I am a cigar wuss

[IUtoSLU]

Today I smoked my first cigar simply by myself. My only previous cigar experience was at my bachelor party and, needless to say, the experience wasn't the focus of the evening and I don't really remember it.

I bought a cigar at a local shop that came in a 6-inch cylinder. The wording on it is as follows: "PUNCH - Imported - Hand Made. Manuel Lopez - Imported - Royal Coronation."

It cost around 4 dollars and I have no idea whether it is considered a quality cigar or not. I knew the basics (via the interwebs) on how to property cut/light/smoke it and I will spare you the details on those points. The flavor it left in my mouth was enjoyable - a sort of tabacco/vanilla combo. Halfway through the smoke, the back of my mouth/throat began to itch or be irritated. I made it through another 1/4 and left the final 1/4 unsmoked. My chest also began to have a small dull pain as I may have inadvertantly inhaled some smoke. The aftertaste is still in my mouth 2 hours later.

All-in-all, I would rate the experience a 5/10. I didn't get any kind of buzz and I don't think the enjoyment of tobacco/vanilla flavor was worth the itchy throat and dull chest pain.

Thoughts?

 

[jptoor]

Junior year of high school, had the harshest cigar I'd ever had. I actually threw up, and felt like I was going to pass out.

But I got over it, and just never chose that same one again. My friends have and had similar results. (Not throwing up, but harsh headaches etc., we found out the secret was to not finish it by yourself, sharing made it enjoyable.)

Edit:
Forgot my point, you may get used to it. It was an acquired taste for me.

 

[gnatty8]

Was your cigar excessively dry? Did the cap cut cleanly or sort of crumble away?

Punch makes a decent cigar, but not the best, and probably close to a medium to full flavor, so not the best thing to start with.

In all honesty, from your description, I think you bought a dry cigar, which can translate into a very harsh cigar. Did you buy from a store that had a proper humidor?

 

[Aaron01]

IMO, if your throat/chest hurts you might be drawing too hard and you may need to cut the cigar a little higher up. The smoke should sort of waft into your mouth, you shouldn't be sucking on it like a cigarette.

For the aftertaste, you might try eating a strong citric fruit and brushing/using mouthwash. They also have smokers mints....

 

[IUtoSLU]

I definately sucked on it like a cigarette. If the smoke is supposed to waft into your mouth, how are you supposed to avoid inhaling it?

The cigar shop doesn't have a humidor but the cigar cut cleanly and didn't crumble.

 

[why]

Originally Posted by IUtoSLU

I definately sucked on it like a cigarette. If the smoke is supposed to waft into your mouth, how are you supposed to avoid inhaling it?
I have this problem with all kinds of things. I put them in my mouth and can't help but inhale.

 

[Aaron01]

Originally Posted by IUtoSLU

I definately sucked on it like a cigarette. If the smoke is supposed to waft into your mouth, how are you supposed to avoid inhaling it?

Well, you draw on the cigar, but in my experience it should be fairly light and not forceful like with cigarettes.

 

[Dark_Leeroy]

Think of it like a straw with coffee, but you're supposed to spit out the coffee; at least that's the easiest way to describe the whole don't inhale thing.

It's just something you get used to doing, and if you like it you like it; if you don't you don't.

The Punch cigars you get in the US are meh.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Dark_Leeroy

The Punch cigars you get in the US are meh.
+1.
It also does sound like he got a dry cigar.
IU, if you're interested in smoking better cigars you might find more enjoyable, there are some beginner cigar threads and there are tons of recs in the cigar thread pinned at the top of this subforum. I must warn you, as jet has recently found out, it is a slippery slope and before you know if you'll be looking at cabinet humidors and wondering where the hell all your money went.

 

[bdeuce22]

Originally Posted by IUtoSLU

blah blah blah Thoughts?
PM me your address.

 

[Kd88]

Get a humidor and give some new cigars a try.

 

[Unbreakable]

I concur with the dry cigar notion.

 

[gnatty8]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

+1.
It also does sound like he got a dry cigar.
IU, if you're interested in smoking better cigars you might find more enjoyable, there are some beginner cigar threads and there are tons of recs in the cigar thread pinned at the top of this subforum. I must warn you, as jet has recently found out, it is a slippery slope and before you know if you'll be looking at cabinet humidors and wondering where the hell all your money went.

Good place to start and yes, I think part of the problem was a dry cigar. If you want something that is a good way to experience a pretty complex tasting cigar, low cost, and about medium flavored, try an Oliva Serie V (lancero or torpedo), Cabaguan (robusto), Padron anything (although some tend to be full flavored so beware) or ask for a recommendation based on your preferences at a decent cigar shop. One thing though, I would not buy cigars that were not stored in humidors. If possible, find a place with a walk-in humidor.