Am I missing something............

[Dickson]

I smoke a lot of cigars, some good some bad. I enjoy a good cigar!!!!

I read about chocalate, spices, cocoa. Very seldom have I tasted these. I couldn't for the life of me give a cgar review. I will say tha I catch a slight buzz from certain cigars.(Maybe it's all in my head) My main cocern is maybe I'm not smoking the way I should.

One more thing, how do you guys remember all the different names?

[bigpoppapuff]

dickson...i've been smoking cigars for more than thirty years...i'll pick up a chocolate flavor...or coffee...that's it...no roast beef,no cast iron,no leather...but you know something...there's no wrong answer...what does the cigar do for you...that's it...nothing more...enjoy 'em...

[Lopaka]

If you want to smoke one with a little spice, try a
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel

However, I'll warn you. This smoke has been known to knock even the most season vets to the ground. This is a powerful cigar. However, very delicious! I would recommend smoking this bad boy after you have a VERY large meal.

[SuperChuck]

I taste tobacco.

[planenut]

I taste tobacco.

Yep, That is my conclusion from a similar post of mine. I can't decide what this flavor I keep tasting.... oh Tabacco...

[Kenyth]

Flavors like that are all subjective and only meant to try and give cigar smokers verbal tools to describe the smoke. If you taste leather or cedar, that doesn't mean you literally taste those things like you're licking a coat or a humidor, only that the combination of smell and taste on your palate remind you of that thing. I find that these descriptive flavors seem to apply more to the aroma than the actual taste on your tongue. It takes a little practice and concentration to pick up subtle flavors and smells and be able to describe them effectively. People who have previous experience at gourmet food, fine wine, and artisian beer tasting have previous practice at this. That certainly doesn't mean you have to do it. It's all a matter of personal preference. Cigar smoking is primarily about enjoyment. Smoke what you like, and smoke it however you like. If you don't want to screw with pretend flavors, by all means don't.

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

I go to wine tastings at a local pub and the guy from the distributor that does the tasting cracks me up. He'll take a little wine, swish it around and swallow and talk about how he is picking up some of this and that and my favorite was when he said he was getting a hint of pear, no, bartlet pear !!! I laughed my ass off that he was picking up not just pear, but bartlet pear no less.

I am in the same boat though. I taste tabacco though I can discern some flavors like cedar and an earthy flavor and the spiciness is pretty easy to pick up. Other than that, not much else at this point.

[CgarDan]

Dickson, like many said, the main part is picking up the enjoyment you get from the smoke

Spice is very easy to distinguish. As for all those other things oh well what I have found so far only the better qality and pricy cigars have maybe 3-4 flavors that one can pick up. If you really want to try to pick up some flavors when you smoke I reccomend reading a review of the cigar first. A lot of online sites have reviews of what they sell and you see those tastes / flavors that the cigar has. Try to see if you follow the reviews and start with the easier things like coffee, spice, wood / cedar.

See what happens

[SuperChuck]

Flavors like that are all subjective and only meant to try and give cigar smokers verbal tools to describe the smoke. If you taste leather or cedar, that doesn't mean you literally taste those things like you're licking a coat or a humidor, only that the combination of smell and taste on your palate remind you of that thing. I find that these descriptive flavors seem to apply more to the aroma than the actual taste on your tongue. It takes a little practice and concentration to pick up subtle flavors and smells and be able to describe them effectively. People who have previous experience at gourmet food, fine wine, and artisian beer tasting have previous practice at this. That certainly doesn't mean you have to do it. It's all a matter of personal preference. Cigar smoking is primarily about enjoyment. Smoke what you like, and smoke it however you like. If you don't want to screw with pretend flavors, by all means don't.

I actually taste ingredients in artisan beers, not "flavors".

To me, it's more like food. If a dish contains cinnemon, a food critic will describe it as having a dash of cinnemon, not earthy with a touch of spice. Well, at least they SHOULD describe it as cinnemonny. :)

There's also a level of snobbery or buzzworditis involved in tasting definitions. If someone tells you a wine tastes like bartlet pear, you're not likely to question that assessment. He could be completely full of shit. He may have seen bartlet peaches at the grocery store that day and decided it would sound more sophisticated than just saying peaches. It's really no different than a crooked mechanic or computer tech. A friend of mine once had $2000 worth of work done to a K car because the heater didn't work.

[Dickson]

Thanks guys.....CgarDan, I'll do just that. Really makes sense.

[cigar no baka]

I have tasted chocolate, woody-flavors, spicy flavors, tangy flavors and creamy flavors from cigars. But thats it for me. I tend to have a hint of suspicion about reviews that talk about picking up hints of cardamom or curry or the like; either they have a very refined palate (unlikely) or they are just blowing shit out their piehole to impress people.

[JHarri31]

Personally I've found that the cigars that I enjoy tend to follow the same pattern of "pretend flavors". I dont' know that I've really ever tasted cocoa in a cigar, but I know that most of the cigars I routinely enjoy are described in that fashion. Similarly, I tend not to like those cigars with an "earthy" taste.

I suggest that as you try new smokes to read reviews afterward. You'll probably begin to notice a trend in your prefernces, which in turn can make it easier for you to pick what cigars you want to try going forward.

Oh...and when you find the Bacon Cheesburger tasting cigar please let me know ASAP!

[MCsommerreid]

It's something that will come with time, depending on if you put any focus into it, or just smoke and run. When I started I was always "Psh, cocoa and leather my ass. I taste tobbaco". But now with more of a focus on relaxing and enjoying and less of a hectic smoke, I've been picking up things like earthy flavors, cedar, cocoa, coffee, spice; generally the things tobacco has probably be introduced to while growing and aging and what not.

It will also depend on the strength of the cigar and its wrapper. Don't expect to taste some of the stronger and weirder flavors like spice and leather in a mild cigar. Maduro can have a good "Hey, thats not tobacco flavor..I wonder what it is" side to it, and from what I've experienced dark wrappers like obscuros can have a "what the eff is that flavor and what's it doing in my cigar.." side to it.

So just practice and enjoy. If you find the flavors you find them, but so long as you enjoy the cigar it doesn't really matter.

[pierce652]

Not to jump on a soapbox but this thread is a great example of why I particularly enjoy this cigar forum. This was a legit question and the responses were helpful and insightful without the wise comments or put downs.

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone for having patience with us new guys.

[ggiese]

I smoke a lot of cigars, some good some bad. I enjoy a good cigar!!!!

I read about chocalate, spices, cocoa. Very seldom have I tasted these. I couldn't for the life of me give a cgar review. I will say tha I catch a slight buzz from certain cigars.(Maybe it's all in my head) My main cocern is maybe I'm not smoking the way I should.

One more thing, how do you guys remember all the different names?

What - you don't taste the overwhelming flavor of bananas in the Phillie Blunts?? Or that fantastic grape flavor in White Owls (Thanks SLC - great smoke!!!)?

Sorry Pierce - couldn't resist... It's the little chimpanzee in me that's just screaming to get out... ooops - wrong board....



I'm just curious, though - how the HELL did this thread get this far without someone cracking a joke??? WTF is going on around here... Buncha panty waists...

[cigar no baka]

Well George I think you're the one who told me to look for hints of oatmeal, bananas, vanilla, sewer rat tails, discarded foreskins, afterbirth and necrotic tissue in my cigars, depending on if I had a premium cigar, dog rocket, or machine made cigar. Good advice, but I've still not experienced the latter four yet. But boy oh boy do I love those sticks with hints of oatmeal and bananas for breakfast....mmmmmm.....breakfast.

[Dickson]

This is why I continue to came back. Insiteful, well learned responses. I joined many cigar boards but, I find this to be the most useful and tolerating when I get a buzz from a cigar and forget my place.

No one has mentioned the light aroma of plantains mixed in with a Eue de rice and beans. Bunch of rookies!!!!! Where's Basil?

[bigpoppapuff]

Not to jump on a soapbox but this thread is a great example of why I particularly enjoy this cigar forum. This was a legit question and the responses were helpful and insightful without the wise comments or put downs.

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone for having patience with us new guys.

what the fuck are we doing??.....where are the wise comments and put-downs??....there's something very wrong...and dammit!!!...we need to buckle down...





now back to todays edition of mr wizard....

[pierce652]

My previous post wasnt meant as a put down to the other board, that place is extremely active and informative. Its just that...well...we know were stupid, we dont need it pointed out to us.