Is it me???

[Mark3142]

After a lot of research on here and other internet sources I am stuck. I keep reading reviews for different cigars and the lovely flavours that emanate, even burning, first third compared to last third.
I've had a couple of cubans now and I'm struggling to recognise all the different flavours. Is my pallatte not sensitive enough or am I rushing it.
I recently purchased a few Monte A's from a fellow member and I can honestly say I was disappointed. I used a punch cutter (for the first time) and the draw felt constrained, I had no discernible smoke, not a huge amount of flavour and it went out 3 or 4 times. I persevered with it but it got a little better towards the end but nothing to write home about.
Am I doing something wrong? Or am I expecting too much?
I have recently purchased a Punch (from Asda) and a Partagas 4 from a place in Bristol, but I'm loathe to smoke them if I'm doing it wrong and in essence wasting good cigars.
I want to enjoy them and not make it an epic experience that becomes a chore!

[JOAO LA PEZ]

I think it takes time to develop the recognition of the different flavours, for myself i experience hints of the described flavours, but not an abundance of them, the only Cigar that really hits me with cream is the San Christobal Murralla.
In a blind tasting i think i could just about tell a Monty from a Partagas.

[senor_robusto]

hey mark,
it shouldn't be hard work!!! i tend not to search...... it's more of a case of they, the flavours, find me!! lol!!! sometimes what you've ate, what you drink or even the time of day effects the flavours you'll recieve!!! but seriously, i smoke cigars to relax and feel good about myself!!! just relax and enjoy the ritual of preparing and smoking them!!! the flavours and experience will be unique to you!!!

hope this helps,

alex

[Drewmidorn]

Interesting... I think the vocabulary of flavours allows people to discuss cigars and attempt to describe something slightly esoteric to each other... however for me as much as I enjoy thinking about and discussing cigars the ultimate joy in cigars is smoking them. When you speak to folk about cigars you do need some kind of common vocabulary. When I hear wine bores going on about "this and that" flavour it sometimes feels like they're train spotters rather than wine enthusiasts (I know less than nothing about wine... I never drink it). I think some cigar smokers can be the same and sometimes their use of language is not about sharing the joy, but bashing you over the head with their "superior knowledge".

I think it does take a little while to discover the subtle flavours in cigars and I think smoking a cigar slowly is key to this, and possibly the way you light your cigar, be gentle otherwise the overwhelming flavour will be acrid burning. Relighting is fine... don't incinerate it, just tease it back to life.

I think it's important to remember though that the overwhelming flavour of a cigar is.... tobacco! The other flavours are like the layers of a perfume. The only cigar I've ever had which genuinely tasted entirely of chocolate and nuts was a praline cigar... made from chocolate and nuts.

[SmokeyDave]

I had this very same discussion with a friend of mine the other evening, he had bought a Saint Luis Rey Choux Supreme and a Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto as presents for me (he is not a cigar person, though I gift him a lot of mine in the hope of converting him, which seems to be working).
Whilst smoking the SLR he commented that he was struggling to find any flavours to be able to describe. After reaching the final third and looking to have a very disappointed face I offered him the Hoyo to have a few puffs. Trying that and the vastly different tastes and flavours that immediately hit his palate garnered the response - "I can taste/smell straight away that the two cigars are greatly different in strength and flavours, but I am unable to actually find the words to describe each flavour, apart from, the SLR tastes mainly flowery".
He then went on to say "Having tried two back to back though I now see how and why people can get hooked on cigars, once you get to know what you like and dislike, the endless quest for the perfect cigar can become a huge draw (pardon the pun!)".

So later tonight (at his request) I am visiting the local to meet and enjoy a Partagas SD4 and Monte No2.

Hmm just realised I've started to ramble but hopefully you get the gist of what I mean, don't think you HAVE to find huge amounts of stand out flavours etc, just enjoy and pretty soon you will find your own way of describing what you like and dislike.

[Moon Dancer]

Well said, Drewmidorn
"Take with a pinch of salt" what the so called self appointed cigar aficionado says
Cigars mean all thing to all men You'll know when you've got the cigar for you

[TJCoro]

It's You Blu!

post-4-1227828324.jpgCLICK ON ME AND GET A SURPRISE!wha.gif


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Hey BB! What the heck are you up to now???

[snooky]

I agree with Drew in the most,saying that ive come back to cigars that have rested in my humi for a year and i notice a big difference mainly in the consistency of the smoke, some of the best cigars ive smoked are the ones ive hardly paid attention to whilst smoking, then afterwards feeling relaxed and a bit dissapointed that its finished.

[Mark3142]

Many thanks for all the words of wisdom. I'll just try and enjoy the next burn up. I normally like to smoke whilst I'm driving, I think the next 1 will be in the summer house in the garden

[michael69]

gotta smoke 'em to know 'em.....

just let it come, don't try. don't attempt to find flavours. just enjoy and experience.

you'll find your palette will develop at it's own pace.

smoke as many different cigars as you can

[daverave999]

I also experienced this when I first started smoking cigars. In addition to what Drewmidorn put so well, I would like to say there are probably several factors that come into play.
Your palate will develop over time and the ability to discern different flavours will come. In my opinion it is something that takes practice.
There is nothing that can match smoking cigars from the same box over a period of time to teach you how aging and storage conditions affect how a cigar tastes. Regardless of how well they've been stored, buying singles cannot give you the continuity to learn how a cigar should taste.
The first few cigars I smoked were not ready for smoking. After a few I was wondering what the point was. They still tasted better than cigarettes so I persevered.
One day, I smoked a cigar that made me realise what it was all about. I didn't need to try to work out what the flavours were.

My advice is to buy three of the same cigar at the same time from the same place (preferably a proper cigar shop/tobacconist rather than tubes from a supermarket). Store them in a tupperware box with a 69% Boveda pouch at as stable a temperature as you can manage. Smoke the first after a week of it being in there, the second after a month, and the third after three months. Maybe try it with Petit Corona sizes to keep the costs down a bit!

Incidentally, the cigars that I've had the WOW! experience with have been the Partagas Serie P No. 2, Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 2 and the Bolivar Royal Corona.

[EugeneSax]

BTW I wouldn't use a punch on a Monty A: trying to draw smoke along it's 9" through that relatively small aperture isn't going to be the easiest of tasks, as you have found. Try a cutter on your next A, if you have any left.

[bnelly]

Like many others, I had the same experience - liked some cigars, disliked others, but couldn't really say anything coherent about why ...
Talking and sharing with others at herfs etc. massively improved my knowledge and appreciation

[Mark3142]

Will cut the next Monte A then, I have 4 left. Just received a nice cuban cutter in the post.
Are there any herf's in Bristol. Can't afford to travel to far as I'm still unemployed, but don't mind a short distance

[bnelly]

Sounds like a two-man herf is on the cards soon