The Cigar Experience in Three Dimensions

[MontrealRon]

Perhaps when we speak of the "strength" of a cigar,

we are not always refering to the same thing.

If I may use a wine analogy,

the strength of a wine is measured in its degree of alcohol.

Its depth is based of the quantity and quality of its tannins,

and whether they are still bound (in youth), or resolved.

It's breadth is its acidity level, and the balance betweem the malic, lactic, and tartaric acids.

This can be imagined as being three axes,

and the many elements of the wine's flavour as being in various positions

along these axes, or as positions relative to these axes.

Now that I've totally lost everyone, including myself,

let's see if we can apply this analogy to the world of Cuban cigars.

In my fantasy world, the "strength" of a cigar is a function of its nicotine content,

and of the nicotine that has been altered by fermentation and oxydation -

both of which continue during the aging process.

We can view this axis as "in and out" or "forward and backward".

Along this axis we find basis of the many spicy and peppery flavours.

The "up and down" axis is the body, or depth.

This is largely a function of the tannins.

Here we find the bean flavours - coffee, cocoa, vanilla, etc.

The "left to right" is the acidity.

Here we can place the fruity flavours - citrus, berries, cherry.

These many flavours, though, would best be seen as having aspects af all three axes,

with their own spatial positions in this three-dimentional model.

So, when we say "This as a strong cigar", what do we really mean?

Are we saying it is high in nicotine, or perhaps very tannic?

Or do we simply mean that it gives an impression of power and substance?

Why do we say that many cigars tend to be strong in youth, mellowing with age,

while others seem to get "stronger" with extended aging?

If we say "I prefer strong cigars" what do we really mean??

(Does any of this make sense at all, or have I finally gone off the deep end?)

[Colt45]

(Does any of this make sense at all, or have I finally gone off the deep end?)

Yes

We've had discussions on the topic (sorry I can't think of the threads). I guess for me strength is the overall sense of power, perhaps

combined with that feeling in the belly, though not necessarily the feeling of queasiness pertaining to nicotine.

I'm also not sure that I completely agree that depth and body are strictly a function of tannin. I've had many cigars that while perhaps

showing tannin as a structural element, or a finish characteristic, were very smooth overall, while showing great depth and body.

[cigarros]

My 5 cents. Taste - concept subjective. When we speak that the cigar has a strength we speak about sensations from a smoke.

Sensations give smoke components. As far as I know in cigar smoke is more than 4000 chemical compounds. Also as well as in wine in a smoke there are tannins and lignins. Their quantity and quality cause certain flavouring sensations. I think more their quantity in cigar - more powerfully taste.

Their presence speaks that the cigar is more comprehensible to me. But aging process makes cigar better, it doing more "round" taste.