
When you come to the store we will gently walk you through the
many different cabinets' of cigars.
We understand that it can be overwhelming to have so many to choose from.
If you want to have some idea where to start when you come down,
here's a list of cigars we recommend for new cigar smokers:
Macanudo - Ascot (Natural or Maduro)
Por Larranaga - Panetela
Rafael Gonzalez - Panetela
Quintero - Panetela
Fonseca - Delicias
Thomas Hinds - Robusto (Natural or Maduro)
Don Tomas - Rothschild (Natural or Maduro)
Ramon Allones - Small Club Corona
San Cristobal - El Principe
How do you Interpret Cigar Tastes and Flavors?
There are many cigar smokers who can taste different nuances and flavours in cigars and others that say “just smoke the cigar, it tastes like a cigar – that’s it!”
Everyone’s palate is different. You will interpret a cigar different than your friend and fellow smoker because you will have had a different day, different meal, different experience with the same cigar because, well you are you. That’s the best part about cigar smoking, you are never wrong when it comes to flavours and tastes. It is an individual experience.
What are the cigar flavours?
There are some basic terms that you will hear people use to describe cigars. See below for list I’ve compiled. Every tongue is different! While you may be able to pick up subtleties, your friend may only taste tobacco. Your tongue and nose will be your guide on the journey of cigar smoking. The basic flavours and nuances will come from your tongue, and your nose will detect aroma and some variations in flavour.
When is the best time to smoke a cigar?
While we would say ANY time is a good time to smoke a cigar, your optimum time is when your palate has not had anything to mar it. Morning may seem like a strange time for those just starting to smoke cigars, and/or not in the know, but really, truly it does have a special place in true cigar smokers’ experiences of their best cigars. The reason: your taste buds are awake and you’ve not sullied them with any food/drink yet.
What affects the taste of cigars?
Answer: Food, Drink, Time of Day, Your Mood, Traffic, Fights with your significant other/employer/kids, etc…
In other words, outside influences as well as internal influences can inherently change the flavour of a cigar. There are also psychosomatic triggers to cigar smoking. Some days you will love a certain cigar and other days that same cigar might taste “wrong”.
With regards to food and/or drink: A coffee or ruby port can enhance the flavour of a maduro cigar. While a glass of Pinot Grigio can draw out the honey notes in a natural wrap cigar. Whilst some cigars would lose all their beauty with any of the above and require only a glass of water to help wet your whistle.
Scotch, Whiskey,
What about smoking indoors versus smoking outdoors?
It’s a hard and fast rule that you can smoke anywhere you want and you’ll have whatever experience you have – see above about not being wrong – however there are die-hards that say smoking outdoors will totally affect the burn of your cigar and can change the true taste of the cigar. Smoke wherever you can, try out different places, whatever works for YOU!
What is Tobacco Blend?
Every cigar brand can not ever produce the exact same cigar year after year. No two tobacco leaves are ever the same. The best they can do is produce a moderately consistent taste using the same soil year after year. It’s about illusion each and every year – the magicians of cigar rolling go for consistency – which is why you’ll hear people say: “I remember when (insert cigar name) was beautiful and big and bold and strong – now they taste like (insert expletive)”. So each cigar brand will most often taste different from one year to the next. When you find a Month and Year you like, buy the box. Buy as many of that time period as you can, because they may never, ever be the same! We offer box discounts on a box of 25 cigars.
Aging a cigar is another level of cigar smoking. It takes on a more even, mellow tone and carries it to a whole other level of pleasure. Aged cigars are less edgy and softer in nuance/taste. Often clients will have one humidor for regular smoking and another humidor for aging. This can be done right from the beginning of buying cigars. Buy 1 to smoke that week, and 1 to age. Keep them separate, away from guests and even yourself!
How to talk cigars? Increasing your palate!
Cigars will change and evolve as you smoke them. Most cigars have 3 different sections – some do not. As you become more accustomed to smoking cigars you’ll start to notice what you like and do not like at each level in a cigar.
Keep in mind a cigar you don’t like now, you may love 6 months from now. It’s all about timing! So keep re-trying a cigar every once in awhile. Palates change as you smoke and they need to be constantly challenged and thrown a curve ball to keep your taste buds excited.
The more you smoke, the more you learn what works best for you and your experience will bring maturity to your palate.
The four main ways of describing a cigar are:
These are some of the Aromas, Nuances, and flavours I’ve picked up in my cigar smoking journey, keep smoking and enjoying cigars and finding your own way of talking cigars! – Enjoy the pleasure - Psyche
Animal Leather, Musk, Manure Balsamic Volatile oils Woody Wood - see specific woods below Chemical Vinegar, Acidic Fermentative Mold, Old, Must Spicy Spices, Pepper Smoky Smoked woods, nuts Floral Flowers, honey, pollen Fruity Fruit - see specific fruit Vegetative Herby, leaf aromas
| Young | Delicate | Soft | Bold | Generous | Heady |
| Intense | Full | Medium | Mild | Spicy | Fresh |
| Oily | Pepper | Mineral | Toast | Honey | Earth |
| Vegetal | Coffee | Straw | Leather | Cedar | Moist Dirt |
| Must | Grass | Warm | Caramel | Herbal | Rich |
| Cocoa | Musk | Bitter | Creamy | Bread | Flour |
| Filling | Substantial | Nutty | Milky | Stables | Moss |
Spices
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Fennel
Clove
Vanilla
Allspice
Cardamom
Ginger
Mint
Anise
Capsicum
Pimento
Mace
Licorice
Nuts
| Almond | Coconut | Walnut | Cashew | Peanut | Macadamia | Pecan |
| Brazil | Pistachio | Hickory | Hazlenut | Lychee | Chestnut | Beech |
Any of them Roasted
Cereals
| Barley | Oat | Wheat | Kamut | Rice (Brown/White) | Granola |
| Corn | Rye | Amaranth | Millet | Wild Rice | Bran |
Rum
Scotch
Wine
Cassis
Brandy
Irish Cream
Amber Rum
Ale
Lager
Guinness/Stout
Bourbon
Jamaican Rum
Fruits
Figs
Lemon
Lime
Prunes
Raisins
Bananas
Grape
Apricots
Plums
Black Cherry
Agave
Epicurean
Brown Butter
Yorkshire Pudding
Bittersweet Chocolate
Gypsophilia
Dr. Pepper
White Pepper
Milk Chocolate
Plain Pasta
Outdoor Fireplace
Chicory
Mexican Chocolate
Maple Syrup
Wood Stove
Nougat
Toffee
Dusty Rose
Coca-Cola
Hay
Greasy
Americano
Malt
Cocoa Nibs
Dutch cocoa
Spice Cake
Mocha
Earl Grey Tea
Ginseng
Gingerbread
Espresso
Warm Bread
Nasturium
Doughnut
Salty Popcorn
Molasses
Jaggermeister
Pie Crust
Pumpkin Seeds
Tar
Truffles
Sheep
Salt Water Taffy
Musk
Mown Grass
Straw
Dried Grass
Brown Sugar
Muscovado Sugar
Granola
| Sea Salt | Smoked Salt |
Floral
| Peat | Heather |
Woods
|
Applewood |
Cedar |
Cherry |
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