re: Cigars and where to get em...

I prefer anything Nicaragua.

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Habana port and online.
Since habana came to Baton Rouge you’ll never see me at Churchill’s or god forbid, Don Juan’s, ever again!

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Go on...

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Cigar Cove off of Albertson's Parkway in Broussard. They've got a pretty nice shop and selection. They're less than half a mile from Parish Brewing too.

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Online. Local shops are outrageous. Order a sampler for $20 and figure out what you like. I use Cigars international. Try cohiba red dots, Arturo Fuentes 8-5-8, CAO to name a few

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Local stores have overhead, rent, utilities, labor. The big online retailers do, too, but "economy of scale" makes them cheaper. For now, that doesn't help you much, because trying cigars based on catalog blurbs is not the best way to start.

Go to a local retailer, tell them you tried, MOST LIKELY, fake Cohibas. The real-deal Cohiba is not a cheap cigar, EVER. No worries, many start this way. Get to a local shop with certified tobacconists, I suggest to you Habana Port on Veterans and Bonnabel, or Mayan Import Company on 18th Street in Metairie. Those guys know what they're selling.

Let them suggest to you a few good cigars to begin your journey, and only buy a few four to six only. Make one of your starters a Macanudo, original line. They are smooth, mild as can be, but well made. I also suggest the original lines from Arturo Fuente (red band with a green stripe on it) in the Cuban Corona or 8-5-8 size; original H. Upmann, original Hoyo de Monterrey.

Most of those should not be overly expensive, they've been made since the 1960s and are mild-ish blends and consistent, nothing there to get you sick or turn you off. Plus you don't want to go blow a couple hundred bucks on something you may not like. or get this huge stash from Cigars International or J*R Cigars: my go-to online retailers, because they're cheaper than local, and end up not liking them.

Go local first for buying single cigars and learning. Once you decide and get a feel for it, and fall down the rabbit hole like the rest of us, THEN you start buying online, once you know what you're getting.

I write articles, or I used to, for Cigar Weekly and I have been on the forums there since 2001. We're a little slower than we used to be, but there is a fantastic group of folks who love to share what they know, and love to make recommendations. Cigar Weekly Forums We'd love to help you out.

Anyway, that's my two cents worth, I've been smoking for 20 years, now, I hope you find it helpful. Post back in this thread, too, we have a solid group of smokers here,as well.

Order from Serious Cigars in Houston. Google and check them out.

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cigarsinternational.com

Start there. Prices are around 1/2 what local shops are charging. I have a cheap cigar that I chew on sometimes--nasty habit but IDGAF. Anyway, they're up to $65/bundle in BR, but I can still get them under $30/bundle @ cigarsinternational.com.