non-tobacco flavors in cigars

[AAlmeter]

Good find Eichen, I was looking for this a couple months ago

And of course good job Linus

[MM2(SW)S]

Based on some Internet research of Odor and Taste classifications, and wine tasting wheels - I developed this CIGAR TASTING CHART to help people pick out various flavors in their cigars.

Linus, that was great Idea.

[magno]

..."sweet black tea." I actually consider that to be the accurate description of the undertone of every great (IMHO) ISOM I've ever smoked and I look for it in all my cigars. I also taste raisins quite often, as well as coffee and chocolate, caramel, coconut, and cream and sugar. Leather is a flavour I get as well, but it's not one I look for in my cigars.

I'm always thrown off by CA descriptions like" salty." I just don't get that one. I mean, if I get a cigar that tastes of salt, it's going in the toilet ASAP.

Originally Posted by David

My question is how many of you can actually "taste" non-tobacco flavors in cigars? I mean CA seems to apply wine tasting standards to cigars but try as I might I just don't see where they are coming from in their taste descriptions. For instance, I have never tasted leather-not that I know what leather taste like-or anis or coffee etc... I wonder if the flavors described by CA are more akin to sensations. Sometimes I smell vanilla (Dominican tobacco especially), feel a hot or peppery sensation but never actually taste these flavors. When I rate a cigar's flavor I do so based on body, smoothness, balance but those descriptions are always based on the overriding flavor of tobacco which is distinct. What do you all think?

[magno]

.... of cocoa. Although, I also find that a hint of 7 year-old madagascar vani........

Originally Posted by smokemifyagotem

I think for everyone its a little different.
For me I'll describe flavors in a cigar like chocolate or leather, even though it doesn't taste EXACTLY like either of the two, its just the closest flavors I can associate it with. There are rare instances were a cigar WILL taste literally like chocolate or something (for example a padron anny 64 maduro pyramid I had last summer. It really tasted like hot cocoa).
Sometimes I'll smoke a new cigar and have to think about what Im tasting. If I find myself sitting there too long and can't come up with a distinct flavor I usually concede that Im smoking a dog rocket. Ironically I hate nothing more than a cigar that tastes like nothing but tabacco...

:

[linusvanpelt]

Thanks again for the compliments (and the ring gauge points).

I'm still tasting various flavors in my cigars...namely cocoa (any Padron), pepper (Sancho Panza, CAO Mx2), vanilla (CAO Gold).

I can taste something in the CAO Criollo, but can't put my finger on it.

[kamikaiguy]

I definitly can taste different flavors in Cigars. So far it seems as though ISOM's have an underlying creamyness to them that Is totally unique. They have like a buttery taste. Most of the upper scale Nics. have a peanutty flavor. Honduran comes in with a earthy flavor. Mexican has a definite pepper and coffee flavor. Dominican, Dominican I would say has a underlying vegital or sweetness to them that I can't really place.

These are jst generalizations, that I have noticed. There is a lot of varience to the actual flavors but they are certainly there.

[Nely]

Originally Posted by magno

I'm always thrown off by CA descriptions like" salty." I just don't get that one. I mean, if I get a cigar that tastes of salt, it's going in the toilet ASAP.

Funny how I kept on getting this salty flavor in a Davidoff millenium blend that my friend gifted me for Christmas. But the other flavors I got where very pleasant, and the cigar burned so well that I didn't mind the salty taste.

[txmatt]

Originally Posted by linusvanpelt

Thanks again for the compliments (and the ring gauge points).

I'm still tasting various flavors in my cigars...namely cocoa (any Padron), pepper (Sancho Panza, CAO Mx2), vanilla (CAO Gold).

I can taste something in the CAO Criollo, but can't put my finger on it.

I am with you on the Criollo! I bought a box of the PCs (Pampa). I think it might be nutmeg, but I am not certain. It is unique and very enjoyable even if I can't ever put my finger on the exact flavor.

-Matt-

[CDP II]

I can't wait to try the CAO Criollo, it just sounds good. Haven't been able to pick one up yet 'cause I've been low on funds but come Monday its off to the shop to pick up a couple. I'm still relatively new to the whole cigar world (just started about two months ago) but I can really taste the pepper in the Mx2, also in the Ashton Crystal #1. Just had an Oliva O Bold tonight and could find some spice with a little sweetness in each puff, but just can't pick it out yet. I'm guessing it will become easier to distinguish flavors as time goes on; all I know is that I really enjoyed that O Bold.

[CigarHoss]

You know, I really don't mind the salty taste.

I used to say that I could never find flavors like they describe in CA, but now that I think about it, I can pick up chocolate, coffee, grassy, salty...uh oh, I don't THINK I'm becoming a snob!

Where in TX are you, CDP?

[CDP II]

Originally Posted by CigarHoss

Where in TX are you, CDP?

Off to the west of ya in Fort Worth.