Describing the taste .........

[big bopper]

Is it possible to just enjoy the flavours of tobacco and experience the nuances of flavours associated with tobacco, without finding food words to describe it?

I would say absolutely yes. I'm sure cigars appeal to different people for different reasons. I found myself being able to pick a flavour or two out last night for the first time but it's far from the be all and end all for me. I'm not really adept when it comes to tasting wine either, but still enjoy it.

[cj121]

I'm with you on this in the most part Larry. As stated earlier, my palate, in terms of picking up the variety of nuances some do, is pants (must stay away from the lady garden bit...perhaps underpants) I have had raisins, and liquorice at times. Others too, but i cant recollect now. I must say though, I don't regularly sit back and try and and identify them either, but hats off to those who pick them up as I'm sure it can enhance the experience at times. Interestingly, I've smoked almost a carton of Quinteros Favoritos and after reading a guys comments about single malt 'being in there', it's almost always there. I personally wouldn't have identified it without reading his post, but it's fixed now. Curious, the senses ay?

I do appreciate your thoughts on the 'just tobacco' sentiment

[ValeTudoGuy]

Salty milk and coins??? Going to have to think about that one for awhile....

On a more serious note, tasting notes is something I don't get. I see it in cigars, pipe tobacco, whiskey (whisky), beer, wine, etc. I personally don't get the comparisons that relate to food taste and smells. I hear words like plum, raisens, dried fruit, chocolate, leather, ect., and I haven't ever tasted those things in any cigar, pipe tobacco or alcohol. Depending on what I'm consuming, all I usually detect is the flavour of the item...tobacco, whiskey, beer, whatever. I can detect smoky, spicy, fruity, lady garden, or whatever, but that's about it. It either tastes good, or bad. Perhaps my taste buds are challenged or have a low IQ. Still, I wonder what I'm missin'. Is it possible to just enjoy the flavours of tobacco and experience the nuances of flavours associated with tobacco, without finding food words to describe it?

Smoke an Oliva G Belicoso and don't taste chocolate.... I dare you!

[cj121]

There ya go, there'll be chocolate every time now

[UncleJoe]

For me looking out for different flavours/notes in a smoke can be really good fun but it's only one facet of the whole smoking experience. I don't tend to be too precise when I'm looking for flavours so I normally describe notes as, for example, "floral" or "creamy" or "spicy" etc. that said, every now and again I've had some cigars that definitely have quite specific flavours, e.g. Toasted oats

[cj121]

I had walnut the other day and when I recognised it, it was a bit of a eureka moment thinking back to the other cigars (same brand) that had it.

[Simon G]

...with a Monty No.4 I experienced a mild 'salty butter' that was slippery on the lips (was very nice!)

[fordi]

I never got wine until I went to a tasting course. When they say vanilla and oak it does put that seed in your mind and actually you can get the flavours, but I needed training to coax it out. It's maybe the same with cigars where I need all the different tastes spelling out for me?

[dazzer]

white pepper in an RyJ Churchill, I thought tasting pepper when watching youtube vids would be quite unpleasant, but actually tasting it is quite remarkable, it is unmistakably specifically white pepper and is delicious lmao

As has been mentioned though, was only discernible for 4 or 5 draws before it disappeared.

I have smoked 11 cigars, so i am obviously no specialist, but when you get a distinct flavour it almost smacks you around the face with it's arrival.


I can't wait for the lady garden experience mmmm, you will think I am a cunning linguist after my written review of that one lmao