So many of us Brothers of the Leaf enjoy telling stories I would like to know how you all started with our relaxing hobby. I started smoking Captain Blacks when I went out to the bar with friends back when you could smoke in bars. Then from there I would go to the cigar shop in my university town and pick up something random every now and again. Then when I moved to Alberta I found out there was an actual Tobacconist in town I eventually made my way over there to find a pipe. Not only did I find my pipe, I found out how to load it and light it. Then I found some good friends there that always make sure I walk away with a smile and lighter wallet.
How did you start smoking a pipe or cigar?
- Thread starter Hunter
- Start date
The first cigar I ever had was with my room mates in my junior year of college. It was the end of finals week, we were all super-stressed the whole week, and once it was over we decided a celebration was in order. Then I pretty much didn't smoke for a year or so.
Enter the future Mrs. Shavious. Her dad is a cigars and scotch kinda guy. One of my first dates with her was sitting on her front porch, sipping on some leftover Balvenie 12 year from her birthday celebration with her parents and smoking an Arturo Fuente 8-5-8. Been enjoying at least 1 a month since then, although lately I've kicked it up to about once a week.
Enter the future Mrs. Shavious. Her dad is a cigars and scotch kinda guy. One of my first dates with her was sitting on her front porch, sipping on some leftover Balvenie 12 year from her birthday celebration with her parents and smoking an Arturo Fuente 8-5-8. Been enjoying at least 1 a month since then, although lately I've kicked it up to about once a week.
I'd have a cigar from time to time with friends. It started out with Black n Milds, Swisher Sweets and the like in high school. And then graduated to Macanudo and Acid's in college. Towards the end of college, me and a few friends got really big into Avo and Davidoff and would smoke those on weekends and breaks. I never smoked a pipe until I joined B&B. I expressed an interest in doing so, and after Price stopped fighting a giant octopus (true story 
), he sent a generous starter kit my way and the rest is smoke filled history!
), he sent a generous starter kit my way and the rest is smoke filled history!- Thread starter
- #4
Price is a good man like that.
Probably in high school time frame, every Friday during summer months, bank fishing on the local river a pack of whatever the convenience store on the way had (usually Swisher Sweets, white owls, backwoods), ostensibly to keep the bugs away once it got dark and the coleman lantern was lit... Then graduated to dried Italian style cigars (parodi's, dinobilis). Finally went on to hand rolled cigars in college. Never more than 2-3 a week unless on vacation. Pipes are a very recent addict, er addition.
I started in the mid nineties when the first cigar boom started. I slowed down a few times, I started smoking cigars frequently when I lived in the Florida keys. I lived there for almost 10 years. I use to sit on my porch or hammock tied between two palm trees and smoke a cigar. I slowed down when my family grew by two but has started back up over the past few years.
I have to say over the decades cigars have gotten much better especially non-Cubans. I remember when Pepin Garcia and Pete Johnson started making cigars out of a factory on calle Ocho in Miami. I use to buy a bundle off the table wrapped in newspaper. They had to sit in the humidor for months but they were great.
I have to say over the decades cigars have gotten much better especially non-Cubans. I remember when Pepin Garcia and Pete Johnson started making cigars out of a factory on calle Ocho in Miami. I use to buy a bundle off the table wrapped in newspaper. They had to sit in the humidor for months but they were great.
Kilroy6644
Smoking a corn dog in aviators and a top hat
My Uncle Steve has always smoked pipes, so there was an indirect influence there. He never encouraged me, but I was always exposed to the sights and wonderful smells. A couple of years ago I decided I wanted a pipe, but I really struggled with the idea of buying one, because I wasn't - and didn't want to be - a smoker. I wanted a pipe because they look cool, but I didn't want something I wouldn't use. Who buys a pipe as a decoration, or worse, as an affectation? And what good's a pipe without the smell? Finally I talked myself into it. I picked up a cob, a Czech tool, and some tobacco from a local shop, and gave it a shot. And here I am. Oddly enough, I haven't smoked with my uncle yet. I actually kept it hidden from my family for a year-and-a-half before my friend spilled the beans. (Try to imagine a 30-year-old man hiding all his smoking paraphernalia because his parents are coming over.) To this day, the only family members who have seen me smoke are my sister, and Mom, who's seen me smoke cigars at work (because a pipe is too much hassle there).
I can't remember if I was reading a James Bond novel, or watching one of the movies, but Bond was smoking a Royal Jamaican corona. Being 19 at the time, it struck me as a mature thing, this cigar business. I went to my local shop and lo and behold, they had RJ coronas. I bought a box of them. I can remember the guy at the counter asking if it was a gift for my dad, I told him they were for me. He had a look of amusement on his face and told me most kids my age wouldn't know a good cigar if it hit them in the face. I didn't know either, I figured if Bond smoked them, they had to be good. This was about 5 years before the cigar boom hit. I got into pipes about 9 years and 4 kids later because I hung out at the cigar shop Saturday mornings and took a liking to the pipe smokers. The cigar boom was reaching it's end, and now everyone who smoked cigars looked like they were just trying to fit in. I still have the box from those Royal Jamaicans though, plus a plethora of lovely cigars in my humidor.
Attachments
Started smoking cigars after watching these movies.
Started smoking a pipe after posting about it on here & Briar Boy sending me one.
Started smoking a pipe after posting about it on here & Briar Boy sending me one.
My uncle Paul used to smoke the most hideous green stinky cigars while summer steel-head fishing. He also never got bit by skeeters. I started smoking pipes and cigars for summer fishing as well and found a pipe in the winter is comforting and gives me something to do between fish.
My experience goes back to 2000. As a tank commander it is tradition to supply your crew with cigars after successfully firing all crew qualifications on Tank Table VIII. I would buy a box and hand them out to my crews after qualification. I complained to my wife about always having half a box dry out after gunnery....so she was kind enough to buy me a 50 count humidor. That's all it took and I took it as consent, so that's when the journey of the leaf began.
I get that! My parents probably know that I smoke a pipe based on facebook pictures, and I know for sure that they know I used to smoke cigars, but I still make my fiancee hide cigarette packs when we're around my parents, which isn't often. Both of my brothers know, her parents know, but I don't feel the need to make it obvious in front of my parents, for fear of judgement I guess.
My first foray started on my 18th birthday when my dad gave me a pack of Swisher Sweet Slimes, a Playboy, and a couple of lotto tickets. I liked the Swishers, so that led to lots of drug store cigars with friends, then once I got into college picking up Macanudos and Partagas at the local cigar shop. Later in college a roommate and I decided to buy pipes. After a few bowls and lots of bite, the pipe went into a box until I joined B&B earlier this year and got the itch to pull it back out. Now with a few more pipes and lots of tobacco choices, I'm fully into pipes.
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Cigars
My father has smoked cigars pretty much as long as I can remember. Macanudo Portofino's were always his favorites. Other go to brands for him Don Diego's, Royal Jamaica's, Te-Amo's, and in a jam a Garcia Y Vega.
My first Cigar was at 18 yr's old. I started with Hav-A-Tampa Jewels, but quickly graduated into my fathers caliber brands. My go to was Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 which I could buy for $37 a box.
I found my self taking trips into Union City NJ for fresh hand rolled cigars. I had picked this little tip from the second or third issue of Cigar Aficionado. Rolondo Reyes even had a shop in Union City, it was a thrill to meet him there.
It was nice because this was all PRE Cigar Boom! My cigar humidor today has Macanudo's, Avo's, Acid's, Griffin's, Montecristo's, & Romeo Y Julieta's.
Pipes
Back in Sixth grade my best friends fathet , Mr Paulis smoked a pipe while driving us to and from CYO basketball practice. Even then I loved the smell of a pipe.
I only tried it at around 30 years old. First attempt= FAILURE. Second attempt at around age 38/39. Second attempt=FAILURE. Third attempt after discovering B&B at age 44/45. Third attempt= SWEET SUCCESS!
I do find myself partial to aromatics. Pure Virginia's remind me of cigarette tobacco.
Unfortunately PAD has it's grips on me! The bright side is I've kicked a bad case of RAD.
My father has smoked cigars pretty much as long as I can remember. Macanudo Portofino's were always his favorites. Other go to brands for him Don Diego's, Royal Jamaica's, Te-Amo's, and in a jam a Garcia Y Vega.
My first Cigar was at 18 yr's old. I started with Hav-A-Tampa Jewels, but quickly graduated into my fathers caliber brands. My go to was Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 which I could buy for $37 a box.
I found my self taking trips into Union City NJ for fresh hand rolled cigars. I had picked this little tip from the second or third issue of Cigar Aficionado. Rolondo Reyes even had a shop in Union City, it was a thrill to meet him there.
It was nice because this was all PRE Cigar Boom! My cigar humidor today has Macanudo's, Avo's, Acid's, Griffin's, Montecristo's, & Romeo Y Julieta's.
Pipes
Back in Sixth grade my best friends fathet , Mr Paulis smoked a pipe while driving us to and from CYO basketball practice. Even then I loved the smell of a pipe.
I only tried it at around 30 years old. First attempt= FAILURE. Second attempt at around age 38/39. Second attempt=FAILURE. Third attempt after discovering B&B at age 44/45. Third attempt= SWEET SUCCESS!
I do find myself partial to aromatics. Pure Virginia's remind me of cigarette tobacco.
Unfortunately PAD has it's grips on me! The bright side is I've kicked a bad case of RAD.
Justin:
I fondly remember when I was young boy (I must have been at least 10yrs), and my Dad would come home from work (he was a trial lawyer), with a Cuban (he had so many in the large humidor on his desk in the home office…which my brothers and I were told [on pain of a 'whopping'
], never to touch and/or open), between his lips and I would hang on his waist begging to have a puff (every now and then).
Slyly, (and of course out of range of Mom…mind you), he would let me have a small puff, but instructed me to never, never to
inhale the smoke, but to taste, smell and savour it.
From those days, I grew to love cigars and as I ‘grew’ to 16yrs…I used to ‘cabbage’ my Dad’s cigars to smoke with my 'homies'. Then one day, my Dad sat me down in the home office and cut up a cigar into the various parts (binder, filler and wrapper), with a small pen knife. He then began a ‘homily’ on cigars and taught me the differences between handmade (long & short filler), machine made and other 'marques/formats' (Swisher Sweets and the like).
I remember my Dad telling me if I couldn't afford a good handmade cigar…then you shouldn't smoke lesser types. To further my education, he took me to ‘Campbell’s Smoke Shop’ (still there in East Lansing, MI), to ‘show me the ropes’ on cigars. I think he did this to keep me away from cigarettes (which were the ‘craze’ of my age and time …without result). However, my Dad did tell me that he knew I was ‘cabbaging’ his cigars, but I should at least ask him.
Later on, I did enjoy a Cuban and a cognac (or two?), with him before I joined the Army in 79 on the front porch…and it was the best father to son ‘bonding’ I had ever had with him. I had become of age, became a man and going to be a solider and warrior…just like my ‘Pa’. Like most kids of my time...I was in 'awe' of my Father and felt that all I am, or hope to be, I owe to my Dad (and Mom...of course).
So, in essence and since then, I have also tried to get my two (2), son’s away from cigarettes (also without result), and embrace the love of cigars.
"A cigar is as good as [the] memories that you have when you smoked it". Raul Julia
I fondly remember when I was young boy (I must have been at least 10yrs), and my Dad would come home from work (he was a trial lawyer), with a Cuban (he had so many in the large humidor on his desk in the home office…which my brothers and I were told [on pain of a 'whopping'
Slyly, (and of course out of range of Mom…mind you), he would let me have a small puff, but instructed me to never, never to
inhale the smoke, but to taste, smell and savour it.
From those days, I grew to love cigars and as I ‘grew’ to 16yrs…I used to ‘cabbage’ my Dad’s cigars to smoke with my 'homies'. Then one day, my Dad sat me down in the home office and cut up a cigar into the various parts (binder, filler and wrapper), with a small pen knife. He then began a ‘homily’ on cigars and taught me the differences between handmade (long & short filler), machine made and other 'marques/formats' (Swisher Sweets and the like).
I remember my Dad telling me if I couldn't afford a good handmade cigar…then you shouldn't smoke lesser types. To further my education, he took me to ‘Campbell’s Smoke Shop’ (still there in East Lansing, MI), to ‘show me the ropes’ on cigars. I think he did this to keep me away from cigarettes (which were the ‘craze’ of my age and time …without result). However, my Dad did tell me that he knew I was ‘cabbaging’ his cigars, but I should at least ask him.
Later on, I did enjoy a Cuban and a cognac (or two?), with him before I joined the Army in 79 on the front porch…and it was the best father to son ‘bonding’ I had ever had with him. I had become of age, became a man and going to be a solider and warrior…just like my ‘Pa’. Like most kids of my time...I was in 'awe' of my Father and felt that all I am, or hope to be, I owe to my Dad (and Mom...of course).
So, in essence and since then, I have also tried to get my two (2), son’s away from cigarettes (also without result), and embrace the love of cigars.
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I was a young seaman 17 and thought it was cool so I started smoking on the fantail
As a youngster, my father smoked pipes and cigars on a regular basis and I had bought him a couple pipes as a kid for Christmas, Fathers Day, etc. Eventually dad had to give up smoking altogether due to respiratory problems, not caused by tobacco, but smoking aggravated them. I tried smoking a pipe as a teenager, using Borkum Riff IIRC, got terrible tongue bite and gave it up. Fast forward about 40 yrs (as a non-smoker). I did try a cigar on a couple of occasions, but got very queasy from the nicotine hit. Dad has passed on and among his effects are his old pipe rack and about a dozen pipes. They sat packed away in a box for at least 2 years before I eventually get them out and look them over. I immediately recognize a few as gifts I'd given him as a child. I always liked the smell of a pipe and loved the image of smoking a pipe. I began browsing the Brown Leaf and decided to give pipe smoking another try. So at age 57, a year ago this month, I began my journey of the BL. This was a big decision as my wife hates tobacco in all forms and is allergic to the smoke. She was quite upset with me and could not understand why I would begin such a (in her mind) disgusting habit. Particularly since we are both nurses and have seen the results of cigarette smoking. I have tried to explain to her the lessened risk of pipe tobacco vs cigarette smoking. She is not entirely convinced. Both her parents died of lung cancer. None the less, I have persevered, only smoking outside when she is not around, and change cloths and shower afterwards. She has more or less accepted the fact that I will occasionally smoke a pipe. I cleaned up my Dad's pipes, sent two off for repair to Walkers, they are now like new. I've purchased a couple of new pipes, bought several estates off the 'bay and picked up a bag of cobs from MM. I probably have close to three dozen pipes now, but who's counting, and a couple dozen varieties of tobacco. I need more of both. I doubt I will have any serious health issues due to smoking an occasional pipe and having started so late in life, and if it does ,it will take to the end of my life expectancy just about, to do so.
I started smoking cigarettes when I was in high school, and at the same time tried swisher sweets and cloves. I started hanging around some of the older kids, and one of them used to always smoke hand rolled cubans. He always had a couple extra and thats when I began smoking cigars. After he graduated, I pretty much stopped smoking cigars, but sadly not cigarettes. Then throughout college, I would smoke a cigar here and there, if I was in Las Vegas or sometimes on a sat morning when everyone else was off doing something, I would head down to a local cigar shop. After college I started keeping a small 25 count humidor, just to have some to smoke. It kind of snow-balled from there, and as my income allowed for more cigar spending, my humidors became larger, and tupper-adors began popping up to fill overflows, and then eventually my wineador.
- Thread starter
- #18
That is the dream right there...
and then a second one after the first one is full? =D
