Metallic (Tin) taste in the A. Fuente line - am I crazy?

[Ravenwood]

Ok, this has been bugging me for a while.

Yesterday I smoked an AF Don Carlos #3.

Started out a little earthy and sweet. Pretty soon turned very woody. By the middle of the cigar it was like chewing on a stick of cedar. No problems with any of the above.

The problem is throughout the cigar I tasted a tin like flavor. This was at the roof and the back of my mouth. It's not a pleasant flavor.

I went back to my reviews from several years ago and detected the same flavor back then in the AF line.

It's been one of the reasons AF has never been a cigar line I'd smoke. (I received this one as a PIF).

Two questions:

Has anyone else detected this? How would you describe it? Mineral? Something else?

I haven't smoked very many Cameroon Wrapper cigars. Could it be the wrapper?

It was funny, when I lit it up yesterday my first thought was yep, this is why I don't like AF. (Except Opus). It's something I've always associated with this brand. But I'll be darned if I can figure out what it is...

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

RW

 

[torin]

I have sampled many different Fuentes and I honestly have never detected this metallic taste. I will say that after trying all of these the only ones I smoke are the Anejo and Opus lines.

 

[iCraig]

Were you drinking anything? I've seen something similar when I've been drinking a pretty hoppy IPA and smoking.

 

[ingenios]

Yes, T, you are crazy. :razz:

I gotta agree with you bro - most Fuente stuff doesn't do much for me - too Dominican. I'm partway through a 10 cigar review of the "Holiday Collection", and just can't bring myself to waste another of these nice days on the Sungrown Double Chateau. I mean it's a decent cigar but... "Xtremely Rare"? C'mon. So was salt at one time.

That said, I do enjoy the Opus and Anejo, and the ESG is a pretty good smoke. The Ashton Aged Maduro, on the other end of the scale, is one of the tarriest cigars I've ever had. Yuck.

 

[Thecatch83]

AF Anejo, Opus, and Hemingway are some of my favorite smokes that I will put up against anything and I think you are in the minority......your taste buds or flavor palate is skewed, something is up for sure!

 

[trk8]

I've noticed a smell and a taste the closest I can place is "rusty" in Davidoff , Zino, AF Opusx and in general Dominican cigars and that's why I try to stay away from Dominican smokes

 

[drob03]

I haven't smoked a Don Carlos in awhile but of all the ones I have had I remember either a metallic or chemical taste. I have been very disappointed especially since so many ppl like them.

 

[danthebugman]

Never had a Don Carlos so can't say for sure there. But have smoked plenty of other AF (mostly the Hemingway stuff) and while I don't enjoy them quite as much as other stuff, I have never gotten a metallic or other off flavor from them.

Dan

 

[Alwayslit]

I smoke a fair amount of AF cigars and have never got a metallic taste. Only thing I can think of is something you ate or drank that caused that reaction.

 

[terrantheman]

I love the DC line, one of my favs. Never have detected this but who knows anyone at anytime can detect anything in there cigars. I do find that the DC line with 10+ years of age become some amazing AMAZING cigars. My friend just sent me another DC Presidente from 1996 for my BDay, love it!

 

[Ravenwood]

Yes, T, you are crazy. :razz:

I gotta agree with you bro - most Fuente stuff doesn't do much for me - too Dominican. I'm partway through a 10 cigar review of the "Holiday Collection", and just can't bring myself to waste another of these nice days on the Sungrown Double Chateau. I mean it's a decent cigar but... "Xtremely Rare"? C'mon. So was salt at one time.

That said, I do enjoy the Opus and Anejo, and the ESG is a pretty good smoke. The Ashton Aged Maduro, on the other end of the scale, is one of the tarriest cigars I've ever had. Yuck.

LOL, my reputation proceeds me.

Yeah I have to look at the Dominican angle I guess. Thing is I love VSGs which have Dominican filler and binders. The VSG wrapper is Ecuadorian which got me look at the Cameroon wrapper on the Don Carlos as the possible issue.

It's got my interest up. I going to my NC spreadsheet (yes I am crazy) to see what I have in other Dominicans. Time to do some experimentation!:cbig:

RW

 

[Ravenwood]

I haven't smoked a Don Carlos in awhile but of all the ones I have had I remember either a metallic or chemical taste. I have been very disappointed especially since so many ppl like them.

LOL. Thank you! At least someone else has detected this!

RW

 

[hdroadglide]

i often get what i describe as a mineral flavor to opus, but it is rather enjoyable for me. just like foods and wines, different people taste and like different things.

 

[Benzopyrene]

Of note the fuente's chateau de la fuente is surrounded by nickel mines. At night when they are mining it glows orange, and thus the colors on their opus boxes and what not. Therefore it does not seem unreasonable to e that there may be a different, or higher mineral content in the tobacco that they grow and that which is grown in other areas of the DR. May be your palate, or maybe its related to this, as each of us has different areas of taste that we recognize more distinctly than the next. Just my thoughts! Cheers!

 

[Ravenwood]

I smoke a fair amount of AF cigars and have never got a metallic taste. Only thing I can think of is something you ate or drank that caused that reaction.

Yeah I know what you mean. That was something I thought of. Thing is I smoke a cigar nearly every morning with my coffee (usually a PC of some type but I had a little more time so I figured I'd try the AF DC #3). Pretty routine. Plus the metallic note is in my cigar log from 4 years ago for this smoke.

I have to think this is some sort of mineral I'm picking up because it seems to be isolated to the AF line. Since I have stayed away from the line I don't have a lot of experience with them outside the Opus. (which I like but think are overpriced for the profile)

Really bugging me now. I've got some experimenting to do.

RW

 

[Ravenwood]

Of note the fuente's chateau de la fuente is surrounded by nickel mines. At night when they are mining it glows orange, and thus the colors on their opus boxes and what not. Therefore it does not seem unreasonable to e that there may be a different, or higher mineral content in the tobacco that they grow and that which is grown in other areas of the DR. May be your palate, or maybe its related to this, as each of us has different areas of taste that we recognize more distinctly than the next. Just my thoughts! Cheers!

Good information! Perhaps I am sensitive to a particular mineral. Nickle huh? I've got to smoke another and see if that is it.



Thanks!

Wait a minute, how would I know what nickle tastes like?...LOL

Really strange.

RW

 

[ingenios]

"Mineral" flavor, per se, can be a great thing. I've detected it and when "done right" it can add a really nice other dimension to the flavors.

"Tin" though does not sound good at all and just thinking about it sets my teeth on edge - like biting into a sandwich and hitting a piece of aluminum foil. :squinteye

 

[Angry Bill]

Some cigars even have the hint of a Zinc taste too. Remember, tobacco is a natural product which gains flavor from the soil. Benzo is spot on.

 

[Ravenwood]

I have to say you guys are great! I think Benzo and AB may have it.

At least I know I'm not going crazy(er).

Thanks!

RW

 

[Alwayslit]

Of note the fuente's chateau de la fuente is surrounded by nickel mines. At night when they are mining it glows orange, and thus the colors on their opus boxes and what not. Therefore it does not seem unreasonable to e that there may be a different, or higher mineral content in the tobacco that they grow and that which is grown in other areas of the DR. May be your palate, or maybe its related to this, as each of us has different areas of taste that we recognize more distinctly than the next. Just my thoughts! Cheers!

......great info.

I love the DC line, one of my favs. Never have detected this but who knows anyone at anytime can detect anything in there cigars. I do find that the DC line with 10+ years of age become some amazing AMAZING cigars. My friend just sent me another DC Presidente from 1996 for my BDay, love it!

......nice!! I need those kind of friends.