Mild cigars tasting the same.

[Snake Hips]

In my experience, mild cigars wrapped in Connecticut shade tobacco all taste the same. What's up with that? From the Griffin's, to Perdomo Slow Aged, to Perdomo Champagne, to Cusano 18, to Fonseca Vintage, to 5 Vegas Gold to Carlos Torano Casa Torano, to Ashton Classic, to the NUB Connecticut, they all taste the same to me. I love Connecticut shade taste and I like a good coffee-cigar, so I'm not really complaining, but can anyone tell me why I should buy one over the other? Why shouldn't I just get the Perdomo Slow Aged instead of the pricier Cabinet Series Champagne? Or the Casa Torano over the Ashton Classic? However, I am interested in seeing what the Joya de Nicaragua Special C tastes like...interesting concept.

The only "differences" I've noticed between different mild cigars are that the 5 Vegas Gold has a little bite that I dislike and that Macanudos and Cusano 18s more often then not taste like nothing, and that the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real has a little spice to it that I like. But other than that, they all taste like Connecticut shade tobacco and not much else.

Does anybody else have this opinion, or is it just my noobly palate?

[Tredegar]

Yes, I too have found that many mild cigars taste similar. I guess when going for a certain strength you have to narrow your focus on what sort sort of leaves you use. I used to like mild cigars, but after a while, they just got to be too bland to me.

[WarMace]

They all taste very similar to me as well. I really only smoke the ones I have when I'm doing something else and not focusing on the cigar. I haven't really noticed any signifigant differences other than the small ones you mentioned other than some higher end stuff like Diamond Crowns.

[mtg972]

You're not alone. I enjoy mild cigars, but honestly can't tell one from another in most cases. It amazes me when I see some of the prices on "higher end" mild sticks. There's just not enough difference in flavor to justify it for me. Incidentally, I feel the same way about most maduros. YMMV. cheers

[sonic_mike]

I noticed that this morning also.

[Rev2010]

I've recently discovered the same basic thing, most milds taste pretty similar to one another. I have found my one favorite mild-medium brand (a local B&M house brand). I've also had one other recently that I thoroughly enjoyed and think stands out above the rest (though it to is listed as mild-medium) and that's this Romeo Y Juileta Vintage:

http://www.jrcigars.com/index.cfm?pa...s&ItemCode=RVT

Other than that I've gone through a number of brands and did have a hard time figuring which I would buy over another. Like I had an Oliva Special S and it tasted really nice, but had a bit of a tight draw and cost me more than most others I've tried that were just about as good.

Anyhow, what I've discovered is I like a more full bodied smoke. I was hooked after having my first Bolivar Cofradia:

http://www.jrcigars.com/index.cfm?pa...itemcode=BF654

And so far, I've tried several other brands since and this Bolivar is my favorite. I've even tried the Bolivar Suntuoso En Tubos and while it's certainly good it's not as strong as the Cofradia. Anyhow, as a result I'm eyeing more stogies listed as full-bodied. I picked up a Romeo Y Julieta Habana Reserve which is supposed to be different than the rest of the Romeo line as it's supposed to be the strongest under that lable.

Anyhow, maybe look more into full-bodied smokes



Rev.

[Thumper2672]

Exactly the reason why I moved on to stronger 'gars. I think that's the way it goes in this hobby! You start off strong and you end up puking. But start off mild, and eventually you want to start trying different things.

[Legend]

Stronger fuller tastes are easier for a pallate to distinguish. You can dustiguish coffee and chocolate because you can disguish those flavors easily already. Whereas if you had to tell the difference between something lighter like Chardonnay and a blanc that might be hard unless you had put effort into learning the distinction.

If you prefer the stronger flavors. There is no need to spend the time. I like both. And the cigars you mentioned above are all very different.

[smokin5]

What he (Legend) said!

[hornitosmonster]

Also not a fan of the Connecticut wrappers...

[newlifetaxidermy]

Originally Posted by Rev2010

Anyhow, as a result I'm eyeing more stogies listed as full-bodied. I picked up a Romeo Y Julieta Habana Reserve which is supposed to be different than the rest of the Romeo line as it's supposed to be the strongest under that lable.

Anyhow, maybe look more into full-bodied smokes



Rev.

I smoked my first RyJ Habana Reserve tonight....I thought it was pretty mild and it was so bland I quit a little over half way through it. I too prefer a fuller bodied smoke. If you want a real full bodied smoke try the Partagas Black Label!

[scottw]

I like the CT wrapper in the morning or early afternoon. Usually would be a RP signature or Connecticut but I did smoke the Cusano 18 and absolutley loved it. I think that early in the am or afternoon would be an inappropriate time for me to nail my tastebeds with anything stronger IMO. But that's just me.

[Snake Hips]

Good to know I'm not alone at least, haha. I just began to notice that whenever I pulled out a cigar for the morning, thinking "I wonder what this one'll have to offer," only to smoke it and say "Well...it tastes like...Connecticut shade, just like the last one, and the one before that..."

Originally Posted by Legend

Stronger fuller tastes are easier for a pallate to distinguish. You can dustiguish coffee and chocolate because you can disguish those flavors easily already. Whereas if you had to tell the difference between something lighter like Chardonnay and a blanc that might be hard unless you had put effort into learning the distinction.

If you prefer the stronger flavors. There is no need to spend the time. I like both. And the cigars you mentioned above are all very different.

I guess that makes sense - good explanation.

I like the whole range of flavors too, but I've noticed less distinction between the mild ones. If they're all very different, I wish I could taste it to even the slightest degree

I do like the Connecticut shade flavor in the morning or early afternoon, but every one I pick out, I know what it's going to taste like.

@Rev2010
Oh, I love me full-bodied smokes alright. I love Partagas Black, 5 Vegas Series 'A,' Tatuaje and La Flor Dominicana, but not with coffee in the morning. I'll check out the RyJ Vintage - I've heard good things about it. Right now anything Hoyo de Monterrey is my favorite NC, so that should give some idea of what I like flavor-wise.

[heavyd]

I agree with you snake hips, but only two weeks ago I loved mild-medium sticks. However, within the last 10 days or so, I've tried a Tat Black, Liga Privada #9, and a VSG belli. Now, when I lite up a Cusano 18 Connecticut I can't taste anything!!

Maybe I should have waited until I depleted my mild supply before I hit the big boys

[Legend]

Agreed. If you truly don't prefer milder flavors then no point in develoing that palate. But if you do and the only issue is that they taste the same. Spend soome time on it. There is a vast array of flavors in there. Now personally I think that each person tastes and identifies flavors differently. This is why on my reviews I seldom list the flavors I pick up. I rob that person of their own identifiers. Also your flavors can be affected by what you ate beforehand what you drank beforehand or during. Your mood. The environment your in. Etc.

My point don't give up on them unless you truly don't like mild.
To develop your tastes 1. Smoke slowly.
2. Keep the smoke in your mouth a while. Let it roll around.
3. Occasionally push it out your nose (you do not need to inhale to do this. If you don't already know how ask someone. Too hard to explain in print)
4. Create or get a list of flavors found in tobacco. Go down the list as you smoke and think about each one. Is it there? Do I taste it? (this is tedious and boring. But you won't have to do it for long. Eventually you pick up the flavors quickly)

Bam. You have developed your palatte. This works for stronger cigars too. I suggest it for those too. You get a better experience.

This doesn't mean you do it all the time. Truly spend time smoking with friends chatting. Watching a game etc. This can be done when you are smoking by yourself and you want to develop your palatte.