The cigar shop

[cna]

Last year i was into La Aurora 100 Años Belicoso cigars but i been meaning to try a opus x but so many options to choose from

[ikethegreat]

What do you look for when cigar shopping?  I just found a cigar shop in the mall near me and when I went in to make a purchase, I really had no clue what to buy.  Other than going off the price tags, I had no clue which were good and which weren't. 

[timot_one]

I get to know the shop owner, let them know that you're new to cigars and ask for suggestions.

[exelr8]

I get to know the shop owner, let them know that you're new to cigars and ask for suggestions.

What Tim Said. The tobacconist will more than likely recommend a sweet flavored cigar or a lighter unflavored cigar. I got started with the Kahlua blend cigars(they dont exist any more). The Tabak Especial Dulce is very similar though

[timot_one]

I would get to know the shop owner, let them know that you're new to cigars and ask for suggestions. I still do that when I buy cigars. I'm always asking for suggestions.

[exelr8]

Since my tobacconist is rather large, we have cigar reps there all the time, I often ask them for recommendations. Their recommendations often end with a free cigar or swag.

[timot_one]

Free sticks are always nice. I haven't seen a rep at the spot I usually go to. The only other shop that's near me isn't that great.

[exelr8]

Rep for Nestor Miranda is often in our shop. A few times a year he brings the "not for sale" cigar. It's delicious. I got 2 of them, one if which I had sent to my buddy(rocketstarter, from here a few years ago) who was deployed.

[timot_one]

Hmmm. A not for sale cigar. Sounds interesting.

[exelr8]

I'll try to snag you one next time he is there

[timot_one]

When you make the trip up here I'll take you the place I pick up most of my cigars.  I've been working on filling up my humidor with some good and somewhat hard to find smokes.  I want to take the time to age them so I can really enjoy them down the road when the weather is nicer.  I'm also planning on getting a few cigars this year around my birthday so I can age them for some milestone birthdays that I have coming up.

[exelr8]

Tim, do you use a cigar caddy when you travel?

[timot_one]

I don't have anything that I use for travel right now. I would like to pick up something that's cedar lined though. I've been considering one of the Xikar travel cases though. I definitely want something before I go on vacation in March.

[exelr8]

I think the Aston case is cedar lined. I'd like to pick up a cigar caddy. It's sort of like a pelican case

[timot_one]

I think they're all pretty much the same.  A case lined with foam and a humidification device.  I've seen some 3 and 5 cigar cases that are lined with cedar.  I did find a cedar lined travel case though.  I may get one of the Xikar/Cigar Caddy/Cigar Mechanic 15 cigar cases for traveling though.  I figure I can bring a few smokes with me, but at the same time have enough room in case I find a nice shop wherever I'm visiting and hopefully pick up a few smokes.  That's what I did when I was in Denver.

What do you look for when cigar shopping?  I just found a cigar shop in the mall near me and when I went in to make a purchase, I really had no clue what to buy.  Other than going off the price tags, I had no clue which were good and which weren't.

I wanted to revisit your question and make a comment on the part of your statement in bold.  Cigars are a funny thing, where price doesn't mean quality.  Just because a cigar is expensive, doesn't mean that it's good.  Inversely, just because a cigar is inexpensive, it doesn't mean it's bad.  I've smoked really good $5 cigars and had expensive cigars that weren't very good at all.  Price is no indicator of quality.  That's why I made the suggestion to speak to the tobacconist in the shop and get some suggestions.  You may want to make a small list and pick up one at a time when you try them.  I'm assuming that you don't have a humidor, so you'll want your smoke to be fresh.  

If I would make a suggestion on a few cigars to start with, I would ask for an Arturo Fuente Short Story and an Oliva Serie G.  I have also had a few $5-6 Rocky Patel's that were very satisfying.  I'm partial to the Oliva, but the Short Story is a very popular cigar among a lot of my friends.  My only complaint about it is that it has a harder draw than I prefer.