Why am I finding (almost) all cigars unenjoyable?

[Cigar_Addict]

Genuinely getting a little concerned that I am unable to enjoy almost any cigar. Today's Olivia Serie V had good construction but very underwhelming.



Apart from a AF Rothschild, an EP Carrillo Allegiance, a Plasencia 149 La Vega and my OLD Partagas Black Series, I really haven't enjoyed many cigars. Is my pallete ruined? Am I smoking them too young?

[Hookmaker]

Genuinely getting a little concerned that I am unable to enjoy almost any cigar. Today's Olivia Serie V had good construction but very underwhelming.



Apart from a AF Rothschild, an EP Carrillo Allegiance, a Plasencia 149 La Vega and my OLD Partagas Black Series, I really haven't enjoyed many cigars. Is my pallete ruined? Am I smoking them too young?

Did you have covid at any time? How's your palate with other stuff i.e food, drink?


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[Cigar_Addict]

Did you have covid at any time? How's your palate with other stuff i.e food, drink?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm pretty sure I had covid the November/December before the first lockdown, and twice (unofficially) since then. I can taste other food & drinks fine, which is the confusing thing. I know it's subjective, but some of the sticks I've tried have been highly rated (LOTS of 4 🌟+ reviews) hence me wanting to try them, but they've honestly tasted like ashtrays

[ha_banos]

I'm pretty sure I had covid the November/December before the first lockdown, and twice (unofficially) since then. I can taste other food & drinks fine, which is the confusing thing. I know it's subjective, but some of the sticks I've tried have been highly rated (LOTS of 4 🌟+ reviews) hence me wanting to try them, but they've honestly tasted like ashtrays

Welcome to the world of reviews.

It's a very subjective game. But what else, you just pick at random? I get it. Keep track of what you've tried. Simple notes.

Some say, as with drinks, if you find a reviewer you can concur with great. If not, move on.

I've got some NC cigars I've liked that I'll try again.

N7 Ninfas
Las Cavaleras
AF Short Story
Illusione .. something!
Tabernacle
Trinidad Espiritu Fundador

I said before, I'll try the MF the judge, but fully expect to not like it. Set my expectations low...

Padron
EP carillo
RP
Plasencia
Liga privado
Zino
Opus X
Puro desnudo
Tatuaje

I've found cigars very ashy or bland or harsh or too strong in these brands/lines. There's loads of other options in each!

I'll go there. Cubans seem to deliver, for me, more sweet, smooth, interesting flavours more of the time. A lot more... And being a tiny portfolio is simpler. But there is again luck involved! And more patience.

[PeeJay]

It happens, I usually try smoking something completely different like a flavoured stick to reset my taste buds, got any Drew Estate?

[liles]

To me there's also the aspect on how you are smoking vs what you are smoking.

Lots of things can really ruin or worsen the experience for me, such as smoking too quickly, the weather being bad, not being comfortable (seated, with a full belly and a good drink preferably) and I would never smoke an expensive cigar while walking or where I didn't have to time to really slow down and relax.

The best cigars are smoked slowly in good company.

[NorthernPuro]

Agree with the guys above. Maybe give it a rest for a week or so too, reset.

[potpest]

I don't want to bring it up but what are your storage conditions? I find the biggest thing for me affecting enjoyment of cigars was not maintaining a constant humidity and temperature, if they are too wet or dry I find the effect on the flavour to be huge.
I found that cigars smoked amazingly in the summer months and could be quite flavourless in the winter where the ambient temperature of my storage went from 20+c to 12c. This put me down the rabbit hole of % moisture content of the cigar in different conditions.

[Cigar_Addict]

It happens, I usually try smoking something completely different like a flavoured stick to reset my taste buds, got any Drew Estate?

Only Factory Smokes and they're like a lucky dip most of the time anyway 😂

[Cigar_Addict]

To me there's also the aspect on how you are smoking vs what you are smoking.

Lots of things can really ruin or worsen the experience for me, such as smoking too quickly, the weather being bad, not being comfortable (seated, with a full belly and a good drink preferably) and I would never smoke an expensive cigar while walking or where I didn't have to time to really slow down and relax.

The best cigars are smoked slowly in good company.

That makes sense. I feel a little like I'm trying to make up for lost time, added to which I struggle to get much time to smoke so far from favourable conditions. Although this Chateau Fuente Maduro is giving me a glimmer of hope

IMG_20250109_185319.jpg

Good old Fuente

[Cigar_Addict]

I don't want to bring it up but what are your storage conditions? I find the biggest thing for me affecting enjoyment of cigars was not maintaining a constant humidity and temperature, if they are too wet or dry I find the effect on the flavour to be huge.
I found that cigars smoked amazingly in the summer months and could be quite flavourless in the winter where the ambient temperature of my storage went from 20+c to 12c. This put me down the rabbit hole of % moisture content of the cigar in different conditions.

I use Govee Life hygrometers for my stuff (the top right is inaccurate so have noted the difference). Drew dots on them to correlate with the white squares shown on the app

Screenshot_20250109_190730.jpg
Have switched to 65% for all CC & NC as I found the NC's smoked a little better in the summer at lower humidity. Also have an empty Aladino box with 62's in if I get the desire to try and (sort of) dry box something without it going too low

[smokey joe]

Hi, worth a try, works for me & others - lower the humidity in the cigar by ‘dry boxing’ for a time before smoking. The time can be a day or more.

[Cigar_Addict]

Hi, worth a try, works for me & others - lower the humidity in the cigar by ‘dry boxing’ for a time before smoking. The time can be a day or more.

Thanks, I'll give that a try 👌🏼

[Simon Bolivar]

To me there's also the aspect on how you are smoking vs what you are smoking.

Lots of things can really ruin or worsen the experience for me, such as smoking too quickly, the weather being bad, not being comfortable (seated, with a full belly and a good drink preferably) and I would never smoke an expensive cigar while walking or where I didn't have to time to really slow down and relax.

The best cigars are smoked slowly in good company.

Good advice.

[Cigar_Addict]

Today I smoked an AF Rothschild, which I've had (and REALLY enjoyed) before thanks to liles, and chose todays due to my previous experience with one. Todays however was nothing like the last one, so am assuming I am wrong in thinking that they come ready to smoke and instead need 6/9/12mths to rest?

I can only assume the ones I had recently are too fresh still. Looks like I'll be getting through my cheap Factory Smokes now, while I let the others hibernate