The 5 Best Cigars to Give Your Cigar Newbie Friends

http://cigardojo.com/2012/06/the-5-b...ewbie-friends/

Originally Posted by :

Inexpensive. A inexpensive cigar should fall under $5 per stick mark. Any cigar over $5 might be a waste since it's likely a newer smoker may not enjoy smoking in the first place so why risk a super premium on a new smoker?

Easy draw. A cigar for a new smoker needs to have an easy draw, the last thing you want is to have a new smoker huffing and puffing just to find flavor. Furthermore, new cigar smokers tend to smoke too quickly heating up the cigar so if you are there to coach them to slow down you want the cigar they are smoking to be easy to draw so they can work less for the flavor.

Quality construction. A good cigar for a newbie should have a good burn, you really want to avoid having your friends worrying more about relighting the cigar than the flavors they are trying to appreciate. Smoking a good cigar shouldn't require much effort.

Interesting flavors. New cigar smokers want to be blown away by interesting flavors. After all, the very fact that they are smoking means they probably feel like they are secretly taking a walk on the wild side. Give them something to remember, something with flavor.

Size matters. For a new cigar smoker choose a robusto size stick. Robustos are easy to cut, light, handle, and smoke. A new cigar smoker doesn't want to feel overwhelmed by the cigar smoking experience and a robusto is a great size to "ease" them into the hobby.

Middle ground. I wouldn't pick a cigar too mild, nor too strong in either flavor or nicotine kick. Cigars that are too mild might not be interesting enough to grab a new cigar smokers attention yet something too strong might have them barfing in the bathroom which is never a good way to introduce someone to cigar smoking.

I don't know that this is the be-all and end-all, but it certainly is a good, informative guideline.

Even a couple of the five cigar suggestions aren't bad.
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I always go with Padron 3000's, to me that's the definition of a basic cigar.
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Originally Posted by 688sonarmen:
I always go with Padron 3000's, to me that's the definition of a basic cigar.

Very nice choice.
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Any of the PDR line. I love the Red.
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EP Carillo New Wave Connecticut!:-)
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Flor de Oliva, either sumatra or 'Gold' variant. The latter is arguably "too" mild but not for a newbie.
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Cohiba Sig II. I know it's over the $5 mark, but damn it's a good smoke.

To stay cheaper, probably trini Reyes.
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- Padron x000 series
- Macanudo (any)
- Hemingway Short Story
- Cohiba Sig I
- Fonseca Cosacos
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I normally start with mild smokes. If they are looking to make a purchase I point them toward samplers by strength.
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Arturo Fuente Cuban Corona. Cheap, quality construction, and tasty! Most Green labeled Fuentes are of similar quality and price range!
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Originally Posted by 688sonarmen:
I always go with Padron 3000's, to me that's the definition of a basic cigar.

Agree, :-)
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padron or oliva o/g will be my choice...
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HdM Excalibur, Padron x000, Montesino Natural.
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Oliva
Perdomo
Alec Bradley
Macanudo
601
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Originally Posted by longknocker:
EP Carillo New Wave Connecticut!:-)

That is a great choice!
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Originally Posted by pektel:
Cohiba Sig II. I know it's over the $5 mark, but damn it's a good smoke.

To stay cheaper, probably trini Reyes.

My personal favorite. I've given them to people who don't really smoke, and everyone loves them.
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Good thread! I always try to offer something mild, even though everyone wants to reach for the "prettiest" wrapper.
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I'm one of the few who really enjoys sweet-tip sticks, and I also find most of my friends who smoke rarely or not at all also enjoy them. The sweetness seems to counter-balance what they often perceive as harsh or ashy regardless of how mild the stick may be. Baccarat and Diamondback are usually my go-to and easy to find locally at around $5/stick. If I have them on-hand, CI Legends Copper Label (Drew Estates) definitely seem to be a favorite with new/non-smokers.
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Oliva o/g
H. Upmann Coronas Major Tubo
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