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Posted

It kind of goes without saying, a poorly burning cigar is not going to produce great flavor... once in a while that theory is proven false, but speaking in general it's true. I've been noting this more and more when I smoke and I would suggest others do too... it's really remarkable. Yesterday I smoked a SRL Regios, although it could have been any cigar for this example. The cigar started out pretty normal but soon went into a lopsided burn with a reverse cone. The usually 2 - 3 combustion chambers were not formed correctly, and the center leaf was not placed correctly either to ensure slow burn in the middle. Flavor was very dusty, nearly stinky socks like too. Not good.... it went out. I knocked the ash off and the last half was sort of an "AH HA" moment. Nice outward cone, draw required a slight tug, I could look down the ash and see 3 combustion chambers surrounding the ligero. All the stars are aligned and flavors kick into gear. Finger licking good.

I've had plenty of cigars which require multiple relights, burn fixes, and the like which simple do not do themselves justice. If it wan't my hard earned money spent on them, I'd toss more. Whenever I've been asked about this, my stance has always been... "If its not burning right it's not smoking right" And isn't that the truth.

Again, I'm not trying to single out the SLR here LOL just saying whether its a Boli, Cohiba, VR... check to see how the burn (construction) aligns with the flavor. Or think of it this way, how many perfectly constructed cigars taste dusty, ashy-trayish, windy, poop rockets. Less than I can say tasted good with a bad burn. This is hardly a scientific claim, just something I've been paying attention to for a bit. Aging helps, but I have a box of 2006 Monte 2 which... if it's rolled crappy... no time is going to fix that mess. Thanks for reading :cigar:

Posted

I think it definitely makes sense. Whenever I have a cigar that's canoeing and I'm getting smoke from only half the cigar, it tastes like crap. How a cigar burns definitely plays a huge factor in deciding if the cigar is "good" or bad for me. I would say taste is 50% and how it burns is another 50%. I feel so satisfied after having a perfectly burning cigar but a plugged or bad burning cigar puts me in a worse mood than I was in before I started smoking.

Posted

I can't recall one cigar that had poor construction which tasted decent. Wind tunnels seem to equate to harsh smokes and tight cigars have been muted duds.

I have had odd burning cigars that have been decent, but the visual is a let down and takes away from some of the experience...

Posted

If I had the choice I'd take too tight every time compared to too loose. Loose for me = harsh and hot. Tight can sometimes concentrate the flavours. most cigars that i can remember as being too tight were still enjoyable, can't really think of one that was too loose which I enjoyed.

It makes me wonder what some NCs would taste like if they didn't draw like straws. :thumbsup:

Posted

Amazing how much construction can influence the flavor of a cigar. If bad construction can ruin the flavors of the leaf how much would you say proper construction enhances flavors? Perhaps "enhances" is not the right word, instead maybe "allows the flavors to properly mix". I recall several interviews with Jonathan Drew in which he emphasizes exactly how important draw is. So much so that several times he refers to the draw as "everything". Not to say I have smoked every cigar out there, but I can say that I have never had a DE cigar that did not have an excellent draw or that I did not thoroughly enjoy. (Disclaimer: not meant to be a shameless plug for DE...should I say "plug" when talking about draw? No pun intended. :lookaround: )

Cheers

Posted

If I had the choice I'd take too tight every time compared to too loose. Loose for me = harsh and hot. Tight can sometimes concentrate the flavours. most cigars that i can remember as being too tight were still enjoyable, can't really think of one that was too loose which I enjoyed.

It makes me wonder what some NCs would taste like if they didn't draw like straws. :thumbsup:

Couldn't agree more. Spot on in my experience as well.

Posted

Just sat down and tried a NC to just stretch my cottage supply of CC's for August. One pull and the thing was like sucking on a tube sock.

Into the fireplace it went.

R&J Cazzie to the rescue PTL

Posted

If I had the choice I'd take too tight every time compared to too loose. Loose for me = harsh and hot. Tight can sometimes concentrate the flavours. most cigars that i can remember as being too tight were still enjoyable, can't really think of one that was too loose which I enjoyed.

It makes me wonder what some NCs would taste like if they didn't draw like straws. :thumbsup:

I guess I'm the minority here but I prefer too loose to too tight, at least some semblance of satisfaction can be derived if I regulate the draw on a loose stick. I can't do that on a stick that is too tight. Too tight, no flavor, no smoke = no enjoyment in the firepit it goes. I find that tight draws taste terrible to boot.

I rarely have canoeing issues but I usually hit it with the torch if it's slightly off and go on my merry way. Unless the cigar is just improperly constructed then you are just screwed period.

Posted

Good discussion here. I wanted to add this thought on the Behike.

I remember when Rob met with Ramses, and Ramses described the Behike construction as very mechanical.... one leaf... two leaf... three leaf... roll... very slow work producing excellent construction throughout the line. Even if the tobacco was REALLY that much better than the rest used in other cigars, without near perfect construction it wouldn't taste right. I really don't think the unique flavor comes from any new tobacco.... I mean the same leaves must be used in other cigars... maybe its just the fact they are rolled to perfection which sets them apart. More than the tobacco itself.... medio tiempo aside.

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