Cigars that compliment each other.

I've recently come into a quandry. There has been recent days of me being able to smoke multiple cigars at one sitting and with an upcoming NOVA Herf (if they finally decide on a weekend) I would like to bring up this question.

What cigars compliment each other if you know for a fact you will be smoking 4-5 sticks?

We know water, sodas, coffee, and certain liquor compliment the cigar experience. But, what cigar will actually compliment the one before and/or the one after?

I figure going mild, medium and then full bodied would cover that. I would defintely not smoke an Opus X Power Ranger and then a Perdomo Champagne after that.

Give me a list of 3-5 cigars you would smoke and what order.

Would you smoke an ISOM first before any other cigar or save the ISOM last? Would you feel smoking the ISOM last would take away from the experience?

Maybe you smoke by price. Smoking the more expensive cigar to get the full experience and then the cheaper cigars afterwards......so if you didn't enjoy the cheapy, you wouldn't care too much being that it was a cheap cigar. Compared to smoking a cheapy that may potentially hinder the more expensive cigar afterwards.

Does it even matter? I'd be curious to find out what you guys think.

Andrew

The only advice I could give is...I'd start with something mild and work my way up the ladder. I really don't enjoy smoking multiple cigars in one sitting. I'd rather space em out.

In between each cigar eat a piece of granny smith apple or a raw almond or two. This will neutralize the acidity on the palate and start fresh. Cigars listed are just some I enjoy.... you will get the idea.

Avo XO - Griffin Fuerte - Zino Crown

LFD Ligero L400 - La Aurora Pref. Maduro - Factory Press III

Padilla Habano - Padron Anniversary 1964 - Oliva Serie V

601 Black - NEW Padilla Miami 8/11 - Padron 1926

Oliva O Maduro - Illusione - DPG JJ Maduro

Hope it helps!

I can't give you names, but I'd also smoke them in order of strength... mild to full.

The most I've ever smoked back to back is four cigars, when #3 wasn't doing anything for me, I ditched it for #4. I may not have thrown it out if I had smoked it first.

I do this a lot. Most times I get to smoke I'll have two or more cigars in a row. If I'm at an event or HERF it's likely 4 or more. I smoke what looks good to me at the moment. Since I eat and drink during this my pallet gets cleaned off. Plus I only taste tobacco anyway.

DG

I'd have to agree with the mild to full progression, however, if I was going to be imbibing pretty heavily I would smoke most expensive to least expensive.

I agree with everyone so far.

I normally smoke 1 cigar when I have my own personal time. It just so happens, I've been meeting up with local BOTLs for smokes and during holiday events, it just got overwhelming the days I smoked more than one cigar.

First pairing that I started questioning my choice was with a Sopranos Soldier, which was gifted by the BOTL I was smoking with, therefore I smoked it first. I truely enjoyed it. I had enough time for another smoke, and the company and conversation didn't seem to be ending soon, so I went for one of my go-to smokes an Oliva MB3. One of my favorite smokes. However, after smoking that Soprano, it wasn't much of a smoke. I do have to note, I did not drink or eat anything the entire time. Plus, I think the Sopranos is much more of a full bodied smoke compared to an MB3. I've never really thought of MB3 as a full bodied smoke. Maybe more medium. My opinion.

Second pairing was at an event and it was a nice mix of cigars. Don Kiki Brown, PSD#5 LE, and Opux X Power Ranger, in that order. It was a perfect combination. BUT, I did drink soda and multiple cups of coffee and had food in between the Kiki Brown and PSD#5. All had their own flavor profile and it was distiguishable. Didn't really have the same problem as the first pairing.

I guess if you must smoke more than one cigar, smoke it with some sort of drink. Or allow enough time in between to allow your pallate to prepare for the next smoke.

So, we've got opinions on:
Mild, Medium and then Full bodied.
Price from more expensive to cheapy.
Smoking randomly because you are mixing drinks/food with your cigar.

How about ISOMS? Will you smoke the ISOM first before that Dominican/Honduran/Nicaraguan? Going with strength makes sense...but what does your gut instinct tell you when you just walk up to the herf and open your travel humi blindly and pick up a stick. Do you go for the juggular and choose that ISOM you've been itching to smoke or be more descrete at first and start off with your daily go-to and save the best for last?

I think getting the best experience out of the sticks would be my main priority. After the first 2 your taste buds will have taken quite the assault. I would go for the smoke with the most subtle flavors first and save the power house full body smoke last. Knowing I was going to be smoking multiple sticks I would plan for the more expensive smoke(s) first/second and dial it down from there.

As far as ISOMs go, I imagine how rare/enjoyable they are to the smoker will influence the how and when. I would definately plan on a break / palette cleansing before lighting up a ISOM if it was not the first smoke of the evening.

I think length of the smoke could have some influence as well. For instance a AF short story should allow faster recovery than its larger brother the Hemmingway. But this is speculation at best.


(Stone Brewery makes Ruination IPA with the sole purpse of deliciously destroying your sense of taste)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FunkyCold5

So, we've got opinions on:
Mild, Medium and then Full bodied.
Price from more expensive to cheapy.
Smoking randomly because you are mixing drinks/food with your cigar.

How about ISOMS? Will you smoke the ISOM first before that Dominican/Honduran/Nicaraguan? Going with strength makes sense...but what does your gut instinct tell you when you just walk up to the herf and open your travel humi blindly and pick up a stick. Do you go for the juggular and choose that ISOM you've been itching to smoke or be more descrete at first and start off with your daily go-to and save the best for last?

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Cleanse the palate between cigars. It's a necessity for wine tasters. There is even a beverage "SanTasti" specifically formulated to cleanse the palate.

Personally, I would not be seen drinking a SanTasti at a Herf. But, some like a glass of water. Pretzels and beer do a good job for me. Wine does not, especially a cab or merlot. I think snacking something with a drink is important.

Anyway, my point is, if you can start a new cigar with a clean palate, then the order becomes a mute point, or at least diminished.

Whatchathink?