That's a sturdy start, I'd say. Good thing it wasn't like, a $40 Padron. Budget sticks play their parts well in the beginning stages. They are like the training wheels of stogies.
My first cigar was a CAO Brazilian. I had NO clue what I was doing. I cut it wrong, puffed it like a freight train...it was a train wreck. 7 years later and a little more "know how" I find them to be phenomenal little budget smokes.
