re: Cigar smokers

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I’ve known of plenty of people who never smoked once (cigar, cigarettes or any other tobacco use) and got some kind of oral cancer, mouth, throat.
But obviously there’s a risk increase with using.

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My dad is fighting throat cancer as we speak and has never smoked anything a day in his life. The leading cause of oral cancer, particularly throat cancer, is oral sex. Its almost an epidemic in the western world. I know this because I asked his doctor how he might have gotten cancer without ever used tobacco of any sort LOL...talk about an awkward moment...she did not hesitate to bring this bit of news to our attention. Of course they do not know but he was a bit of a rake when he was a man about town....

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I’m a cigar neophyte, but have enjoyed the few that I’ve had. What is considered low, middle, and high end price wise?
I’ve had a tabak, crazy Alice, montecristo white, and maybe a cao American? Out of those the crazy Alice seemed very flavorful, almost sweet tasting.

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In my experience it is very much individual choice. It will start quite a debate in a cigar lounge asking people what they like. Personally I like just about any cigar but my go to, premium, is a Drew Estate Undercrown. Usually the maduro Robusto 5X54 but all of them are pretty good.

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What’s the best way to store a few if you don’t have a humidor? In a ziploc bag?

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Just get an airtight Tupperware container, toss an appropriately sized boveda pack in there and you’re good to go.

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I think those are sweetened so makes sense. Look for sweetened tipped cigars. Anything Acid you'll probably enjoy too. Those are flavored.

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So like the Jack Daniels Honey of cigars. Great, I’m a little bitch.

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So like the Jack Daniels Honey of cigars. Great, I’m a little bitch.

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Generally speaking, how long will a cigar last or “be good” for if not stored in a humidor (humidity around 50%)? I’ve only been buying a couple at a time and only smoke once every week or two. What’s the best way to store a few if you don’t have a humidor? In a ziploc bag?

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Most cigars are pretty close to being dried out even when they are in the humidor at the shop because most cigar shop humidors aren't overly efficient. Not always but its not uncommon. 70% humidity and about 70 degrees is generally considered "proper". 65-75% humidity is pretty easy to achieve, keeping a large humidor at 70 degrees is tough with people coming in and out etc. AC also removes humidity so there is that to contend with. A cigar that has been stored at 50% will be pretty dry within a few days. The wrapper is liable to crack making smoking the cigar nearly impossible. It will also cause the cigar to canoe (one side burn faster than the other) or tunnel (the core of the cigar will burn faster than the edges). This is also common for cigars that are properly kept in a humidor but not rotated and turned. This is the main reason I keep very few on hand....its a lot of work to do it properly.

All of that being said storing cigars is slightly overblown, in my opinion. As long as they don't crack they are fine. They will taste differently but after the first inch or so they are pretty damn dry anyway and personally I always find the cigar past the wrapper to be the best part of the cigar. When it has been lit that long it is certainly dried out. Keeping them in a good airtight kitchen container with a boveda pack is more than sufficient for all but the most discriminating aficionados and most of them are full of BS LOL...

This is a pretty good tip about keeping cigars in an airtight bowl....ask the cigar shop if they have any empty boxes with Spanish cedar( not actually cedar but almost a type of mahogany) lining. They do...they will have LOTS of them and may give you one but will certainly sell you one for a dollar or so. Cut the liner of that box to fit the bottom of the airtight container....it will impart a properly stored cigar taste to the cigars kept in the container. Spanish cedar makes a noticeable difference in the taste of any cigar and has been used forever to line humidors and cigar boxes for shipping. the main reason its used is because it maintains stable levels of humidity but the taste is also a big plus....