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Advice for beginners cigar palate

T

Tom89

New Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2025
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2
Hello

I am new to cigars and I don't smoke very often (so it is a twice a month kind of thing for me)

I have found that I seem to have a very narrow palate, in that most cigars just taste like 'smoke' to me but I had some GREAT experiences with the 858 flora fina sungrown, and the Hemmingway

Even when I've tried Maduros like Padron or Perdomo Habano I've usually been underwhelmed by the flavor, the only cigar that every overwhelmed my palate was the MyFather's Judge which almost made me puke (that was when I was puffing too often though so I thought maybe I was ruining the flavor that way)

Now I had a habit of buying from a brick and mortar and waiting 3 days (out of the humidor) before smoking an 858 flora fina or hemmingway and I've had great experiences that way.

Recently I bought a jar-humidor with a 69% bolvida pack and kept some 858' cameroons in there for a week.

I just smoked one of these 858 cameroons and was disappointed by the lack of flavor.

I really want to get the most out of cigar smoking because I don't do it often and I know when it's right it's really right.

I want to know:

  • Am I doing anything wrong or do I just have a ridiculously narrow palate? //I just can't believe I'm not really tasting >50% of the cigars I'm trying
  • Is it normal to leave a cigar out of the humidor for DAYS to get it to dry for the flavor (I live in the pacific northwest so it's not bone-dry but still)?
  • Any other tips/tricks to getting the most out of my smokes?
  • Any cigar recommendations to try out.
Thank you in advance.
Tom
 
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Hi, Tom. You're in the right place to get lots of great suggestions. The first of which would be to head over to the new member forum and introduce yourself!

Taste and palates are very personal, so you probably shouldn't expect to pick up all the flavor notes that you read about in reviews. I know I certainly don't. Plus the flavors mentioned are generally just going to be fleeting hints of something, not a whole mouthful of it. As a new smoker it will take time to develop your palate and become accustomed to the cigar smoking experience. There's nothing for it but to keep trying lots of different cigars.

The 858SG and Hemingways are great cigars, and are a go to choice for many. The regular 858 is solid, but not up to the standard that those set. I have not tried the judge, but by all accounts it is a very strong cigar and is meant more for experienced cigar smokers. Maybe one to come back to after a while?

As far as your storage and prep, you should be ok there, but you'll find a lot of folks prefer a little less humidity. I use 65% for storage, and will "dry box" a cigar for a day or two before smoking it (if I planned ahead that far). So I think your experience there is on track with what many of us do as well.

Finally, check out the newbie sampler trade. That's a great way to get a variety of known good cigars from a seasoned aficionado here instead of guessing at the tobacconist.
 
Just to be clear, are you looking for flavor or FLAVOR? They make flavored cigars in lots of flavors. I assume you are looking for the hints of flavor vs a grape cigar, but want to be sure
 
So, everything posted up to this point is just about the best advice you can get.

Taste and palettes are Very subjective, and can be developed over time but it takes consistant attention.

I have been smoking since 2008, and there is no way I pick up the notes professional reviewers talk about.

Dirt, wood, pepper, grass, salt, leather, chocolate in varying degrees, and if it is upfront baking spice, but that is more of a "memory" note an actual flavor, like sometimes I get a flashback to my kitchen as a kid with my mom at Christmas.

In the end, for me. I focus on the experience not the flavor
 
As others have mentioned, the joy of smoking a cigar is far more often the experience, the company you're with, even what you are eating and drinking.

Lack of flavor could be many things, such as your depth of puff, frequency of puff,etc.

Welcome! Stick around and you will learn more than you could have ever imagined!
 
Sounds like you enjoy a Cameroon wrapper. Any thought to giving the Don Carlos a try?
 
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Hey, Tom. I don't have any tricks to share, wish I did. However, do keep in mind that when you smoke a cigar and what you pair it with can make a big difference. For me, I really like a beer. For others, it might be a coke, cup of coffee, or something else. Also, for me, if I eat dinner that is spicy and then have a cigar, I usually don't enjoy it as much. My suggestion would be to try to pay attention to not only the cigar you're smoking but also what other things are going on when you're having that cigar.
 
When people say they get hay from a cigar, they don't usually really mean hay. They mean something earthy. Like some will say cinnamon, where as someone else will say sweetness, or baking spice. They all mean a hint of sweetness. Try starting on a lighter cigar that doesn't overwhelm you. Dominican, Connecticut Shades are good starting points. They're more 1 noteish usually. Look for cedar or cream, sometimes white pepper. It is common in those. I think you kind of skipped a head to cigars that might have too much going on.
 
When I first started smoking consistently, I had a hard time finding the flavors described in the catalogs. I thought it was a bunch of marketing BS. Seemed like every stick tasted the same, and I could not pick anything out other than maybe harsh and less harsh. So, I still enjoyed smoking, but decided I would focus on a positive experience vs picking out flavors. Burn, draw, aroma, and pretty much overall construction became the most important thing to me. Eventually, I ended up smoking like a half dozen or more bundles of Pinar del Rio Blue Label cigars. They were cheap, burned great, and generally enjoyed the experience. Without really knowing, I became accustomed to the flavor. At some point after smoking 100 + of the same cigar, I had a different one out of the blue. I remember the extreme flavor differences I experienced. From that point on for the next year or two, I continued to smoke the PDR’s but peppered in different sticks and was blown away how I could pick out differences. Eventually, I stopped smoking the PDR’s and began a quest of smoking every different stick I could. Not going to say I have an expert palate by any means, but I do enjoy cigar flavors and can relate to many of the cigar reviews and flavor descriptions listed for them. I also taste hints of things that remind me of a flavor or sensation, that others might think I’m crazy. Also, my mood, what I’ve eaten, what time of the day, etc all impact how I taste cigars. Even what activities I’m doing will change the flavor. The weather, the lounge, smoking in my truck, how many cigars I’ve smoked in the day, all impact how a cigar may taste. At the end of the day, I really enjoy smoking cigars, and it has become a lifestyle for me. Might not be what you’re looking for, and you may not ever detect the flavor your hoping to. Like most things, you have to practice…
 
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I've found Cigar Inspector's Flavor Wheel to be a handy tool. Sometimes, looking the wheel over while smoking, thinking about the different flavors, lets you explore and put names to the tastes you're experiencing. Main thing is to enjoy yourself and the experience..!! But, this is interesting, and I found it useful:

1741057419788.png

www.cigarinspector.com

Cigar Flavors Wheel : Main Cigar Flavor Components | Cigar Inspector

There are several core cigar flavor components used to describe flavors one can taste while enjoying a cigar (see my other article called How to taste a cigar). Most of the flavors are derived from a scale used to describe […]
www.cigarinspector.com www.cigarinspector.com
 
I also read about the cigar, either right before, or while smoking. I make notes about the “story” of the cigar, along with its components (wrapper/binder/filler). That way I can see some trends in what I enjoy (or don’t).

In addition, I read reviews about the cigar. Normally they include flavor profiles and tasting notes. Here is a nice example:

IMG_4437.jpeg
I can’t usually detect all of the notes, and sometimes none, but at least I know what I’m “supposed” to be looking for.

Good luck!
.
 
dawgie34203 said:
I also read about the cigar, either right before, or while smoking. I make notes about the “story” of the cigar, along with its components (wrapper/binder/filler). That way I can see some trends in what I enjoy (or don’t).

In addition, I read reviews about the cigar. Normally they include flavor profiles and tasting notes. Here is a nice example:

View attachment 92410
I can’t usually detect all of the notes, and sometimes none, but at least I know what I’m “supposed” to be looking for.

Good luck!
.
Click to expand...
Don't get wrapped about what other reviews say, for the most part I think they are full shit
 
MX said:
Don't get wrapped about what other reviews say, for the most part I think they are full shit
Click to expand...
maybe, but when there are similarities across several sources, they might be onto something. I mostly read HalfWheel and Katman. Seems to work out for me (mostly).
 
MX said:
Don't get wrapped about what other reviews say, for the most part I think they are full shit
Click to expand...
Are there any reviewers that you think are telling the truth? Interested in more of your thoughts regarding reviews mostly being full of shit…
 
Smart Ash said:
Are there any reviewers that you think are telling the truth? Interested in more of your thoughts regarding reviews mostly being full of shit…
Click to expand...
Ok, maybe a little harsh, but I REALLY have a hard time when reviewers are pulling out very detailed nuanced flavors. Of course I may be biased, because my pallet is kinda suspect at best.

and when I say "nuanced" I really mean that, "taste like Algerian nutmeg that was dried next to a box a figs and shipped in simi ridged cardboard box" they are out there, and they drive me crazy. My experience has made me question that type of stuff, again might just be a "Me" thing.

I also feel that more and more reviews lean to the kind side of things because well, you just don't bite the hands that feeds you
A few weeks ago I had 2 different cigars that were straight ass
#1 Black Label Deliverance Porcelain Robusto - 1st time smoking
#2 San Cristobal Fabuloso - now I know this is a good cigar, but damn it burned like crap, and tasted even worse
I say this to say, that when I do post a review, I usually lead with "This review is for this cigar, at this time"

Now, LOL, to answer your question, about the only reviews I really trust or posted on here, or Reviews by Katman
 
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MX said:
Ok, maybe a little harsh, but I REALLY have a hard time when reviewers are pulling out very detailed nuanced flavors. Of course I may be biased, because my pallet is kinda suspect at best.

and when I say "nuanced" I really mean that, "taste like Algerian nutmeg that was dried next to a box a figs and shipped in simi ridged cardboard box" they are out there, and they drive me crazy. My experience has made me question that type of stuff, again might just be a "Me" thing.

I also feel that more and more reviews lean to the kind side of things because well, you just don't bite the hands that feeds you
A few weeks ago I had 2 different cigars that were straight ass
#1 Black Label Deliverance Porcelain Robusto - 1st time smoking
#2 San Cristobal Fabuloso - now I know this is a good cigar, but damn it burned like crap, and tasted even worse
I say this to say, that when I do post a review, I usually lead with "This review is for this cigar, at this time"

Now, LOL, to answer your question, about the only reviews I really trust or posted on here, or Reviews by Katman
Click to expand...
Thanks for replying and thanks for sharing Katman reviews!
 
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Thoughtful questions. I'll second everything said so far, especially the recommendation to try as much as you can with an open mind (the newbie sampler thread is great for this). As far as humidity goes, most cigars _should_ be good straight off the shelf of your B&M.
 
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