Thread: calling all cigar smokers

G'day Mike... great info

Have you had any experience with Philippino cigars and humidors... both seem of reasonable quality and very reasonable price.

I spent a little while working there (from Australia) and got quite used to the way they taste. I was lead to beleive that the philippines has similar soil and climate conditions to Cuba, being on a similar latitude and so, good for growing tobacco of the same type.

Mind you... this could be marketing spin.

Either way... they make some really great looking humidors that would cost 3 times as much if bought in Australia or (guessing) the US. Sourcing a nice one from there may be a solution to Matt's problem.

Greg Frazer

I haven't had any experience with the Phillipines Cigars or Humidors. The Cigars have gotten some good reviews. I mostly smoke the Honduran, Nicaraguan & DR versions.

My humidors have been manufactured in China. And I've been lucky enough to have them work well. I tend not to use humidors much. I keep a very utilitarian 50 stick version in my locker at the golf club and a very pretty 125 stick version in my office but the rest of it goes in Igloodors.

I'd give the Phillipines smokes a try and go for a box that you really like the looks of. Avoid glass tops and holes in the box that have a hygrometer or thermometer stuck in them, they just let more air in and you don't want to have to refill the humidifier every other day to keep the proper humidity.

Let me know how it works out.

Mike

You really shouldn't mess around with plastic containers and igloos to store cigars unless you plan to smoke them often. You're ripping yourself off paying 2 or 3 times as much for a digital hygrometer when a dail type or analog does the same thing and comes standard with most humidors. Heck, you don't even need that as long as you check the solution level like you should and you usually have to open the humidor to do that anyway. You can get a humidor with an external meter so you can see it without opening the humidor, but since you're trying to save money, an internal one will do. Keep your humidor solution pure; adding water dillutes it and will invite fungus. Unless you're gonna be smoking them every weekend, tupperware is out. Unless, of course, those cigars aren't really that special.
Ernest

The best way to keep a humidor at your preferred level of humidity is with these. Just add distilled water as needed. I've got three pounds of the 65% variety keeping my stash in perfect smoking condition. I found that I liked my cigars a little drier than 70%, but YMMV.


Wayne

I'm thinking of giving up my cigarette habit and maybe taking up an occasional cigar indulgence. Any advice on a good one to start with?
I can order from these two shops in the UK and maybe more if I looked. Anything on this site definately worth a look? I will want to buy singles to start with.
http://www.thebackyshop.co.uk
http://www.uktobacco.com/main.htm
Thanks

Tobacco taxes are very high in the UK. This place place sells singles, has "free" shipping, and much more reasonable prices.

As to specific suggestions, I don't have any. Lots of guys suggest starting with mild brands (like Hoyo, ERDM, etc), but if you're accustomed to cigarettes, you might well enjoy the stronger brands (like Partagas and Bolivar). Just remember not to inhale. I'd try samples from a bunch of different brands and see what you like.

Yes, I made the inhalation mistake when I first smoked one when I was 16. Is ordering from abroad likely to land me with a huge customs bill? My town has very little in the way of tobbaconists so I guess the internet is my only source at the moment. I'll get a few and see what I like.

Ok I was going through a tobbacconists in wroclaw and they had few cigars. I spotted a few boxes with punch, bolivar and the like on them, but they were empty. I ended up buying a Cohiba medium sized cuban, and a Private Stock tubos no 1 from the dominican republic. I think the PS one is probably inferior quality, but it is good to buy two different grades I guess to see the difference. I will probably smoke at least one of them at the weekend in London if I have time(I will be going on a visit to Trumpers on my way though)
Anybody tried either of these?
Are they an ok choice for a first timer?

Cuban Cohibas are generally very good, but very expensive (as you found). The Dominican Private Stocks are "seconds" of Davidoff cigars, typically with aesthetic defects on their wrappers. They're generally mild, but a very good value if you like them.

By the way, in many countries, many cigars sold as Cubans are fakes and are not good. I don't know the situation in Poland, but it's something to think about. Cohibas and Montecristos are the most counterfeited brands.

Wow. a cuban. I have heard that those existed, but just can't get one. see my government thinks it is bad for me to support the communist regime in Cuba, (however China and Vietnam are okay ) Go figure.