Can you explain your love of cigars?...

[Robusto]

Paul DAWG has posted a great thread and it has set me thinking...

CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR LOVE OF CIGARS?
Are we here for similar or different reasons?...

I love fine cigars because no other naturally cultivated product (food, drink) CONSISTENTLY makes me feel more positive and relaxed in myself. My mood is always lifted when I smoke a fine cigar, and I look forward to each and every occasion when I light up. Cigars also help me put aside stresses and gripes for an hour or two.

I suspect cigarette smokers would declare the same thing!

However, as a small-time concurrent ex-cigarette smoker who didn't really enjoy cigarettes but just hoovered them, cigars have a HUGE edge over white sticks in the sense that fine cigars come in different shapes, brands, hues and - crucial difference - MASSIVELY varied aromas and tastes. They also demand that you take a long time out to smoke them. I really will occasionally pass on dinner and smoke and savour my favourite Havana sticks in place of a meal.

Whilst not quite declaring myself a cigar addict - I know I can take a week or two off, but rarely do unless unwell - I know I'd find it hellish to give them up completely as this is a life-long growing affair I'm having!

I'm moderately knowledgeable of cigars, and I have been astonished at new stogie discoveries to be made. I'm currently smoking a Lusitanias, and that's the fifth new sublime cigar discovery within a month! Shared knowledge and brotherly recommendations are helping me to experiment with new trial-smokes and to learn more about cigars all the time. I learn more here than I have on any other cigar smokers' website.

I love the acting games you can enjoy with a good cigar, and I like to pose with a stick when I'm out and about - and I occasionally set about surprising friends and acquaintances by lighting up! This applies to trusted colleagues, too, for I have to write anti-nicotine pastoral material at work for tutorial teaching purposes as a Head of Year. (Pretty farcical, this, but it's in my job description. I write about the dangers of cigarette addiction - which I think merits dissuasion - but conveniently don't mention the joys to be gleaned from cigars. When I get 'Sir. Do you smoke?', I say 'Yes. The occasional cigar', and develop truthfully if asked further. Job done, I reckon).

I do like to role play a bit when smoking a phat one. It's not for a weird purpose. It is because I crave laughter, stupidity and having fun whenever possible in life. And also because I'm a bit of an actor-extrovert. Cigars as a tree-branch prop do help me to act the twat pretty well at times.

I've never done an illegal drug in my life and, because of cigars, I don't feel any need to experiment with substances except to discover yet more beautiful tastes and aromas in my preferred Havana leaf form.

I will only ever renounce cigars in the future on the advice of a doctor. I am - yes, I admit and contradict what I wrote earlier in this entry - a hooked brother, but I rationalise my indulgence in this glorious habit because I don't bombard my body with anything else toxic, and I don't spend my money on any other expensive pleasure. My second and third jobs - gigging musician and exam marker - mean that the expenditure doesn't affect the family kitty, and in that way any moaning (very little of it from my cancer specialist wife, thank God, although I do occasionally receive her advice) is groundless.

I think I was hooked by the beautiful Havana aroma as a child because my Dad enjoyed occasional Cubans over a cigarette habit, and I believe I've no doubt picked up the fatherly baton and am thoroughly enjoying running and smiling with it.

In summary, a great cigar smoke makes me feel wonderful.

I'd love it if you brothers would spend a little time to explain your love of cigars. (Fewer words would be fine - I'm toked up on Lusitanias bliss! )

Broadly similar reasons to mine, men? Or different?

[Mr Moore]

I think its because I used to smoke bud, and it sort of becomes a thing where you try different blends like G bud (howard marks) strain, cheese, skunk, pot of gold etc.
I think when I stopped smoking the green due to my job and getting the sack, cigars were just a great alternative to bud.
Ok, you don't get the same [mash up buzz], but, there is a lot of other simillarities like blends and looks, rituals, etc.
Like for instance when I used to have a J, the day would be planned round getting home and "getting one on" sort of thing, rooling up, getting the grog on the go etc, well its the same with cigars for me but without that charged red eye feeling of bud.
I think there is prob a lot of ex cannabis smokers who now enjoy cigars as an automatic alternative.
If any of this make sense.

[Robusto]

I think that makes clear sense, MM. Especially the ritual replacement point.

The man who has gifted me green and wonders why I don't use it is sometimes bewildered for yonks and yonks at gigs.

If anything, cigars enhance my memory lol.

[Stogiedog]

MM an open and frank reply to Robustos thread, nice one.

It all started many years ago whilist serving in the armed forces, time for the loyal toast which is done with port, once the toast was over the cigars came out, this is how it all started for me.

Their is no finer way to enjoy a cigar than in good company with a good drink what ever that be tea or alcohol.

Since leaving the military I still enjoy the good cigar and have found recently a good friend to share my comforting habit with, but the way I treat cigars has changed, I have learn't to look after them checking on them daily in the humidor ensuring the RH is correct, trying to learn and understand the different blends CC and NC and such like.

I have found myself enjoying collecting cigars and some times regret having to smoke certain cigars especially if its the last. I collect the boxes, wrappers, spansish cedar, cigar labels, plastic bags, cigar magazines.

Cigars have become a full time hobby, but its more than that its the people that communicate on this site, its the people that get together in London who meet and talk as though they have been friends for years fantastic.

We have a common interest whether your knowldge base is high or low, you are not thought of differently just welcomed and accepted.

Cigars and friends, thats my love of cigars for me.

[rokkitsci]

It's really very simple: The cigar mystique is that you know, in your heart of hearts, that the NEXT cigar you try will be the perfection you have been seeking your entire life.

[nicwing]

It's really very simple: The cigar mystique is that you know, in your heart of hearts, that the NEXT cigar you try will be the perfection you have been seeking your entire life.

Cigarkarma, I like that

[Boss Hog]

MM, sounds like we lived on the same street

[Mr Moore]

I bet there are loads of ex bud smokers turned cigar, It makes sense mark.
A couple of my pals who are ex smokers are now taking an interest in my
cigar-ism's, really, already gave a few out on gents night. Iv'e had to explain to them though that these babies don't come cheap ! so there could be two more BOTL in the making.
I wont push it though, up to them, lol.

When I packed in bud I started buying cigars from a little tobacconist shop in bloxwich I forget the name of it now [linfield may know it] that used to sell sweets as well.
I started buying singles, macanudo, romeo and juliet, ones I can't even remember names, mostly NCs though.
For some reason at some point I spotted the winterman coronas in tesco and started buying them due to tesco being round the corner etc.
Its been like that up until a few months ago when I got sick of the old henri's and decided to venture out !
Now I have a humi tool'd up with some of the best NCs known to mankind.
All I need now is my cabinet humi and some Cubans.
Nice.

[TJCoro]

It all began with a pipe.

Paul DAWG has posted a great thread and it has set me thinking...

CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR LOVE OF CIGARS?
Are we here for similar or different reasons?...

PLEASE NOTE: THE MAJORITY OF THE ORIGINAL POST BY THE PROFESSOR WAS DELETED BY THE MODERATOR'S MODERATOR TO PROTECT THOSE VIEWING THIS POST FROM POSSIBLE HARM, INCLUDING DEATH BY WORD OVERDOSE.

Well, were do I start? How about Mr. Robusto's magnificant, massive post? Naaaaw, I won't do it....I think the professor knows what I'm thinking!!!!

So, How did I start enjoying cigars? Well, I was tired of carrying around all the paraphernalia necessary for smoking a pipe -something I began after a neighbor gifted me some pipe tabacco in exchange for access to my property duiring a vision quest ceremony.

One day during a business trip in the great city to the north, Los Angeles, an amigo suggested I try a stogie instead. Now, many years later, I'm happily lost in the marvelous world of fine Habana puros and the occasional stogie (n/c).

After all, I'm TJ, TJCoro Damn It!