Do you remember your first cigar experience? Mine goes back nearly 40 years to being a young teen fishing with my dad.

I thought it was a big deal when I “upgraded” from Swisher Sweet Wood tips to Backwoods; I called them Clint Eastwood cigars.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
Do you remember your first cigar experience? Mine goes back nearly 40 years to being a young teen fishing with my dad.

A&C Grenadiers, think they were .25 maybe .35 at the WMU student union. Used to go up after rat lab, get a cigar, sit around, study and maybe later catch a nap.

The neighbor that helped me build my soap Box Derby car when I was 12 smoked Tiparillos. He also had a Triumph. Thought he was about the coolest person around.

I smoked Royal Jamaicas when I finished exams as an undergraduate at Indiana University.

The first REALLY good cigars I had were Padron Anniversary series while on a buddies golf trip in South Carolina when I was about 40 years old. Those Padrons were a revelation.

Swisher Sweets to go fishing, 5 cents each.
There was another one I do not know the name of, but it looked like a piece of manila rope dipped in tar. Smelled like it and was death on mosquitoes. 60 years ago, how time flies.

^^^^^^
I like Swisher Sweets (Classic). The other cigar you mentioned sounds as though it’s a cheroot.

When I was a college kid on a very limited budget I smoked Rum Crooks. Kind of wish I could try ‘em again.

While I do not remember my very first cigar, I do remember smoking one in St. Maarten. When I was much younger in the Navy, we pulled into St. Maarten and a few of us grabbed cigars and beers at a bar. I have no clue what it was I smoked and really wasn't into it.

Fast forward 10 years or so and I dabbled here and there with cigars. I bought two boxes for my wedding. A box each of Fuente short story and an Ashton. However, cigars really didn't do anything for me. So now the fun begins...

About eight years after the wedding, my brother invites me to the just opened Cigars International in Hamburg, PA. This cigar I do remember and where I "got it" about cigars.

I was recommended a My Father le Bijou petite robusto. "It had flavors of yada-yada-yada." Yeah right...flavors... In a cigar, no less. Well, let me tell y'all something. I'll be dipped if I didn't pick up the chocolate and earthy flavors in that cigar. That one stick has changed me.

quote:

Originally posted by mttaylor1066:
I smoked Royal Jamaicas when I finished exams as an undergraduate at Indiana University.

The first REALLY good cigars I had were Padron Anniversary series while on a buddies golf trip in South Carolina when I was about 40 years old. Those Padrons were a revelation.

Not really, no, but I sure remember that Royal Jamaicas were among the first (good) cigars I smoked. It’s been so long, I have no idea if they really were good. Some research discloses that Royal Jamaica was the only cigar sold in the U.S. with Jamaican tobacco. That Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 almost put them out of business. There is a 1999 Cigar Aficionado article about their comeback, but I don’t know if they survived another 25 years.

ETA: Looks like the Jamaican cigar industry did not survive. Altadis U.S.A. owns the brand name and produces Royal Jamaicas, but I don’t see any Jamaican tobacco in the cigars.

I’ve been offered some of the Pete Johnson Tatuaje 50th birthday cigar. I love Tat’s, but $50/stick is heavy.