why this bitter taste?

[minicooper]

Hi,

Sorry if this question has been addressed. I have been lurking for a bit now and have done quite a bit of reading and searching, but haven't found an answer to why I'm getting the same bitter taste from a variety of different cigars.

It's that bitter, what I imagine tar-ish taste would be. I've noticed it with some cigars that I bought in multiples with some being bitter, and other not.

This is my list of what I'm thinking it might be:

1) Letting the cigar almost die, but then continuing to smoke - I've sometimes let a cigar almost die on me because I was distracted or I was trying to wait too long in between puffs (I find 2 mins. btw. puffs hard to do). When it gets back to what seems like the normal burn rate, I have had a couple of cigars go from fine to bitter.

2) Some B&M guy told me that boveda packs can sometimes impart an ammonia flavor to the cigars. They are what I'm using to maintain my humidor.

3) I'm not maintaining my humidor properly. I am trying to keep my cigars at a steady RH, but when I open my box or move the cigars to a travel-dor to take them somewhere, I'm sure they suffer a bit. Is this or an incorrect level (my hygrometer reads generally 66-69%) doing this to my cigars?

Sorry for the long post. Looking back at it, I'm not sure I would read it. hahaha. Still, I would very much appreciate if someone could enlighten me. It's very disheartening to set aside some time and finally light up a cigar that I bought, tried to take care of and anticipated smoking only to kill it halfway because all I'm getting is bitterness. Or worse yet, stick it through, hoping that it will turn and end up smoking it to the bitter end.

Thank you!

[eljimmy]

I dont think it's the boveda Packets. I am guessing that it may be Tobacco that still needs some rest time, it must still be fermenting or as they would say it's sick time.

[McCleod]

There is no way I wait two minutes between puffs; I don't think that is necessary. I just seem to get into a natural flow. It may be that your cigars are a little strong for you at this stage -- I notice that what you just smoked is no Tampa Nugget!

Maybe it is just me but I think one thing that distinguishes CCs from Non-CCs is that the CCs do not hit that harsh or near-harsh line at the last third. You might also try the purging process; I think it sure works.

No need to be sorry on this forum if an issue has been addressed; no one is going to jump on you with that "use the search function" admonishment -- like some other forums I belong to. Good luck, Butch

[ericb13]

I'm sure you've already done it, but I would test your hygrometer. I've found that cigars that I let get too dry, or ones that I've bought from that liquor store "humidor" are bitter. Even if your hygrometer is right, you may try bringing it up to 72-73 or so. I like mine a little wetter than most on the board seem to. Sure it gives me burn issues at times, but I like the taste better.

I second the purging. You may indeed have strong or lower quality cigars that are building up tar. 3 good, strong purges usually clear up the bitterness for me. Tap the ash off, get the really hot with a lighter, and blow out pretty hard (3 times)...wait a minute or two before puffing to let the tip cool down a little. This method has really "brought back" some tasty cigars for me.

[Cypress]

If it get bitter purge the cigar. IE instead of puffing, do the opposite of puff. Blow the cigar. Works best of you use a torch while you are blowing back. If the cigar lights up with a flow then the ammonia is burning.

Here is a how to video.

[e-man]

Smoking slowly is the right thing to do. You want the tobacco to smolder, not burn. It keeps the smoke cool and improves flavor.

However, if you're cigar nearly goes out, and you start puffing like a mad-man to get it going again, then that may be your problem. Once that smoke hit's, it can linger in your mouth and in the rest of the cigar, even though your cigar has since corrected.


Also, when I first started, I remember a B&M owner explaining that lighting a cigar incorrectly can instantly change an 8 into a 2. Not sure what your technique is.

[Nurse_Maduro]

Originally Posted by e-man

However, if you're cigar nearly goes out, and you start puffing like a mad-man to get it going again, then that may be your problem.

I second that (was going to write it, actually).

The thing to remember is that you want your cherry to stay as cool as possible. The hotter it gets, the more tar that it produces (and you want to taste tobacco, not tar). To this end, you want to keep a couple of things in mind:

1) Sip, don't gulp. You want to draw softly and evenly to keep that cherry as cool as possible.
2) When lighting (or touching up), try not to hit the foot with direct heat. A good butane torch will impart enough indirect heat to get things started.

Opening your humi shouldn't be an issue; you want there to be some (brief) air exchange once a month or so.

[minicooper]

Man.. tough work day. Fridays that are rough at work always seem that much harder to bear, especially when I see in my inbox that there are replies to my first question on Puff, there's a jam going on and I'm trying to follow some bids that I made too! hahaha

Well.. nothing like a good smoke to exorcise those demons.

Thank you for the replies! What a community, willing to share and even link a video to help me make the most out of every inch. I really appreciate the help and hope I'll be able to contribute in the future.

Erics and Sam : I'm looking forward to try purging. I have definitely been guilty of "puffing like a mad-man" to bring back the burn so that might be it!

I also have noticed sometimes I get a good bit of wetness on the cap-end of the cigar and when it turns bitter, I can see the burnt caramel colored drops that I read was tar build up on a review. Am I getting too much saliva on the cigar? I really like to let me tongue touch the cigar when I puff because I feel like I get more flavor, especially of the wrapper. Should I try not to do that?

Not to get all corny but - I moved not too long ago and don't have too many friends down here that will light up a smoke with me, but being able to share my experiences and read about the experiences of others really makes me feel like I'm smoking with friends on hand.

Thanks and I hope I'll be able to sit down and share a smoke with some of you someday!

[Nurse_Maduro]

Originally Posted by minicooper

I also have noticed sometimes I get a good bit of wetness on the cap-end of the cigar and when it turns bitter, I can see the burnt caramel colored drops that I read was tar build up on a review. Am I getting too much saliva on the cigar? I really like to let me tongue touch the cigar when I puff because I feel like I get more flavor, especially of the wrapper. Should I try not to do that?

What kind of cut do you use? I've read that punches (the cutter, not the cigar brand) are susceptible to the kind of build up you're describing. I used to use a v-cutter but had draw issues and occasional tarry moisture. Now I use a guillotine cutter and have had zero problems since switching, which makes sense: greater surface area on the cut = easier draw and less build up.

Originally Posted by minicooper

Not to get all corny but - I moved not too long ago and don't have too many friends down here that will light up a smoke with me, but being able to share my experiences and read about the experiences of others really makes me feel like I'm smoking with friends on hand.

Thanks and I hope I'll be able to sit down and share a smoke with some of you someday!

I'm in the same boat, brother. I just moved from a community with no one else to smoke with. Now I'm in a much larger area, but with no lounges that I can find. So...same difference.

[denarok]

Thank you for this thread, I run into this as well and I have tried purging but was not sure exactly how to do it but that video was great and showed me exactly how to do it, if it was not for this thread would never had find it!

[ericb13]

Originally Posted by denarok

Thank you for this thread, I run into this as well and I have tried purging but was not sure exactly how to do it but that video was great and showed me exactly how to do it, if it was not for this thread would never had find it!

I second that! I went to the website a watched most of the videos on his YouTube channel. I found that I've been lighting wrong and purging wrong! So, last night I tried the cutting, lighting, and purging techniques on the videos. I had zero burn issues, great taste throughout, and one of my most enjoyable smokes ever!

[chu2]

I don't mean to hijack, but can anyone give me a reason why a burn purge would work differently than a dry purge? The only reason I can think of is that by torching the ash (assuming you're using a torch), all the chemicals that are burnable burn off, leaving less imparted flavor.

Besides that, same as a dry purge?

[minicooper]

John : I've been switching between cutters, trying to figure out what I like. I need to start taking notes since I'm smoking enough now and I don't want to waste any more sticks trying to jog my memory on what combination of things I did to end up with which results. It's funny though, that I just smoked a monte right now with a punch cut and noticed the build up not too far into the smoke. I'm also using a dbl-guillotine and a Xikar MTX. I'll update with what I find with them. I hope you find some BOTL where you are, but until you do, we're here brother. hahaha

PURGING WORKS! After noticing the bitterness, I tried the purge and it really helped! I did, however about 2/3 into the stick went a bit overboard I think and purged the crap out of my stick, but I think I went overboard since it lost a lot of it's character after that. Anyone ever notice that?

Eric: I'm going to go over to stogie fresh and find out if I've been lighting incorrectly too. I hope I can write that I've just had my best smoke soon too!

[Phantom57]

A wet cigar can have a tarry ammonia taste, as will tobacco that has not completed fermentation, as in a lot of CCs. A punch or V cut will sometimes cause the same thing, a matter of simple physics. A dry cigar will usually be fairly bland and hot, but not tarry.

[kellzey]

Honestly, you should puff once a minute or so... if the cherry gets too hot (end glows too much), you can overheat the tobacco and wrapper and get really bitter almost sulfury tastes.

It "could" be the type of cigar or wrapper you have too... i've noticed flavors and tastes all over the board.

I tend to like maduro and corojo wrappers...