Taste and Flavour

[Dylan]

As a newbie I am enjoying reading through the forum and especially reading reviews of various cigars.

The one thing that sounds great but I don't get, is the flavours people seem to pick up in each third of the cigar. I read all sorts, for example the first third started with a rich dark chocolate taste, followed by a marzipan and creamy middle etc.etc.

Now this all sounds fantastic but after only smoking three cigars I just don't taste this. Now I like to think I have a good palatte for tasting food so don't want to say my taste buds are shit just yet.

Do all experienced cigar smokers pick up these various flavours, are some just pretending to and did most struggle at first then something just clicked into place?

[ValeTudoGuy]

Do all experienced cigar smokers pick up these various flavours

Not all, no

are some just pretending to

Quite possibly, though some certainly arent

did most struggle at first then something just clicked into place?

I would say so, yes.


I started getting better flavours when I was looking for them. My smoking buddy would say "so and so cigar has a flavour of xx" I would look for it and get a hint, then that hint stared to blossom into a more definate flavour. Still for me its not always like, this cigar tastes of chocolate, its like eating a dairy milk... It's more like, whats that flavour.... Hmm that reminds me of chocolate, yeah theres some chocolate in there... I think I will concentrate on that for a while.

[El Catador]

Afternoon Dylan

If you've got a good palette for food, don't worry, you'll soon find yourself 'picking up' the nuances of cigar flavours.

In fairness, if you've only tried 3 cigars to date, you're probably being too hard on yourself. It takes time.
For example, you wouldn't be expected to differentiate the subtle flavour differences of wine based on only trying three bottles, you need a wider base of comparison.

My advice would be to try as many varieties as possible.. (stick around, once you have access to the PM facility you can get involved in 'box splits' and 'trades' etc).

Certain 'brands' have very distinct flavour profiles.. after a while, you'll be able to identify many with your eyes shut.
Just keep practicing..
'Cheers'.
El Cat

[Emaresee]

+1 on what [MENTION=13402510]ValeTudoGuy[/MENTION] and [MENTION=717]El Catador[/MENTION] said.

Dont worry the flavours evolve..... Try "sipping" your cigar, might open the flavours up a little.

[sheppsea]

I agree as well, I think a better way to describe flavour would be nut-ty, chocolate-y, wood-y etc. I personally don't consider myself to have a great palate, but can certainly pick out flavour.

I do sympathise with your question about people making stuff up, although I don't think their making is up per se, I do sometimes wonder whether people convince themselves that they're getting flavours that just aren't there because they feel the should

[PeeJay]

Great reply by [MENTION=13402510]ValeTudoGuy[/MENTION] as always, its worth reading reviews and seeing what other people detect and seeing if you can recognise them. A lot of cigars have a flavour profile that you can recognise as being a particular brand but I still can't recognise particular cigars blind.

[peanutpete]

The thing to remember is they are tobacco leaf so they will taste of tobacco above all else so when people say they taste xyz it really is something in the tobacco reminding you of that taste
Also I have been at tasting were some "taste" chocolate and others coffee in the same stick I also find the power of suggestion is very strong so for example if you are at a tasting and some say they taste strawberry cheesecake others seem to detect it as well

[mcdee]

image.jpg
This cigar flavour wheel might help you Dylan. Hope you can see it okay.

[ValeTudoGuy]

I think Peanutpete has hit on to
Something important there, suggestion is very powerful... Even within ones own mind.

[peanutpete]

Correct [MENTION=13402510]ValeTudoGuy[/MENTION] suggestion is very powerful....... you will send me all your cigars you will send me all your cigars you will send me all your cigars :alien:

[PeeJay]

Correct @ValeTudoGuy suggestion is very powerful....... you will send me all your cigars you will send me all your cigars you will send me all your cigars :alien:

He hasn't got any, he smokes a pipe now!

[TJCoro]

No Taste!

As a newbie I am enjoying reading through the forum and especially reading reviews of various cigars.

The one thing that sounds great but I don't get, is the flavours people seem to pick up in each third of the cigar. I read all sorts, for example the first third started with a rich dark chocolate taste, followed by a marzipan and creamy middle etc.etc.

Now this all sounds fantastic but after only smoking three cigars I just don't taste this. Now I like to think I have a good palatte for tasting food so don't want to say my taste buds are shit just yet.

Do all experienced cigar smokers pick up these various flavours, are some just pretending to and did most struggle at first then something just clicked into place?

Hi Dylan! Good question and welcome to the UKCF!

As a former newbie myself, when I started enjoying cigars, I too was confused by all the flavors others where reporting, such as oak, burnt toast, english tea or white pepper. What was wrong with me? Was I unworthy? Questions you may have asked yourself, no doubt.

But over time, I came to realize that folks don't actually taste these flavors, but taste things that remind them of oak, bunt toast, or white pepper. Now, no doubt some folks have sharper palates than others (I fall into the latter category), but don't be discouraged if you don't experience flavors mentioned in cigar reviews, like cocoa, clovers, or black cherries as you savor your cigar.

To be honest, I still don't actually taste all the Wonderful Wheel of Flavors, but I know what I like in a cigar, even if I can't describe it, and that's what's important.

So, as Cataline Joy would say....Party on, Dylan!




Ricky Bobby

[the pondering moose]

I've definitely had this quandary myself. I'm still a relative newbie, though I've definitely detected "nutty", and even different types of nuts; but I've had "ooh chocolate!" on only a handful of occasions in several years. The first time was pretty exciting though...

That said, if you're enjoying the cigar and the flavours are indefinable, maybe it's not a problem? Good things in good time if having good fun (or something else philosophical)?

[Emaresee]

I remember the day i first tasted 'cream'.... Unmistakable and it was like a light going on! But in two separate smokes i have, in the middle of a stick, had a massive an unmistakeable blast of apricot in one and aftershave strength cedar in another.... One was more pleasant than the other!

And they were there in one draw, and gone in the next. I was utterly floored in all cases, and doubted they were there in my mind, but as you smack your lips and taste again before the sensation fades you realise you taste what you taste and can't be wrong....

Thinking wider... Wine rarely gets decribed as tasting of grapes! The folk serving the fast growing demand for wine in China have had to find a new vocabulary to describe the flavour profile of wines... Berry fruits, chocolates, butter, tea, coffee, spices etc are all used differently in cooking out there or simply not known at all.... So there is clearly no universal register!

Beyond this mood, setting, timing, accompanying drink, temperature etc etc etc will all influence the experience. That lovely wine, with a stunning seafood dish, on a terrace in tuscany rarely tastes the same in your kitchen with a roast chicken on a damp november sunday afternoon. On the same premise, no two sticks ever taste exactly the same.

[Moon Dancer]

For all my 60 years of smoking cigars I’ve never got or sort anything more than the satisfaction of enjoying various degrees of fine tobacco tastes, strengths, aroma and moreover quality

That said, about 10 years ago a friend returned from Cuba brandishing / smoking from a box of Monte No 4’s. I must admit the aroma which first hit me and lingered was a delightful rich mahogany smell something that I had not experienced before or since. Alas the 5 gifted to me never produced anything more than the usual Monte signature

Being a sceptic, now I think if I ever came across any cigar that tasted or smelt of anything other than tobacco, I would be dissecting it for foreign bodies

I was told last year in Cuba that testing of various new strains of tobacco, some with enhanced flavours to satisfy the potential punters 95 mile north of Havana. Perhaps some have inadvertently found their way into standard products

I wonder what happened to the plants fed on 'filtered kidney water'


Cigars mean all things too all men