So, newbies and good smokes don't go together?

[landhoney]

Originally Posted by Cyanide

The sheer logistics of it pretty much have newbies not really smoking any aged cigars on a regular basis until probably 1.5 - 2 years in. That's quite a bit of time to be able to get to the good stuff,

Everyone should start with Dunhills and Davidoff's and work their way down to Cremosa's <sarcasm>. Why rush the process? If you start with the best of the best what's to get excited about? I enjoy the process. I agree with ucla695's post above, except for the cigar recommendations...buy CC's.

On the recommendation side; Parti Shorts, RASCC's, SCdlH El Pricipe's all smoke well fresh to my tastes. Oh and Mag 50's, I'm aging some for sure but I could smoke these fresh a couple times a week no problem. I think there are many CC's that are very good fresh. And there have been some great deals on semi-aged stock. Too easy for this noob(6 months smoking experience), and I'm an idiot(several people will attest to this).

[Snake Hips]

Non-Cubans don't really need any age. As mentioned, they're pre-aged.

Cubans tend to need age, because they're rolled fresh. Many do stand up fresh though. H. Upmann Coronas Major and Magnum 50 are very good fresh as are the Partagas Serie D No. 4 and Bolivar Petite Coronas (well, any Bolivar will blow your head apart at any time of its life). The solution to the noob's entrance to Cubans is to buy them aged. I'm a Cuban noob with half a Vinotemp full of Cubans, but I own very few fresh cigars. I bought them aged and acquired them aged from the collections of other BOTLs. Most of my fresh Cuban cigars are ones that are good fresh anyway.