Chimp Question

[cusano]

Still a greenhorn here, I have been reading throughout the threads and see where ya'll talk about the "experience". I know you don't inhale the smoke so I am trying to figure out how you are "tasting", the spice, pepper, cocoa, tastes. I draw and hold for about 20 seconds and then let it out but it all seems to "taste" the same. Am I doing something wrong when drawing? I guess what I am trying to say, what should i be focusing on to taste the flavors or the hints of?

[rumballs]

I find a lot of cigars taste... Not the same, but not something that can easily be described in a word.
Here are a few I've found had a very distinct flavor:
Diesel Robusto: pepper / cayenne
Monte #5: chocolate
Onyx Reserve Mini Belicoso Maduro: burnt coffee
Cuesta Rey Centenario #60 Maduro: sugar
Ashton Robusto: butter
Cremosa Cubana: piss

Most cigars though I find I taste characteristics (like spicy or sweet) more than particular flavors.

[tetraplegic]

You also need to smoke a lot of cigars before you can start to pick out specific flavors like that. I can still barey pick out subtle flavors that a lot of these guys are all over...... of course doesn't help that i have almost no sense of smell, which screws up my sense of taste a bit.

[Simplified]

Originally Posted by tetraplegic

You also need to smoke a lot of cigars before you can start to pick out specific flavors like that. I can still barey pick out subtle flavors that a lot of these guys are all over...... of course doesn't help that i have almost no sense of smell, which screws up my sense of taste a bit.

Get the grapes out your nose it will help with the sense of smell...

[tetraplegic]

Originally Posted by Simplified

Get the grapes out your nose it will help with the sense of smell...

haha, unfortunately it really won't..... broke my nose twice playing soccer and haven't smelled much since.

[Hoppy]

Give it time. At first every cigar just tastes like smoke. In a few months you will start picking out seperate flavors.

[qwerty1500]

Are you letting the smoke circulate into your sinus cavity or just holding in your mouth and blowing it out? I taste a lot more of the flavor when I let it get up in there.

I imagine that I am not in the majority here but I usually release most of the smoke through my nose. A lot of folks don't do that because they say it burns or whatever.

I'm still a newbie too. I can't seem to identify many of the flavors that are discussed ... chocolate, coffee, etc. Peppery is an easy one for me but is not really a flavor that I seem to enjoy all that much. Nevertheless, I can almost always taste the difference between different cigar brands and usually between different sizes of the same brands.

Try a lot of different cigars. Savor the taste of each one. Some people keep a diary where they record their impressions. I think, that over time, you will recognize the differences.

[DownUnder LLG]

It takes lots of time, patience and LOTSA cigars
Give it time and it will come. The harder you try to pick up on the notes of a cigar the less likely it will be that you will notice them. Relax and don't thinnk to hard about it. Most of the naunces and notes described in reviews are also subject to the reviewer. What one person describes as nutty, coffee or whatever may be totally different to someone elses explanation. The flavours of a cigar are associative, in other words their is no coffe or nuts in your cigar (unless it's an acid ), but is a taste or aroma that reminds you of another taste/aroma experience and these can differ greatly from person to person. So if someone describes something as nutty in a particular cigar and you are concentrating on trying to pick up that flavour in the same cigar, you may miss it as it might taste slightly different to you. Judge the cigar for yourself and it will come to you. This IMHO, hope it helps.

And welcome to CS mate, I don't believe we've met yet. Been pretty darn busy lately and it's drastically effectcing my CS time

Good Luck.
Jason

[PuffDaddy]

Originally Posted by DownUnder LLG

It takes lots of time, patience and LOTSA cigars
Give it time and it will come. The harder you try to pick up on the notes of a cigar the less likely it will be that you will notice them. Relax and don't thinnk to hard about it. Most of the naunces and notes described in reviews are also subject to the reviewer. What one person describes as nutty, coffee or whatever may be totally different to someone elses explanation. The flavours of a cigar are associative, in other words their is no coffe or nuts in your cigar (unless it's an acid ), but is a taste or aroma that reminds you of another taste/aroma experience and these can differ greatly from person to person. So if someone describes something as nutty in a particular cigar and you are concentrating on trying to pick up that flavour in the same cigar, you may miss it as it might taste slightly different to you. Judge the cigar for yourself and it will come to you. This IMHO, hope it helps.

And welcome to CS mate, I don't believe we've met yet. Been pretty darn busy lately and it's drastically effectcing my CS time

Good Luck.
Jason

Fantistic explanation, Jason! I agree with the "judge for yourself". There are many flavors and aromas that are the same from stick to stick (especially with the same type wrapper). Try a variety of wrappers and compare the tastes between them without "looking" for peticular flavors. You will notice more distinct flavors as you smoke more.
It also helps to get together with others while smoking the same cigars. You can then tell how much difference there is between palates by the varied opinions.
Enjoy your experimentation,
Jeff

[qwerty1500]

You remind me of myself about a year ago. Trying new cigars is half the fun.

I promised dadof3illinois that I would give a newbie a little push. PM your address and I'll gift you a little flavor sampler.

[palm55]

FWIW... Three things seem to enhance the flavors for me:

1. Allow a slight bit of smoke into the nose.
2. Have a beverage on hand to cleanse the palate between puffs.
3. Allow plenty of TIME between puffs... Rushing it screws it.

[cusano]

Thanks to all the responses, It has reassured me that I am not wasting time and money.

Thanks guys!!

[cquon]

Originally Posted by palm55

FWIW... Three things seem to enhance the flavors for me:

1. Allow a slight bit of smoke into the nose.
2. Have a beverage on hand to cleanse the palate between puffs.
3. Allow plenty of TIME between puffs... Rushing it screws it.

Tried #3 today while smoking a LGC Glorias Extra - it made a big difference. It tasted much better than the first one I had.

[IHT]

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...+tasting+chart

check post #17, linusvanpelt posted a "wine-tasting chart". it may help you decipher some flavors you may be tasting.

[17Crash]

I felt the exact same way when I started smoking cigars. You know what the difference with me now? When I smoke, I do absolutely nothing else but smoke. I don't do anything or think about anything but my moment of Zen with the cigar. And now I am able to "sense" some of the differences in the cigars. I have even reverted back to some of the milder smokes. Vetrans- is this just my palate becoming more discriminate or is it that I am enjoying the experience more fully?

Originally Posted by cusano

Still a greenhorn here, I have been reading throughout the threads and see where ya'll talk about the "experience". I know you don't inhale the smoke so I am trying to figure out how you are "tasting", the spice, pepper, cocoa, tastes. I draw and hold for about 20 seconds and then let it out but it all seems to "taste" the same. Am I doing something wrong when drawing? I guess what I am trying to say, what should i be focusing on to taste the flavors or the hints of?