I agree with you guys. I've been smoking about 4 years but I put a lot of energy into cigars and soak up everything cigar related I can get my hands on. I think when you can pick out a new cigar you think you may like based on the type of tobacco thats in it your on your way to being an experienced smoker.It took me a couple years to learn enough to know enough to feel like I understood what was going on. Trying different cigars and vitolas is important as is learning how to retrohale.
I like that, I wouldn't say I am the most educated person in certain cigar aspects but I have smoked a lot of different sticks. I could probably consider myself a cigar snob, educated or not I know what I like And what I don't.I was gifted a Padron 80th from Twenty5 after about a year of smoking most of the stuff you buy from places like CI. That one cigar changed everything for me. It was at that point my taste in cigars changed. I have tried alot of cigars in the 4 years I've been smoking (everyday) and for me there is only a handfull of cigars I truely like. I would have to say, that at that point, you can call yourself a cigar snob.
Everytime I think that I have passed a "corner" and moved up a level in my mind I meet people like Willy, Jose, and John who make me feel like a fetus in the world of tobacco and cigars. Maybe one day Ill be able to impart even an touch of wisdom to another smoker... but Im pretty sure ill spend the rest of my smoking days soaking up the knowledge of others.... and that is totally fine by me :computer:George Burns smoked between 10 and 15 cigars a day for 70 years. When I hit 70 years, maybe then.
I can't detect many of the flavors in reviews either as I seem to have the palate of an iguana. However, if I use a good review as a reference while smoking, things tend to come together. Kockroach does some great reviews that are to-the-point and helpful. Others do excellent reviews as well. Gotta love the botl crew.I haven't and don't think I ever will.
My palate can't distinguish the nuances that the reviewers can isolate. Mine is love it, rest it and try again or time for the compost heap.