Cigar Novice needs help!

[Irish Rua]

Hello cigar smokers! Im from Ireland and its my friends 18th in 2 weeks.
We've always smoked cigars as a way to celebrate certain times in our lives, and this is our final year in school so after this we're pretty much going to go our separate ways. I don't have a big budget, but I would like to know what cigar I should go for. I don't have the time or money frankly to buy and sample, so can you guys recommend what you guys would go for in terms of a corona, or maybe something bigger.
I like the sound of vanilla cigars and honey cigars but i've never had the opportunity to buy one. Can you please recommend a few brands and where to buy them. I'll most likely be buying online as Im over in Ireland and cigar emporiums/ shops are few and far between.

Thanks in advance, Rua!

[misterbulgarin]

If you're really that fussed about price, Get some Piedras, real cheap, cuban, and really well behaved when smoking them.

If its a special occassion go for something a bit more upmarket, itll be worth it. Ramon allones I hear a pretty good, but ive yet to try the ones in my humidor.

[daverave999]

Do you smoke cigarettes normally? How long do you want it to last?

If you do smoke normally, I'd say a Ramon Allones Specially Selected as they are so yummy, in my opinion, and you'll be more used to the nicotine and stronger flavours.

If you don't smoke normally, try a Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill as these are less likely to kick your guts in whilst still providing a flavoursome and enjoyable experience.

Either of these should take about 45 mins to an hour to smoke in my experience.

[EDIT] These will be about ?10 to ?15 each as singles from a shop/online store. I assumed you mean you want something special for a one-off but not stupidly expensive.

[snooky]

Vanilla ! honey ! yuk, have a look on 1001 cigars find a cuban to suit your pocket, there are some great deals there . Good luck

[deltawhisky]

Rua,

I'd like to write a little help for a fellow learner. Like you, my friends and I were interested in stogies in our later school years, and used to celebrate un-celebration-worthy things with a good stick. Life does not change in further studies. It just creates more opportunities to enjoy circumstance through cigar smoke.

So, a birthday cigar without hunting here, there and everywhere, for the perfect wallet-smasher of a Cuban.

Listen to the experts, by all means, but in my experience, nothing beats a middle-of-the-range Monte' No.4. It is not going to break your bank account, and it's not going to knock you off your horse.

Try also the Monte' Petit Tubos. I myself bought a Boli Tubos No.3 today, as I am also in need of a relatively short smoke for a gathering this weekend.

Enjoy!

[cj121]

Sound advice there Delta re the Motecristo No. 4: a staple and dependable stick, suiting newbs and not so alike

[TJCoro]

Flavor cigars are fine for occasional smokers!

Senor Novice,

I tried flavored cigars many, many years ago when I started on cigars and understand your interest in them. Many newbies to the leaf gravitate to these when they start out.

So, if that's what your are interested in, let me suggest two very nice and inexpensive cigars that may be available on your side of the pond - The Havana Honey and the Tatiana (sp).

Both come in a wide variety of flavors, including honey a vanilla, and deliver a fine tabacco flavor, too.

Good luck, lad .

BJ

[Irish Rua]

Thanks very much lads, I appreciate all the advice.
I don't smoke normally, neither does my friend but we have smoked cigars from the bottom of the barrell by which I mean; Hamlets, Henry Winterhams and seldom a king edwards. I know its sacralige to even mention such brands here, but hey.
To be honest i think that after smoking such tripe I can handle anything.
I actually completely forgot I put this post up here and so I wasn't able to cash in on any of the sound advice you guys have given but I do have my wits, and after looking at the top rated cigars on cigar-review.com I found what I was looking for.
I bought a 10 year old Vegas Robiana - Clasico, which I'm certain will be an experince in its own right.
Shall I let you know how goes?

[Simon-JG-hr]

Vegas Robaina - very nice choice. The 1999-2001 cigars can be a little tight, then again, they can be very good too.

Please do let us know how it goes. Preferably with some good old fashioned cigar porn pictures.

[HabanoSy]

A very nice choice indeed, should go down very well, but like Simon says they can be a bit tight on the draw but should be ok...

Do let us know how you get on...!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Irish Rua]

I've uploaded a few pictures/ porn to my album although this forum is very confusing, I couldn't seem to add them to this thread, even as thumbnails. Anyway I have some photos of the Robiana and some other cigars bought from the Decent Cigar Emporium in Dublin.