Identifying Flavours

[jmorgo7]

Hi Guys,

Not sure if this sounds silly but any tips on identifying particular flavours in cigars? I can taste the different flavours but cant quite pick out what they are!

[cj121]

Some like a reference point such the cigar flavour wheel, some think it over complicates things. Perhaps get on the 'net and have a look and see if it would assist you? A bit of an aide-m?moire.

[PeeJay]

Download this and print it off thumbs_up.jpeg

[DogManDude]

Take your time. Focus. Close your eyes and see what comes to mind. It might help if you read other people's 'tasting notes.'

I used to be shite at it. Probably down to wolfing my food and drink. I used to neck scotch too and only when I slowed down and used my eyes and nose as well as my palette did I start to distinguish tastes.

Remember too that much of what we think of as taste is actually smell.

Take me your time. Unless you're one of those people who have a blind spot to tastes - pardon the pun - it'll come to you I'm sure.

[oskihen]

See if this helps

[jmorgo7]

Cigar wheel will be a big help!

Really like matching my ciagrs with a drink (red wine seems the best so far) and ive been smoking very casually for five years now.

I'm a fan of maduro cigars which seem to have lots of flavour. Also I found retrohaling to give me a better idea of flavour but its a bit difficult with full strength cigars.

[cj121]

Why don't you pop over to the newbie greets, introduce yourself, and get some

[jmorgo7]

I'll pop over now!

[STEVEYB112]

I have reverse tasting... Smoke first, cannot pick out anything I recognise...Then for several days after find it in everything I eat!

I smoked a P2 as one of my first cigars, didnt recognise a thing...Later I had some Christmas cake, Partagas...Then a few days later, chocolate, Partagas...And so it continues!

[SteveGriff]

Picking up flavours is also about practice and experience IMO. You will pick up flavours but understanding what you're tasting isn't as easy as it seems first time round. Plus over time you'll work what nuances makes up one brand and makes up another.

[tippexx]

Hi Guys,

Not sure if this sounds silly but any tips on identifying particular flavours in cigars? I can taste the different flavours but cant quite pick out what they are!

It isn't silly at all. There are no 'flavours' in cigars just chemical enzymes released in the smoke and which your brain attempts to rationalise (identify) by calling upon all the taste sensations in your memory. Your mouth does very little, it recognises only bitter, sour, salty and sweet. All the real work is done in the nose. Your nose can pick-out thousands of tastes, but unless your brain knows what they are you can't identify them.

If you were a dog I would say you were useless, a dog can pick up more smells on a walk than you will in a lifetime, but by the time he's got home he'll have forgotten 99.99% of them. When I smoke my cigars most of the tastes are unidentifiable, it's only occasionally I hit on something I might claim as a specific .... as my old cigar mentor once said .... it's all in the head. And too many reviewers talk a load of shit. Easier and less confounding just to enjoy your cigars.

[oskihen]

Tippex, talk a load of shit and just enjoy your cigar , two of the best statements I've read on here spot on advice sir

[PeeJay]

And too many reviewers talk a load of shit. Easier and less confounding just to enjoy your cigars.

Too bloody true!

[Monty Cristo]

Have to agree here. This is not a science. It's a personal, subjective opinion on a cigar and there are plenty of people out there that try to think of ever more obscure descriptives to prove how clever they are. Just relax, enjoy your cigar and if it reminds you of something, then by all means file it away or feel free to say so. Just don't go all Jilly Goolden on us!

[Simon G]

great advice tippexx