Flavor and Strength - is it possible to be mutually exclusive?

[AD720]

I am in a pondering sort of mood this soggy, humid morning.


Smoking a JdN Antano, I am wondering if flavorful always has to come with strength. For example, this is what I would consider a flavorful cigar but it is also what I (and most I imagine) would consider a strong cigar. To take the opposite to the Nth degree, the Macanudo green label is what I would consider a mild cigar as far as the strength is considered but it is certainly not the most flavorful out there (I still like them from time to time). Not that I don't like a cigar with some kick...

Has anyone come across cigars that they feel to be full of flavor but not full strength? Are the two mutually exclusive?

[bobarian]

I think to find that balance you are left more in the medium range. Something like a Punch Rare Corojo has a lot of flavor but still not a full strength smoke. Some Cammie's or Sumatran wrappers also might fit the bill. But people's opinions on what is Full strength and flavor also varies. I consider the Oliva V to be a medium smoke with tons of flavor, but most say they are FS.

[Rolando]

IMO mild cigars are okay while they are still relatively young but aged they are barely worth the match it takes to light them.

[ResIpsa]

To me flavor refers to, well, flavor how tasty a cigar is, and strength refers to the "kick" it has in terms of the nicotine and whether it kicks my ass or not and leaves my head spinning.

So yes, to me flavor and strength not only can be, but are exclusive of one another. YMMV.

[massphatness]

My White Owl Grapes are full of flavor ... but not very strong.

[AD720]

Originally Posted by ResIpsa

To me flavor refers to, well, flavor how tasty a cigar is, and strength refers to the "kick" it has in terms of the nicotine and whether it kicks my ass or not and leaves my head spinning.

So yes, to me flavor and strength not only can be, but are exclusive of one another. YMMV.

Anything specific come to mind? Something flavorful but without the "kick"? Or viceversa?

[AD720]

Originally Posted by massphatness

My White Owl Grapes are full of flavor ... but not very strong.

I guess I can't say much since I've never had one...but I'm not sure that would be most people definition of a "flavorful cigar", at least around here.

[hardcz]

la aurora dominica double ligero would probably fall into this line thouh might be medium on the nic level.... if you can try an aged 1-2 year+ PSD4 as well, extremely tasty and lacking the nic punch that will blow you over.

[ellisb]

I'll try this one.

I believe flavor and strength are exclusive of each other, however I cannot name a cigar that has characteristics on opposite sides of the scale (Mild flavor, Strong; or Strong Flavor, Weak).

One cigar that jumps to mind is Onyx Reserve. I remember reading a catalog that called these cigars "strong". I do not think these cigars are strong at all, but i believe they offer lots of flavor.

Size of the cigar must be considered also. For example I had a NC Monte #4 this afternoon. This cigar is not strong, but given that it is narrow and short offers more flavor than some of its bigger brothers IMO.

This reminds me a bit of coffee. I am not coffee expert, but I believe the darker the roast, the less caffeine there is. I've seen some folks drink the ultra dark roasts in the morning thinking they will get a bigger caffeine hit.

-EB

[bigloo]

I could be wrong but I think Ligero are the top leaves and as such, have the most sun and are the newest so they have the most nicotene but also the strongest in flavor so usually the body and flavor are linked, but these flavors are usually the strong spicy and peppery flavors. I think cammies and maddies pack whopping flavor if done right and can be had in mild to medium body. I think you can seperate body and flavor as long as you are not after that super spicy and peppery ligero kick. I beleive almost all premium sticks have some ligero, but the more ligero the closer the body/flavor will be tied...

That being said, I am probably wrong but a BOTL with more knowledge please set me straight.

[ChINaMaN]

Try the 601 Cubao. You'll get a ton of flavor but the strength is about a medium or medium mild.

It's tough to separate the two, usually more flavorful cigars comes with strength, but there are also plenty of mild cigars that offer a ton of flavor. I was given a new Zino blend today that offered quite a lot in terms of flavor without it being strong at all.

[srduggins]

I'm usually happy if the cigar has more flavor than strength and I'm usually smoking sticks in the medium-full range. I suppose that is a personal taste kind of thing and comparing apples to oranges, but I know it when i taste/feel it. PAMs have a lot more flavor than strength as do DPG blues, most Tats and the list goes on. I thought the Gran Habano #5 corojo had more strength than flavor. The only mild smoke with a ton of flavor that I've had was the Cabbie maddie corona gorda.

[zackly]

I find a the Perdomo Reserve Champagne offers a lot of flavor in a fairly mild cigar. They are my favorite "first cigar of the day". I also give them to
newbies & occasional smokers.
http://www.cigarsinternational.com/p...m=CS-WGA&cat=3

[wayner123]

I asked a very similar question almost a year ago:

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=111750

I was told CC is the way to go.

[md4958]

Originally Posted by ellisb

This reminds me a bit of coffee. I am not coffee expert, but I believe the darker the roast, the less caffeine there is. I've seen some folks drink the ultra dark roasts in the morning thinking they will get a bigger caffeine hit.

-EB

EB is correct here. Espresso and dark roasted coffees typically have less caffeine than a medium roast. However, the darker the roast the more flavorful the brew.

Most "breakfast blends" are medium roast, as people want that extra kick of caffeine in the a.m. to get going.

I think that aging your cigars will also causes the strength to mellow out allowing more subtle flavors to come through.