Hello all. A Professional Firefighter and Registered Nurse here in Baton Rouge, LA here to join in the talk. Its been wet here in Cajun Country, (Geaux Sugar Bowl Champion LSU Tigers!). Geaux Saints too ! !
I am new to the forum, and I've been smoking cigars since 1996. I was in College (nursing school) when I tried my first handrolled cigar, a Credo. I don't even know if they make cigars anymore. My physiology teacher turned me on to them when we were discussing cigars one day. I went to the nearest Tinder Box located in Fairhope, Alabama and picked up a Credo. I remember it like yesterday. It was so much better than the Garcia Vega's and A.C. Grenadiers I had smoked before.
First it was a Credo, then Cuesta-Rey, Astral, Bauza, Don Diego, and on and on. I've smoked lots of different brands and I always enjoy a nice relaxing cigar sitting on my back porch.
I get most of my cigars from my local cigar shop "Hemingways", but I now have several orders pending at some of the online shops that I have read about on here. Some of those include the Hoyo De Monterrey Dark Sumatra, Kahlua sampler, a make your own sampler including a few RP Vintage Maduros, and some CAO black torpedo's.
My usual picks include Partagas Black label, AF Short Story, La Gloria, Cohiba Red Dot. I will probably lean towards more online stores for my cigar purchases due to the price savings, but I can always count on a nice fresh cigar from the local cigar shop's walk in humidor.
I prefer Maduro cigars for some strange reason, I guess its the dark oily wrapper that provides a different taste. I've been hearing great things about the RP 1990 and 1992 cigars. I'm looking forward to getting mine in.
I've only smoked one authentic cuban. It was a Punch Manuel Lopez Habana that I smoked this past New Year's Eve. I got it from a friend in Australia. It was peppery and spicy and an overall complex flavor. I received a box of Cohiba Esplendido's when I was in college, but I believe they were fakes from Miami, FL. The label on the cigars was identical to a known fake identified on this website. Nevertheless, it was a decent, strong smoke. I prefer a cofee taste and a nice rich chocolate flavor to my cigars. I had my first Kahlua last night and it was a very interesting and pleasant smoke. I since have ordered a 3 pack sampler.
Some of my most memorable smokes have been an Opus X, a 1964 Padron Anniversario, and an Ashton VSG. I've only had one of each since the retail prices are extremely high.
Sorry for rambling on!
RL
"Smoke your best cigars now because you may miss that special occasion you are saving them for."
