I enjoy almost anything that La Flor Dominicana makes, but particularly the Double Ligero Chisel Maduros and DL 660's. Very strong flavored and they go great with a hoppy IPA.

When I want to splurge, I'll pick up an Ashton VSG or Padron 1964 Anniversary, and when I want to spend less, I usually go with a Punch Rare Corojo.

EGADS! A Lobo sighting! And on my topic! I feel so fortunate! Welcome back, and welcome to the hobby, Lobo! I highly recommend anything in the Fuente Hemingway line if you're just buying them one at a go. The Signature is my favorite.

Strekos - How do you like the VSG series from Ashton? I've heard good things, but never tried one. Anyone in particular you'd recommend?

Ewwww, smokings disgusting.

Now, where did I put my spitter?

I have a budget to stick to so I try to stay away from the high end stuff. My normal go to cigars are the Punch Gran Puro and the Hoyo de Monterey Excalibur. Once in a while I smoke a Maker's Mark cigar, not too often though.

What do you guys think about the Acid line? I hear some people praising them and others saying that they're a blight upon the industry; but I haven't heard anyone in the middle yet.

I have always enjoyed a good cigar, but as I've gotten older, I have found I don't always have the time for a "real" cigar. So now I smoke these pretty regularly. They hit the spot for a small time commitment. I also enjoy a good pipe now and then.

They're are a very good, powerful cigar. They have kind of a coffee-ish flavor that I really like. However, they are often overpriced, and quality is not as consistent as with other Ashtons -- sometimes I get one that is too harsh or burns poorly. I usually get the Belicoso or Robusto. The Illusion has a bit too firm of a draw for my taste, and the Torpedo is the most inconsistent of the ones I've tried.

Anyone have a favorite drink they like with their smokes?

I don't have a particular favorite - just depends on the cigar and my mood. Sometimes a big red wine, sometimes vodka, scotch, bourbon, or even a cup of coffee...

As far as humidors, a lot depends on where you live. If you live in a humid environment like Florida, you should be good with just about anything. I live in a desert climate, and have gotten to the point where I buy one or two when I want a smoke it's almost impossible to keep cigars safe in this climate.

If anyone has any humidors that could do the trick I'd love some advice.

Unless you become an afficionado any fire ought to do, just pick a lighter that you like and you should be good.

I would recommend buying a punch instead of using a cutter. I find I get a more consistently even burn that way.

I started out with a small humidor and they fill up far too fast. I ended up making a coolerdor and it's worked flawlessly.

Instruction Link 1
Instruction Link 2

As for recommendations, what strength do you prefer?

I prefer mild to medium strength (lighter colored outer wrapping). Make any obligatory jokes, but anything stronger gives me a headache. Maybe because one of my first experiences was smoking a bad quality, robust Cuban cigar on a rolling cruise ship and then trying not to lose my dinner the rest of the night.

I can get in on this thread!

A cigar to me is an hour that will be spent relaxing away by myself or with my buddies. I enjoy sitting out on my deck in the spring or fall when the weather is nice and cool. Summer isn't bad either here in Connecticut, but you're just asking for misery if you try to smoke outdoors in the winter. I also enjoy the miniatures when I don't have an hour to devote.

Some of my favorite real cigars have been from C.A.O. recently, particularly the Brazilia line. Also, the Italia line's "Piazza" is a huge, nice cigar. One of my all time favorites is the Fuente Fuente Opus X, though they're hard to find and a bit pricey.

My mouth is watering now..

Don't sweat the humidor too much, just go pick one up at a local cigar shop that holds at least 40 smokes. The most important thing is to get a bottle of Propylene Glycol so you can keep it at a nice relative humidity of 70% without having to worry about anything but keeping it topped off. Go about half and half with PG and filtered water, and you'll never have to obsess with a hygrometer and a fill regimen.

Get 3 friends who smoke cigars and order some Cubans through one of the the online mail order shops. You'll each get 10, it'll cost you each around 8-15 bucks a smoke, depending on how fancy you want to get, and you'll enjoy them far more than the Dominican singles you're accustomed to buying in cigar shops. If some of you are new to the cigar life, you can't go wrong with a box of Partagas Shorts. After you finish that box, the hook will be in, and you're off to the races.