EASTON, PA--(Marketwired - June 15, 2016) - Do most people remember their first kiss? Odds are they do. The same can be said for cigar smokers and their first premium handmade cigar. Although many cigar smokers start with machine-made cigars like Swisher Sweets, Phillies Blunts, and Dutch Masters Palmas, among others, smoking cigars made entirely by hand with long-filler tobaccos are what generally define most cigar-smoking enthusiasts. Cigar Advisor executive editor, Gary Korb, wanted to know more about that first premium cigar experience, so he rounded-up some of his fellow Famous Smoke Shop colleagues, plus a few cigar industry friends and put the question to them: "What was your first premium handmade cigar?"
Mr. Korb leads with his own experience, a Don Tomás Special Edition Connecticut #200 that he chose from a nightclub cigar menu just prior to the 1990's cigar boom: "I chose it mostly because at $7 it was the cheapest cigar in the list," writes Korb. "To my surprise, it was wonderful…After that night, I was off to the races."
Tommy "Zman" Zarzecki of Cromag Nation noted that his first premium cigar experience took place about 20 years ago at his brother-in-law's wedding: "I fell in love with cigars from the very first puff. I remember sitting there in my tux feeling like royalty as we drank scotch, while a cloud of fragrant blue smoke wafted above our heads."
Steve Saka, founder of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, the makers of Sobremesa Cigars, describes how he got into cigars during his time in the Navy, while other industry veterans like José Blanco and Yadi Gonzalez-Vargas also contribute their first premium cigar stories.
"What I found interesting about the people I spoke with was they started with some excellent cigars," said Korb.
Some of the first premiums smoked by his Famous Smoke Shop peers included cigars like Romeo y Julieta Vintage, Padrón 1964 Anniversary, and Perdomo Champagne 10th Anniversary to name a few.
More than just a listing of "my first premium cigar" brands, Korb also includes some cogent advice for new cigar smokers who are about to take their first dip in the vast sea of premium selections.
Famous Smoke Shop copywriter, Jonathan Detore, said that his first cigar was a Padrón 1964 Anniversary. Korb observes that, "The Padrón 1964 is not usually a cigar one would choose as a first premium for its full body, complex flavors, and higher price point," then recommends that cigar smokers who really want to start with a Padrón might first want to try a sampler from Padrón's mainline series, in order to get familiar with the brand. Similar sampler and brand suggestions for other cigars are also mentioned, and the article wraps-up by asking readers to contribute their own first premium cigar experience by leaving a comment.
"Since CigarAdvisor.com is in the advice business, I wanted new cigar smokers to know a little bit more about what they were getting into." said Korb. "Ideally, I want their first premium handmade cigar experience to be as enjoyable as ours was."
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
About Cigar Advisor
Cigar Advisor, the nation's premiere online cigar magazine, proudly serves cigar enthusiasts with a uniquely down-to-earth perspective on the enjoyment of premium cigars. Well-known and highly regarded for providing acclaimed educational cigar content and behind-the-scenes industry articles from some of the business's top names, the Cigar Advisor editors deliver an array of content that speaks directly to those who enjoy the cigar lifestyle.
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