In the first wave of cigar resurgence, around mid90’s, I started getting into cigars again. I had started in college to mask dopesmell and girls hated them and stopped, which moved me to a three pack a day cigarette habit. Quit the cigarettes in 91 and started the cigar thing a few years ago. I finally quit as it was trying to pull me back to cigarettes and I got burned onto it.
I agree with previous folks that you should spend time with a knowledgeable cigar guy in a good shop. They can help you find you particular jam in leaf, region, ring and leaf, storage, etc. the best i ever had were hand rolled Cubans they made for us a a show at La Jolla. Well they weren’t Cubanos but fresh rolled by a Cuban dude.