Smoking Frequency and Body

[njstone]

I'm wondering if you Bros can clear something up for me.

A friend of mine told me that the reason he prefers mild bodied cigars is because that allows him to smoke more often--like 1-2 a day vs 3-4 a week.

This sort of confused me, because I thought that "body" just referred to the strength of a cigar in terms of Nicotine content, not in terms of how long it will take before you can fully enjoy another cigar (i.e. palate recovery time).

Am I wrong, or is this guy maybe smoking a little something "else" on the side?

 

[Moro]

Some people have an "untrained" pallate which needs a long recovery time, especially after a full bodied cigar. Although after smoking a tad more regularily ye get over it.

 

[njstone]

Some people have an "untrained" pallate which needs a long recovery time, especially after a full bodied cigar. Although after smoking a tad more regularily ye get over it.

hmm, so you think he might have a point, then?

 

[Moro]

hmm, so you think he might have a point, then?

Well, when I first started smoking I had mild cigars (well, as mild as CCs get), and upon moving to fuller cigars I noted that sometimes I could still taste it even the next morning (and I do brush me teeth). It's the same reason why after 2 or 3 full bodied cigars yer pallate is kinda numb. It overwhelms the taste buds.

 

[njstone]

Okay, thanks. I have definately experienced that too--waking up in the morning with last night's cigar still in my mouth. It seems to happen less often now, though.

But I think I moved too quickly into daily smoking, just because it was so much fun that I wanted to keep trying more cigars Now that it's cold, I'm just doing a short smoke every other day, which is probably where I belong anyway.

 

[MichiganM]

This has been discussed, and there are different opinions on this subject...but it usually boils down to the following definitions in my opinion.

Flavor is just that. Flavor. It's what you taste when you smoke a cigar, and there are obviously different ranges of flavor from full flavored smokes (Bolivar), medium flavored smokes (Padron), and mild flavored cigars (CAO Gold).

Body is usually described as a few different things and this is where you will get different opinions. Body can sometimes refer to different things including how heady a cigar is, how much smoke it produces and overall aftertaste...it can describe how "heavy" a cigar is. Some of this is attributed to nicotine, depending on who you ask. And some people equate body and nicotine solely.

Strength and body are sometimes interchanged. I hear some people describe strength in terms of nicotine and some people equate it with my previous description of body.

Either way, flavor is totally separate from strength/body. And in any case, what your friend is saying is that he doesn't want to feel "green" after smoking a bunch of strong (strength or body) cigars all day long. For example I don't think I could smoke 5 Opus X in a row without probably feeling at least a little lightheaded. Even though I would continue to enjoy the flavor it would just be too much on my system.

Anyway, just my opinions. Again, the definitions slightly vary.

 

[Soundwave13]

I don't know, but when I smoked less, I preferred a milder cigar. It wasn't until I began smoking on a more regular basis that I developed (or required) a taste for more full-bodied cigars. When I revist a stick that I used to like, I often find it bland & boring. I also remember the first time I smoked a DPG Black - I thought it was all strength & no flavor.

Either way, one thing is certain, that tastes change.

 

[njstone]

I don't know, but when I smoked less, I preferred a milder cigar. It wasn't until I began smoking on a more regular basis that I developed (or required) a taste for more full-bodied cigars. When I revist a stick that I used to like, I often find it bland & boring. I also remember the first time I smoked a DPG Black - I thought it was all strength & no flavor.

Either way, one thing is certain, that tastes change.

I wonder what would happen if you took, say, 2 weeks off from smoking and then tried one of those mild cigars again. Maybe if you smoke often, your palate is simply in a constant state of being slightly dulled, making it harder to notice the milder or subtle flavors...?

 

[CWS]

A buddy of mine works for Fuente and hits cigar shops all day long. He smoked Montesinos so he is not over powered. I cant imagine smoking super strong cigars all day. Makes sense.

 

[Wigwam_Motel]

Actually a good topic.

Depending on your body and how much pounding your body can take. I myself can smoke heavy and allot, say 4 full bodies on empty stomach until I start feeling sick. Is it a good idea? NO.

 

[_Lac_Man_]

I'm with AJ, when I give an "old" cigar a shot, I find it pretty underwhelming. Now that I smoke more often, and more in a day, I usually go for more full-bodied smokes to achieve the flavor that satisfies me. On the same token, there are still those milder smokes that have a great flavor that still hits the spot. Many don't like them, but I think the Tabacos Baez has great flavor for a mild cigar.

 

[hdroadglide]

everyone's palate is indeed different. compare it to eating spicy foods. there are some foods that are just hot without much flavor. then there are some that have both. once you are used to it, you tend, i think, to favor that. milder food can be bland. not to say that some blander food cannot be tasty as well. you also build up a tolerance to the spice and can eat more of it as well as increased intensity. then of course you get into what one person may think is spicy may not be at all to another.
guess the take home message is, don't let someone else tell you what you should enjoy?!?!

 

[njstone]

Good points, all. Looks like I owe my friend a "You were right" after all. Thanks for the continuing ed credits, Brothers!

I think my palate is not as developed as I'd like. I do enjoy full bodied cigars a lot, but they tend to stick with me...if not in aftertaste, at least in terms of dulling my palate for a couple days.

But since there are a lot of mild cigars that I do enjoy, it's not a problem, really.

 

[uncelnino]

As a person who works in a shop seven days a week, I tend to smoke 4-6 sticks a day, usually full bodied. Sometimes my palate gets a bit fried and I will try to throw in a milder smoke for a bit of a break or smoke my pipe instead of a cigar for a bit. Also, If I am going to try a new stick i make it my first of the day or after a milder stick and a meal so that my palate is not affected from prior sticks.

 

[njstone]

So what are some full-flavored but mild-bodied cigars that you guys would recommend?

I love the 5 Vegas Gold, and thought the Gurkha Sherpa and Symphony were good. I love the CAO Black and Edge Lite as well (maybe closer to medium bodied, but awesome smokes).

My friend (same as mentioned above) swears by the Perdomo ESV connie, so I got a bunch of those cheap. Smoked my first the other day...I'm hoping I just got a bad stick because I didn't really taste anything in that cigar.

 

[Moro]

Tobacco Baez, Montesino, Ashton Classic, Flor de Oliva Gold, Casa Torano, Cuvee Blanc,... All of them a good, morning cigars.

 

[Soundwave13]

I used to like the Perdomo ESV's a lot - especially because you can get the 'seconds' of those for about $2/ea.

All of Perdomo's stuff is good, IMO.

(If you haven't) Try La Aurora 1945s, The Perdomo Champagne, Lot 23, Gurka Grand Envoy, Punch Rare Corojo or La Gloria Cubana Series R (Same wrapper I believe)... These were all mild-meddium, economic smokes that I preferred at one point or another.

 

[em_burn]

When I revist a stick that I used to like, I often find it bland & boring.

I've had this happen more often than I like. I try a single or a sampler of a cigar and like it enough to buy a box. Then after I get the box, they don't quite seem to have the taste that the first few did. I most recently had that experience with the Oliva Serie V. Some sticks just seemed a bit drier in flavor, less oily. First few were fantastic with flavors that I could never really identify but really enjoyed.

 

[jwintosh]

good post! good info!!

MichiganM nailed it!

regarding the amount of cigars i smoke, there are so many variables that come into play. i've found the biggest has to do with stale/stagnant second hand smoke. if i'm holed up indoors with little ventilation, i'm saturated real quick! outdoors, i do much better!!

 

[MichiganM]

good post! good info!!

MichiganM nailed it!

regarding the amount of cigars i smoke, there are so many variables that come into play. i've found the biggest has to do with stale/stagnant second hand smoke. if i'm holed up indoors with little ventilation, i'm saturated real quick! outdoors, i do much better!!

I'm the SAME way. If I'm inside I can smoke way less.