What is "cuban-esque"?

[terrantheman]

I also would like to see no moki tricks for whoever does this.
IE:
No using aged Ncs against newer CCs
No using super premium NCs vs machine made/lower quality habanos.
I know the statement is; can you define the nuances of the habano. But those few things can be a game changer.

Well based on these guidelines many could score 100%:smokingco But I thought you were saying that you could pick out the "cubanesque" vs the non so in which case it shouldn't matter whether or what is used?:thumbsup:

 

[MU Mike]

I also would like to see no moki tricks for whoever does this.
IE:
No using aged Ncs against newer CCs
No using super premium NCs vs machine made/lower quality habanos.
I know the statement is; can you define the nuances of the habano. But those few things can be a game changer.

This is the part I disagree with. If someone claims they can identify a cuban cigar based on taste, then it shouldn't matter. Andrew stated it much better, but the idea was that if you claim to love the taste of cigars from a particular country, you should be able to pick out that taste easily, right? If not, then there isn't a unique "cuban twang" that people refer to.

 

[orangedog]

I have seen these before and if my memory serves me correct I have only seen one person(many years of smoking cuban cigars) get even close and it was like only 60 or 70% accurate. Good luck guys and just remember it's a great learning experience but when those bands are removed and the heads snipped off it's a different ball game.

Well now I sound like an arrogant sh!t with my 95% comment.... :sadstare::sadpace:

This is the part I disagree with. If someone claims they can identify a cuban cigar based on taste, then it shouldn't matter. Andrew stated it much better, but the idea was that if you claim to love the taste of cigars from a particular country, you should be able to pick out that taste easily, right? If not, then there isn't a unique "cuban twang" that people refer to.

A very well put point. I would say, though, than 95% (there I go again) of cigar enthusiasts recognize that every type of tobacco has something to offer, and even though I pointed out my general rules of thumb, they are WAY OVER GENERALIZED. It is the other 5% that like the taste of their own shoe.

 

[Jfire]

Then tell Kb he is aging all his NCs for the wrong reasons!!!!

 

[Jfire]

This is the part I disagree with. If someone claims they can identify a cuban cigar based on taste, then it shouldn't matter. Andrew stated it much better, but the idea was that if you claim to love the taste of cigars from a particular country, you should be able to pick out that taste easily, right? If not, then there isn't a unique "cuban twang" that people refer to.

I also like strip clubs but don't go to the silver slipper.....
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhG1oC0bpa8&feature=youtube_gdata_player"]Party time - YouTube[/ame]

 

[MU Mike]

If you're saying there's a difference between strip clubs, no sh!t. :laugh:

But that doesn't address the point. Are you saying you can't tell the difference between the two? Don't tell Brenda!

 

[Jfire]

No I'm saying most average smokers (even the average board smoker) has access to fairly newer NCs AND CCs. Buy choosing to smoke one over the other nc/cc probably is based on the resting periods that they currently have. By sending someone a premium, aged nc then throwing in a sub par habanos is not fair to the tester. Now if you want to send me one of those Casa magnas that CA just rated so highly and maybe a punch, Ra or Party I think we're talking!!!!
Edit:
I guess what I'm trying to say is I've become to realize is that I love Nica, hond and Dom tobacco. However if I want something strong and multi stages(less balanced) I will stick with NCs. If I want something more balanced and less harsh overall on my palate I'll smoke a fairly aged NC or any decent CC.
Late reply as well that was still in my phone.....

 

[MU Mike]

By sending someone a premium, aged nc then throwing in a sub par habanos is not fair to the tester.

We will agree to disagree, because the whole test is premised upon someone saying they can definitively detect a cuban cigar by taste alone (i.e., cuban twang). Whether it's aged or not, or "sub-par" in someone's mind, is irrelevant.

 

[strife]

To me they taste like dessert. Fruity and creamy with little or no after taste. I would also have agree that more times than not I will pick out the CC. I'll go one further and venture to say that I'd pick out the Nicaraguan and Honduran as well. Dominicans are the most difficult for me to distinguish from others.

 

[orangedog]

We will agree to disagree, because the whole test is premised upon someone saying they can definitively detect a cuban cigar by taste alone (i.e., cuban twang). Whether it's aged or not, or "sub-par" in someone's mind, is irrelevant.

eh... as you move further down the quality line, I think all lines slowly approach dirt.

Think about it like this... if you take some bundle sticks with Nic tobacco, how do those compare to some of the marquee Nic names? If you can't pick a subpar stick out, that doesn't necessarily mean you like or don't like a certain region of tobacco, it just means you don't like dirt.

I agree with the premise that if you can tell, you can tell - but I could understand if the line got a bit fuzzier the further down the quality line you go. They become less distinguishable because they are all bad at that point. Or maybe not.

 

[MU Mike]

Think about it like this... if you take some bundle sticks with Nic tobacco, how do those compare to some of the marquee Nic names? If you can't pick a subpar stick out

If you can't pick a subpar stick out, then why buy premium cigars? If you can't taste the difference then you're just buying the band.

And the test would not be to pick out subpar cigars, it would be to pick out the cigar from a certain region.

 

[MU Mike]

By the way, not trying to be argumentative. I've just always been intrigued by this concept and have found the tests to be fun and informative.

 

[Skitalets]

If you can't pick a subpar stick out, then why buy premium cigars? If you can't taste the difference then you're just buying the band.

And the test would not be to pick out subpar cigars, it would be to pick out the cigar from a certain region.

I think his point is the subpar sticks do not taste as distinctively Nicaraguan or Cuban or Dominican as the premiums from each country do. They don't "showcase" the unique flavors as well.

I dunno if I agree with this or not, as LFdC PCs still have a Cuban "twang" to me. I would say that not ALL Cuban cigars have that distinctive twang, though. There are some CCs (and Dominicans, and Nicas) that do not scream distinctively where they are from based on tasted. So introducing cigars that don't have the "twang" in them because of how they were blended makes the exercise harder.

 

[orangedog]

If you can't pick a subpar stick out, then why buy premium cigars? If you can't taste the difference then you're just buying the band.

And the test would not be to pick out subpar cigars, it would be to pick out the cigar from a certain region.

My mistake... the lack of clarity is caused by my trying to work and banter at the same time.

What I was trying to say was:

1. At the premium end of the spectrum, it is easier to tell them apart.
2. At the subpar end of the spectrum, they all taste like dirt and therefore it is more difficult to tell them apart.
3. Comparing a premium to a subpar would be the same as comparing a cigar whose origins can be determined to dirt.

In any event, I suspect that the more subpar you go, the more dirt-like the stick becomes and the less distinguishable it becomes. Probably still distinguishable, but its not like comparing a Cohiba to a Pepin to a Fuente.

 

[orangedog]

By the way, not trying to be argumentative. I've just always been intrigued by this concept and have found the tests to be fun and informative.

Hey, its not like I'm trying to get extra points on the spread or anything....

:stretchgr

 

[MU Mike]

Funny!

 

[smokemifugotem]

Wouldn't mind I already know the trap. Just no shitty Fuentes!!!!!

LMFAO!!!! But on a serious note...i agree with Jfire on this. Love to retrohale a nice CC...but a little too much for me with NCs. And next day you don't feel smokey with good CC's....just my .02.

 

[MU Mike]

I like where this is heading. :jitb:

 

[Herfin' Harg]

Breaking cigars into Nic, Dom, and Cuban, I'm about 95%+ confident that I could pick them out. There is a distinct taste, and to a large degree, feel that is associated with each.

Nic sticks are often, but not always, dirtier and rougher in mouthfeel and wrapper, more pepper on the palate and general strength of tobacco. I've found them to run warmer and a bit more harshly than Dominicans or Cubans.

Dominicans are often smoother, creamy, nuanced with espresso and cocoa, sometimes nut overtones. They strike me as slightly more balanced and less likely to be harsh, when compared to Nics. They are also often very woody.

Cubans are defined by the unique taste of their tobacco, as well as, often at least, a more pronounced depth of flavors, similar to how Nic sticks are with pepper. Rarely a rough and dirty mouthfeel or wrapper. Also, when stored properly and sometimes with age, I've found that the flavors meld/mesh/settle/marry better than others, in that you get many of the flavors at once, well balance, instead of changing every 1/3rd. There may be less progression (although less true in longer vitolas), but more depth and balance.

Save the 95% part, I feel much the same as Matt...

Though it's certainly not true in the case of every CC, I think there's a definable CC profile (even if the definition varies from individual to individual) sufficient for it to be distinguished from other regions.

For me, it manifests in the perception of more predominant vegetal characteristics than I get from other regions. I get notes of wet/dry hay, grass, tea and sweeter woods (oak, cherry) much more frequently out of CCs. Also, they're typically the only time I ever get grain, bread, or toast notes.

For me, there's Dominican cigars, and then there's LFD and Fuente. Maybe it's just that I've smoked a lot of each and it's easier for me to detect their nuances vs. a baseline, but each of these tends to have a signature profile, at least among their core lines. I never got the "floral" thing that folks talk about with Doms, but I'm right there with Matt on creamy, nutty and smoother. Dom flavor doesn't tend to linger on my palate as long as I get with Nics of similar body and strength. Then you've got stuff like Aurora preferidos, and good luck with picking out the provenance of any of that line!

Like most, I think of Nics as being heavy in the pepper, earth, and leather, so no surprises there. I've learned that I also think/guess Nic a lot more often than I should - think I've associated San Andreas Maduro and Conn Broadleaf with Nics to a fault.

Honduran is the one that really gets me, though... Don't smoke a lot of 'em, so I don't know it as well. If something were to stump me with some je ne sais quoi (and especially if I thought it sucked), I'd probably guess Honduran.

 

[MU Mike]

but I definitely know it when I smoke it.

for me, it is the texture every time. whether plugged or not, aged or not, the FEEL of the smoke is just singular.

I'll be your huckleberry if your offering........

There is a distinct taste
Cubans are defined by the unique taste of their tobacco, as well as, often at least, a more pronounced depth of flavors

To me they taste like dessert. Fruity and creamy with little or no after taste. I would also have agree that more times than not I will pick out the CC. I'll go one further and venture to say that I'd pick out the Nicaraguan and Honduran as well.

I think there's a definable CC profile (even if the definition varies from individual to individual) sufficient for it to be distinguished from other regions.

So far, so good....