In the '90's during the 'boom' I smoked a lot of Arturo Fuente 8-9-8's and enjoyed them very much. Every time I smoked a cigar, that was it. It really made cigar smoking easy. Go to local tobacconist, chat, grab AF 898, chat more, leave, then go enjoy a good cigar. I have pictures of me in my early 20's staining furniture and smoking an AF while drunk on tequila. Ahh good times. Years later, I'm 38 now, I ignore them. Not for any real reason other than I've branched out into other vitolas I think I enjoy more. Reading the 'candela' thread someone brought up the candela 8-9-8 and it reminded me of my old standby, the natural 8-9-8. I've decided I need to revisit these and see if they still have the old charm for me. My tastes have changed considerably in the past few years so I don't want to get my hopes up. None the less, I'm looking forward to grabbing a few to honor for introducing me to quality cigars during those 'booming' '90's in Los Angeles. With all the fly by night smokes being pumped out during that time it would have been easy to get lost but the Fuente always took care of business for me. I suppose I have to thank that tobacconist in Marina del Rey steering me straight as well.

Anyone one else have smokes like that? The ones that sucked you in but you now ignore for whatever reasons? I think think it would be interesting to go back to your old standby's and do reviews on them. Will I be wondering what the heck I was thinking or rediscover an old friend?

I'd love to hear others stories on this as well.

If I can't track them down locally I'll order up a fiver on the devil's site and post up my results.

I'd invite other folks to do the same, could be a fun thread of rediscovery.
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When I first started smoking I smoked a lot of Chateau Fuente Maduros, now I can't stand the things.

And Eric, Little Havana had the 858s in stock last time I was there.
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Road trip? :-) Hope they don't suck, I really want to like them now.
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Fuente for me too. Short Stories, I could not get enough of them! Now I cant remember the last time I smoked one, must be at least 6-8 months. I'll check the humi for 898's and bring them to the Barn if I have them. :-)
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Bob used to be a Short Story MONSTER!

I used to smoke a ton of DPG Black Labels, now when I try them and they taste completely flat and boring.
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5 Vegas Gold and Classic
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I used to smoke a whole bunch of Maria Mancini Magic Mountains both natural and maduro. Still have half a box of maduros and smoked the first one in about a year last week. They still taste good but I have moved on to cigars that I prefer such as Olivas and DPG Blues.
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I use to smoke a lot RP, especially the Edge, and Vintage. I decided to smoke a RP the other week and realized why I stopped smoke them. Also Gurkha, I use to smoke a lot of Gurkhas but... they suck.
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I would imagine you smoking an 898 will bring back good memories if nothing else. I used to smoke Las Cabrillas cigars when I was in my 20's. I haven't had one in years, but I would imagine it wouldn't compare to some of my favorites today.
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PUNCH GRAN PURO TUBO


Now I'm gonna have to smoke one........
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not one particular cigar I can think of but just maduros in general. When I first started smoking, all I bought were maduros. I'm not sure why now.
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was a maduro smoker only for the first 2 years or so. Then when I found Corojo and Sumatra, it all changed.
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Perdomo Lot 23s, and the first handmade cigar I ever had : Sancho Panza Double Maduro
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I used to smoke a lot of Gurkhas when I first started smoking. I never buy them anymore. If I am given one I will smoke it and I always think, "well, maybe I will give them just one more shot. Maybe it will be good!" and time after time, I am reminded of just how undeveloped my pallet was back then.
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Oliva G... my go to cigar. I dont remember last time I had one, and have two boxes in the cooler. I'll have to revisit one soon.
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Macanudo of every kind. I loved those things. Haven't smoked one forever.
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La Aroma de Cuba Robustos....went through several boxes my first year or so of quality smoking...I doubt I have had one in 2 years now.
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Don't laugh... Macanudos.
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Cusano 18 double connecticut. I went through a couple boxes my first year smoking. Now when I find one in the humi I save it for when I need to give a non-smoker something mild. I just moved onto fuller smokes, as is usually the case.
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Back in the 1980's I only smoked occasionally, and only when I was going to be with certain friends. I usually bought them at a drug store that had a cigar counter. If I had decent money I bought Macanudo Hampton Courts. If not, I bought Marsh Wheelings. Once Tinder Box opened in the mall I tried Fuente 898's and Ashton classics. Loved both of those.

I also used to sometimes smoke a cigar from the Canary Islands, but I can't recall what it was now. I haven't seen a cigar from the Canary Island in a very long time.
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