But WHY do you like that cigar?

[aroma]

[This is an old post of mine from another forum that I was reminded of recently.]

Like most of us, I'm trying to learn as much as I can from the discussions here. Often, people will make a brief comment about liking or not liking a cigar, but not say anything about why they did or didn't like it. I'd like to encourage everyone, when you make a post like that, to say just a little bit about why you like or don't like the cigar.

Instead of, "My favorite maduro is Brand XYZ," say something like "My favorite maduro is Brand XYZ. I love its chocolaty flavor and easy retrohale." Instead of "I like the toro of that blend better than the robusto," say something like, "I like the toro better than the robusto because I like a longer smoke." Or "I like the toro better than the robusto, because I get more flavor from it."

Our tastes are all different, and just knowing someone likes a given stick doesn't tell me anything about how I will like it, unless I'm already intimately familiar with that person's taste. For example, if you say "I love that cigar; it's pepper slams my sinuses like a flash-bang grenade" you're telling fellow pepper lovers that they may like it ... and at the same time telling me I probably won't like it. You're giving useful information to both of us. If you just say "I love that cigar," you're not giving much information to any of us.

 

[Herfin' Harg]

I don't like this thread because it makes my brain hurt. :timebomb:

 

[Otaku]

Sounds like marketing research to me....

 

[Cornrow_Wallis]

I smoked an undercrown today, liked it quite a bit. eace:

 

[usmcpurcell]

I like it becuase Don Pepin made it! Does that help?:eyebrow:

 

[Le Buzz]

If you hear a cigar is great then try one. If you don't like the flavor profile you can move on. One stick isn't gonna kill your wallet.

I NEVER try a cigar based on notes that other people describe. I see if they think it's good, then I'll try it and let my own palate be the judge.

 

[gui_tarzan]

I try to notice qualities of new cigars but the ones I like, I just enjoy them.

 

[GoingPostal]

just knowing someone likes a given stick doesn't tell me anything about how I will like it, unless I'm already intimately familiar with that person's taste.

This is why i rarely choose a stick on what people say. What is strong pepper to somebody is someone else's hint of pepper.

 

[javajunkie]

This is why i rarely choose a stick on what people say. What is strong pepper to somebody is someone else's hint of pepper.

yes, but also it is good to voice a reasoning behind a preference. not only does it give the reader a frame of reference, to be taken as they may, it also helps clarify our own experience with the smoke by verbalizing it, formulating it. snobbery and blog-slamming aside, the people who have to or chose to talk about it (and this goes to foodies and beverage snobs as well) usually have some weight simply because of the consideration ( hopefully) put into their considered opinion.

more than $.02. keep the change.

 

[tmoney2007]

Why? I don't really get "notes" from cigars... I either like it or I don't. If there is something specific that I don't like about it, like the burn or something like that, I'll say, but honestly, when I smoke a cigar, the flavor falls into 2 or 3 categories: Will smoke again, Meh, or Never again.

I don't care about how much smoke it makes, hints of old leather, coffee or whatever other people are tasting, I just care if I like it or not and/or if I'm going to smoke it again.

 

[danthebugman]

I'm going to try to make this as clear as possible, but I've been drinking substantially this afternoon while watching the race so I may ramble and it might not make much sense...

I think that everyone has their own different criteria by which they evaluate whether or not they like a particular cigar. Quite a few people I don't think will be all that interested in saying "I like (nor don't) this cigar and this is why". Some because they may not get a definite idea of why...and that is okay. Others may just not feel like explaining it. I think if you spend enough time around a group of guys (be it online, in your local shop, or whatever) you'll get an idea of what they're tastes are like. After a few years on this board I've been able to pick up on who's tastes are similar to mine and key in on what they have to say about a cigar I am looking to try (which is one of the reasons I like BOTl...the sense of community). I guess what I'm trying to get at is if you're going to try to get an idea of what smokes you're going to like by listening to others then you're going to be disappointed at times and you're going to miss out on some stuff. Which is really no different than if you weren't basing what to try off of what someone else has to say. Hope that makes sense :dunno:.

Personally I try what I want and over some time I've found what I tend to like and what I don't. For instance I don't try many Connecticut cigars these days as they more often than not aren't my cup of tea. If there's a cigar I've been interested in and quite a few others have good remarks about it, I'll probably try it. If not, well depends on who's saying what about it. If it's someone who I generally agree with about cigars, I'll probably go with what they're saying. At this point though I've got some favorites and while I still like continuing to try new things, it's not something I go crazy about anymore.

Dan

 

[aroma]

I agree that what others report about a stick often doesn't match the impression it makes on me, but I do think there is value in what people say about a cigar, especially when I can compare comments from multiple people about the same cigar.

If you hear a cigar is great then try one. If you don't like the flavor profile you can move on. One stick isn't gonna kill your wallet.

I NEVER try a cigar based on notes that other people describe. I see if they think it's good, then I'll try it and let my own palate be the judge.

I've actually been employing that strategy for the last couple of years, as I've tried to familiarize myself with a broad cross-section of cigars that people love and find blends that I like. I've learned a ton, but I've also spent a lot of time and money on cigars that I don't end up liking. I'm now becoming more discriminating with my purchases, hence my desire to learn more from reviews and forum posts.

 

[ciggy]

I don't like this thread because it makes my brain hurt. :timebomb:

Me too!! LOL

I like it becuase Don Pepin made it! Does that help?:eyebrow:

:applause::applause:

Main reason we like what we like and have different opinions...

 

[ciggy]

Hey..I wasn't trying to be a jerk!:tongueout LOL
Seriously, and we all know this, your tatse detemines the outcome and flavor. Something we all pick up on even in small indifferences. Which is why I posted the pic of the tongue. Sence of smell is another factor that can judge in the process of taste.

 

[aroma]

I'll be the one non-jerk response for you. :grin:

Bless you, my son.
:smokingbo

 

[javajunkie]

i am sorry, did you want a SPECIFIC cigar, or a discussion in GENERAL? mea culpa!

 

[Clint]

Try looking at some of the reviews here on the board...There are many reviews that have a lot of specifics on the nuances of the stick. Although I sometimes forget, I will liken the cigar I am reviewing to another cigar in addition to specifics on why I liked/disliked the cigar, hoping that it will help define the cigar a bit better.

Good question!

 

[Jfire]

I'm going to say that here (botl) they're are plenty of posts that reflect why people like certain cigars. Reviews are posted weekly. Even in the daily smoke thread guys often post short blurbs on what todays smoke was and what appealed to them about it. The other 50% of the time I would guess guys may have time constraints and thus the very short answer(s) given. "Smoked a SigVI. It dind't suck!"

 

[kockroach]

Main reason we like what we like and have different opinions...

The idea that there are specific areas of the tongue for sweet, salty, bitter and sour had been proven false....actually in the 70's.

 

[Tobacco Giant]

The idea that there are specific areas of the tongue for sweet, salty, bitter and sour had been proven false....actually in the 70's.

Surprisingly enough (or unsurprisingly) that is the way it was taught to me in public elementary school back in the early 90s.