I was a manager for Wendy's in the late 80's and the owner of the company was a cigar smoker. We played poker one night and he gave us all some cheapies which definitely did not hook me. He told us if our district made budgeted sales the next quarter, he'd send us a box of "the good stuff". Well, we made budget and he sent us some Fuente 8-5-8s. Me and another guy who were kinda rebellious decided to light up a couple during the manager's meeting. This met with quite a bit of resistance from some of the other managers but we smoked away like the rebels we were. Now I REALLY enjoyed that smoke and grabbed a couple more to enjoy later. I REALLY enjoyed those too! It's been a love affair for me and cigars since then. I can thank Bob Fox for my 20 year slide down the slope.

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MCS
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A Cumbres de Puriscal sampler I picked up in Costa Rica in 2006. Before then it was an occasional Zino, Macanudo, or Dunhill, but I was not drawn to the therapy a cigar can provide until this sampler.
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My first "premium cigar" was a Baccarat. . . good for a newby - sweet & mild. The Cigar that really hooked me though was a Butera. Until that point I hadn't ever had such a smooth, creamy cigar. It made me want to sample more an more, and I have to say I haven't been let down.
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The one cigar that pushed me down the slope kicking and screaming?

Partagas Black.

It was love at first 'puff', after many years of going tobacco free as a reformed cigarette smoker.
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My uncle handed me a flavored cigarillo when I was younger. The whole time I eyed his huge stogie, it smelled great. Well this past April, I went to Cuba on vacation and tried a Montecristo no. 2, my first real cigar. Fell in love and purchased my first humidor this past summer :-)
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The PAM64 Exclusivo.....I said "This is like smokin a Snickers bar"
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I had smoked a lot of crappy cigars early in life. (Parodi's)
About 15 years ago when I was visiting the parents in Florida I picked up 3 boxes of La Gloria Cubanas. They were so raw and fresh with no aging on them.
My trip down the slope started there and I've enjoyed every minute of it.
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AF curly head maduros. Cheap and tasty. There was no turning back.
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CAO Italia Piazza. Smoked it on my 40th birthday with three buddies in Vegas. Best cigar to date..:-)
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About 2 years ago my wife and I got together for a BBQ with some friends whom we became friends with because our kids hang out. He handed me a Cohiba Habano. It's been down hill ever since. I guess I can blame the slope on my 8 year old son:-)
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The first cigar to hook me (besides Macanudo Ascots, which I still enjoy) was a Perdomo Reserve Champagne. I never imagined a cigar be that smooth and rich. They are still a favorite.
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I don't know that this is the one that 'hooked' me or not, but it is the first good cigar I remember smoking.

The Arturo Fuente Double Château Sun Grown.

I remember this cigar and it's taste till this very day and that was smoked near fifteen years ago. I still enjoy one from time to time.:-)
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can't remember exactly. But I went into the BM and had the owner recommend a handful of sticks. One of those closed the deal for me.
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PAN 64 Principe. Iwas ruined right off.
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:-) Same here. I took those first couple of draws and thought, "Wow if I knew these tasted this good I would've started a long time ago"
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I can't really pinpoint a stick that "hooked" me but the first one I smoked was a Macanudo Portofino. After that I started smoking more and more frequently and everntually found other sticks. I'm still trying everything but have my fav's.
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I had a White Owl in 1975 and never looked back.:-)
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Went to the Tinderbox to buy a box of stogies for my wedding. Didn't know a Padron from a Cremosa. The salesman recommended a box of Fuente Cuban Coronas. Still one of my fav's to this day (mostly out of loyalty to the stick that got me started, but a fav nonetheless).
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I'm like AD720, it was the Macanudo Ascot that got me hooked.
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Around 1995 I believe it was the Partagas Sabrosa:-)


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