Newbie Problems

[jasontp]

So guys I'm getting a little discouraged, my buddy Adam has joined me in the last couple cigars that I've had and he seems to be picking up on the flavors, and I'm still having problems distinguishing different flavors. Are there any "tricks-of-the-trade" to help me along or do I just need to keep smoking to tell differences? I worry about having a crappy palate. HELP!

[tubaman]

What helped me alot was reading reviews of cigars in as many sources as possible. This kind of helped me to figure out what the flavors were that I was tasting, and help develop my palate. I personally don't get alot of these subtle nuances that some people get (hints of nasturtium leaves melded with freshly peeled orange rind and smacking of cypress bark!!!) I think alot of it is just a bunch of hooey. But I wouldn't worry so much about what you taste and what you don't taste, I would worry about whether you like the cigar or not, that's really the important part imho.

Enjoy your cigar more!!!!

[Wasch_24]

Kevin is right...some people, like me too, can't really place a descriptor on the flavors or even taste all the flavors for that matter.

If you are enjoying what you are tasting then that is all that really matters. :thumbsup:

[tripp]

"smacking of meat and mushrooms" That one did it in for me.
Were they smoking a cigar or a blue plate special from the local diner????

I look for cigars that taste and feel good while smoking them and leave a non offensive taste afterwards.

The only way to get that ability to distinguish flavors is with practice .
Just keep smoking the cigars slowly and very slowly and it will reveal itself to you grasshopper.

[caudio51]

Kevins got what helped me. I still can't pick up on everything and I have been smoking for over a year. My thought is if you are enjoying the cigar then that is enough. If you can define some flavors, great.

[CIGARHead]

I dont want to put out the impression I can distinguish tons of flavors, but I have been getting better at it. I have, for the last 8 months or so, been exhailing about half a mouthful of smoke through the shnozz. You can "taste" the flavors better by smelling them. Exhailing a little smoke through the nose dramatically increases my enjoyment of the cigar.

[smokem94]

I have never been able to decipher a particular flavor from a cigar. Some people make it sound like you are in Baskin Robbins.
I identify more with the aromas and how they might relate to a particular flavor.

[Doofus]

Cigar taste chart-

I posted this in the gallery a couple months ago. It might help you sort out the flavors.

http://www.botl.org/community/gallery/showimage.php?i=201&catid=searchresults&searchid=92

[stogies&hoagies]

, for the last 8 months or so, been exhailing about half a mouthful of smoke through the shnozz. You can "taste" the flavors better by smelling them. Exhailing a little smoke through the nose dramatically increases my enjoyment of the cigar.

This really helps me to "taste" a cigar. The key is to exhale slowly, a little at a time.

[caudio51]

Cigar taste chart-

I posted this in the gallery a couple months ago. It might help you sort out the flavors.

http://www.botl.org/community/gallery/showimage.php?i=201&catid=searchresults&searchid=92
Nice chart!

[Cigar_Jack]

Did you make it or pick this up from somewhere? I'd love to post it on my website and gvie the creators proper credit.

Cigar taste chart-

I posted this in the gallery a couple months ago. It might help you sort out the flavors.

http://www.botl.org/community/gallery/showimage.php?i=201&catid=searchresults&searchid=92

[Doofus]

Did you make it or pick this up from somewhere? I'd love to post it on my website and gvie the creators proper credit.

I got it from another site, but it's been so long ago that I don't remember where, so no attribution is possible.

Sorry.

[jasontp]

Well good thanks for all the support guys! There's no danger in me quitting, just thought I was behind the learning curve! I'll just keep smoking I guess

[Jwrussell]

I'm with those who have never been able to really place alot of the nuances that some folks can. Try not to worry about it. Really focusing on the smoke and what you are tasting each time you smoke can help, and if you can get the hang of it, exhaling through the nose occasionaly (small amounts of smoke) is another good way to increase your ability to distinguish tastes.

Here's a question: What situations do you mostly smoke under? Are you with other people? By yourself? Where? This can greatly affect how you experience a cigar. Put me at a herf or with other people chating and having a good time and I'm going to taste a heck of alot less than I will out on the Florida room with a book.

Had to laugh when reading your post, I must admit...I'd bet I could go back and find the exact same post from myself on one of the boards. :thumbsup:

[caudio51]

Definitely true about where I am smoking. Tuesday nights at the Cigar Den, I won't remember much other than good or bad. By myself in the basement I will remember a lot more. Unless I am watching the Giants and then I am trying not to swallow my cigar!

[Black Dog]

Same with me on smoking in groups of people. I no longer smoke my best cigars at herfs and dinners and such. I realized this not long ago when I had one of my favorites, a Cohiba Seleccion Reserva, at a herf and realized when I was finsihed with it that I hadn't even taken the time to really enjoy it. I was too busy socializing. I love to get together with people and smoke cigars but I get more out of a cigar when relaxing at home.
As for deciphering the flavor profiles, I apparently have the palate of a billy goat. I can only taste good, bad, great, wow, holy mother of god, blech and things like that.
Relax and just enjoy your cigar!

[Kingston]

If you are enjoying what you are tasting then that is all that really matters. :thumbsup:
Dead on.
If you're not enjoying it, even with different cigars, you may have to entertain the thought that you just don't like cigars.
Keep smoking and see if you enjoy it, before you dive in too deep to something that you won't end up liking in a few months.

[N8NOE]

Here is a quick Secret....
Get a King Edward or White Owl, Now Fire it up...
Once you smoke a bit of it, You'll know the differance.

This is NOT bashing Either of these, but if you smoke one and compare it to a CAO, Rocky Patel, OPUS, Etc... You should see a HUGE Differance, and Even though you might not say "Nutty, Cocoa-Taste, Cedary Etc." you'd know!...
I'm NOT a Writer, so for me to TYPE what it tastes like, is almost impossable. I'm more likly going to give you one, and let you say the "Big-Words" while I just Enjoy my smoke with a Smile-On!..

[N8NOE]

Same with me on smoking in groups of people. I no longer smoke my best cigars at herfs and dinners and such. I realized this not long ago when I had one of my favorites, a Cohiba Seleccion Reserva, at a herf and realized when I was finsihed with it that I hadn't even taken the time to really enjoy it. I was too busy socializing. I love to get together with people and smoke cigars but I get more out of a cigar when relaxing at home.
As for deciphering the flavor profiles, I apparently have the palate of a billy goat. I can only taste good, bad, great, wow, holy mother of god, blech and things like that.
Relax and just enjoy your cigar!


I'm Told (or have been) that the "ONLY TASTE I have is in my Mouth"....
But your comment made me think (Un-Pure) thoughts!.. I'm thinkin' The Billy Goat for me is about right! Except I would Add HOT, Fire, and my Cheeks are going to hate this tomorrow to the List, But I eat a lot of Mexican, Tex-Mex food...

[joshua]

Ya know what, over the summer I had a few smokes that I was able to sit down with and take the time to notice the flavors and just relax without anything else in the way. Since the weather has gotten so cold I don't seem to enjoy the subtleties of a cigar as often. I also noticed when I smoke a cigar with someone else I often don't pay attention and get wrapped up in conversation, and the cigar becomes more of just a social activity.

Winter is not even officially here yet and I am already waiting for it to end so I can get a tall glass of ice cold water and sit in the sun and enjoy a large cigar.

[Ironman]

Don't get discouraged bro, smoke the cigar and enjoy the friendship of smoking with others...Some people are more articulate when describing what they taste, and what they think they taste will most likely be different than what you do!!!

Here's my review of the cigar I'm smoking:

2001 R&J Robusto El ...

I lit it, I smoked it, there was a nice taste of tobacco with a slight taste of burning tobacco after the first 1/3 I tasted tobacco that changed in the last half to a stronger taste of tobacco...Great cigar


I bet if you have one you will agree!!!

Ironman

[jasontp]

Thanks for all the support guys. I smoked a "Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino Sungrown ROBUSTO #11 (Natural sun grown wrapper)-
Dominican Republic" and a "Saint Louis Rey ROTHSCHILD (Maduro)- Honduras" (thank god Jay sent me the names and descriptions of what he sent me!) today and I really enjoyed both of them! I took your advice and quit worrying about trying to taste things and just enjoyed it for what it was a great cigar. What's funny is as soon as I did that I picked up on some different flavors that I hadn't noticed before. . . I think I was just pysching myself out, but I'm all better now:santa:

[Wasch_24]

There ya go! :thumbsup:

[caudio51]

Nice work! Keep it up!

[djs134]

I've just become a member, but have been smoking for years. There seems to be a limited number of nuances that can be discerned from the smoke of the cigar, a few more from the wrapper. (IMVVHO) :halfgrinw

I’ve found that the key to picking up on these subtleties is to smoke the stick slowly. I’ve had a Hemi SS last over 70 min without relighting. And the suggestion to past the smoke though your nose is a good one, although I have a harder time doing that with says, a VSG. :bigeyes:

Think of it in terms of coffee… practice and patience. Time will acclimate your palate to the differences and subtleties of different cigars and you will notice differences more quickly.

But, then that could just be me……… :innocent:

[jasontp]

Oh you're totally right. . . I'm still getting there with coffee. . . it has to be a really bold flavor (say a Harar) for me to get the nuances. It's taken me quite a while to build my palate for wine too. . . just gotta have patience!