Alright, so now that I've been here for about a week or so and I'm getting to know a few of the members, I'm really getting excited about starting my collection. So far I think I'm going to pick up a 150 cigar humidor:

the valencia humidor

Give me your thoughts on this humidor as well as my first boxes for the collection. So far I've narrowed it down to Camacho Corojo, Don Carlos Presidente, Carlos Torano Virtuoso, Gurkha Ancient Warrior, Hoyo Excalibur 1066 Dark Knight, La Flor Dominicana Ligero, Macanudo Robust, Punch Rare Corojo, and Rocky Patel Sungrown. These I'm thinking about buying a box each of at least half of those on the list, but thats given I've never had the Presidente, Virtuoso, Ancient Warrior, Ligero, or the Sungrown before.

I'd like to pick up some of the Padron 1964's and some Ashton VSG's to throw into the collection as well. I'd like some advice and criticism, so give me your best opinions!

Hey Ben, sounds like you're definitely taking the plunge. Welcome to the addiction.

Here are a few thoughts I have for you, take them with a grain of salt.

Keep in mind that even though it is a 150 count humidor, depending on the size of the cigars, you'll probably only fit 100 or a little less in there. That could, in part, determine how many initial boxes you order.

Personally, I like the RPs and the Toranos. The PRCs ain't half bad either. One thing I like to do is buy a box/bundle of decent cigars that are pretty cheap (no more than $2/stick) to hand out to friends who don't smoke very often or wouldn't appreciate something like a VSG, 1964 or Cien Anos. Keep the good stuff for yourself and your friends who will appreciate it and reciprocate in the future.

Another pointer, do a search in the forums for "glass top humidor." A lot of people have negative thoughts about them. Just something you may want to be aware of.

Hope it helps. Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

-Cheers

Personally I am a huge VSG and Padron 64 fan, but remember that your tastes are the most important thing in choosing a cigar. I would definitely not buy a box of anything you have not already tried, I have done this before and regretted it. As far as the humi goes I am not sure what to tell you because every time I buy one I think it is going to be big enough and it never is.

The strategy I would opt for would be to buy several -- but not boxes, more like 4 to 6 -- of as many different interesting cigars as you can find here and there.

You'll fill your humidor fast enough that way but yet have a constantly changing wide variety of smokes -- excellent to devellop your knowledge and your palate.

Just an idea...

Sounds like a fantastic idea. I think I'll lean more towards samplers and 5-packs or 10-packs instead of boxes. Although I am going to have to invest in the 50ct box of the PRC's.. thats just an awesome smoke, despite it not being a true corojo, but still a very tasty smoke.

Just a note of warning however, which may or may not apply to you : what is your favorite smoke today will probably not be your favorite smoke a few months from now. As you discover new cigars, your palate will change and so will your "favourites".

I remember being extremely fond od AF Hemingway Short Stories and Works of Art when I started smoking cigars. Always bought them alongside other smokes I would get. Last batch of 4 I bought a few years back is still sitting in my humidor. A fine smoke, I just never get to them anymore... But I'd be swearing if I had 50 of them.

It's about the same with wine. When you start, a good Beaujolais -- a Brouilly or something -- seems like the best wine in the world. A few years after, a Beaujolais would rarely be on your list -- except, perhaps, with cold cuts and light cheeses on a picnic during a cool summer day...

Hrm, still haven't had the AF hemingway, looking forward to one soon though I hope. Yeah I'm going to buy 10 different 5 packs, alongside a box of whatever I decide for a daily smoke kinda thing. I work five 14 hour shifts, and I'm pondering cutting down to smoking just on my days off, one after lunch and one at night, which will bring me down to 4 cigars per week, and of course whichever ones I smoke for special occasions and what not. I just can't decide on a humidor. I'm thinking a small cabinet style one now.

Your gonna need a bigger humidor, trust me

For what it is worth Ben, I too recently started collecting and bought a 150 ct and filled it to the brim...with a box of Hoyo de Monterey's Excalibur #II maduros, a box of Sol Cubano Maduros (sight unsmoked...that one paid off ), and a whole bunch of samplers to try and broaden my experiences. It holds about 80 depending on size.

Just my experience

Let me know how those Dark Knight's turn out for you...I keep eyeballing those

As someone who is also very new and not even in possession of a humidor as big as 150 I can tell you I agree with much of what the other members have said.

First, It is a good idea to have some cheaper cigars on hand for your friends especially if you are the only one with a humidor. That being said unless it is really inconveniencing to get to a store I would not buy am amount that would take up at a minimum 1/3 of your humidor. I origionally bought a bunch of cheaper cigars and found that towards the last 10-15 I was just trying to give them away as fast as possible just to open up some more room.

Second, I also had a temptation to stock my humidor to the brim right away but I ended up not doing that (mostly for $ reasons) Looking back I think it was the way to go as I suspect you will find that everytime you turn your head there is another cigar or new series that you will just have to try out. And it would suck to not have space for it. My humidor is now pretty full and I am still drawn to purchasing more for it.

Third - I have found that the people on this site are really helpful and will give you opinoins on just about any type of cigar. Armed with that advice you can go and pick out one or two of a bunch of cigars, see what you like and then purchase more of those.

Just MHO based on my similar experience as being new to the hobby.

Good luck!

I agree.. don't fill it up just yet. But you will find too that your tastes will drastically change over the first year. Cigars that you enjoy now, may disappoint you in not too much time.

I would suggest buying samplers to give yourself a variety to test, and then maybe buy a 5-box of the ones you like best. Save the 25-box for your real favourites, that you're sure to enjoy all the way through.

Yes, my tastes have already changed quite abit. I started with really enjoying the strongest flavored smokes, regardless of how crappy they taste, and now I find myself wanting more flavorful medium bodied smokes. I'll take a cameroon wrapper anyday for the immense flavor they supply. So far the Padron 1964 Anniversary has been the best. I have a VSG in my humidor waiting to get really yummy before I smoke it.

I agree with everything obove. I have the exact same humidor. I really like it, though it loses humidity quicker than others due to its construction. get some beads for it and stop by the local and see if they will give you some cedar blocks that come out of the cigar boxes. Use these to take up the extra room in your drawers until it is filled. This will help keep it more stable.
The top shelf is the only drawer that will hold a couple of boxes (dress boxes). Other shelves will only hold maybe 2 deep if they are 46 ring or less.
If you find a few that you really like, try aging them and seeing how they develop over a year or so. It can be really amazing.

Enjoy.

I started smoking cigars about a year ago and I am still trying out as many sticks as I can get my hands on. The advice that was given to me was don't rush into it. Take a relaxing approach to it just like you would if you were about to light up a stick. I started off buying a five pack of any stick that appealed to me. I would give one to a fellow smoker and ask him for his opinion and compare that with my own experience. Most of the time we were on the same page but every now and then we judged the cigar differently.

Basically take your time, enjoy every cigar you smoke, and like the others said keep the good ones for yourself and those friends you have that will appreciate them. Give the others the cheap ones, they are probably going to throw it out half way anyways.