Seems like so many, many years ago now as in fact, it is many, many years ago.
However, I vividly recall how I stumbled on my first true cigar smoking experiences.
I was at a conference with a friend nearly 20 years ago.
We were staying at the Ritz Carlton in Naples Florida.
We were looking for a place to hang out and have a drink and smoke the very, very expensive Davidoffs we bought at the hotel.
The next day, I felt so sick I still vividly remember the feeling.
It was my first cigar ever!!!

On the way home, I picked up a Davidoff for my long time, Cuban smoking, custom rolled cigars, dad. I brought it to him like I was giving him the greatest thing on the face of this earth. After all, back then, I think I paid in the area of $18 for that cigar.

My dad smoked it. Made some faces along the way but I could see he was trying to be courteous. When he was done, he went to his car, came back to my house, handed me a Padron Londres and then told me to now smoke that and see what a real cigar was like.

I have to admit, ever since then, I was hooked on cigars and hooked on Padron. Don't know why, but this memory just came to mind. I guess I was thinking about my dad, his age, being sick, all his friends now gone and realized, soon, this may be one of the only things I will have to remember.

Do you recall your first true experience?
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Started with a Partagas Black Label in Coconut Grove about 5 years ago. Joined CS and learned all about CC's. Information was a lot easier to come by back then than now for the new guys.
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Picked Out A Padron Nat & Onyx Reserve 3 years Ago From My Local B&M. These were so Much Better Than The Swisher Sweets I Remember Smoking As A Young Boy. I Then Discovered CA & The Rest Is History!:-)
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Some unknown, unbanded cigar on a cold 19 degree January day on the golf course.
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My first real cigar my buddies bought me on my 18th birthday. It was HUGE. Must have been A size. Punch nc i think. It was so big the security guards at the casino wondered if they should consider it a weapon. Lol!
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I remember it vidily...it was a Davidoff No 2 tubo...first REAL cigar I had. :-)
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Yes, I had an RyJ at a charity golf tournament, 4 years ago.
It's been a slippery slope, but I've met some interesting people,
and tasted some nice cigars along the way, so far.

Chemyst :-)
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I tried a Phillies or something like it when i was 18. I thought I was the ****.

My dad then gave me a Cohiba and said to try a REAL cigar. I never went back. Of course, I'm not a huge fan of Cohiba now. Actually, I never really consider Cohibas anymore, but it was a wonderful eye-opener.

As I started trying cigars, I walked into a B&M and met my friend Gary. He started giving me suggestions when I would go in to see him, and he rarely misses. He got me hooked on Oliva Serie V..... OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have had the opportunity to have so many great cigars... and I have met many great people because of cigars. There are many many hours of my life that the banners couldn't understnad because they're too busy boycotting and trying to get rid of things, that I wouldn't have had without cigars.
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Wandered into Ye Olde Pipe & Tobacco Shoppe in Phoenix (when I used to live there) and once I hit the humidor room and smelled the cigars it brought back very fond memories of my grandfather, who had been a cigar smoker (passed away when I was ten years old)...probably asked for something mild and was handed a Macanudo to try...after that I went back and asked for something with more flavor and they told me to try a Partagas Maduro...that's the one that did it...I'm guessing this could be at least fifteen or twenty years ago...smoked cigars and pipes on and off for a few years after that, then quit for a bit, and about eight or so years ago started smoking cigars on a regular basis again...returned to pipes about five years ago, so now I smoke them both on a pretty regular basis...when I have more time I smoke the pipe as it's more to fuss with...less time I'll usually grab a cigar...depends on my mood...
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about the same time as blueface - 20 years ago, an ashton #20 maduro. i think this was when maduro's were kind've a novelty. i loved it. so much so that i got two boxes for my wedding reception. i still remember i paid $56 per box! in chicago no less. ah the good old days...

then a friend of mine went to spain and brought back a box of cohiba siglo II or III (still cant remember which) and oh boy that was it...
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Many years ago at a 49er tailgate party. A friend who worked for Cisco grabbed some Monte #2's at the Duty Free on the way back from London. Bad way to start. :-)
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I started in 2007, it ain't that long to remember back lol.
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My wifes cousin gave me a Drew Estate Ambrosia Mother Earth on my birthday four years ago. Then I discovered "real" cigars
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I've been smoking cigars since the mid 90s. My passion for this thing of ours has ebbed and flowed over the years, but it was reignited when I lived in London in 2002. Having easy access to the forbidden fruit was truly amazing! Needless to say, I haven't looked back since!
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My dad smoked cigars when I was a kid. He didn't have a humidor - just a box of some thompsons brand he kept in the closet. He passed away before I got into cigars. Thinking of him was what got me thinking about cigars, so I did some googling and ended up joining club stogie. Wish I could go back in time and have just one with him - and maybe throw out the Thompsons and buy him a humidor :-)
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A DPG Legend and a Gurkha Anniversario (say what you will, its the only one i like so far)

The legend was so tasty i grabbed the cheapie sampler on CI and found a DPG black, the rest is history... or in my CC statements >.<

I need a new humi
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I remember the first cigar I smoked was a Sportsman Vanilla. I had it while on vacation at Ocean Isle in North Carolina.
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On my 18th birthday in 2000...An old Dominican Montecristo #2...back when they still had a lot of life...
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RP Edge maduro, I threw up half way through the cigar... had try it again the following week. Didn't throw up but felt like crap. That's when I figured out you should eat before smoking.
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My buddy used to bring cigars for everyone who wanted them at our weekly poker game. After I showed a little interest in them and actually smoked a whole one instead of putting it out after a third, he decided to bring me a good one. The next week I was puffing on a Padron '64 and it was all over. That was eight years ago.
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