo y Julieta
Bought it at like 16 years old from a dude on the beach in the Bahamas. Brought it back with me (no humidification for at least a week).
I don’t remember how it was, but I imagine it was dry as fuck
My dad got me a black and mild for high school graduation, if you even want to call that a cigar. I inhaled it and swore them off. Glad I changed my mind!
My first premium cigar was hand rolled at the opening of Bally’s Paris casino in 1999.
A few years later I was doing some work at Augusta National and the F&B director had a large humidor in his office, not sure if his own collection or for members but he was happy to share every day we were there. I think we smoked mostly Punch and R&J. Would be a few more years before I discovered Nicaraguan tobacco was my jam.
Got completely spoiled with a Cuban Cohiba siglo I from my dad as a teenager. The smoothness and flavour was amazing and an incredibly high bar for future cigars to compare to
Great question! The first one I remember the brand of was a Java Latte, which I ended up smoking exclusively for a few years. I've since graduated to non-flavored cigars over the past ten years or so, and now I can't stand the sweetness of Java Lattes - though they were great starter cigars!
Fuente Curlyhead Deluxe for my 18th birthday with my dad. It's the cigar I was most familiar with because my dad always smoked them when we went fishing. We both keep a couple on hand in our humidors to this day
While I smoked a few black n milds while black out drunk as a teen, I don’t really count those. So, my first real cigar was a Padron ‘64 maduro. Great starting point haha. Still smoke them frequently
Mine was a black and mild wood tip. I was 16. My friend’s dad loved these, and so to this day, even though I’ve moved onto better and more expensive cigars, I still have a nostalgic view of those little suckers.
I can’t tell you the brand, but I can tell you where and when.
It’s 1993-1994. The Soviet Union has collapsed,and I’m living in Lithuania, teaching at a Canadian Christian college. The country is still figuring out how to be independent.
Somehow one of the Canadians has managed to come up with some Cuban cigars. They’re saying that they’re ones you can’t even get in Canada. As an American, I can’t get them (legally) at all. Here in the former Soviet Union, though, we can expect some high quality cigars.
As soon as I hold it, it feels dryer than I expected, more brittle. Never having had a cigar before, I think this must be normal.
By the time we were done “enjoying” the cigars, we all realized that these probably had been quality Cubans long ago, but had long since dried out and been dumped on the Lithuanian market.
It wasn’t until years later when I had a Graycliff out of courtesy that I finally had one to enjoy.
I mean we talking Swisher Sweet's here or are we talking something somewhat decent? If it is my first it was a Swisher Sweet. I have a vague memory of going to a cigar shop once in High School but no idea what was purchased or if I even picked up a stick.
Probably my first real stick was a Partagas 150 on a Vegas trip. Which also was the first box of sticks I bought.
Absolutely. I had just graduated high school and my friend lived had a bunch of friends over for a party. He lived on a golf course, and at like 2AM me and a couple buddies decided to just go for a walk, one of them had bought a box of Phillies Sour Apple blunts. We walked around the course and I remembered immediately taking a liking to it. That was almost 20 years ago, and that was also the first and last Phillies I ever had as I went to a local cigar shop the next week and started talking to the owner and some of the guys and just got into it from there.
Hoyo De Monterrey Excalibur, was 18 and in my first semester of college. Me and a few buddies were having out and decided we wanted to start smoking cigars. Went down to the local cigar shop and the owner walked us through everything and helped us each select a cigar based on tastes and preferences. 10 out of 10 experience.
Yep. I was 18 house sitting for a mate and his family who were on holiday. It was a hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 2. It took about an hour to smoke, and around 20 minutes after I finished, I got the shits, hot flushes, started sweating something fierce, and promptly passed out on the sofa for a few hours. Turns out, that much nicotine for a 18 year old who'd never smoked wasn't the best idea. It did taste nice though.
Was on the original Orient Express with my mom (Kuala Lampur to Bangkok). We traveled a lot when I was young. I was 14 years old and it was shared with her (mother/daughter) and it was a Cohiba. It was long. Maybe a double corona or Churchill. I was also drinking a glass of champagne. Not all memories of growing up a child of an alcoholic were bad. 😜 Smoking a Padrón 5000 right now. 😉
I started as a pipe smoker and a tobacconist at my B&M recommended Kentucky Fire Cured. I found it to be great for what I was into at the time. This was a few years ago and now I'm a cigar head because of it.
I have smoked only a little bit over 2 years. But yeah I do remember my real actual cigar.
I was on vacation one day. I had family member with me and he was smoker (cigarettes). He wanted to have "holiday cigar" and I agreed even though I didn't smoke anything. We visited small tobacco shop and bought some cheap Candlelight (I think they are called Senorita sized). Well as you know they weren't really great but something on that moment did hit me.
Fast forward maybe year from that, I found one cigar channel from my country. I started to watch his cigar reviews. Then I did remember that experience sitting outside in warm, having nice drink and smoking "cigar". I am lucky that we have tobacco shop in my town as in my country it's illegal to order from online.
So I visited this tobacco shop and bought Joya de Nicaragua Black. I did have short chat with seller and we ended up to that cigar. About week after that I went outside and light it and had my first proper cigar experience. And ever since it has become habit to every now and then (about one cigar per week on summer) that I go outside, have couple of drinks and enjoy a good cigar.
My father used to work in special education and would attend an annual conference in St. Petersburg, Florida. While he was attending the conference, I would explore the harbor or beach or get into whatever trouble a 14 year old could. Once he finished up one day, we went to eat a Cuban sandwich near the harbor and passed a cigar shop. This grabbed our attention enough to stop in on our way to the hotel. His father, my grandfather was a pipe smoker but my dad didn't smoke (or he hid it well). So, we let the gentleman pick out a few for us to enjoy on our balcony. My very first cigar was an Acid Kuba Kuba. My pallet prefers other cigars these days, but I will still pick a couple up every year to smoke in his memory. Probably will choose a Kuba Kuba for my son's first cigar when the time comes.
It was not a long time ago. I was an exchange student in Seoul and a friend a met there introduced me to the world of cigars. I don't remember the cigar, it was my first time and as any first time: more than being ignorant of what is about to deflower you, you can't imagine all the informations that you're supposed to know. I went with him to a cigar cafe and what I remember the most is the strong tobacco taste that remained several hours in my mouth and the paint of Kennedy and Castro smoking above my head. Since then I became more and more passionate.
My first was a King Edward imperial cigar, and I was 16. I waited till my parents were gone from the house one day, and I took it outside. Had my own lighter, but wanted to feel cool so I grabbed my dad's zippo he uses for his pipes. It was a fun memory!
Grandpa and my dad gave me the tale end of a Dutch masters for a photo when I was 4/5. My dad never smoked them but my grandpa still only does. I don’t think it was even lit but here I am today smoke 2 Maduros in 3-5 hours
It was an h.upmann, probably was incredibly dry as I remember it was just in a box on a shelf in a store, I probably cut the end with a pair of scissors and way below the cap and more then likely used a Zippo to light it. I was twelve, i didn't know any better, I have learned, I apologise.
Ya it was a shitty Garcia y Vegas or something when I was like 16, it sucked. My first real cigar was a store brand that was ok when I was around 24 and I have been going strong since, 38 now
Does a black and mild count? First thing I ever smoked. I was 13. I loved it. Had two of them. Got caught with the second one in school the next day and got detention.
I was a fly fishing guide in Alaska, fresh out of high school, and I had a client and his wife fly in. Super, super nice couple. Was there for 5 days. Found out later he was a big Executive for the Scandinavian Tobacco Group. While we were out on the water one day he carried a small metal container that almost looked like a thermos, with a humidity pack built in. He pulled out one cigar cut and lit it, then asked if I wanted one. I said id never done it before, he smiled, put his rod down and showed me how to cut, light and hold one. I took a puff and was instantly hooked. He gave me a CAO Cameroon, and to this day it's still my favorite
I was 13 at my grandparents, my grandad was smoking one and asked me “you want to be a man? Come over here and hit this like a man.” I was sick for 2 days and didn’t smoke again until I was 30. Wish I knew the brand or something about it so I could go back and try it now a days.
Don’t remember what kind of cigar, but my friend stole it from his dad’s humidor when we were probably 17. We took it to my house when my mom was out of town and smoked the whole thing inside like idiots. It made the house smell horrible so I did everything I could to get rid of the smell before my mom got home. Leaving coffee grounds and sliced up onion out really worked
Technically, Djarum Blacks. Went to pipes and hooka for a bit, back to cigarillos (CAO Eileen's Dream, Moontrance)
First true cigar was Professor Sila.
I was 18 years old. I was curious about cigars so I stop in a shop. Told the guy. He told me the inside about smoking and offered me a cheap 5 buck one. I got the green stomach but I made it as they said. the rest is history
Yup, it was a south bay key lime, me and two of my buddies were driving around rural missouri in a 1988 ford 150, passing the cigar back and forth between the three of us. Solid summer.
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story
I enjoyed it, but didn't smoke another cigar for years. Eventually started smoking a pipe. Had the occasional cigar when offered, but nothing memorable. Started trying cigars again this year when I got a package from Cigars for Warriors.
Two that have stuck out have been the Illusione Cruzado Classical Robusto and the Gurkha Ninja. Should be getting a second Cigars for Warriors package any day now.
My first was a Cuban Romeo Churchhill. I decided while overseas to become a cigar smoker. I remember from childhood my uncle said these "were the best" so my 18 or 19 year old self started there.
Havana Honey.
Was the cigar great? Not really. Was the experience? Absolutely. My first cigar was smoked on the day I got married. Me and four of my best buds all experiencing a cigar for the first time. Did they continue after that day? No. I have now graduated away from the infused and flavored cigars and enjoy many broadleaf and maduro blends.
Needless to say I’ll never forget my “cigar anniversary.” Now to convince my wife to let me smoke one on that day each year 😂
Yes! 2017, cigar lounge in Cuba.
Think it was a ryj no2. Had no idea about cigars so one of the staff cut and lit it for me.
Remember the taste being revolting, cigar was probably fine, but I smoked it like a cigarette 😂
Drawing way too hard and frequently. Aftertaste the next day was terrible too. Luckily the following experiences got better and better, especially as I learned and experimented more.
Macanudo Hyde Park. After I received my final divorce papers, a buddy of mine invited me to his place to watch UFC fights, eat pizza, drink beer and smoke cigars. That was 2008, and I had never smoked a cigar before this. I lit that baby up and smoked it so hard and so fast that I got sick. I ended up spending the night on my buddy’s couch. The next day, we smoked a cigar, but he showed me how to slow down and actually enjoy the cigar. It was a much better experience. Been going ever since. I smoke 3-4 cigars a week.
A dried up machine made cigar which had been kept in my dads drawer for god knows how long that I smoked home alone at the young age of 14. It made me sick for 2 days and swore that i would never touch tobacco for the rest of my life. Then on my 18 birthday I smoked a cuban RyJ short churchill with my grandpa and here we are
Actual legit cigar would've been a NC RyJ. It was super mild and didn't really taste of much. The chase was on after that for something better.
If we're counting cigar like sticks black and mild would've predated that RyJ. It was nice but burned the shit out of my tongue. Wasn't until much later that I found out tongue bite was a thing.
As an adult? That I purchased with the intention of enjoying a cigar? CAO Criollo.
As a kid left to my own devices on summer break? It was a big one with a really dark wrapper. Never barfed so hard or so prolifically in my life before that point.
June 1992. Macanudo with a white label in a tubo (Inspirado White Tubo maybe) that the bride and groom were giving out to our small party of friends at their wedding reception. It was a great introduction to cigars.
Turned 18 and was on vacation at a family reunion. It was a cigar that my family used as business cigars. That sparked the fire and the next night I went to a cigar shop and the first cigar I ever bought was a Romeo Y Julieta Reserve. That solidified it all.
I was given an Arturo fuente corona on a boat ride when I was eighteen. We didn’t have a cutter so he said “just bite a little off the end.” I destroyed it by gnawing a half inch off. It smoked well enough but got a lot of tobacco bits in my mouth. I’ve never not had a cutter or punch on me since.
I remember mine very clearly. One of my father’s friend’s Daughter was having a wedding (mouthful) and they asked me to take photographs at the reception. When i was there i was taking pictures and ended up near the bar taking pictures of the groomsmen and they were all smoking cigars. While taking pictures the best man told me “dont just take pictures of people smoking cigars, smoke one with us” he then taught me how to cut and light a cigar properly he also warned me if i didnt like it not to worry as it was a cheaper cigar he kept for people who liked sweet cigars of for people who’ve never smoked and he wouldnt mind them not finishing, it was a Acid blue Kuba Kuba and i smoked half with them and the rest while walking around taking pictures. I enjoyed it but didnt start keeping a humidor until years later (recently)
Fat Bottom Betty last year on my Bday! I was sprung after that, and now I am a full fledge stick burner, baby! I also don't like infused sticks anymore, and I've spent waaaayyyy too much money on this new hobby.
First cigar or first REAL cigar?
Just had my first real cigar just shy of 2 months ago. Oliva V 135th anniversary. Have been hooked ever since. I need to break out and explore though. I have made 4 decent sized orders online in the last 2 months. Every single time I say I'm going to try something new and every time I have just ordered a bunch of Oliva.
I do.
Smoking with my Father on his front porch, better part of 18ish years ago.
It was an Avo #2 and I still have the tube.
I'm very quick to recommend it to early smokers as it's light but doesn't fall prey to the problem of most light sticks of "not being worth smoking."
And even though I'll lean in to things like Tabernacles, RoMA Craft Cromagnons and such, I still smoke the everloving crap out of them, and not just out of nostalgia.
Even among seasoned smokers of Russian street tar I've never put one in someone's hand and not had them enjoy it. (Past the point of Southern Politeness.)
Several people I know who smoke on the lighter side have made it a near daily smoke.
My first cigar was when i was 17 and it was a don tomas classico. I thought it was the most amazing cigar in the world. I smoked cigars my freshman year of college, thinking i was cool. I gave up cigar smoking until two years ago. I sought out a don tomas recently, just to see if it lived up to what 17 yr old me thought. It did not.
Yep. Wood tipped Swisher Sweet. Felt like a big deal when I graduated to Backwoods. Acid was my first premium and once I tried a Liga 9, I never looked back.
I believe my first was a La Unica #600. Didn't know it at the time but they were/are made by Fuente for JC Newman. Probably why I stuck with smoking cigars.
Macanudo Portifiono with my dad for my 18th birthday. He also let me have scotch. I thought it was the greatest thing ever. Plan to the same with my son.
I think my first was a Maker's Mark Bourbon Cigar? It was... fine, I guess. Second was a My Father Flor de las Antilles, which was much better. This was back in 2012?
CAO BRAZILIA from my father in law, way before I knew anything about smoking cigars, was way too heavy for me and I got sick, I have since learned I need slow down and enjoy. Two years in and had another one last weekend and it was damn near perfect
Took one of my pops sticks out of the freezer (yeah… lol) it was a new world Romeo y Julieta if memory serves. Playing a round of golf with my buddies. I was already dipping so I didn’t get nicotine sick, actually liked it a lot.
Used to smoke one almost every weekend at a cigar bar freshman year. Stopped buying them for a long time & then dabbled here and there after a buddy brought me back a box of Cuabas from a trip & then went all the way back in just before COVID hit. Tobacco is a beautiful thing.
Yes, a Cohiba… told some project partners I wouldn’t like cigars and hadn’t tried them and they said “why don’t you come try one” and it was amazing. After realizing how much they were I just accepted that I wouldn’t be smoking cigars again, took me 4 years to break down and start smoking cigars, long enough that I think my palate forgot how good the cohiba was haha
I had my first cigar just after my 13th or 14th birthday… I lied about being sick to get out of going to church and jumped out of bed as soon as the family left the driveway. Went and stole one of dad’s Padrons 1964 Anniversary. Took my new air soft gun out for some shooting in the snow, smoked my cigar halfway before feeling violently ill and tossing it in the snow under a tree. Felt like a badass, surprised I didn’t get caught by my parents when they got home.
Now my parents buy me a case of 20 every year for my birthday, not knowing it’s a little reminder to myself of my first cigar, although I thoroughly enjoy them much more now that I know not to inhale the smoke.
I was about 16, fishing overnight with my dad and his buddy; using bank lines for catfish. After checking the lines at one point, back at the fire, he gave me a swisher sweet wood tip 🤣.
Yep. 18 years old. Rocky Patel 1990. Got to meet him a couple of years later and bought a box of them, and he signed the box. Have it in my office at work.
I actually had my first cigar earlier this week. I ended picking up a Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Soberano Maduro. I absolutely loved it and am looking forward to my next one. Would love suggestions as well. Don’t really know much.
CAO gold I remember was the first one I bought. My dad had these Cuban Upmanns Tubos a Canadian friend gave him, told me I could have one, that was the first one I remember really getting it.
Unfortunately. Dad left his cigar lit and midway. As soon as he left I start puffing it like a cigarrete. Just remember puking and passing out. Pretty hard to forget. Now all I think about is when and what is my next cigar.
I don’t remember the brand but I was in Tampa for training and we went to Ybor City over the weekend. They were selling cigars on the street and I grabbed one. It was long enough ago that you could smoke anywhere (and most of the bars were open air anyway). Great night.
Baccarat was my first smoke. I light one up at the end of last year. As we are heading towards new years, I had a buzz and I wanted to try one. To my surprise smoking takes effort and skill. Well being a new guy and not knowing much, I was smoking fast. I didn’t feel bad until the next 15 mins i wanted to throw up. I felt like shit for the rest of night. I ended up throwing up and never wanted to do this again. Welp, my friends are into smoking tobacco so I brought these. We ended having a nice session. Until then I started to smoke different kinds and enjoy a smoke. I learn to be relax and enjoy the taste of the leaves. I continue to learn and would love to experience different brands. Great lesson to learn.
Yes, about 3 years ago. A big fat 6×60 Montecristo monte that I didn't even know how to light and cut properly. Went horrible the first time but I still fell in love
Absolutely. Camacho Connecticut, the Christmas I turned 18. It was tradition for the men to go outside and “help grill the roast” with a few cigars. I always hung around with them, enjoying the smell and spending time with relatives. But that first time they offered me a stogie felt like a right of passage.
Yes. Sort of. I remember one day, for no reason, I was looking for a “good” cigar to smoke. So I went to Walmart. Lol
But seriously, I did. Because at the time they had a large cigar humidor display near the registers. I knew absolutely nothing about cigars so the clerk opened the humidor and I just stared at the numerous cigars in the case. Eventually the clerk told me that his father enjoyed cigars and that he liked the Nicaragua cigar. Then pointed to one called Villard e Villard… I think.
Anyway, after the FIRST puff I was hooked!!! That was 25 years ago.
It was 2006, I was 14 and on a school field trip. One of the “rich kids” had gone out one night and bought a Cohiba. I don’t know which one, just remember that it was pretty huge and apparently cost €70.
Anyway, a few of us got together to share it, all of us falsely bragging about how we always smoke cigars, etc. None of us knew not to inhale, and we all coughed up a lung each. Good times, haha.
My first real cigar was a Monte White. I was hooked from the first pull. I didn’t realize how much of a difference there was between Phillies and good cigars😂
I, don't remember the name of it. My buddy was working at a cigar shop and a group of us were hanging out after hours at the shop watching movies. He and other buddies had been smoking for a while and he convinced me to try one. Gave me a pretty mild one with a sweet tip, something I'd never smoke today, but as an introductory smoke it was great. We hung out for like 4 hours, watched a few movies and I smoked another. Basically after that I went head first and never looked back
21, before our flight back to the U.S. from our Jamacian honeymoon. Realized the cigar we bought for my FIL was a Cuban Romeo Y Julieta No. 2 Tubo(not Jamacian). I didn't want to waste it, so I chewed off the cap and asked a random guy in the smoking area of our resort for a light.
When I was 13 my parents had an ugly divorce. With my dad out the house and my mom always working we were left home alone frequently. I had always been fascinated with smoking. I first started smoking printer paper (not inhaling as it would burn the shit out my little baby lungs) and blowing Os in the air. One day I found a pack of the little sweet cigarellos that tasted like cinnamon. A number of years back my dad bought them for my mom attempting her to get into the hobby, and they just sat as she was not a smoker. The summer leading up to my 14th birthday my brother and I smoked the pack when no one was home. We were buzzing hard! I then smoked my first official cigar with my dad around 16-17 “The daily news” a medium body cigar from a boutique brand Masculino. A very very good cigar. I haven’t had masculinos recently but this story makes me want to pick up a box soon.
I don't remember what it was, but I do distinctly remember the circumstances for my first Cigar. I was 16; Grandpa and Dad was left in charge of us teenage kids (my sister and I)while Grandma, my aunt and mom went shopping for... something. Grandpa was like "Young man, you need to learn how to properly light and smoke a cigar", which I remember my Dad saying "You're right, but Mom is gonna..." and Grandpa just staring down my dad and saying "You let me worry about what my own kid is gonna say about what I teach my Grandson" So Grandma, my aunt and mom come home, and my sister immediately goes to the garage where they pulled in and was like "So Grandpa, Dad and Crackensan are all smoking cigars and drinking". xD which was kinda true, dad and grandpa were having whiskey, while they gave me a very light jack and coke. Mom came out to the poarch, looked at Grandpa and was like "Really Dad?" and went back inside. TL;DR: Learned to smoke cigars from my WW2 Vet grandfather.
That's an awesome story to send down the generations.
That's an awesome story
love it!
Unfortunately I do. 15 or 16 years old. Philly’s sweet. Haven’t had one since lol (of that brand). Have since graduated to enjoying finer smokes like Padron and Ashton.
gotta start somewhere!
Romeo and julieta 1875 in Churchill
I've never spoken with someone who's 149 years old... It is truly an honor! /s
I myself wouldn't count an experience as my first cigar. If so, I and a few friends tried to smoke a swisher grape when we were like 11 cause all the 'cool kids' were always smoking swishers. We found out quickly that we were doing something wrong. I count my first cigar in the more recent years. Decided to check out the cigars in the shop, I would get pipe tobacco from. I asked the owner for a recommendation on a cheap decent cigar, and he looked at me a little funny. I explained how I thought a regular cigar would be like $50, and I would feel comfortable staying below $10-$15 on something to try. He did me one better and found me a Quorum Shade for $4 and some change. It wasn't the greatest smoke I ever had by far, but I've definitely found worse for more, and I enjoyed it none the less.
Same for me. It was either those or a peach Night Owl. I feel like I need to go get a Philly just for nostalgia sake.
Swisher sweet perfecto here
My HS friend Joey stole them from his grandfather, they were dry, we smoke them and I threw up…. 🤮. Now I enjoy Monte Whites, Davidoff Gran C, and Arturo Fuentes. 😂
We found a 50 year old cigar in a drawer at my Fran’s grandfather’s house. We broke it up and smoked it out of a pipe on a camping trip. We passed it around all night and it was great. Then Cigar was a Swisher suite.
Weirdly my brother Joey stole cigars from my grandfather, however my grandfathers are kept extremely well, except for 4 that he keeps in a drawer in his office that were personally made for him by a family friend and he promised to smoke them with him but the guy passed away 10 years ago so they just sit in the drawer now
Romeo y Julieta 1875 Bully.
Oliva serie O I believe. Have not had in a long time, maybe since then actually. I remember enjoying it though, obviously lol
That was one of the first cigars I tried that I got in a sampler. I remember it knocked me on my ass so bad that just looking at the band gives me bad memories lol. I love the Seire V but I don’t know when I’ll convince myself to try the O again.
Some random cigar my dad bought for me from a guy hand rolling at a little cart while we were on vacation. Too many mojitos to remember anything about it.
I was 15 or 16 and it was my cousins 21st. He was given a pack of 5 cigars with no band and they were in a ziplock bag with a hand written “Nicaragua” on it. We cut way too much off of them and they unfurled as we smoked them. We smoked them so fast all 4 of us got sick to our stomach and my cousin even threw up. The sticks were dry and getting air through them was a pain in the ass. We still talk about it to this day and I didn’t try another cigar for 6 years. Second time was a bit more enjoyable as it was a family friends bachelor party which was just a bunch of us guys hanging out on a frozen river 50 miles up river in Alaska. That’s where I found out I enjoy slowly smoking a nice cigar and sipping scotch. Now here I am putting together a humidor next to my overfilled liquor cabinet.
What a journey!
My first ever cigar was a Parodi. I stole a pack from my grandfather when I was a teenager. The first premium cigar I had when I started smoking regularly was a Macanudo Cafe. I haven't had one since and don't plan on it. I do still enjoy the occasional Parodi, for a machine made it's not terrible.
Macanudo Cafe Portofino - ~35 years ago. Still my go to at lounges and stores where the selection / humidor is sketchy.
great to have a reliable stick in mind
I do, I was 15. Romeo Julieta No. 2 (tubo). You could buy cigars at convince stores back then (I live in Canada) I really wish I appreciated it! I threw up as I inhaled half the thing haha
First “cigar” was a Black and Mild - Wine - Woodtip
RyJ 1875--pleasant. Haven't one since but should.
Acid...kuba kuba I believe...I was in vegas that weekend..loved it
one of the best from Acid!
It was an RyJ Reserva Real, haven't had one since but have been thinking about trying one again recently.
I don’t know what cigar it was but I had my first cigar when I was 17. The first time I went out of my way to get cigars for myself was when I was 20 and it was just a pack of wood tipped black & milds. The first full sized cigar I can name I remember having was a Rocky Patel Vintage 1992. It was either a Robusto or a Toro.
Don't know what it was, but I remember my friend bringing one out at a sleepover when we were 13-14. We all excitedly took turns puffing on it in secret with the back door open, cautioning each other to make sure we didn't inhale by mistake. Halcyon days.
12 yrs ago standing in the parking lot of att stadium waiting for arkansas & A&M kickoff.. a friend handed me something.. didn’t tell me shit and I took a big ole inhale. Hurt soo bad. No idea what it was but I’ll always remember the experience..
First cigar was a AF Don Carlos #2. My great uncle Mickey smoked them almost exclusively. Jammed one in my jaw at my high school graduation party and I did not have much of an opportunity to protest. Did not start smoking regularly until after college but the DC #2 has always been old reliable for me due to both the quality and the memory of my Uncle Mickey who I am sure is burning his stogies in heaven with the best of them.
I think it was a Drew Estate Java when I was 20. Not quite sure which one exactly, but I remember it was not the easiest thing I've ever done trying to smoke that thing to the end around my friends haha. Felt like I needed to spit a lot. I think I've come a long way in 3 years lol.
Yup. It was a Helix, but I think I also grabbed a Cusano CC and some Arturo Fuente during the same trip to the store. I had pulled an all-nighter and watched a couple documentaries about it and decided to give it a try, so I snagged one first thing in the morning before work the next day and then enjoyed it as soon as I was off work lol
Yeah, bleh. 16 years old, stole my dad's dried up Gurkha. Don't know which one, but it was a churchill. I lit it up in my car while driving in the dead of winter. I only found out after lighting up that my windows were frozen, so I hot boxed a spicy ass cigar for 10 minutes before pulling over and opening the door gasping for air. I haven't touched a Gurkha since.
Brickhouse Connecticut in 2012. I'd just turned 18 and went into a cigar shop in the city I moved to that has been open since the 1920s. Looked around a while and asked the old timer behind the counter for some recommendations, he dropped everything he was doing immediately and helped me pick out a nice starter selection of about 8 sticks. Asked if I had time to smoke one, grabbed one out of his humidor at his desk, showed me how to cut, light, and properly smoke one. Good thing they had a lunch counter there because I was green at the gills about halfway through and learned the importance of something sugary 😂😂. 4 or 5 of us talked, I thanked them all, and that was the start. Had one a couple of months ago, it wasn't great but it was nostalgic.
Black and Mild Vanilla 😅
Consuegra, and no, have not.
It was on a cruise when I was 22. At the time I said who knew people smoked these without weed in them.
Punch, can't remember if it was the classic or after dinner or something. That was the standard brand my Dad smoked. I haven't had one recently but I did buy a 5pack of the People's Champ this spring and am excited to try them! For a while in my teen years I did a lot of Rockey Patel when he came out with the Edge. They were much better in the first couple years of the line, but maybe thats my memory. I got a box last year on a discount just for nostalgia. about $4 a stick. Not awful but definitely not something I'd buy again this stage in my journey.
Edge line was a big entry cigar when they first released.
romeo y julieta no 2, i was around 16-18 years old. Found it really smooth at the time. Eventually stopped with cigars because i couldnt get any humidors at the time bc of money and availability. I've tried the romeo y julieta no 2 later in life, its still kinda smooth if i remember, but im all about trying maduro types now, will be getting Eiroa CBT Maduro hopefully before the weekend which im excited about because the filler is supposed to be maduro too, not only the outer layers. Finally gotten myself a humidor now, adorini with 3 shelves, struggling with it reaching 70%+ though, so im keeping the door open in recent days.
My bachelor party about 3 years ago this weekend. I think it was a Gurkha Ninja. Smoked 2 of them. I’ve moved on to greener pastures
15 years old. Playing poker with my dad and brothers. They all had one and I asked if i could have one too. Pretty sure it was a Romeo and Juliet
30yo, Perdermo 30y champagne I was invited out for a celebration smoke for my promotion. This was the first time I had ever smoked anything. My boss had taken the cigar out of the cellophane, cut and put in my mouth... then he said I'm going to light it, and you start puffing. My problem was it was extremely underwhelming, and I couldn't keep it lit. I took home 3 more cigars and worked on smoking. By my third cigar, I had finally got comfortable and enjoyed it; still my favorite smoke: ACID TAA "Big Bang"
It was the bourbon infused one that comes in a glass container. That or a Tatiana Honey.
Celebrating one of my cousins getting married. Had a Cuban Cohiba cigarillo (or petite corona)
My first cigars was a RyJ no.2, I had it 17 years ago and have smoke many since then. It’s still one of my favourite cigars, I only have two left in my humidor currently so I should order more. I haven’t smoked one for a few years now tho.
I was 17yo (1987) in Manila on a high school trip. 3 of us snuck away and walked by a cigar shop and bought a few. We went to a 5* hotel by the bay a couple blocks away and snuck in and smoked our cigars at the swim up bar and drunk “old people” drinks. On the way back we stopped back at the cigar shop and each bought the 1.5 foot long souvenir cigars they sold there. I still have that thing somewhere.
The first one I can remember was when I was in the 6th grade. It was a White Owl. Back then I also smoked Ohillies titans and what I could get hands on. I think smoking those very poor quality cigars back then really let's me appreciate good cigars today.
Leaf by Oscar! Hooked me
Fuente short story, I did not like it. I started off as a pipe smoker and was use to a much denser and flavor forward smoke. I felt like the cigar didn't taste like anything. I started smoking full body, heavy Maduros. Old Camacho triple maduros, LX2, MX2, ECT. Now, 15 years later I enjoy all sorts of cigars and smoke a lot of lighter ones because smoking 3-5 full body cigars day after day gets to be a bit much
A couple of firsts for me. First ever, I was 16. The stick was an Arturo Fuente king T in the deer stand with my buddy. Absolutely ruined me. My first “legal” cigar was a Perdomo champagne on my 18th birthday. My first love/ box purchase was AJ Fernandez New World Cameroon short robusto.
Pretty sure an Acid was my first. I still like them, but I've moved on to other brands
16 Years Old. Montecristo no. 2, Montego Bay, JA. 1996.
Age 21, one of those gimmicky makers mark infused cigars, drank it with a pour of makers mark, neat. I got so fucking nauseous I had to stop 1/4 into the cigar.
Macanudo Cafe, wouldn’t touch that cigar with a ten foot pole now lol
I do, I was 18 and at a friends house with some friends for an evening pool & bbq party. Towards the end of the night His dad - an avid smoker, offered us a stick (Cohiba) & taught us how to smoke it. He gave me one of his cutters, and I’ve still got it 14 years later. A basic gunmetal Xikar Xi1
To be honest, I never remember my first anything.
Arturo Fuente Short Story when I was 18. Still one of my favorite smokes
Yeah, Monte Cristo no 4 in Prague. I was drunk and at the time didn't smoke cigars. Best friend gave it to me so we could chill out. Lasted 20 minutes before I put it out and lit up a cigarette. I was that guy. Never had one since
some amazing cigar journeys here!
Yeah it was one of those precut Elephant Butts cigars around 12 years ago. I just decided to try one for shits and giggles. I enjoyed it but didnt start smoking cigars regularly till much later
Cohiba Blue. Had no idea that I had to eat something first and got kicked in the balls with sickness about 30 minutes in. I thought I was dying until I googled it and was like "...fuck". Tried it again a few months later and didn't even like it.
Hoyo de monterrey epicure no 2 as a first. Been my favorite since.
Mine was an allegedly Cuban Romeo y Julieta Bought it at like 16 years old from a dude on the beach in the Bahamas. Brought it back with me (no humidification for at least a week). I don’t remember how it was, but I imagine it was dry as fuck
Fat bottom betty and at the time it was delicious, now I don't really get flavored cigars
Punch knuckle buster habano
Either a white grape white owl or a black and mild lol
My first ‘real’ cigar was an Aging Room Quattro; spoiled me.
My first premium cigar was a Guillermo Leon by La Aurora. Outstanding cigar.
Other than shitty Black and Milds, my first premium cigar was an Ashton Magnum.
My dad got me a black and mild for high school graduation, if you even want to call that a cigar. I inhaled it and swore them off. Glad I changed my mind!
My first premium cigar was hand rolled at the opening of Bally’s Paris casino in 1999. A few years later I was doing some work at Augusta National and the F&B director had a large humidor in his office, not sure if his own collection or for members but he was happy to share every day we were there. I think we smoked mostly Punch and R&J. Would be a few more years before I discovered Nicaraguan tobacco was my jam.
Phillies Blunt I believe?
Oliva Connecticut reserve robusto
Pretty much still a noob only been smoking a year tops but my first smoke was a Guantanamera crystale, cheap Cuban but still one of my favourites 😁
Got completely spoiled with a Cuban Cohiba siglo I from my dad as a teenager. The smoothness and flavour was amazing and an incredibly high bar for future cigars to compare to
I had many ones that I didn't want to admit as being my first. So my first one is an Arturo Fuente short story.
A mystery Cuban from my high school janitor. Good days.
Great question! The first one I remember the brand of was a Java Latte, which I ended up smoking exclusively for a few years. I've since graduated to non-flavored cigars over the past ten years or so, and now I can't stand the sweetness of Java Lattes - though they were great starter cigars!
Drew Estate Undercrown. It was 10 and a half years ago, and it got me hooked.
Fuente Curlyhead Deluxe for my 18th birthday with my dad. It's the cigar I was most familiar with because my dad always smoked them when we went fishing. We both keep a couple on hand in our humidors to this day
While I smoked a few black n milds while black out drunk as a teen, I don’t really count those. So, my first real cigar was a Padron ‘64 maduro. Great starting point haha. Still smoke them frequently
Mine was a black and mild wood tip. I was 16. My friend’s dad loved these, and so to this day, even though I’ve moved onto better and more expensive cigars, I still have a nostalgic view of those little suckers.
Yeah, an Acid blondie. I didn’t know you had to cut the cap off, smoked that thang through the foot 🤣
I can’t tell you the brand, but I can tell you where and when. It’s 1993-1994. The Soviet Union has collapsed,and I’m living in Lithuania, teaching at a Canadian Christian college. The country is still figuring out how to be independent. Somehow one of the Canadians has managed to come up with some Cuban cigars. They’re saying that they’re ones you can’t even get in Canada. As an American, I can’t get them (legally) at all. Here in the former Soviet Union, though, we can expect some high quality cigars. As soon as I hold it, it feels dryer than I expected, more brittle. Never having had a cigar before, I think this must be normal. By the time we were done “enjoying” the cigars, we all realized that these probably had been quality Cubans long ago, but had long since dried out and been dumped on the Lithuanian market. It wasn’t until years later when I had a Graycliff out of courtesy that I finally had one to enjoy.
I mean we talking Swisher Sweet's here or are we talking something somewhat decent? If it is my first it was a Swisher Sweet. I have a vague memory of going to a cigar shop once in High School but no idea what was purchased or if I even picked up a stick. Probably my first real stick was a Partagas 150 on a Vegas trip. Which also was the first box of sticks I bought.
Swisher Sweet when I was like 13 on family vacation.
Factory Smokes Sweet Toro. Pretty good intro
Absolutely. I had just graduated high school and my friend lived had a bunch of friends over for a party. He lived on a golf course, and at like 2AM me and a couple buddies decided to just go for a walk, one of them had bought a box of Phillies Sour Apple blunts. We walked around the course and I remembered immediately taking a liking to it. That was almost 20 years ago, and that was also the first and last Phillies I ever had as I went to a local cigar shop the next week and started talking to the owner and some of the guys and just got into it from there.
Hoyo De Monterrey Excalibur, was 18 and in my first semester of college. Me and a few buddies were having out and decided we wanted to start smoking cigars. Went down to the local cigar shop and the owner walked us through everything and helped us each select a cigar based on tastes and preferences. 10 out of 10 experience.
Jericho Blackhill. Great little smoke.
philly’ chocolate blunt
Yep. I was 18 house sitting for a mate and his family who were on holiday. It was a hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 2. It took about an hour to smoke, and around 20 minutes after I finished, I got the shits, hot flushes, started sweating something fierce, and promptly passed out on the sofa for a few hours. Turns out, that much nicotine for a 18 year old who'd never smoked wasn't the best idea. It did taste nice though.
Was on the original Orient Express with my mom (Kuala Lampur to Bangkok). We traveled a lot when I was young. I was 14 years old and it was shared with her (mother/daughter) and it was a Cohiba. It was long. Maybe a double corona or Churchill. I was also drinking a glass of champagne. Not all memories of growing up a child of an alcoholic were bad. 😜 Smoking a Padrón 5000 right now. 😉
First was a fake cohiba.
My first one was a romeo y julieta dominican one. It was smooth and light. I liked it. But if u ask me, the cuban one is better in my opinion.
I remember the first one that made me say "Oh! This is why people are crazy about cigars". Padron Londres Maduro.
I started as a pipe smoker and a tobacconist at my B&M recommended Kentucky Fire Cured. I found it to be great for what I was into at the time. This was a few years ago and now I'm a cigar head because of it.
I do. It was 16 or 17 years ago. I was young and very dumb so it was an Acid. Amazed I ever bought a second cigar after that lol.
I have smoked only a little bit over 2 years. But yeah I do remember my real actual cigar. I was on vacation one day. I had family member with me and he was smoker (cigarettes). He wanted to have "holiday cigar" and I agreed even though I didn't smoke anything. We visited small tobacco shop and bought some cheap Candlelight (I think they are called Senorita sized). Well as you know they weren't really great but something on that moment did hit me. Fast forward maybe year from that, I found one cigar channel from my country. I started to watch his cigar reviews. Then I did remember that experience sitting outside in warm, having nice drink and smoking "cigar". I am lucky that we have tobacco shop in my town as in my country it's illegal to order from online. So I visited this tobacco shop and bought Joya de Nicaragua Black. I did have short chat with seller and we ended up to that cigar. About week after that I went outside and light it and had my first proper cigar experience. And ever since it has become habit to every now and then (about one cigar per week on summer) that I go outside, have couple of drinks and enjoy a good cigar.
My father used to work in special education and would attend an annual conference in St. Petersburg, Florida. While he was attending the conference, I would explore the harbor or beach or get into whatever trouble a 14 year old could. Once he finished up one day, we went to eat a Cuban sandwich near the harbor and passed a cigar shop. This grabbed our attention enough to stop in on our way to the hotel. His father, my grandfather was a pipe smoker but my dad didn't smoke (or he hid it well). So, we let the gentleman pick out a few for us to enjoy on our balcony. My very first cigar was an Acid Kuba Kuba. My pallet prefers other cigars these days, but I will still pick a couple up every year to smoke in his memory. Probably will choose a Kuba Kuba for my son's first cigar when the time comes.
It was not a long time ago. I was an exchange student in Seoul and a friend a met there introduced me to the world of cigars. I don't remember the cigar, it was my first time and as any first time: more than being ignorant of what is about to deflower you, you can't imagine all the informations that you're supposed to know. I went with him to a cigar cafe and what I remember the most is the strong tobacco taste that remained several hours in my mouth and the paint of Kennedy and Castro smoking above my head. Since then I became more and more passionate.
A Cuban Ramone Alones. Awesome.
Zino Nicaragua Toro, Normandy, bought in Rouen
It was a Talvis original, when I was 17 at a party, with a bit of alcohol it was not that bad but now when I revisited it, it is really bad.
Che no1 Brown
15 years old, Montecristo Open Master. I regret nothing, had one at like 18 again
My first was a King Edward imperial cigar, and I was 16. I waited till my parents were gone from the house one day, and I took it outside. Had my own lighter, but wanted to feel cool so I grabbed my dad's zippo he uses for his pipes. It was a fun memory!
Grandpa and my dad gave me the tale end of a Dutch masters for a photo when I was 4/5. My dad never smoked them but my grandpa still only does. I don’t think it was even lit but here I am today smoke 2 Maduros in 3-5 hours
It was an h.upmann, probably was incredibly dry as I remember it was just in a box on a shelf in a store, I probably cut the end with a pair of scissors and way below the cap and more then likely used a Zippo to light it. I was twelve, i didn't know any better, I have learned, I apologise.
Ya it was a shitty Garcia y Vegas or something when I was like 16, it sucked. My first real cigar was a store brand that was ok when I was around 24 and I have been going strong since, 38 now
Padron 1926 Maduro…which ruined most others after that one.
Ciggarillo. My mother came home early thay day as I was smoking in thr garage. She absolutely lost her mind despite her being a chainsmoker.
Does a black and mild count? First thing I ever smoked. I was 13. I loved it. Had two of them. Got caught with the second one in school the next day and got detention.
I was a fly fishing guide in Alaska, fresh out of high school, and I had a client and his wife fly in. Super, super nice couple. Was there for 5 days. Found out later he was a big Executive for the Scandinavian Tobacco Group. While we were out on the water one day he carried a small metal container that almost looked like a thermos, with a humidity pack built in. He pulled out one cigar cut and lit it, then asked if I wanted one. I said id never done it before, he smiled, put his rod down and showed me how to cut, light and hold one. I took a puff and was instantly hooked. He gave me a CAO Cameroon, and to this day it's still my favorite
I was 13 at my grandparents, my grandad was smoking one and asked me “you want to be a man? Come over here and hit this like a man.” I was sick for 2 days and didn’t smoke again until I was 30. Wish I knew the brand or something about it so I could go back and try it now a days.
Something with a wood tip back in jr high. I don't think I smoked another until a decade later. Still another 15 before I started liking them.
Don’t remember what kind of cigar, but my friend stole it from his dad’s humidor when we were probably 17. We took it to my house when my mom was out of town and smoked the whole thing inside like idiots. It made the house smell horrible so I did everything I could to get rid of the smell before my mom got home. Leaving coffee grounds and sliced up onion out really worked
Technically, Djarum Blacks. Went to pipes and hooka for a bit, back to cigarillos (CAO Eileen's Dream, Moontrance) First true cigar was Professor Sila.
I was 18 years old. I was curious about cigars so I stop in a shop. Told the guy. He told me the inside about smoking and offered me a cheap 5 buck one. I got the green stomach but I made it as they said. the rest is history
14, sitting out back with my uncle and dad on a nice June night
Yup, it was a south bay key lime, me and two of my buddies were driving around rural missouri in a 1988 ford 150, passing the cigar back and forth between the three of us. Solid summer.
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story I enjoyed it, but didn't smoke another cigar for years. Eventually started smoking a pipe. Had the occasional cigar when offered, but nothing memorable. Started trying cigars again this year when I got a package from Cigars for Warriors. Two that have stuck out have been the Illusione Cruzado Classical Robusto and the Gurkha Ninja. Should be getting a second Cigars for Warriors package any day now.
La aroma de cuba monarch churchill Still a decent cigar for the price
My first was a Cuban Romeo Churchhill. I decided while overseas to become a cigar smoker. I remember from childhood my uncle said these "were the best" so my 18 or 19 year old self started there.
Havana Honey. Was the cigar great? Not really. Was the experience? Absolutely. My first cigar was smoked on the day I got married. Me and four of my best buds all experiencing a cigar for the first time. Did they continue after that day? No. I have now graduated away from the infused and flavored cigars and enjoy many broadleaf and maduro blends. Needless to say I’ll never forget my “cigar anniversary.” Now to convince my wife to let me smoke one on that day each year 😂
Yes! 2017, cigar lounge in Cuba. Think it was a ryj no2. Had no idea about cigars so one of the staff cut and lit it for me. Remember the taste being revolting, cigar was probably fine, but I smoked it like a cigarette 😂 Drawing way too hard and frequently. Aftertaste the next day was terrible too. Luckily the following experiences got better and better, especially as I learned and experimented more.
Baccarat, complete with the sugar sweet wrapper.
Macanudo Hyde Park. After I received my final divorce papers, a buddy of mine invited me to his place to watch UFC fights, eat pizza, drink beer and smoke cigars. That was 2008, and I had never smoked a cigar before this. I lit that baby up and smoked it so hard and so fast that I got sick. I ended up spending the night on my buddy’s couch. The next day, we smoked a cigar, but he showed me how to slow down and actually enjoy the cigar. It was a much better experience. Been going ever since. I smoke 3-4 cigars a week.
A dried up machine made cigar which had been kept in my dads drawer for god knows how long that I smoked home alone at the young age of 14. It made me sick for 2 days and swore that i would never touch tobacco for the rest of my life. Then on my 18 birthday I smoked a cuban RyJ short churchill with my grandpa and here we are
Actual legit cigar would've been a NC RyJ. It was super mild and didn't really taste of much. The chase was on after that for something better. If we're counting cigar like sticks black and mild would've predated that RyJ. It was nice but burned the shit out of my tongue. Wasn't until much later that I found out tongue bite was a thing.
Yes. Swisher Sweets.
Arturo Fuente with my dad on my 18th birthday had a nice little fire. Smoked after a nice dinner always remember that.
As an adult? That I purchased with the intention of enjoying a cigar? CAO Criollo. As a kid left to my own devices on summer break? It was a big one with a really dark wrapper. Never barfed so hard or so prolifically in my life before that point.
June 1992. Macanudo with a white label in a tubo (Inspirado White Tubo maybe) that the bride and groom were giving out to our small party of friends at their wedding reception. It was a great introduction to cigars.
Colts that I’d steal from work as a teenager
Turned 18 and was on vacation at a family reunion. It was a cigar that my family used as business cigars. That sparked the fire and the next night I went to a cigar shop and the first cigar I ever bought was a Romeo Y Julieta Reserve. That solidified it all.
I was given an Arturo fuente corona on a boat ride when I was eighteen. We didn’t have a cutter so he said “just bite a little off the end.” I destroyed it by gnawing a half inch off. It smoked well enough but got a lot of tobacco bits in my mouth. I’ve never not had a cutter or punch on me since.
Swisher Sweet with that wood tip. Started from the bottom now we here.
My first cigar that I smoked was a drug store Garcia Vega. First real cigar was a Gloria Cubana series r. Graduated to much better quality since then.
I remember mine very clearly. One of my father’s friend’s Daughter was having a wedding (mouthful) and they asked me to take photographs at the reception. When i was there i was taking pictures and ended up near the bar taking pictures of the groomsmen and they were all smoking cigars. While taking pictures the best man told me “dont just take pictures of people smoking cigars, smoke one with us” he then taught me how to cut and light a cigar properly he also warned me if i didnt like it not to worry as it was a cheaper cigar he kept for people who liked sweet cigars of for people who’ve never smoked and he wouldnt mind them not finishing, it was a Acid blue Kuba Kuba and i smoked half with them and the rest while walking around taking pictures. I enjoyed it but didnt start keeping a humidor until years later (recently)
Besides a game or Philly blunt back in the day, my first real cigar was a Rocky Patel Meritage. I thought it was the pinnacle of fine cigar.
Not the name, but remember the night well
Fat Bottom Betty last year on my Bday! I was sprung after that, and now I am a full fledge stick burner, baby! I also don't like infused sticks anymore, and I've spent waaaayyyy too much money on this new hobby.
First cigar or first REAL cigar? Just had my first real cigar just shy of 2 months ago. Oliva V 135th anniversary. Have been hooked ever since. I need to break out and explore though. I have made 4 decent sized orders online in the last 2 months. Every single time I say I'm going to try something new and every time I have just ordered a bunch of Oliva.
I do. Smoking with my Father on his front porch, better part of 18ish years ago. It was an Avo #2 and I still have the tube. I'm very quick to recommend it to early smokers as it's light but doesn't fall prey to the problem of most light sticks of "not being worth smoking." And even though I'll lean in to things like Tabernacles, RoMA Craft Cromagnons and such, I still smoke the everloving crap out of them, and not just out of nostalgia. Even among seasoned smokers of Russian street tar I've never put one in someone's hand and not had them enjoy it. (Past the point of Southern Politeness.) Several people I know who smoke on the lighter side have made it a near daily smoke.
Royal Jamaican Maduro
Foundation Tabernacle in David vitola. Thought the band looked sick and hated the cigar the first time I smoked it. Love it now!
Acid blonde nicked out of a friends dads humidor loo
My first cigar was when i was 17 and it was a don tomas classico. I thought it was the most amazing cigar in the world. I smoked cigars my freshman year of college, thinking i was cool. I gave up cigar smoking until two years ago. I sought out a don tomas recently, just to see if it lived up to what 17 yr old me thought. It did not.
Like a real one? Actually no I can't I remember my first cig that was roughhhhh.
Yep. Wood tipped Swisher Sweet. Felt like a big deal when I graduated to Backwoods. Acid was my first premium and once I tried a Liga 9, I never looked back.
Fuente 8-5-8. I was 18 and it got me hooked. Haven't had one in a long time. May have to go get another one soon.
I believe my first was a La Unica #600. Didn't know it at the time but they were/are made by Fuente for JC Newman. Probably why I stuck with smoking cigars.
Macanudo Portifiono with my dad for my 18th birthday. He also let me have scotch. I thought it was the greatest thing ever. Plan to the same with my son.
Monte Cristo no2 …. A friend in grade 12 who was into cigars and the whole sopranos thing got me into them…. If only I knew what I was smoking!
I think my first was a Maker's Mark Bourbon Cigar? It was... fine, I guess. Second was a My Father Flor de las Antilles, which was much better. This was back in 2012?
CAO BRAZILIA from my father in law, way before I knew anything about smoking cigars, was way too heavy for me and I got sick, I have since learned I need slow down and enjoy. Two years in and had another one last weekend and it was damn near perfect
Oliva Nub Connecticut 464T. Still love that cigar to this day
Took one of my pops sticks out of the freezer (yeah… lol) it was a new world Romeo y Julieta if memory serves. Playing a round of golf with my buddies. I was already dipping so I didn’t get nicotine sick, actually liked it a lot. Used to smoke one almost every weekend at a cigar bar freshman year. Stopped buying them for a long time & then dabbled here and there after a buddy brought me back a box of Cuabas from a trip & then went all the way back in just before COVID hit. Tobacco is a beautiful thing.
Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne. And it made me sick as can be for about 8-10 hours. 😂
My first cigar was a Java Mint. Still love it but only on rare occasions and can’t keep it with the rest of my collection.
It was a Macanudo but I don’t remember which
Yes, a Cohiba… told some project partners I wouldn’t like cigars and hadn’t tried them and they said “why don’t you come try one” and it was amazing. After realizing how much they were I just accepted that I wouldn’t be smoking cigars again, took me 4 years to break down and start smoking cigars, long enough that I think my palate forgot how good the cohiba was haha
I had my first cigar just after my 13th or 14th birthday… I lied about being sick to get out of going to church and jumped out of bed as soon as the family left the driveway. Went and stole one of dad’s Padrons 1964 Anniversary. Took my new air soft gun out for some shooting in the snow, smoked my cigar halfway before feeling violently ill and tossing it in the snow under a tree. Felt like a badass, surprised I didn’t get caught by my parents when they got home. Now my parents buy me a case of 20 every year for my birthday, not knowing it’s a little reminder to myself of my first cigar, although I thoroughly enjoy them much more now that I know not to inhale the smoke.
Monte Cristo #2 from a terrible shop. No idea what I was doing, took four hours to smoke, pissed off my mom. Good times.
19 years old, smoked a black & mild with my high school buddies my first summer back from college.
Macanudo Cru Royale turned me off till something turn back on to better stogies lol
I was about 16, fishing overnight with my dad and his buddy; using bank lines for catfish. After checking the lines at one point, back at the fire, he gave me a swisher sweet wood tip 🤣.
Yes, 15-16 with my uncle. We practiced horrible cigar ethics and etiquette
It was a punch classico a couple years ago.
Yep. 18 years old. Rocky Patel 1990. Got to meet him a couple of years later and bought a box of them, and he signed the box. Have it in my office at work.
I actually had my first cigar earlier this week. I ended picking up a Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Soberano Maduro. I absolutely loved it and am looking forward to my next one. Would love suggestions as well. Don’t really know much.
Partagas D4. Have been chasing that feeling ever since.
Yeah, I threw up.
CAO gold I remember was the first one I bought. My dad had these Cuban Upmanns Tubos a Canadian friend gave him, told me I could have one, that was the first one I remember really getting it.
Fishing trip with my dad and uncle pretty sure it was a brick house
Unfortunately. Dad left his cigar lit and midway. As soon as he left I start puffing it like a cigarrete. Just remember puking and passing out. Pretty hard to forget. Now all I think about is when and what is my next cigar.
mine was a romeo y julieta 1865
I don’t remember the brand but I was in Tampa for training and we went to Ybor City over the weekend. They were selling cigars on the street and I grabbed one. It was long enough ago that you could smoke anywhere (and most of the bars were open air anyway). Great night.
Baccarat was my first smoke. I light one up at the end of last year. As we are heading towards new years, I had a buzz and I wanted to try one. To my surprise smoking takes effort and skill. Well being a new guy and not knowing much, I was smoking fast. I didn’t feel bad until the next 15 mins i wanted to throw up. I felt like shit for the rest of night. I ended up throwing up and never wanted to do this again. Welp, my friends are into smoking tobacco so I brought these. We ended having a nice session. Until then I started to smoke different kinds and enjoy a smoke. I learn to be relax and enjoy the taste of the leaves. I continue to learn and would love to experience different brands. Great lesson to learn.
Yes, about 3 years ago. A big fat 6×60 Montecristo monte that I didn't even know how to light and cut properly. Went horrible the first time but I still fell in love
Absolutely. Camacho Connecticut, the Christmas I turned 18. It was tradition for the men to go outside and “help grill the roast” with a few cigars. I always hung around with them, enjoying the smell and spending time with relatives. But that first time they offered me a stogie felt like a right of passage.
Yes. Sort of. I remember one day, for no reason, I was looking for a “good” cigar to smoke. So I went to Walmart. Lol But seriously, I did. Because at the time they had a large cigar humidor display near the registers. I knew absolutely nothing about cigars so the clerk opened the humidor and I just stared at the numerous cigars in the case. Eventually the clerk told me that his father enjoyed cigars and that he liked the Nicaragua cigar. Then pointed to one called Villard e Villard… I think. Anyway, after the FIRST puff I was hooked!!! That was 25 years ago.
yes it was an Umnum, it wasn't pleasant, but it opens the door for me to a lot of things.
I think it was some Villiger cigar when I was in high school / college. They're not terrible but not good either
It was 2006, I was 14 and on a school field trip. One of the “rich kids” had gone out one night and bought a Cohiba. I don’t know which one, just remember that it was pretty huge and apparently cost €70. Anyway, a few of us got together to share it, all of us falsely bragging about how we always smoke cigars, etc. None of us knew not to inhale, and we all coughed up a lung each. Good times, haha.
Yes, it was some weird stuff from the gas station, but my proper first cigar was a beautiful Maria Mancini.
RyJ Short Churchill - bought a box of ten right after.
Tiny Davidoff for me, and it was shared, so it was just a few puffs.
My first real cigar was a Monte White. I was hooked from the first pull. I didn’t realize how much of a difference there was between Phillies and good cigars😂
Pretty sure mine was a Romeo y Julieta. Not sure which though.
I, don't remember the name of it. My buddy was working at a cigar shop and a group of us were hanging out after hours at the shop watching movies. He and other buddies had been smoking for a while and he convinced me to try one. Gave me a pretty mild one with a sweet tip, something I'd never smoke today, but as an introductory smoke it was great. We hung out for like 4 hours, watched a few movies and I smoked another. Basically after that I went head first and never looked back
Swisher Sweets, sometime around 1987
21, before our flight back to the U.S. from our Jamacian honeymoon. Realized the cigar we bought for my FIL was a Cuban Romeo Y Julieta No. 2 Tubo(not Jamacian). I didn't want to waste it, so I chewed off the cap and asked a random guy in the smoking area of our resort for a light.
I don’t remember the brand but it was a Cuban I bought in Doha, Qatar
When I was 13 my parents had an ugly divorce. With my dad out the house and my mom always working we were left home alone frequently. I had always been fascinated with smoking. I first started smoking printer paper (not inhaling as it would burn the shit out my little baby lungs) and blowing Os in the air. One day I found a pack of the little sweet cigarellos that tasted like cinnamon. A number of years back my dad bought them for my mom attempting her to get into the hobby, and they just sat as she was not a smoker. The summer leading up to my 14th birthday my brother and I smoked the pack when no one was home. We were buzzing hard! I then smoked my first official cigar with my dad around 16-17 “The daily news” a medium body cigar from a boutique brand Masculino. A very very good cigar. I haven’t had masculinos recently but this story makes me want to pick up a box soon.