When yall were first getting into the cigar scene how did you find the right cigars for you? Was it just buying sampler packs online, or swapping with buddies, or just taking advice from the local shop?

I don't have buddies who smoke so for now I'm just being 5 stick samplers.
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I have been smoking everything i can find to see what I like. I have found a few out of the whole bunch that i can smoke regularly. With time your taste will change and you might not like what you do today in a few months.
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All of the above. Check out the Newbie Sampler Trade thread.
Also, read reviews and discussions here.
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Absolutely true.
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As said, all of the above. I will vist my local B&M when I can and try something new.
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I just went to the B&M and bought singles, and tried everything I could.

This is a great way too!

I also agree with G that your tastes are likely to change over time.
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I just researched a lot on this site on where to start and then starting smoking. Still working through a lot. Most are ones I do not care for but you may find, like me, that many others could love them. Then you have someone to trade or gift them to :-)
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Just buy singles and sampler packs and try everything that you can. Def read the stickies here, tons of info.....welcome.
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As Others Have Already Said, Buy A Lot Of Singles & 5'ers. Your Tastes Will Definitely Change Over Time. Don't Buy A Box Until You "Can't Do Without" That Particular Stick!:-)
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I've been smoking regularly for the past 6 months. Just now starting to figure out what I like. Only bought 2 bundles, the rest have be singles and 5'ers. Enjoy Tony!
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When I started I found a reviewer that shared the same taste profile as I did (in general) and tended to try that he enjoyed with great results. I often purchased what was the rave at the time with mixed results.

I think the "discovery" of the hobby is what is most fun.
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I found a B&M that pointed me in the right direction without trying to make me think the most expensive cigars were the best. After I found this place, I found many other things to try. I'm just now to a point where I know what I like.
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Starting out mostly blind (coming from smoking Swishers on the golf course and nothing else) and being really cheap, I basically printed the list form the Cheap Smoke thread, started reading reviews of those on another site, and tried singles of pretty much any of those I could find locally (surprisingly few). I've now branched out to 5-packs and samplers from CigarBid, mainly for sticks I can't find locally. I'm also currently in the middle of my first NST trade, so I'm excited to see what comes out of that.

I started to learn that I like full-flavor but mild-body, a hard combo to find on the cheap. This particular taste profile has lead me to smoke a lot of Maduros that were stronger than I cared for and/or quite harsh by the last 1/3. The bigger challenge for me has been slowing down as I smoke. The last 1/3 of ANY cigar is a lot more enjoyable if you haven't sucked down the first 2/3 so fast that the end is hot and the tip is all tar.
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As has already been stated, I smoked everything that looked appealing to me for the first few years.

After I got a handle of what I liked in general (Nicaraguan), I focused on sticks that on paper at least fit the bill of what my favorite smokes were.

That didn't always work out however.

You can read reviews, listen to what folks have to say about cigars but in the end you'll only really know if you like a cigar if you actually smoke a few.

That's the fun part anyway isn't it....trying them out?

:-)
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One thing I have found that has been really helpful is to smoke new sticks blind. Buy ten singles that you want to try and then have someone else pick one out of your humidor and remove the label before they give it to you. Smoke it and see what you think. A buddy of mine (Scorched) and I traded ten cigars and we get together once a week or so and he brings me one of mine without the label and give him one of his without the label and we smoke them together, rate them and then give each other the label. It's been very interesting as I am swayed way more by name and label appearance than I thought I was. After about a week I had forgotten what I had given him so the surprise is that much better. I know you said you dont have buddies who smoke but maybe one of them can help you out. Either that or buy 'em some Kuba Kuba Maduros and get em hooked!
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I always tried 2 before I desided if I like them or not sometimes the first may have just been a bad stick. I had a good collection going and then had sinus surgery and now my tastes have changed, so I'm starting over myself after having all my cigars mold because of a uncalibrated Hygometer. Long story that would make most cry.....I know I did.
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Went to the store up the road and bought a Nub Cameroon as my first good smoke.

Enjoying it as I type.
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Something that I found helpful was to smoke a cigar to see if I like it, then find some reviews of that stick and see what flavors other people were pointing out. As a new smoker I could not decipher woody, nutty, leather, cream, etc. I just knew if it was tasty or not. Then find reviews with similar flavor descriptions and try those. Many will have similar characteristics, but vary in flavor and will send you down the right path finding new sticks that you may enjoy even more. But for the first year basically just try a lot of different stuff - take some notes and see where your preferences lie. Between reviews and suggestions from a B&M you should begin to find some sticks that stand out as exceptional to you. 8 years after I started smoking, one of the things I find most enjoyable is that there is always something new to discover with this hobby.
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I started with one of the Motherlode samplers from CI, it comes with 40 different cigars and covers a broad range of strength, taste, and prices. Lets you kind of narrow down what you like. From there I bought samplers of similar type and found more favorites.
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Yeah, all that stuff. One other note. For your first year or so, smoke it all. Don't get caught up in collecting cigars. You don't even know what you like. Smoke everything you buy or trade for. That favorite stick you are saving? Smoke it. You may love it or you may hate it.
:-)
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