Your most memorable / surprising flavor notes?

[Habanoschris]

I was wondering about the most distinct or unusual flavors people have experienced from their cigars. Here's 3 that come to mind...

1) 2010 Illusione MJ12 - there was some beer involved that night but I could swear on a stack of bibles there was a piece of milk chocolate slowly melting in my mouth as I smoked this cigar 

2) 2018 JL No. 1 - before this cigar I thought "Graham Cracker" was something the editors of Cigar Aficionado had concocted, but this cigar made me a believer 

3) 2016? RAAS - every cigar in the box blasted stewed fruit / sweet floral and salt , I do remember laughing at how good & full flavor they were ...  wish they were all this good. 🤣😚💨

[mikejh]

Camacho Corojo Maduro - got bbq pulled pork, have had a few of them and only got that once.

[HenryMartin]

4 hours ago, Habanoschris said:

1)2010 Illusione MJ12 - there was some beer involved that night but I could swear on a stack of bibles there was a piece of milk chocolate slowly melting in my mouth as I smoked this cigar 

One of the best things about nicaraguans is their irreplaceable chocolate flavours that can surface now and again.

4 hours ago, Habanoschris said:

3) 2016? RAAS - every cigar in the box blasted stewed fruit / sweet floral and salt , I do remember laughing at how good & full flavor they were ...  wish they were all this good 🤣😚💨

Amazing how RASS always deliver a few special cigars in every box, the kind that make you pause and appreciate the moment. 

After several years I think everyone establish a kind of familiarity from what to expect by the pre-lit aroma of the cigar and then followed by the cold draw for further insight. It's like we begin to draw pre-conceptions of how the cigar profile would be before even lighting it, so its always nice to be surprised of what came to be or what we didn’t come to expect. The first time I had a PLPC was one of those times, I was surprised by the caramel in particular because its a note I have never experienced in any Cuban before. I didn’t think it could sing the way it did and although less surprising now, still relish to this day. I like to compare RASS with PLPC, they are both magnificent Cubans punching a similar weight. Still puzzled at times, just how can two cigars sharing the same origin be able to consistently deliver distinctive characteristics purely by differing blends. How can vuelta abajo produce flavours so diverse. I rotate between these two daily and enjoy contrasting their flavours.   

[Habanoschris]

2 hours ago, HenryMartin said:

It's like we begin to draw pre-conceptions of how the cigar profile would be before even lighting it, so its always nice to be surprised of what came to be or what we didn’t come to expect. The first time I had a PLPC was one of those times,

Its a good point you make, I agree - the beauty is going along for an unexpected ride whichever way a cigar decides to take you. And I have had a few PLPC that were pure caramel myself, could have easily made this list - just wonderful. 

[Puros Y Vino]

Had some good ones over the years.

• Monte 4 - blueberries
• Cohiba Piramide EL 2006 - sauteed mushrooms
• Ramon Allones Club Allones EL 2015 - strawberry fizz.
• 1943 W.M. Panatela - Lemon zest.
• 1935 Peter Schuyler Perfecto - Dark cherry.
• 2005 ERDM Choix Supreme - Toasted marshmallow. (added this in as I just saw someone else mention it).

On many CC's, I've got anise, starfruit, peanut oil.

[Chibearsv]

Bolivar Libertador - dried apricots

Hoyo Escogidos - Rolo candy - milk chocolate and caramel

RyJ LE Romeo Deluxe - Raisin Bran

 

[Habanoschris]

3 hours ago, mikejh said:

Camacho Corojo Maduro - got bbq pulled pork, have had a few of them and only got that once.

Interesting one 👌

[JohnS]

I've had a few. The one that comes immediately to mind is the strawberries and cream I got in some aged La Flor de Cano Grandiosos and youthful (at the time) Diplomaticos Nortenos.

[Ryan]

Green apple from a H. Upmann Mag 48.

[Cigarsmoker81]

I’m not as good as others in this forum to distinguish different flavors but I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up apple flavor in a NC cigar (can’t remember which tbh).

[Chibearsv]

4 hours ago, mikejh said:

Camacho Corojo Maduro - got bbq pulled pork, have had a few of them and only got that once.

What'd you have for lunch that day? 😁

[MrFolgers]

Ramon Allones Private Stock 230 - about half way through a sweet maple syrup note just came out of no where. Was incredible. 

[Mike Mecklenburg]

Salted Cashews in a Hoyo de Monterrey - Le Hoyo de Rio Seco (ESL) July 2019

[Bri Fi]

There have only been two cigars that have kicked my in my mouth with flavor. I’ve always had to search for flavors, but not these two. 
 

1) HdM Epi 2 OBM APR 17. Roasted peanuts and cream. Very sweet.  99 points 
2) Monte Edmundo UTO JUN 20. Fudge Fudge Fudge. 98 points. I know Montecristo has a reputation of having chocolate, but this is the only one I’ve ever gotten that tasted like See’s candy fudge. I almost ate the nub with milk it was so good. 

I don’t have pics of the HDM but here’s pics from 2021 of the Monte.

[BrightonCorgi]

Incense and marshmallows in a Fonseca No. 1. Totally unique profile in the Habanos line up. 

[Ford2112]

Old granny leather teddy

[Sudzdaddy]

8 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

Old granny leather teddy

🤔

[BlueWS]

Ford's already thinking what I was thinking. I'm going in the opposite direction on something I hated. OpusX was a mouthful of pasty Brazilian nut and Donna Karan shoe leather. Bleck 🤮

[Lucas Buck]

La Escepcion Selectos Finos - Sweet Cinnamon Bomb

‘98 PLPC Cab - Salted Caramel Bomb (my only one and almost cried after my last puff)

’98 LFdC Coronas - Rose Water Bomb

[unaslob]

I swear the foot was dipped in apple pie. Cinnamon and apples. Delicious, overshadowed by two tobacco marbles making it a difficult smoke. 

[Redgoldband]

A PSP2 I had late September 2024. Got a prominent mild, sweet peanut butter note that lasted nearly the entirety of the stick. Been chasing that note ever since.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Meklown]

Roast pork with soy sauce from a Hoyo Grand Epicure.

Truffle from a RA Club Allones.

[Vetteman]

Some years ago, early 2000s, I went to a local restaurant/microbrewery/bar. You could still smoke in places then. I don’t remember what year or box code the RASS was, but it had to be early 2000s. It was an EMS box I had ordered from England. It was snowing lightly and I remember a college football game was on TV. I can’t describe the flavors, but there were a variety of them and they were wonderful. I always refer to that cigar as the LSD trip of cigars. Never had another cigar like it.

[bmac]

Always enjoy gingerbread notes.

[zeedubbya]

My surprise is when I get a sweetness which is more like a spritz of sugar to the mouth. Like someone took simple syrup and atomized it in your mouth. It’s a rare thing to find, and it seems to be in aged Bolivar more than any other cigars. It’s like it’s only just activating the receptors slightly for that taste. Quite an experience.  
 

Also, I’m usually pleasantly surprised when genuine almond is detectable in a cigar. Marzipan-like taste. I’ve always found a handful of (raw) almonds tastes like some sort of wood. So when the distinct taste of almond comes through it’s awesome. I know they say cyanide smells like almonds though so maybe. Hmmm… 🤔