My First Cigar(s)

[Bill w/ eoPd]

I bought some cigars from the very limited selections on offer at the convenience store in town. I am fairly certain that these are mainly used to smoke other tobaccos but they were surely intended to be smoked as is, though they are obviously at the lowest end of the spectrum.

My first cigar wound up being a Black & Mild (with an off-white plastic tip), which was too terrible to continue smoking or to say anything else about.

After brushing my teeth and waiting a few minutes, I gave the Optimo Cigarillos Green Candela Wrapper a shot. This looked like an actual cigar, except for the fact that it was greenish in color, and was at least passible to my completely inexperienced palate.

I just came inside from smoking the final of three types purchased, which was a Swisher Sweets Perfecto. This was more inline with my expectations and is probably closer to being a proper cigar than the others that I smoked yesterday. The cigar had a somewhat pleasant sweetness (artificial?) which seemed to lessen the more that I smoked, which was fine by me. Having only begun pipe smoking a few weeks ago, I have little~nothing to compare any of these cigars to but the Swisher Sweets Perfecto is definitely my favorite of the three.

I will probably need to consciously avoid smoking on an empty stomach in the foreseeable future, as I am feeling a decent buzz at this moment.

[Jimmie the Mum]

Go to an actual cigar shop. Tell the guy you need help / advice on picking out a stogie as a first timer. He should be able to help you.

[Tonto]

Go to an actual cigar shop. Tell the guy you need help / advice on picking out a stogie as a first timer. He should be able to help you.

^^^
This


Also, I would try smoking smaller ring gauge cigars.  I would go with something around the Petite Corona size.

I would go for Connecticut wrapped to start and always keep some type of beverage with you to drink. I found that when i was starting & had something too strong, a Coke would seem to help. 

While I would smoke almost anything, I avoid Candela Wrappers...tastes like grass & hay to me.

[nayslayer]

Yeah those are bottom of the barrel. Seek out a cigar shop. What area are you in?

[Bill w/ eoPd]

The heat was probably a contributing factor to the buzz, as I was smoking outside at 4:00pm.
I definitely got a grassy~seaweed (not salty) taste from the Optimo but thought that it might just be the green color having an impact on my perception.

[Bill w/ eoPd]

Yeah those are bottom of the barrel. Seek out a cigar shop. What area are you in?

They are usually emptied of tobacco and refilled with other herbs and spices, according to the rap musicians.
I am about an hour and a half south of Houston.