Taken to task "What cigars come to mind for you when one says:"

[El Presidente]

I received a 'bracing' e-mail stating that the only tobacco flavour is well....tobacco....and that ken and I are full of crap. OK...he may have a point on the latter

He specifically pointed out the following as being so devoid of commonsense that my use of them in descriptions is tantamount to the existence of aliens at area 51.

I have to say I liked his writing style

So...from your experience....slot in the cigars (if any) that over time you associate some elements of in the following categoires.

I will pass on a link of the thread to him

1. Sweet Bell Pepper/Capsicum

2. Lemongrass/Citrus

3. Macchiato

4. Driftwood

[JohnS]

The gentleman's sense of taste may differ to others as discussed in this thread:

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=113392

As evidenced, there are folks on our forum who pick up on nuances in cigars, whereas others don't. I find that those who can pick out subtle differences in cigars tend to do the same with wine.

As for the categorised flavours:

1) Sweet Bell Pepper/Capsicum

Partagas Serie D No.4 (Aged), Partagas Shorts

2) Lemongrass/Citrus

Cohiba Siglo II, Quai d'Orsay Corona

3) Macchiato

Diplomático No.2, Montecristo No.5

4) Driftwood

Sancho Panza Molinos

[LordAnubis]

I can't say i've ever smoked a cigar and pinpointed any of these flavours in particular. What the hell is dirftwood even?

If the emailer is reading, and claims he can only taste tobacco in every cigar he smokes, i would suggest he grab a good example of a Partags D4, a good example of a Bolivar petite corona and a good example of some cheap ass non cuban.

Light both cubans up take a puff of one, and take a puff of the other. When you're at about the half way mark light up the non cuban... you might not be able to pinpoint the particular flavour you are tasting, but you should be able to taste the difference between the three cigars.

[Paul3]

Next question.

[NSXCIGAR]

I can definitely agree on some of those.

Pepper/Capsicum can certainly be found in certain Partagas models to my taste.

Macchiato could be used to describe favors in Montecristo. I've always agreed with some others the flavors in Monte are bean-like--coffee, cocoa and vanilla. But when you combine coffee, cocoa and vanilla you pretty much get a macchiato or capuccino so there you go.

I've also found those bean-like flavors in Cohiba, particularly the Lancero, CE and Esplendido.

The lemongrass/citrus...I think it's fair to say the tangy flavors found in several marcas have a citrus quality. RyJ, Punch and Montecristo have some tangy flavors. RyJ I would classify more in the "fruity" or "cherry" department.

The driftwood I'm not sure I can say I'm familiar with. Maybe because I've never tasted driftwood? I can certainly identify woody flavors, but the driftwood I'm not sure I have a reference.

If by driftwood you mean a type of saltiness then of course Sancho Panza without doubt.

So I don't think you're crazy.

BTW, if all someone tastes is tobacco than why are they smoking cigars? Maybe this guy's sinuses are burnt out. That would mean it's impossible to tell one marca from any other. I guess buy the cheapest?

[GavLew79]

Ah, the poor sap has a retarded palate.

If the only flavour in whisky was whisky then I'd drink the supermarket own brand for £12 a litre. If the only flavour in coffee was coffee I'd be happy with Nescafe. If the only flavour in wine was wine then I'd buy the 3 for £10 crap. Sadly, or maybe happily, it's not so.

Then again, he can smoke budget cigars for the rest of his life happily. Why waste money on the flavourless good stuff? Who is the real winner?

[mi000ke]

I kind of agree with the emailer. I've been smoking cigars for about 45 years and I cannot describe what I taste other than "tobacco." That said, this does not mean that he or I think that all tobacco tastes the same as some of you have inferred. I can easily taste differences in all the cigars I smoke and can tell good quality from bad, CCs from NCs, and the differences among wrappers and fillers from various countries. It just that I would never describe what I taste as driftwood, earth or goose feathers. I also appreciate fine wines but can't describe what I'm tasting. Same for bourbon. In a similar vein, I play sax and saxophonists engage in endless futile debate trying to describe the tone of some famous sax player. Anyway I know what taste in cigars I like even if I can't describe it.

[Boosted]

I don't have the best palate, but...

1. Sweet bell pepper/capsicum

Partagas Serie P 2

2. Lemongrass/citrus

QDO Coronas, some Cohiba, and some Juan Lopez #1

3. Macchiato

Some Diplomaticos and some fresher PL Petit Coronas.

4. Driftwood

Sancho Panza

[GavLew79]

I kind of agree with the emailer. I've been smoking cigars for about 45 years and I cannot describe what I taste other than "tobacco." That said, this does not mean that he or I think that all tobacco tastes the same as some of you have inferred. I can easily taste differences in all the cigars I smoke and can tell good quality from bad, CCs from NCs, and the differences among wrappers and fillers from various countries. It just that I would never describe what I taste as driftwood, earth or goose feathers. I also appreciate fine wines but can't describe what I'm tasting. Same for bourbon. In a similar vein, I play sax and saxophonists engage in endless futile debate trying to describe the tone of some famous sax player. Anyway I know what taste in cigars I like even if I can't describe it.

Not being able to taste and not being able to articulate those tastes into the industry "buzzwords" are two different things. If you known what you like and can tell good from bad, that's half the battle. If you can tell sweetness from bitterness your taste buds are working. If you can tell black pepper from black tea your olfactory bulb is working. But the emailer just tasting "tobacco"...? that's a pity, there's so much more to it. I seriously would just smoke Quintero and leave it there. There's not much point, hence my whisky, wine etc comments.

[Orion21]

This is all so subjective. When I first smoked a Cuban cigar all I got was tobacco flavors. Almost 10 years later some Cuban cigars just taste like good tobacco, but some have sweetness, spice, cream or any numbers of flavors. If the e-mailer can't taste anything other than tobacco then maybe buying premium cigars is not for him. But I vividly remember quite a few cigars where I could identify specific flavors or smells associated with things I have eaten/smelled in the past. Being able to connect these past taste/smell experiences to provide a current reference point is hard or impossible for some people. I count myself as lucky for being able to do it when it presents itself in a cigar with those qualities.

[archosaur]

If the only flavour in whisky was whisky then I'd drink the supermarket own brand for £12 a litre. If the only flavour in coffee was coffee I'd be happy with Nescafe. If the only flavour in wine was wine then I'd buy the 3 for £10 crap. Sadly, or maybe happily, it's not so.

Very well said.

I think this question is really about one's ability (or lack thereof) to pinpoint and articulate differences in flavor. And I would suggest that it goes further than just one's olfactory and gustatory senses - a little bit of imagination is required as well.

I'll be having driftwood for lunch today just to confirm my Sancho Panza's taste right

[pbibby]

Every time I have had a Party Short I say to myself this tastes like biting into a perfect Red Bell Pepper. So yeah. This guy is full of......... Well never mind.

[westg]

1 898 partagas

2 cohiba coronas Especiales lemon grass citrus all day long

3 Monte petit edmundo

4 Le hoyo du Dauphin with some almond

I have to say ...you once did a review on SLR serie A and mentioned green apple....I had a chuckle ...purchased a 50 cab from the PCC vintage program , lit my first one and a green apple came from nowhere and hit me in the face ...seriously though I was taken back ...it really did give a big hit of green apple ..hats off to you for that one ...

[Jeremy Festa]

Generally speaking, about the specific flavour profiles you mentioned, I think anyone who's anyone should 'generally' agree with the following generalisations:-

1. Sweet Bell Pepper/Capsicum

Many Partagas, numerous Punch, and some Cuaba

2. Lemongrass/Citrus

Cohiba, Diplomaticos, La Gloria Cubana and some El Rey Del Mundo

3. Macchiato

Montecristo, Hoyo de Monterrey, and some Vegas Robaina & San Cristobal

4. Driftwood

Sancho Panza and sometimes Quai d'Orsay & Romeo y Julieta

I don't believe it is overly subjective. I do believe there is a great deal of suggestibility, like in West's account above. Someone says green apple and you actively search for it. Mostly, in the plethora of favours a quality cigar has the ability to produce, you can find what you are looking for. Sometimes it smacks you right in the face. Like recent Punch Punch. Lasz said to me "it's sour cream!" and I was like "Holy **** you're right!" And then he said "and chives! It's sour cream and chives!" And my head nearly exploded. It was so spot on.

I love cigars.

[wabashcr]

I do believe there is a great deal of suggestibility, like in West's account above. Someone says green apple and you actively search for it. Mostly, in the plethora of favours a quality cigar has the ability to produce, you can find what you are looking for. Sometimes it smacks you right in the face. Like recent Punch Punch. Lasz said to me "it's sour cream!" and I was like "Holy **** you're right!" And then he said "and chives! It's sour cream and chives!" And my head nearly exploded. It was so spot on.

I love cigars.

This is huge for me. If I read a review or talk to someone about a cigar, I can almost always taste flavor notes I've been fed. I know it's the power of suggestion, and my brain is tricking me. I'd be hard pressed to come up with many of those notes on my own. I like to try a cigar without that information, to see what I think about it. But then I'll read the reviews and try again, and it's usually a much different experience. I know it's got nothing to do with my palate, just suggestibility.

I can certainly taste differences, even nuances in different cigars. But my palate tends to operate on a much more general level. I can taste sweet, savory, creamy, salty, bitter, etc. I can sometimes pick out fruitiness, vegetation, different peppers, cocoa/chocolate, coffee, and a few others. But the specifics I see in some of the more detailed reviews? Not for my palate.

[busdriver]

The dude is missing the point of this hobby which is so well represented in this forum: If you are enjoying it, more power to you and to hell with those who would try to diminish that!

[RijkdeGooier]

Personally, I like to see what general flavors I can discerne as it makes me pay more attention to my cigars.

One of my very good flying cigar friends just uses good or no-good.

And that is fine as well.

In the end just enjoy your smokes.

[ThatAlfonso]

Ah, the poor sap has a retarded palate.

If the only flavour in whisky was whisky then I'd drink the supermarket own brand for £12 a litre. If the only flavour in coffee was coffee I'd be happy with Nescafe. If the only flavour in wine was wine then I'd buy the 3 for £10 crap. Sadly, or maybe happily, it's not so.

Then again, he can smoke budget cigars for the rest of his life happily. Why waste money on the flavourless good stuff? Who is the real winner?

For that matter, skip the wine and throw some vodka in grape juice...

[PigFish]

... you lost me at Area 51. It is where Hellboy lives! Its real. I have seen it on video...! You can even smoke cigars in there. Where do you think CC's go when they are 'disposed of?'

HELLBOY GETS THEM!

...carry on!

-Piggy

[mk05]

1. Sweet Bell Pepper/Capsicum

Vintage small format Partagas

2. Lemongrass/Citrus

Bolivar, SLR

3. Macchiato

Mocha/coffee is the theme of Montecristo

4. Driftwood

What is that? I had to look it up, but woody vanilla is the last thing that comes into mind. More like mildewy, moldy, rotting cellulose and other nasty things. But Vanilla is Cohiba, sandalwood would be vintage Partagas, large format.

[JohnInCleveland]

I enjoy cigars but do not have an evolved enough palatte to discern the subtle nuances that many of you do. I pick up on notes, but there is a happy medium in there where you enjoy subtle nuances and develop preferences and enjoyment pleasure without being able to review them like some of the more experienced people on here.

I like that a lot of you are better at explaining your experience than I am, that's the real reason I go on here to begin with. Besides the really good cigars.

[msm1771]

I stopped caring enough to try and differentiate/identify certain flavors or nuances. I like the cigar or I don't. I can pick up sweet,bitter,citrus,leather,wood,

Chocolate,milk chocolate or espresso. These are pretty easy for me to pick up as opposed to flavors like lemongrass,driftwood etc. 99% of cigars taste like a peppered log or a spicy shoe. Thankfully cuban cigars tend to be more dessert like imho. I would rather taste milk chocolate cocoa than spicey leather espresso all the damn time aka all Nicaraguan cigars to me.

Sent from my 86" White Testarossa

[ThatAlfonso]

I stopped caring enough to try and differentiate/identify certain flavors or nuances. I like the cigar or I don't. I can pick up sweet,bitter,citrus,leather,wood,

Chocolate,milk chocolate or espresso. These are pretty easy for me to pick up as opposed to flavors like lemongrass,driftwood etc. 99% of cigars taste like a peppered log or a spicy shoe. Thankfully cuban cigars tend to be more dessert like imho. I would rather taste milk chocolate cocoa than spicey leather espresso all the damn time aka all Nicaraguan cigars to me.

Sent from my 86" White Testarossa

I'm more in this camp. My palette has three flavors: Good, Bad, and Maduro.

[ThatAlfonso]

*palate

I also don't spell good.

[leftimatic]

I don't or have not yet been able to pinpoint all the flavours you speak of, but the second I read driftwood I thought Sancho Panza through and through.

One flavour I get that I love and is not mentioned is leather and my first true CC love Punch Punch always delivers. And perfume in the HDM Epicure (yuck), and a wonderfully mellow straw grassy taste from Trinidads.

I can certainly taste differences in most just can't place the flavours I get from them. I think that is the fault that don't know what the hell half the things on the flavour wheel are let alone tasted them anywhere before in my life.