Is there a "moment"?

[CATom]

Let me start by saying I'm a fairly new cigar smoker, around 8 months. Smoked cigarettes for a long time, where in my be my problem.
My problem is I really can't pick out a bunch of flavors when I smoke. I mean I know if I like a cigar or not, but I don't seem to get a lot of the flavors from them. I can get some pepper if its there or a sweetness once in a while. I've slowed down and that's helped some. I guess my question is does it just happen one day, or is it developed over time? Are they subtle or slap you in the palate strong? Don't get me wrong I don't plan on reviewing for a living, just wanting to get more out of the experience.

 

[el_guapo13]

I felt the same way but would actually read up on the certain sticks before trying them out. Read reviews or search this forum and see what flavors others were picking up before trying out said stick and that helped me refine my palate. good luck and if that doesnt help maybe look into a tongue transplant

 

[Grrrrr609]

Ive been smoking them for years and i cant. Sometimes they hit me but normally i cant. I have no idea sometimes what the reviews mean when they taste this or that. Sometimes my thoughts are no where near what the reviews saw. Lile i read once "saddle leather" hell ive never chewed on a saddle. But like warm toast, yea i can get that one.

Sent from my SPH-D710BST

 

[Hoshneer]

One word, retro-hale.... Practice and it will change the way you taste.

 

[Grrrrr609]

One word, retro-hale.... Practice and it will change the way you taste.

I do that, or try it, with every cigar i smoke. Alot of cigars just feel like they are trying to rip my face off from the inside using a dull rusty dipped in tobassco sauce butter knife.

Sent from my SPH-D710BST

 

[YodisMatt]

Hot damn that sounds like fun..... How much are you retrohaling?

 

[Grrrrr609]

Hot damn that sounds like fun..... How much are you retrohaling?

Idk. I try it on every cigar. If my sinuses dont scream bloody murder i do it alot on the cigar. If my sinuses go ballistic and i cry like a little girl who just got stood up on her sr prom, then just once.

Sent from my SPH-D710BST

 

[Chef]

Sounds like you are smoking some shitty sticks... A good stick has variable complexities, the flavors, the intensity, the nuances etc. will change from start to finish... I would start with a Natural "Drew Estate" "Root" or even a Jucie Lucy, that is a smaller stick, but this way you can enjoy and appreciate the changes on your palette the stick will offer as you smoke the entire stick.. Oh and do what Rex said retrohailing, enjoy the flavor on your tongue and nose... I think if you jumped right into a Liga Privada, your pallate might be a bit overwhelmed.

Chef

 

[Scroni]

I agree, figure the retro-hale out. I didn't know how to do it when I started, but it changed everything once I figured it out. Lots of things I wasn't picking up otherwise. It also took a while for my sinus to adjust to the technique, burned the sinus a little at first. Just took some getting used to.

 

[el_guapo13]

Ive been smoking them for years and i cant. Sometimes they hit me but normally i cant. I have no idea sometimes what the reviews mean when they taste this or that. Sometimes my thoughts are no where near what the reviews saw. Lile i read once "saddle leather" hell ive never chewed on a saddle. But like warm toast, yea i can get that one.

Sent from my SPH-D710BST

lmao chewing on a saddle

 

[javajunkie]

put it into words! the best thing when forming a palate, and this goes for stogies, spirits, food, anything, is to try and verbalize it. one, it makes you sit back and consider it, causes you to reflect. two, it helps lock the experience in the brain, slowly building a vocabulary of tastes and flavors. whether writing down notes, doing a live review here, or talking it over face to face while herfing, actually spelling it out, or trying to, makes a huge difference.

 

[UpInSmoke]

Retrohale ftw. And don't forget, Some peoples palates will always be different from others no matter how much you try to improve it. Some people just have a naturally better palate for identifying flavors and. Good luck buddy!

 

[Griz]

Ive been smoking them for years and i cant. Sometimes they hit me but normally i cant. I have no idea sometimes what the reviews mean when they taste this or that. Sometimes my thoughts are no where near what the reviews saw. Lile i read once "saddle leather" hell ive never chewed on a saddle. But like warm toast, yea i can get that one.

Sent from my SPH-D710BST

same here, been at this for over 10 years and they still taste like smoke I can taste some roasted nuts sometime, but for the most part, I just know if I like the smoke or not. bitter or not.... but thats just about it. I have tried some very good smokes and still the same problem. I blame some of it on dentures, that really cuts down on your taste area..

 

[Dave]

http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php/9072-Refining-Your-Pallette

 

[JDog]

put it into words! the best thing when forming a palate, and this goes for stogies, spirits, food, anything, is to try and verbalize it. one, it makes you sit back and consider it, causes you to reflect. two, it helps lock the experience in the brain, slowly building a vocabulary of tastes and flavors. whether writing down notes, doing a live review here, or talking it over face to face while herfing, actually spelling it out, or trying to, makes a huge difference.

I think this is an excellent suggestion...

I've told several people this - For me it took 5 to 6 years into this hobby before I really started to pick-up the flavors similar to the ones talked about in cigar reviews. I don't recommend reading others folks' reviews. It's an activity that you need to do on your own. Why? It's all subjective. For example, there is a blogger on a very popular website that references " burnt chicken" or "chicken broth" flavors... I've never tasted these flavors in a cigar. I was so obsessed with that observation by the blogger, I determined that approximately 7-8% (at the time) of his reviews used that flavor characterization. My point is simple. You need to form your own opinions on the flavors. Reading other folks' reviews may just confuse you and you will be endlessly searching for a flavor that you can't find. It's all subjective.

There are still times where I can't fully describe a flavor that I'm picking out. In fact, I'll smoke cigars that I find "intriguing," which only means that I haven't figured them out yet from a flavor perspective. I don't think they're absolutely amazing, but I'll keep smoking them out of curiosity....

 

[BrooksW]

Let me start by saying I'm a fairly new cigar smoker, around 8 months. Smoked cigarettes for a long time, where in my be my problem.
My problem is I really can't pick out a bunch of flavors when I smoke. I mean I know if I like a cigar or not, but I don't seem to get a lot of the flavors from them. I can get some pepper if its there or a sweetness once in a while. I've slowed down and that's helped some. I guess my question is does it just happen one day, or is it developed over time? Are they subtle or slap you in the palate strong? Don't get me wrong I don't plan on reviewing for a living, just wanting to get more out of the experience.

If you are not retrohaling on a constant basis, you are missing out on about 75% of the flavor of a cigar, IMHO. If I was smoking cigars and only tasting what was in my mouth, I would have quit a long time ago.

It does take some time to get used to, but once you start doing it consistently, cigars become quite a bit more enjoyable.

 

[Chrisso]

Something that worked for me. Another BOTL suggested to me, that I try drinking room temperature water. Water to help keep the pallet focused and unmolested, and the room temperature was to help my taste buds stabilize versus the contracting between hot smokey air, and cold ass water, or bourbon.

I didn't believe this, till I tried it, but it worked perfectly.

Once you start to experience these flavors coming out, then start graduating into other beverages. A room temp scotch or bourbon. Maybe introduce a cold Dr. Pepper. I have built up an amazing profile for a Tat Brown label, and cold Dr. Pepper. Love it.

I also second what JavaJunkie stated. If you don't stop to think about it, you'll find yourself hot boxing the stick, and muddying the flavors all together. I pull in, retro out, and relax trying to think of what that pull reminded me of. 30 seconds to a minute later, pull another. If your smoking it hot, then your not going to taste anything good period... And as an ex Cig smoker, it was very very very easy to want to pull every 5 or 10 seconds.

I do suggest trying the room temp water, from experience. It worked great for me.

Good luck brother!

 

[Simian504]

What they said...
Especially the retro. Experiment with that. Some times it only takes a little to unlock the flavors, and sometimes you just have to push as much as you can through your sinus because its so good. Play with it! Cigar smoking may become your favorite form of masturbation.

Also the saddle leather thing made me laugh.
Made me think, "how's that taste?". There's the normal answerfine,rich, oiled leather scent. Then there's the weird twisted answer sweaty taint and a boot. I crack myself up...

 

[dubv23]

For me there was not so much a moment that I can recall but I do remember being in then same spot as you. Knowing what I liked but not being able to discern the differences.

I started to take vague notes on cigars I smoked pointing out what I thought I tasted then would compare it to reviews to compare or get ideas. It helps to get out there and taste different things too for a comparison but I didnt do that. But basically its like training your palate. Probably this year (my 3rd year smoking) is when I have most enjoyed my cigars. I feel like im tasting more and enjoying a broader range of cigars mild-medium and full body where I used to only care for full body. I guess this is because I have been able to taste more that the mild and mediums actually have some sort of flavor where they did not before.

Cliff notes. .. it takes time. Be patient, take notes, try all kinds of different stuff, and have fun doing it.

Good luck bro!

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[D Quintero]

Depends on how and what your likings are in terms of vices. I myself am a titty man, and those are relatively neutral - slight perfume with a chance of colostrum at best. other tend to get more into the vag type flavors, but getting back on point.
your typical hardcore smokers have diminished their keener of the two senses at play. So naturally they rely more on the flavors.
as would anybody first approach something, the first take would be what scent is this putting out. more importantly, the interaction between scent and flavor cannot be stressed enough - think headcold.
So go easy but consistent on the retro and keep it outdoorslike if your want to enjoy a full bouquet of cigars.

imho