Developing my palette

[cartisdm]

Been smoking cigars for a few years but now that I've recently been "diving in" to them full force, the urge to really expand my palate* has been growing. Today while smoking my Nub, I caught hints of cedar/hickory multiple times! A couple of other nuances struck at various points, but they really didn't stick long enough for me to place them (spices maybe?). Unfortunately it was a little chilly and a bit breezy so that was kind of distracting during my smoke, but I was quite happy picking up the wood notes! :blob:



EDIT: *corrected my poor grammar

 

[bdc30]

Nice to hear, it's one thing to puff on rolled tobacco, it's entirely another to actually appreciate a fine stogie. btw, not to nitpick but a pet peeve, it's spelled palate

 

[Adolfo Arguello]

As you continue to smoke your palate will continue to develop. You will eventually be able to pick more flavors up. Its much easier to pick different flavors of a cigar when you are devoting your complete attention to it and have no distractions.

 

[Flyer75]

As you continue to smoke your palate will continue to develop. You will eventually be able to pick more flavors up. Its much easier to pick different flavors of a cigar when you are devoting your complete attention to it and have no distractions.

Good point on the distractions. I've enjoyed my best smokes just sitting at my local B&M or while at work. Much harder at home with kids running all over the place.

 

[Cigar Cowboy]

Hope this helps

http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=50919&highlight=tasting+notes

 

[wilfredsimpson]

That's a great help. Having names for the tastes you are, well, tasting is a big help. As I am developing my palate, I am able to know pick out the tastes, but putting a name to them can sometimes be difficult. In the end, just helps to be creative and try and experience those different flavours outside of smoking.

 

[cartisdm]

Hope this helps

http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=50919&highlight=tasting+notes

It sure does - I hadn't heard of some of these notes before

Good point on the distractions. I've enjoyed my best smokes just sitting at my local B&M or while at work. Much harder at home with kids running all over the place.

That's how my prior years of smoking had always been. Playing golf, hanging out with the guys, just puffing away. Now that I'm gaining interest in this hobby, I've been taking the time to truly experience the flavors in a good cigar

... btw, not to nitpick but a pet peeve, it's spelled palate

I stand corrected :thumbsup:

 

[kuzi16]

when it comes to developing your palate, you cant expand it by smoking alone. but it sure is fun to try.
you need to also expand your reference points. pay attention to the smells and tastes that you encounter every day. dont just eat your food; taste it. take the time to understand it. the link above with the tasting notes has good things in it. there are also flavor wheels that i like to use. like this:

if you are not familiar with things on this list or on the wheel (or other wheels/lists out there) then hunt them down. find out what those things smell like or (if they wont hurt you) taste like. you cant identify a flavor if you have never tasted it before and recognized it.

this is the often overlooked side of developing your palate



edit: sorry that the wheel is hard to read. ill see if i can find the full sized version and replace that one if i can.

 

[CWS]

or you can just smoke cigars and enjoy them...

 

[Craig Mac]

or you can just smoke cigars and enjoy them...

True, but I think the subtleties are part of that process as well IMO.

 

[ciggy]

Nice to hear, it's one thing to puff on rolled tobacco, it's entirely another to actually appreciate a fine stogie. btw, not to nitpick but a pet peeve, it's spelled palate

Holy shit Brent...My PM's to you must drive you insane then! :nodlaugh:
My "palate" changed after about 6 months of smoking on a daily basis. I really can't stand 98% of the stuff sold by CI or Famous any more. Unfortunatly my "palate" now kicks me where it hurts the most...in the checkbook!

 

[Le Buzz]

Nice bro... you'll find that if you take the time and enjoy a cigar without too many distractions you will pick up different flavors and the process becomes much more than just puffing and blowing.

OTOH, if you concentrate too much and try to discern too many flavors in detail it can take away from the overall smoking experience. The key is finding that happy medium where you can pick some flavors out but can still sit back and just enjoy the ride.