Refining Your Pallette

[n2advnture]

I have seen lots of posts lately in regards to "refining a pallette" so I thought I'd toss my $.02 in.

The key reason for refining your pallette is to aide in picking up the sublties in your smokes, so here are a few tips that I belive will help you out:

1.) A "refined" palette doesn't come over night and isn't available to everyone. Genetics has a lot to do with it as well, so don't get discouraged. The main key is to try a WIDE variety of cigars and to concentrate on them when smoking. (ie: Don't be working on your car or mowing your lawn.)

2.) Smoke slower! Remember the one minute rule between draws. This is the most common reason people don't pick up certain flavors. For one, they smoke too fast which causes a cigar to get hot and bitter. Secondly, because they are smoking to quickly, they don't have a chance to savor the flavors and don't concentrate on them. Try it, I guarantee you will pick up more flavor.

3.) After taking a draw and expelling the smoke, take some air in through your nose and mouth (at the same time if you can do it). By drawing air through you mouth and nose you pull some concentrated flavors across your ofactures and can usually pick up a ton of subtle flavors this way.

4.) Drink water. Try not to drink anything that will over power or effect the flavor of your smoke. As you get good at decerning what flavors are in a smoke, you can then pair beverages that will compliment those flavors. (Rums, scotches, coffees, etc...)

5.) Read reviews. I am a firm believer in the "smoke what you like and like what you smoke" but reviews (and MRN's book) are a great GUIDE to leading you in the direction of smokes that fit your preferred flavor profile(s). I am not saying go buy a box of ANYTHING based on a review. If a review or a couple of reviews describe flavors that seem to be in your preferred flavor profile, then pick up a couple to try for yourself before committing to a box.

6.) Smoke a cigar that has been reviewed and try to follow along with the reviewer. You'll be amazed at how smoking along with someone else's notes will help you pick up flavors that you couldn't put your finger on.

7.) Take notes for yourself! Break the cigar down into thirds (first 1/3, second 1/3, final 1/3). Most cigars change flavor in these areas so it's a good general rule to follow. By taking your own notes, you slow down and concentrate on the flavors.

8.) SMOKE SLOWER! - It is worth mentioning twice.

9.) Once you get these basic techniques down and manage to concentrate on flavors and not techniques (like smoking slower!) I HIGHLY recommend blowing a little smoke through your nose about 2-3 times during each third. Some may argue that they do it every time but I do think there can be too much as the nasal cavity is sensitive and the hot smoke may effect it's ability to decern flavors later in the smoking experience. (You need to find a happy medium for yourself though).

I remember when I first tried it I did too much smoke and I thought my nose was going to burn off...my eyes wouldn't stop watering! LOL!

10.) Try new cuisines & beverages! Foods & beverages are a great way to develop a pallette. Concentrate on each bit and try to pick up the herbs, spices, etc...

*Side note - I was smoking a small stick one time on my drive home from work and it had a certain flavor that I just couldn't relate to what it was. I was driving my crazy! So when I got home I opened the spice cabinet and sniffed through (and tasted) them all. Couldn't figure it out. A week later, I was enjoying dinner at one of our favorite places and BAM! I tasted the flavor in my meal that I had tasted in the smoke. Dried Apricots!

Hope this helps and happy smoking my friends!

~Mark

[Mr.Maduro]

Great advice. I'm going to print that out, and keep it in my wallet to read before my next smoke.

[Baric]

Again great advice! I would add that get interested in cooking etc as an understanding of basic ingredients will vastly increase your abilirty to detect and describe flavours in anything. great things to also get into as well as stogies are wine and spirits like whiskey, with loads of flavours in them.

[HarryCulo]

The book damnit, when will your book come out?? Great info, thanks again.

My pallette is getting better. I can tell when I draw on a cigar whether or not it's lit.

[moon]

Interesting read...thanks.

[n2advnture]

Originally Posted by Baric

Again great advice! I would add that get interested in cooking etc as an understanding of basic ingredients will vastly increase your abilirty to detect and describe flavours in anything. great things to also get into as well as stogies are wine and spirits like whiskey, with loads of flavours in them.

I am crushed that your didn't actually read it

Originally Posted by n2advnture

...10.) Try new cuisines & beverages! Foods & beverages are a great way to develop a pallette. Concentrate on each bit and try to pick up the herbs, spices, etc...

[HarryCulo]

Originally Posted by n2advnture

I am crushed that your didn't actually read it

He was close

[hollywood]

Another great post full of advice that we can all take note of and use daily! Bravo!!

[rockyr]

Another great post with good advice. Thanks Mark!

[jcruz1027]

Great post Mark!

I agree with the WIDE variety to a point. I think starting out you need to focus on a handful of stogies and smoke them repeatedly and form a solid flavor profile of those stogies before branching out.

But you hit it dead on about concentration and drinking water...

[Barcochris]

Great post. If in the review a reviewer says taste like leather or spice or something, and you don't see it get that thing and smell it and see if you can then pick out those notes.

[Big Dawg]

Originally Posted by n2advnture

I have seen lots of posts lately in regards to "refining a pallette" so I thought I'd toss my $.02 in.

The key reason for refining your pallette is to aide in picking up the sublties in your smokes, so here are a few tips that I belive will help you out:

1.) A "refined" palette doesn't come over night and isn't available to everyone. Genetics has a lot to do with it as well, so don't get discouraged. The main key is to try a WIDE variety of cigars and to concentrate on them when smoking. (ie: Don't be working on your car or mowing your lawn.)

2.) Smoke slower! Remember the one minute rule between draws. This is the most common reason people don't pick up certain flavors. For one, they smoke too fast which causes a cigar to get hot and bitter. Secondly, because they are smoking to quickly, they don't have a chance to savor the flavors and don't concentrate on them. Try it, I guarantee you will pick up more flavor.

3.) After taking a draw and expelling the smoke, take some air in through your nose and mouth (at the same time if you can do it). By drawing air through you mouth and nose you pull some concentrated flavors across your ofactures and can usually pick up a ton of subtle flavors this way.

4.) Drink water. Try not to drink anything that will over power or effect the flavor of your smoke. As you get good at decerning what flavors are in a smoke, you can then pair beverages that will compliment those flavors. (Rums, scotches, coffees, etc...)

5.) Read reviews. I am a firm believer in the "smoke what you like and like what you smoke" but reviews (and MRN's book) are a great GUIDE to leading you in the direction of smokes that fit your preferred flavor profile(s). I am not saying go buy a box of ANYTHING based on a review. If a review or a couple of reviews describe flavors that seem to be in your preferred flavor profile, then pick up a couple to try for yourself before committing to a box.

6.) Smoke a cigar that has been reviewed and try to follow along with the reviewer. You'll be amazed at how smoking along with someone else's notes will help you pick up flavors that you couldn't put your finger on.

7.) Take notes for yourself! Break the cigar down into thirds (first 1/3, second 1/3, final 1/3). Most cigars change flavor in these areas so it's a good general rule to follow. By taking your own notes, you slow down and concentrate on the flavors.

8.) SMOKE SLOWER! - It is worth mentioning twice.

9.) Once you get these basic techniques down and manage to concentrate on flavors and not techniques (like smoking slower!) I HIGHLY recommend blowing a little smoke through your nose about 2-3 times during each third. Some may argue that they do it every time but I do think there can be too much as the nasal cavity is sensitive and the hot smoke may effect it's ability to decern flavors later in the smoking experience. (You need to find a happy medium for yourself though).

I remember when I first tried it I did too much smoke and I thought my nose was going to burn off...my eyes wouldn't stop watering! LOL!

10.) Try new cuisines & beverages! Foods & beverages are a great way to develop a pallette. Concentrate on each bit and try to pick up the herbs, spices, etc...

*Side note - I was smoking a small stick one time on my drive home from work and it had a certain flavor that I just couldn't relate to what it was. I was driving my crazy! So when I got home I opened the spice cabinet and sniffed through (and tasted) them all. Couldn't figure it out. A week later, I was enjoying dinner at one of our favorite places and BAM! I tasted the flavor in my meal that I had tasted in the smoke. Dried Apricots!

Hope this helps and happy smoking my friends!

~Mark

Great info, Mark - thanks! I DEFINITELY agree #3. It took me a little while to get the hang of it. Also, I never thought I'd want anything but beer while smoking a cigar until I began smoking better smokes. I realized one day while having a smoke with water, that's the way to go. I'd say 95% of the time that's my beverage of choice when having a smoke.

Point 2 (and also is a very good one! I think I make the mistake at times of smoking too quickly and allowing the cigar too burn too hot causing it to become bitter. I'll have to remember to sloooooow down!

Thanks again for the great info!

[doctorcue]

We should make this a sticky and put it in the Newbie forum. Excellent advice. Thanks for the contribution Mark.

[n2advnture]

People seem to be digging these threads as well, in case you're interested.

Smoking in your car
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...light=refining

Refining Your Palette
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...light=refining

Lighter Problems?
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...hlight=lighter

Buying A Humidor - A Basic Buying Guide
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=33488

Have a great weekend you all!

~Mark

[G-Man]

I am afraid the same thing would happen to me as happened to you with #9. I don't typically do this. Maybe it is something that I should consider trying.

I think that I will try it when noone else is around.

Nice informative post, thanks.