A lot of the "taste" is actually the smell or aroma of the smoke. I get more from the aroma than I do from the actual taste. I like to take a mouthful of smoke and let it slowly escape my mouth. I gently sniff the smoke during this. The flavors aren't actual flavors, but rather approximations of flavors that remind you of other things. Some popular perceived flavors are:
Wood or cedar. Considering it's a plant leaf aged in cedar, this analogy isn't too surprising.
Vanilla, sweet spice, or clove. Generally the sweet flavor found in good maduro, corojo, and sometimes cameroon tobaccos.
Pepper, heat, strong, harsh or bite. The tingly or burning sensation caused by nicotene, or other irritating substances found in tobacco smoke. Ligero is a good example of peppery tobacco.
It takes a little practice to start recognizing flavors. There are distinct flavor differences among cigars. Cameroon for example, has a very distinct flavor to me.
"some people are like slinkies, they're not really good for anything but they can bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." –Unknown
"He did for bullshit what Stonehenge did for rocks." -Cecil Adams
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