Is it me or the Cigars?

405bench

I have a question but first I'll provide some info.  50 years old and smoked cigars for 31 and nothing but handmade premiums for 28.  Although I smoke a lot of robust or full body cigars I tend to prefer mild to mid pre-noon and medium post noon.  The past several years, I tend to pull a full body out at prime time (evenings after dinner).  I do this not because I like them but because I want to like them ( stupid huh).  Seems to me, the best quality of cigars recently is in the more robust or full body realm.  Take for example the Olivia V, it is simply beutiful to look at and feel, but for me they are a little to robust.  I have to be very careful in the first half or I will get dizzy smoking them.  I can only nasal about 10% on the exhale but after about a 3rd of the cigar is done it always gets much better and I end up nasaling significantly more and enjoying the experiance much more.  I find this true the vast majority of times regardless of the body of cigar, but I notice it more on full body smokes.  The back half is always better than the front half.  One thing I notice, starting a full body smoke is a little rough on the nasal passages but they wet up and I increase the exhale thru the sinuses on the back half.  I ussualy have to blow my nose toward the end.  So, my question is; Is it the cigars that change in mid stride or is it me (my senses)?    

kuzi16

phobicsquirrel

405bench

Thanks for the well thought out response Kuzi.  I try to always smoke a cigar slow, as I think that is the one thing most do wrong, ie; smoke'em to fast.  However, I think I may be rushing it on the first 1/3, maybe worried about it going out?  But, once a nice ash forms I'm more confident and slow down.  At any rate I think I may have to get a timer involved for so study.

LowSpark

I too worry about my cigar going out right when i light it so i tend to smoke fast.  I had an oliva serie V that just about knocked me on my ass because of this.  are there any tricks or techniques people use to slow down the smoking? do you set the cigar down? do yuo keep a stop watch going to get used to the pace?

kuzi16

LowSpark:

I too worry about my cigar going out right when i light it so i tend to smoke fast.  I had an oliva serie V that just about knocked me on my ass because of this.  are there any tricks or techniques people use to slow down the smoking? do you set the cigar down? do yuo keep a stop watch going to get used to the pace?

i talk with the people around me. i dont keep my cigar in my mouth. and i find it hard to talk with a cigar in there. if im alone i write. im a right handed smoker and a tight handed writer. hard to smoke with pen in the hand.

Vidarien

Just my little addition to this post - The Oliva V also knocked me into a haze as well. They use some damn strong leaf in that little girl.

kuzi16

Vidarien:

Just my little addition to this post - The Oliva V also knocked me into a haze as well. They use some damn strong leaf in that little girl.

...and i love it.

Otter Tail Joe

Great information! I really appreciate folks taking the time to share insights and experiences as I am eager to learn all I can about the relaxing recreation of smoking cigars.

 

Here is a question I have had for a while: There are a number of variables relating to how a cigar with a little punch will affect a smoker but does anyone have an idea relating to the relative strength of cigars running from mild to strong? To illustrate, is an Oliva V ten times stronger or three times stronger - or fifty times stronger - than a Macanudo (or any mild cigar)?

 

Again, there are so many variables related to leaf primings, climate, soil type, tobacco variety, aging, and on and on. But relatively speaking - from mildest to strongest - what is the scale of strength?

 

Thanks!

betasynn

We generally rate cigars on the Quadriplegic Hamster to Superman on Human Growth Hormone scale.

hawaiianbass

I've noticed in most of my cigars they take a bit to open up. For example: I had a Gurkha Beast today and right off the bat it was pretty bland I wasn't enjoying it much but ten or fifteen minutes later it opened up and 2 hours later I put the last inch and a half in the ashtray. CK

Krieg

Vidarien:

Just my little addition to this post - The Oliva V also knocked me into a haze as well. They use some damn strong leaf in that little girl.

I smoked a Rocky Patel Olde Worlde Reserve over the weekend, I got home from the cigar bar and was sitting on my couch and my blood sugar tanked, felt like I was about to pass out...even my wife said I looked pale...I would hate to think it was the cigar...never had a smoke affect me like that before.

phobicsquirrel

that isn't fun, smoking too fast or smoking with no food in your belly. been there before, drink sugar water, I hear it helps.

kaspera79

phobicsquirrel:

that isn't fun, smoking too fast or smoking with no food in your belly. been there before, drink sugar water, I hear it helps.

Funny you should say the sugar thing.. I read that sugar gets rid of that stomache problem from "FULL" cigars.. It works for me, I chew up a sugar cube .. that and sip water slowly .

j0z3r

I think the best cure for a full bodied stomach ache is an even fuller bodied cigar...makes you clean forget about the first one.

kaspera79

j0z3r:

I think the best cure for a full bodied stomach ache is an even fuller bodied cigar...makes you clean forget about the first one.

I like the way you think.. That can work with drinking too..

j0z3r

kaspera79:

j0z3r:

I think the best cure for a full bodied stomach ache is an even fuller bodied cigar...makes you clean forget about the first one.

I like the way you think.. That can work with drinking too..

Hair of the dog, right? (Nazareth plays in the background)

phobicsquirrel

kaspera79:

j0z3r:

I think the best cure for a full bodied stomach ache is an even fuller bodied cigar...makes you clean forget about the first one.

I like the way you think.. That can work with drinking too..

lol, yeah there ya go.

Krieg

phobicsquirrel:

that isn't fun, smoking too fast or smoking with no food in your belly. been there before, drink sugar water, I hear it helps.

Yeah, I think you're right, I didn't have any food in my stomach so that's what probably did it...definitley learned a lesson! lol

Krieg

j0z3r:

I think the best cure for a full bodied stomach ache is an even fuller bodied cigar...makes you clean forget about the first one.

Heh, if I did that the other day after the way I felt, I probably would have woken up naked in the desert somewhere with a strange tatoo...

kaspera79

j0z3r:

kaspera79:

j0z3r:

I think the best cure for a full bodied stomach ache is an even fuller bodied cigar...makes you clean forget about the first one.

I like the way you think.. That can work with drinking too..

Hair of the dog, right? (Nazareth plays in the background)

....now your messin' with a .......

Luko

kaspera79:

j0z3r:

kaspera79:

j0z3r:

I think the best cure for a full bodied stomach ache is an even fuller bodied cigar...makes you clean forget about the first one.

I like the way you think.. That can work with drinking too..

Hair of the dog, right? (Nazareth plays in the background)

....now your messin' with a .......

sonovabitch