You have just started smoking cigars and you decide to head down to your local shop to pick up a cigar to enjoy on a nice lazy sunny afternoon or maybe to enjoy during your next round of golf.
I remember the feeling the first time I stepped into a walk-in humidor. I was 18 years old with my friend at a Tinder Box that was at my local mall. The first thing that hit me was the smell… It was wonderful. The second thing that hit me was holy crap there are a lot of cigars here and I have no idea which one to pick.
Shelves of boxes from the floor to the ceiling all filled with what could be the best cigar out there or the dud of a cigar that makes you rethink the idea of smoking cigars altogether. Which one to pick?
I don’t remember which cigar I ended up getting. Back then I picked a cigar solely based on looks (color and size) and what the band looked like.
After getting our stogies, we got in the truck and drove down to the river. It was going to be the perfect summer day for smoking cigars and fishing.
We ended up biting off the end of the cigars, because that is what we had seen done in the movies. Heck we didn’t even know what a cigar cutter was then. And we light them with a Bic lighter because what else would you light them with?
While I may not remember which cigar I smoked that day while I was fishing with my friends what I do remember was the experience and knowing that I enjoyed it and wanted to do it again.
You may tend to gravitate to a cigar you have smoked before. You may just pick a random cigar or you may just stand unsure of which cigar to pick. I know I have been there. The feeling of overwhelm and not wanting to look like an idiot as you stand there with your mouth open in amazement at all of the possibilities.
So which cigar should you pick? If you are a new cigar smoker I definitely recommend that you do not pick something that you have smoked before. When you are first starting out you should try as many different cigars as you can. That is the only way you will figure out what you like and more importantly don’t like.
Criteria
For new cigar smokers there are two main brands that I recommend. I recommend these brands because they represent the following traits:
- Quality – Both of these brands exhibit quality in the construction of their cigars. An even burn and a consistently are both qualities that mark a good cigar. They are great for beginners to ensure a pleasurable experience.
- Variety – As a beginning cigar smoker it is important to try a variety of cigars with different wrappers, binders, fillers and of various sizes (vitolas) to determine what you like dislike and develop your taste or pallet for cigars. Both of these brands have a diverse portfolio of cigars that fulfill this need.
- Availability – Any decent brick and mortar cigar store (B&M) should have a good selection of both of these brands. If you walk into a store and don’t see a cigar from either of these brands, you should seriously consider walking back out and finding a different store. Also every online cigar retailer I have come across sells most if not all of these brands offerings.
So after reading that I am sure you are ready to learn what these two best cigar brands for beginners are. Well wait no more…
Arturo Fuente
Founded in Tampa Florida in 1912 by its namesake (Arturo Fuente Sr.), the Fuente brand has grown to become the benchmark of quality and consistency in the quality in the cigar industry. Whether it is one of their lower priced cigars like an 858 or a Breva Royale or one of their top of line sticks like an Opus X or an Añejo, you will always get a consistently good smoke.
The Fuente factories also make cigars for the Ashton and Cuesta Rey brands, which should not be over looked either.
Here are of few of my favorite Arturo Fuente cigars.
Sun Grown Chateau Fuente Queen B
Rocky Patel
Rocky Patel started making cigars in the mid 1990’s and since then has come to be one of staples of the industry. His cigar portfolio ranges the spectrum and has something for everybody. If you smoked just Rocky Patel cigars, you would be able to smoke a very diverse array of cigars. From the Vintage series to the Edge to the Sun Grown, you will definitely find something that you like or something new that you haven’t tried before. They are regularly adding new cigars to their lineup so there is always something new to try with the same quality as the rest of their smokes.
Here are of few of my favorite Rocky Patel cigars.
Photo credit: Jungle Jim’s International Market / Foter / CC BY