What am I tasting?

**steffanan** · 02-12-2012, 03:02 AM

So I am fairly new to cigar smoking, and I just got a real humidor a few months ago. Before then, I was using a Mason jar humidor, and a xikar travel humidor. So ever since I began using that humador for all of my cigars, I have noticed a taste that I can't figure out. Now its possible that I have become acclimated to smoking cigars at a horrible rh, but for some reason it seems that something has seriously changed. In the beginning of every cigar, I notice a taste that almost reminds me in some way of spanish cedar. I believe that because of me noticing this after putting some sticks in a new humidor, my mind can't stop connecting the taste with the spanish cedar. Anyways, its possible that my cigars are way too humid in their new humidor, or its possible that they aren't getting enough moisture, or its also possible that I have no idea how they should taste because I have been smoking all cigars out of the same glass jar humidor for months. So if anyone knows the taste im talking about, or if anyone has any theories, I would love to hear them. Also, it seems like im worse at picking out the flavors now than I was before .

**badwhale** · 02-12-2012, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by steffanan

So I am fairly new to cigar smoking, and I just got a real humidor a few months ago. Before then, I was using a Mason jar humidor, and a xikar travel humidor. So ever since I began using that humador for all of my cigars, I have noticed a taste that I can't figure out. Now its possible that I have become acclimated to smoking cigars at a horrible rh, but for some reason it seems that something has seriously changed. In the beginning of every cigar, I notice a taste that almost reminds me in some way of spanish cedar. I believe that because of me noticing this after putting some sticks in a new humidor, my mind can't stop connecting the taste with the spanish cedar. Anyways, its possible that my cigars are way too humid in their new humidor, or its possible that they aren't getting enough moisture, or its also possible that I have no idea how they should taste because I have been smoking all cigars out of the same glass jar humidor for months. So if anyone knows the taste im talking about, or if anyone has any theories, I would love to hear them. Also, it seems like im worse at picking out the flavors now than I was before .

Dude, you have a hella Edgeman technique for posts. LOL

Um, I'd offer the following:

1) Make sure you're taking your time lighting the cigar and not saturating it with lighter fumes / whatever.
2) Cigars, for me, are always a bit spicy and unique right after lighting up. I usually give it about 1/4 inch of burn before I even start to settle in on anything
3) Don't worry about it. Just note which cigars overall seem pleasurable to smoke, and vice versa
4) You could try a retrohale now and then to get some flavors out your nose (do a search)
5) There's at least one great post on this site for trying to get a handle on flavors of a cigar
6) Don't worry about it. Don't overthink what you're doing at this point. You'll get the hang of it.
7) Maybe for now think of cigars in terms of body / fullness / smoothness / harshness. Worry about unique flavors later.
8) Don't worry about it. Just relax and enjoy your smoke.

Will

**steffanan** · 02-12-2012, 02:52 PM

Oh OK ill keep that in mind. So what is hella edgeman?

**badwhale** · 02-12-2012, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by steffanan

Oh OK ill keep that in mind. So what is hella edgeman?

http://www.cigarsmokers.com/threads/...oll?highlight=

**heftysmokes** · 02-12-2012, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by badwhale

Dude, you have a hella Edgeman technique for posts. LOL

Um, I'd offer the following:

1) Make sure you're taking your time lighting the cigar and not saturating it with lighter fumes / whatever.
2) Cigars, for me, are always a bit spicy and unique right after lighting up. I usually give it about 1/4 inch of burn before I even start to settle in on anything
3) Don't worry about it. Just note which cigars overall seem pleasurable to smoke, and vice versa
4) You could try a retrohale now and then to get some flavors out your nose (do a search)
5) There's at least one great post on this site for trying to get a handle on flavors of a cigar
6) Don't worry about it. Don't overthink what you're doing at this point. You'll get the hang of it.
7) Maybe for now think of cigars in terms of body / fullness / smoothness / harshness. Worry about unique flavors later.
8) Don't worry about it. Just relax and enjoy your smoke.

Will

Most of all, number 8.

**steffanan** · 02-12-2012, 03:24 PM

Well I read that whole thing and still don't understand... Someone want to throw me a bone?

**badwhale** · 02-12-2012, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by steffanan

Well I read that whole thing and still don't understand... Someone want to throw me a bone?

Gigantic blocks of text.

**Paddy** · 02-12-2012, 03:31 PM

Massive paragraphs that give one a migraine headache

**heftysmokes** · 02-12-2012, 03:35 PM

Newspaper editor's worst nightmare

**steffanan** · 02-12-2012, 03:37 PM

Ohhhhhhh. OK ill work on it. The thought scares me that some day you guys might use me as a reference too!

**kingbeefy** · 02-12-2012, 04:00 PM

I must admit I have noticed a difference in flavor since I have been storing cigars in my underwear drawer. Any suggestions what it might be?

**ggiese** · 02-12-2012, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by kingbeefy

I must admit I have noticed a difference in flavor since I have been storing cigars in my underwear drawer. Any suggestions what it might be?

uhhhhh.. I believe that would be chocolate.

...or perhaps leather - if that's what you're into.

**buzz** · 02-12-2012, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by ggiese

uhhhhh.. I believe that would be chocolate.

...or perhaps leather - if that's what you're into.

- For all you MR5 participants: you'll likely be getting a lot of chocolate tastes from the cigars... cause guess where I've been storing them for the past 2 months.

**badwhale** · 02-12-2012, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by buzz

- For all you MR5 participants: you'll likely be getting a lot of chocolate tastes from the cigars... cause guess where I've been storing them for the past 2 months.

So, who was going to send payment on Monday? *raises hand*

**steffanan** · 02-13-2012, 07:01 PM

Well, I have decided that my big painfully random posts aren't a problem anyway, because you guys thread Jack everything I post with random inside jokes and stuff. I am so lost! Anyway, if anyone has any other ideas, I would love to hear because I believe that something is actually wrong. I'm not so new with cigars that I'm totally getting this out of nowhere, I'm just not sure what caused it. And they don't taste nearly as good now, so I must have serious rh issues

**FightingFish** · 02-13-2012, 07:59 PM

What kind of cigars are you storing/smoking? Is it just one kind of cigar that tastes weird, or several different brands? Some cigars have a woody/cedar taste.

**steffanan** · 02-13-2012, 08:08 PM

Its many types, but of the 5 packs I have gotten, they are inconsistent from when I had them in the past

**craig** · 02-13-2012, 09:06 PM

Um, you're tasting Spanish cedar. Some folks like the taste. If you don't want the taste, use a humidor that uses Mahogany instead of Spanish cedar. (Luann, IIRC.)

Or a cooler.

Or keep the cigars in cello.

**FightingFish** · 02-13-2012, 10:26 PM

Steffanan, I got my first humidor recently too. It's a cheap tabletop 50 cigar box. Where did you get your humidor from? Is it possible it's lined with red cedar?