Cigar taste

[Diesel Grinch]

I'm a NOOB I admit it. I don't know jack about cigars. But when I read the description on some of these cigars they talk about the different taste? Like earth, cedar, pepper, and so on. Well I don't taste any of that. I taste tobacco. Some taste better than others being smooth or tangy flavor but all these other taste nothing?

Also this Mild, Medium, and Full strength. I figured a full cigar was one that made you sit down. Gave you that buzz feeling? Am I right on this? Most of the cigar I have smoked, even ones rated as full, don't do that to me. If I have a few drinks in me and it's been a long day I get buzzed. Has size anything to do with it. I'm 6'4" and 220 plus.

Is it just me? Does my palette need to mature? In time will I be able to taste these flavors? Anyone else go through this?

Teach this grasshopper.

 

[Castaway]

Good post, DG. :thumbs:

How about when the same brand/model cigar never quite tastes the same each time you smoke it? Personnaly, I can taste pepper pretty well, and don't care for it. I do like how the taste of a cigar changes from start to finish, but have trouble distinguishing exactly what I'm tasting.

How about some of you FOGs posting some examples of cigars that have very apparent tastes such as earth, cedar, pepper, etc. so that us newbs can hone our skills.

 

[ree ree robusto]

I've been smoking for a while now and I am still trying to figure out what tastes are what. However, I am starting to distinguish the tastes a little bit better now. It just takes time.

Ree

 

[cigardawg]

Also this Mild, Medium, and Full strength. I figured a full cigar was one that made you sit down. Gave you that buzz feeling? Am I right on this? Most of the cigar I have smoked, even ones rated as full, don't do that to me. If I have a few drinks in me and it's been a long day I get buzzed. Has size anything to do with it. I'm 6'4" and 220 plus.

[snapback]195195[/snapback]​

I'm going to tackle the second part of the question, first. I'll come back to the flavor question later. As for mild, medium, and full...I think there are actually two descriptors. There is strength (i.e., nicotine content) and there is body (e.g., intensitiy of the flavors, boldness, bigness). Think of it like wines. Most wines are in the same ballpark when it comes to alcohol content. However, there are some wines with huge body and others that you can barely taste past a piece of cheeze. Big different in body, not in strength. Another good example is bourbon. There are some bourbons that have very high alcohol contents...a lot of burn, but the overall body is almost delicate. There are others where the alcohol content is relatively low (e.g., Russell's Reserve, 100 proof), where the body is huge.

I think cigars are the same. There are cigars that have approximately the same nicotine content (as gauged by my admittedly flawed cigar-smoking self ) that have drasticly different flavor profiles. Some "strong" cigars like the JdN Antanos line also have big, bold flavors. Others are just harsh. There are some Habanos that I think strength-wise are just medium, but the flavors are huge.

I hope this helps. This is, of course, how I look at it and not, necessarily the views of anyone else. It just helps me distinguish between strength and body.

 

[preembargo]

There's a nice little 'tutorial' here that explains the differences between taste, flavor, and body.

 

[Lemon]

I'm hoping I will learn this by time Thanks for the link preembargo :thumbs:

 

[mhortsch]

I've been asking myself the same question for awhile now. But I can say, after smoking a PSD4 the other weekend, the different flavors were very depictable. I think the age of a cigar has to do with how well you find the flavors!

That's just me though, and Im no FOG.

 

[NorCalCigarLover]

Hey DG,

don't worry too much about picking out taste components and identifying them. First and foremost is to learn what you like and why you like it, you can later teach your palate to identify sublte taste components. Find a cigar with a taste that you like and then identify what you like about it. Try to come up with your own descriptors or use descriptors that people have already used that you can identify with.

Tobacco is a good descriptor but is it cigar, cigarette or pipe? Is it sweet, peppery or bitter? is there an ammonia smell or just woody?

 

[Rob_k]

just like the guys said, with time you will be able to distinguish different flavors and aromas in the various blends. i began drinking vine a while ago and that has helped in telling what flavors are what in my new cigar hobby. go to a wine tasting, cigar smoking is very similar as far as identifying varous flavors. you will pick up some great tips from wine tasting and the folks who attend them. like wine, you have to "sip" a cigar, and take in the bouquet and various aromas. i always read a review of the cigar i am going to smoke and see if i can taste the flavors discribed in the review, sometime that can help with the flavors you can't i.d. as well. i am still a noob here, so the inpur from the FOGS is of great help all around.

 

[Diesel Grinch]

So mild, medium, or full has two parts to it. The nic hit which is the buzz right? And the flavor which is the body. Not the type of flavor but how strong it is. Ok I get that.


As to being able to tell what flavors I'm tasting that will come in time? Most of the cigars I've had are mid-domestics around the $5 mark. Should I even bother with some higher end cigars or wait until things develop?

 

[Rob_k]

So mild, medium, or full has two parts to it. The nic hit which is the buzz right? And the flavor which is the body. Not the type of flavor but how strong it is. Ok I get that.


As to being able to tell what flavors I'm tasting that will come in time? Most of the cigars I've had are mid-domestics around the $5 mark. Should I even bother with some higher end cigars or wait until things develop?

[snapback]195340[/snapback]​

try as many different smokes as possible, and like norcal said, find one u like and go from there.

 

[NorCalCigarLover]

As to being able to tell what flavors I'm tasting that will come in time? Most of the cigars I've had are mid-domestics around the $5 mark. Should I even bother with some higher end cigars or wait until things develop?

[snapback]195340[/snapback]​

Go for it! get yourself a premium cigar and a non-premium and smoke them side by side.

 

[OutlawD]

Did you like every $5 cigar you smoked? If not you must have some idea of taste,so maybe youre not as green as you think.

 

[PuroEsq]

Great explanations above.

I heard one (either here or somewhere else) that was damn funny. The guy said he cannot tell what the heck everyone is referring to with "undertones of pepper", "hints of cedar" and "earthy finsh" and his response was that all of the cigars he smoked had undertones of tobacco, hints of tobacco and a tobacco finsh.

While I cannot always taste all the "flavors" of a cigar I can occasionally taste some flavors. Some have woody or grassy flavors (don't like that) and to me that is much like the smell of a brush fire or buring leaves. I occasionally get a sweet, fruity or floral flavor/aroma. And the "peppery" or "spice" flavor you will occasionally hear about (especially in CAO) has a bit of zip on your tongue.

The above description of Strength and Full Flavor is right on. I have had some with little flavor but got that "buzz" and others with very rich flavors (for me generally in the darker cigars and maduros - yum) that did not give me that head rush effect.

Keep trying many different cigars and you will learn what you like and what you do not.

 

[BGarv3]

I read through here and after smoking many different brands over the years but about 6 weeks ago I stopped smoking Newports I have noticed that my tastes have drastically changed over this short time. At First, there was nothing really just another smoke unless I screwed up and grabbed a flavored cigar of some sort then there was no taste difference just an aroma.

AND THEN last night I was thinking to myself what the heck is a "dog stick"

Well, my 'buddy' down at the local smoke shop has noticed I stop in about three times a week, by 2 sticks of a certian brand and then have 2 sticks that I have never tried before. He hands me this thing that looked like a cigar. I decide to try it last night and now I realize what is meant by DOG STICK.....someone rolled a Great Dane Turd and put a cigar band on it.

Today I go to the store to grab the faithful Punch anything and Quorum Corona. He asked what I thought and I said as politely as I could I think he should go out back and beat himself for recommending that stick. He laughed and said.....

"When you first came in here after you quit smoking you had one of those in your pile of cigars. I told you not to take it but you did, you came in the next day and told me it was fairly decent. Now you stand here 6 weeks later telling me it tastes like s#!+. Here is an AF #9 on the house because I just wanted to see if your tastes were developing..." He then proceeded to show me his private collection in his back room that part was for sale and part was off limits and handed me a goodie from back there as well. He went on to explain that ciggs in gerneral kill your taste buds and it takes a while for them to redevelop.

Sorry for the rant but this was just an eye opening experience for and from a newb.

BTW the mystery stick was called a "Cuban Sandwitch" aviod at all cost IMHO

 

[hudsonvalley]

Also this Mild, Medium, and Full strength. I figured a full cigar was one that made you sit down. Gave you that buzz feeling? Am I right on this? Most of the cigar I have smoked, even ones rated as full, don't do that to me. If I have a few drinks in me and it's been a long day I get buzzed. Has size anything to do with it. I'm 6'4" and 220 plus.

[snapback]195195[/snapback]​

I'm going to tackle the second part of the question, first. I'll come back to the flavor question later. As for mild, medium, and full...I think there are actually two descriptors. There is strength (i.e., nicotine content) and there is body (e.g., intensitiy of the flavors, boldness, bigness). Think of it like wines. Most wines are in the same ballpark when it comes to alcohol content. However, there are some wines with huge body and others that you can barely taste past a piece of cheeze. Big different in body, not in strength. Another good example is bourbon. There are some bourbons that have very high alcohol contents...a lot of burn, but the overall body is almost delicate. There are others where the alcohol content is relatively low (e.g., Russell's Reserve, 100 proof), where the body is huge.

I think cigars are the same. There are cigars that have approximately the same nicotine content (as gauged by my admittedly flawed cigar-smoking self ) that have drasticly different flavor profiles. Some "strong" cigars like the JdN Antanos line also have big, bold flavors. Others are just harsh. There are some Habanos that I think strength-wise are just medium, but the flavors are huge.

I hope this helps. This is, of course, how I look at it and not, necessarily the views of anyone else. It just helps me distinguish between strength and body.

[snapback]195215[/snapback]​

Dawg,
You are so refined. All men envy you and want to be like you.

Kidding aside, good descriptions. It is an art to be able to put into words the ethreal world of smoke.

 

[Diesel Grinch]

So last night I had a Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Maduro which I was gifted by a fellow BOTL here. Wonderful cigar. Well made, long ash, and plenty of smoke with a nice even burn. Found it to be mild on the kick factor. As for taste what I think I was tasting was like coffee. The after taste from a sip of coffee "black". For some reason when I got down to the 3" or less the smoke turn hot. Call it quits at 2" while I was still enjoying it.

 

[cigardawg]

So last night I had a Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Maduro which I was gifted by a fellow BOTL here. Wonderful cigar. Well made, long ash, and plenty of smoke with a nice even burn. Found it to be mild on the kick factor. As for taste what I think I was tasting was like coffee. The after taste from a sip of coffee "black". For some reason when I got down to the 3" or less the smoke turn hot. Call it quits at 2" while I was still enjoying it.

[snapback]195804[/snapback]​

Good review. :thumbs: Keep'em coming.

Coffee, or something like it, is a component of many cigar flavor profiles...at least to my palate. I happen to agree with you on the 8-5-8 maduro, black coffee with a little sweetness due to the broadleaf wrapper. Now, the 8-5-8 natural has cream added to the coffee without the sweetness.

When I really want to taste a cigar for a review, I only drink a glass of water with it...just to clean the palate and wet the whistle. I don't want a drink to influence the taste. I also sit with a small notebook and take notes as I smoke. I find that if I concentrate on the flavors as I smoke it and jot it down, I don't have to spend so much time trying to remember. Yes, I can be this anal about reviewing...mrjingelesusa and lc-smoker can both attest to this.

Anyway, just some thoughts to help as you continue to smoke cigars.

 

[Shibumi]

I heard recently from my local guy, that if you chew a small piece of ginger root, before a cigar, it will really clean your palate. He said when he goes to a herf, he'll chew a piece before every cigar he smokes. This way he never gets the last cigars flavor mixed in. I never tried it, but I heard of ginger ices served at fine restaurants to clean the palate in between courses. So it should work for cigars too. I'll have to try it at the next NY Herf, assuming I'll be invited. :whistling:

 

[BkCloud114]

I read through here and after smoking many different brands over the years but about 6 weeks ago I stopped smoking Newports I have noticed that my tastes have drastically changed over this short time. At First, there was nothing really just another smoke unless I screwed up and grabbed a flavored cigar of some sort then there was no taste difference just an aroma.

AND THEN last night I was thinking to myself what the heck is a "dog stick"

Well, my 'buddy' down at the local smoke shop has noticed I stop in about three times a week, by 2 sticks of a certian brand and then have 2 sticks that I have never tried before. He hands me this thing that looked like a cigar. I decide to try it last night and now I realize what is meant by DOG STICK.....someone rolled a Great Dane Turd and put a cigar band on it.

Today I go to the store to grab the faithful Punch anything and Quorum Corona. He asked what I thought and I said as politely as I could I think he should go out back and beat himself for recommending that stick. He laughed and said.....

"When you first came in here after you quit smoking you had one of those in your pile of cigars. I told you not to take it but you did, you came in the next day and told me it was fairly decent. Now you stand here 6 weeks later telling me it tastes like s#!+. Here is an AF #9 on the house because I just wanted to see if your tastes were developing..." He then proceeded to show me his private collection in his back room that part was for sale and part was off limits and handed me a goodie from back there as well. He went on to explain that ciggs in gerneral kill your taste buds and it takes a while for them to redevelop.

Sorry for the rant but this was just an eye opening experience for and from a newb.

BTW the mystery stick was called a "Cuban Sandwitch" aviod at all cost IMHO

[snapback]195762[/snapback]​

Funny story..... Cuban Sandwich, isn't that a Thompson Dog Rocket ?

Anyway, I can't tell the difference between tastes yet, I just know what I like and don't like.