ethernomad Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 I have noticed that cigars are more enjoyable if I eat a handful of roasted pecans right before lighting up. Does anyone else have a pre-light drink or treat that they think helps to bring out the flavors in cigars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TypicalSituation Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Water. I always crush a ton of water before lighting up. Helps clear the palate for me and not leave behind anything that will influence the flavors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgravito Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Coffee beans. I like to chew some espresso roast coffee beans. I feel like it helps neutralize my palate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Water. I always crush a ton of water before lighting up. Helps clear the palate for me and not leave behind anything that will influence the flavors How do you crush a ton of water? Water is incompressible! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteMamba Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 I don't do anything particularly but I probably should. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeedubbya Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Seems silly maybe but I like crisp apple juice or cider in the absence of alcohol In its many forms. I feel it helps liven up my tastes some? I often wonder why? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David88 Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 I think it depends what i am smoking. Usually just some water. But i have found a cup of coffee will really bring out the flavour in some cigars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymond5737 Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 A dark rum and coke preferably Meyers rum. Or a shot of Zaya my rum of preference. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaDisco Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 How do you crush a ton of water? Water is incompressible! I believe he freezes it first? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaDisco Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 What would be interesting is to find flavors that cancel out the huge tobacco backbone that all the other flavors come on. I think high alcohol content (so spirits rather than wine) does this to some degree. A cask strength bourbon, whiskey or vodka cocktail really seems to help me experience the subtle flavors in a cigar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CigarSeeker Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Water and some more water .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shlomo Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Nothing. There is nothing worse than overthinking a cigar. Just sit and smoke. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilsner14 Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 As much booze as humanly possible. Hydration is overrated. I dry box myself........so to speak. Scotch prior to...and in the process of smoking. Cheers. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwr0201 Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Good strong smooth coffee with water. Sometimes a nice low IBU porter or stout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdnstogie Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 I enjoy eating nuts before/during my smokes Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planetary Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Water before. Either water, coffee, or rum during. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrGlass Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 I remember hearing that sparkling water was ideal for cleansing the palate. I've tried it a couple of times, but couldn't really say how much of a difference it made. Most of the time I don't bother with anything to prepare for the cigar, short of pouring a glass of whatever I feel like drinking with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narhcoc Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 The smoking experience is night and day difference for me with some fresh lemon squeezed in water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusguy Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Nothing. There is nothing worse than overthinking a cigar. Just sit and smoke. This. There is a flood of posts and topics lately of over-analyzing and over-thinking everything related to cigar smoking. I can't wait for the next thread "What do you wear to smoke" 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaDisco Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 This. There is a flood of posts and topics lately of over-analyzing and over-thinking everything related to cigar smoking. I can't wait for the next thread "What do you wear to smoke" You . . . wear something when you smoke? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabashcr Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 I don't do anything to prepare my palate, other than maybe a little extra water if I've just eaten a spicy meal. I typically just light up. I gave up alcohol long ago, but I do enjoy a sugary soda (Sprite, root beer, Dr Pepper) with a cigar from time to time. It's actually the only time I'll drink soda. I find the carbonation tends to have a bit of a cleansing effect on the palate. The sweetness and spices of the drink can often bring out flavors in the cigar. Other times I'm sure the drink masks flavors. I don't put too much thought into it to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethernomad Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Cigar smoking for me is a time of reflection; an hour or two where I am left alone with my thoughts. I think about a great many things during these times. And sometimes I turn my thoughts toward the cigar itself. As I originally posted, a handful of pecans beforehand helps me enjoy my cigars more. And others have chimed in with similar tricks. I respect the opinions of others, but I didn't find the overthinking comments helpful. Just like others, I have an opinion of my own. Personally, I feel that underthinking is overrated. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irratebass Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 I don't do anything to prepare the palate, but when pairing I like apple/grape juice (like someone else mentioned), rum, bourbon, scotch or beer, and sometimes a root beer or diet Dr. Pepper. I have also been told by a couple of my regular customers at the cigar shop I work at that a shot of Vodka will cleanse your palate....I have not tried this yet, but I plan on it.......can anyone confirm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superconductor71 Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 I really don't do anything to "cleanse" or prepare my palate....but I have found what seems to pair well with smoking: I'll usually have a small bag of cashews that i'll munch on a bit, with some lipton unsweetened pure leaf iced tea and/or a cup of coffee. Both tend to bring out good flavors....at least for me. Then I break out the bourbon....usually Woodford Reserve, as i've found it pairs very well with many cubans that I smoke. So does Larceny. I prefer Blantons as my go to bourbon as a whole, but sometimes I find it a bit too sweet and smooth to pair well with cubans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoker Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 I find that a hot meal or hot drink helps to open things up a bit right before smoking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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