Interpreting Cigar Tastes and Flavors

Many cigar aficionados, after smoking a particular Cuban cigar, will come up with a description about the taste and flavors the smoke offered. Many will say they taste is mild with hints of nuts and coffee, while another cigar smokers will describe the same cigar as being spicy and creamy.

While the description may be biased or subjective, there’s no doubt the taste and aroma of a cigar play a great role in evaluating its quality. But is it possible that cigars leave such varied tastes in one’s mouth?

Cigar Flavors: Spicy, Mild or Creamy?

Describing premium cigars as spicy, mild and/or creamy is easy because these are the more common terms. If you are trying to pick up those subtle hints of flavor, it basically comes down to how sensitive your tongue and sinuses are. Your tongue provides the basic tastes, whereas your sinuses can pick up on the subtle variations in flavor.

The best time to explore the flavors of a Havana cigar is during the morning hours when you haven’t had anything to eat or drink yet, and your taste buds are the most active. Some will add that another, more ideal time to judge a cigar is whenever you can sit back and relax to really focus on the tobacco flavors.

Factors that Affect Cigar Taste

A great cigar will have a wide range and variety of flavors. However, there are a number of factors that can affect both your perception of taste as well as the flavors delivered by the cigar.

Food, Drink and Time of Day

Having a coffee or a strong drink like whiskey or brandy enhances some tobacco flavors more than others. Smoking outdoors can affect the burn and may also diminish the true taste of the cigar. It’s even possible the Cuban cigar you enjoyed at lunch may taste too mild for after-dinner.

Tobacco Blend

To produce a consistent taste, cigar makers must contend with the fact that no two tobacco leaves can be exactly the same year after year. By using different tobaccos to compensate for the variations, cigar makers create an illusion of consistency. As a result, a cigar brand may taste different from one year to the next.

Aging and Construction

Typically, aging gives a cigar a mellow, smoother and better-rounded character. It doesn’t necessarily make it better, however, but it takes the edge of the sharp tobacco taste. With regards to the cigar construction, an awry draw or uneven burn can destroy the taste and make for an overall unpleasant experience.

Developing Your Cigar Palate

Every cigar evolves and changes flavors as its being smoked. Being able to identify and distinguish between the flavor and taste variations is essential in truly enjoying Cuban cigars. This will also help you find the style of cigars to suit your tastes.

While it will always be matter of taste and opinion to a certain extent, the bottom line to identifying the true flavors of a premium cigar comes with practice and experience. As you gain experience smoking cigars, your palate will mature as well.