I Envy You Guys

I really do. I've been smoking cigars for about three years
now and although I enjoy them I don't *really* enjoy them. I
love the whole ritual of cutting and toasting and the
camaraderie of lighting up with fellow smokers but I am
still missing something. I do want to enjoy a good cigar
like a good meal but all I taste is smoke. I usually smoke
inexpensive sticks (2 to 3 bucks) but I have gotten some
primos in bundled deals and to tell the truth I can't tell
the difference.

This is not an attempt at a mooch or a plea for pity. Just
looking for some tips that might help me learn how to enjoy
a cigar the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

Van Nostrand <user@example . net > wrote in news:9HuJj.157$vF.146
@newssvr21.news.prodigy . net :

> This is not an attempt at a mooch or a plea for pity. Just
> looking for some tips that might help me learn how to enjoy
> a cigar the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

I think some people just have better palates than others.
While I can tell a $1 cigar from a $5, I don't think I
have the genes necessary to learn to distinguish between
a $5 and $10 cigar.

But I have developed what little palate I do have. I smoke
slower, let the smoke stay in my mouth and drift out on its
own. I try to pay attention, but not so much attention that
it ruins the fun.

B.(Besides, being under-endowed in palate is amply
compensated for in other areas.)


--
Cheerfully resisting change since 1959.

In article <Xns9A768D24C1E0goddardbenetscapenet@64.209.0.95>,
Bart Goddard <goddardbe@netscape . net > wrote:

> B.(Besides, being under-endowed in palate is amply
> compensated for in other areas.)

Full head of hair...? ;)

--
Please take off your pants or I won't read your e-mail.
I will not, no matter how "good" the deal, patronise any business which sends
unsolicited commercial e-mail or that advertises in discussion newsgroups.

On 4 Apr 2008 18:52:29 GMT, Bart Goddard wrote:

> Van Nostrand <user@example . net > wrote in news:9HuJj.157$vF.146
> @newssvr21.news.prodigy . net :
>
>> This is not an attempt at a mooch or a plea for pity. Just
>> looking for some tips that might help me learn how to enjoy
>> a cigar the way it was meant to be enjoyed.
>
> I think some people just have better palates than others.
> While I can tell a $1 cigar from a $5, I don't think I
> have the genes necessary to learn to distinguish between
> a $5 and $10 cigar.
>
> But I have developed what little palate I do have. I smoke
> slower, let the smoke stay in my mouth and drift out on its
> own. I try to pay attention, but not so much attention that
> it ruins the fun.
>
> B.(Besides, being under-endowed in palate is amply
> compensated for in other areas.)

Big nose?

--
Deschnoznick

Van Nostrand wrote:
> I really do. I've been smoking cigars for about three years now and
> although I enjoy them I don't *really* enjoy them. I love the whole
> ritual of cutting and toasting and the camaraderie of lighting up with
> fellow smokers but I am still missing something. I do want to enjoy a
> good cigar like a good meal but all I taste is smoke. I usually smoke
> inexpensive sticks (2 to 3 bucks) but I have gotten some primos in
> bundled deals and to tell the truth I can't tell the difference.
>
> This is not an attempt at a mooch or a plea for pity. Just looking for
> some tips that might help me learn how to enjoy a cigar the way it was
> meant to be enjoyed.

When you say you've gotten some primos in bundled deals what primos were
those?

"Van Nostrand" <user@example . net > wrote in message
news:9HuJj.157$vF.146@newssvr21.news.prodigy . net ...
>I really do. I've been smoking cigars for about three years now and
>although I enjoy them I don't *really* enjoy them. I love the whole ritual
>of cutting and toasting and the camaraderie of lighting up with fellow
>smokers but I am still missing something. I do want to enjoy a good cigar
>like a good meal but all I taste is smoke. I usually smoke inexpensive
>sticks (2 to 3 bucks) but I have gotten some primos in bundled deals and to
>tell the truth I can't tell the difference.
>
> This is not an attempt at a mooch or a plea for pity. Just looking for
> some tips that might help me learn how to enjoy a cigar the way it was
> meant to be enjoyed.

Even in the $2 -$3 range, you should be able to find some flavorful smokes.
Try some 5 packs.
some to try:
Maria Mancini
La Gloria Cubana
Plasencia
Fonseca


--
KompuderGuy

In article
<g82dncKCxK-LHmvanZ2dnUVZ_qygnZ2d@fingerlakestechnologygroup>,
"KompuderGuy" <mark@BANDherfin . com > wrote:

> Even in the $2 -$3 range, you should be able to find some flavorful smokes.
> Try some 5 packs.
> some to try:
> Maria Mancini
> La Gloria Cubana
> Plasencia
> Fonseca

True dat. Plus what Mickey said.

Padron is known for having a "nutty" flavor that sticks with you for a
while.

Google this group for "review" in the title and "chocolate" in the body.
Don't remember which, but some have a very distinct taste.

Try maduros. Or Candellas. For both, smoke SLOWLY.

Mooch a decent Cuban. If you can't taste the difference, your tongue is
broken ;)

Proper humidity matters. In particular, too dry, smoked too fast, will
give a flavourless "burning leaves" experience. Too wet won't stay lit,
and will give you "all the tars with none of the flavors." Most folks
prefer in the 62-68% range over the oft-touted (and easy to remember)
"70%/70°."

Sit in a cigar store and whiff what others are smoking. (Do *NOT* hold
unpurchased cigars from the case to your nose -- ick!) When you smell
one you like, ask what it is & buy one. Smoke it slowly enough that you
get a whiff of your own cigar, not just the smoking of it.

Report back!

--
Please take off your pants or I won't read your e-mail.
I will not, no matter how "good" the deal, patronise any business which sends
unsolicited commercial e-mail or that advertises in discussion newsgroups.

Miss Elaine Eos wrote:
> Google this group for "review" in the title and "chocolate" in the body.
> Don't remember which, but some have a very distinct taste.

Fuente Añejo. :]

On Apr 4, 10:39 pm, Miss Elaine Eos <M...@your-pants.PlayNaked . com >
wrote:
> In article
> <g82dncKCxK-LHmvanZ2dnUVZ_qygnZ2d@fingerlakestechnologygroup>,
>
>  "KompuderGuy" <m...@BANDherfin . com > wrote:
> > Even in the $2 -$3 range, you should be able to find some flavorful smok=
es.
> > Try some 5 packs.
> > some to try:
> > Maria Mancini
> > La Gloria Cubana
> > Plasencia
> > Fonseca
>
> True dat.  Plus what Mickey said.
>
> Padron is known for having a "nutty" flavor that sticks with you for a
> while.
>
> Google this group for "review" in the title and "chocolate" in the body. =
 
> Don't remember which, but some have a very distinct taste.
>
> Try maduros.  Or Candellas.  For both, smoke SLOWLY.
>
> Mooch a decent Cuban.  If you can't taste the difference, your tongue is=

> broken ;)
>
> Proper humidity matters.  In particular, too dry, smoked too fast, will
> give a flavourless "burning leaves" experience.  Too wet won't stay lit,=

> and will give you "all the tars with none of the flavors."  Most folks
> prefer in the 62-68% range over the oft-touted (and easy to remember)
> "70%/70°."
>
> Sit in a cigar store and whiff what others are smoking.  (Do *NOT* hold
> unpurchased cigars from the case to your nose -- ick!)  When you smell
> one you like, ask what it is & buy one.  Smoke it slowly enough that you=

> get a whiff of your own cigar, not just the smoking of it.
>
> Report back!
>
> --
> Please take off your pants or I won't read your e-mail.
> I will not, no matter how "good" the deal, patronise any business which se=
nds
> unsolicited commercial e-mail or that advertises in discussion newsgroups.=



All U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located,
all people and organizations physically in the United States, and all
branches and subsidiaries of U.S. organizations throughout the world.
Recent changes to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part
515 (the "Regulations"), administered and enforced by the Office of
Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), have prompted OFAC to revise the
Cuban Cigar Update previously issued on June 19, 1998. This notice
provides important information to the public on Cuban-origin tobacco
products.Importation of Cuban-Origin Cigars Into the United States.
There is now an across the board ban on the importationin to the
United States of Cuban-origin cigars and other Cuban-origin tobacco
products, as well as most other products of Cuban origin. This
prohibition extends to such products acquired in Cuba, irrespective of
whether a traveler is licensed by OFAC to engage in Cuba travel-
related transactions, and to such products acquired in third countries
by any U.S. traveler, including purchases at duty free shops.
Importation of these Cuban goods is prohibited whether the goods are
purchased directly by the importer or given to the importer as a gift.
Similarly, the import ban extends to Cuban-origin tobacco products
offered for sale over the Internet or through the catalog mail
purchases. Prior to August 1, 2004, persons returning to the United
States who were licensed under the Regulations to engage in Cuba
travel-related transactions were authorized by general license to
import up to $100 worth of Cuban merchandise as accompanied baggage.
Cuban tobacco and alcohol products were included in that general
license. That general license was removed from the
Regulations.Transactions Involving Cuban-Origin Goods in Third
Countries The question is often asked whether United States citizens
or permanent resident aliens of the United States may legally purchase
Cuban origin goods, including tobacco and alcohol products, in a third
country for personal use outside the United States. The answer is no.
The Regulations prohibit persons subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States from purchasing, transporting, importing, or otherwise
dealing in or engaging in any transactions with respect to any
merchandise outside the United States if such merchandise (1) is of
Cuban origin; or (2) is or has been located in or transported from or
through Cuba; or (3) is made or derived in whole or in part of any
article which is the growth, produce or manufacture of Cuba. Thus, in
the case of cigars, the prohibition extends to cigars manufactured in
Cuba and sold in a third country and to cigars manufactured in a third
country from tobacco grown in Cuba. Cigars Produced from Cuban Tobacco
Seed OFAC does not consider cigars produced from tobacco grown and
harvested in a third country from Cuban seeds to constitute a growth
or product of Cuba. Therefore, the Regulations do not prevent
transactions or dealing in those products by persons subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States,as long as there is no interest of
Cuba or a Cuban national, direct or indirect, in the sale of such
cigars. Criminal penalties for violation of the Regulations range up
to $1,000,000 in fines for corporations, $250,000 for individuals and
up to 10 years in prison. Civil penaltiesof up to $65,000 per
violation may be imposed by OFAC. Suspected embargo violations may be
reported telephonically to OFAC's Enforcement Division at
(202)622-2430 or via facsimile at 202 622-1657. Date 09/30/2004
If the tobacco was grown in and benefits Cuba or a Cuban citizen it
falls under the embargo.

Van Nostrand <user@example . net > wrote:

>I really do. I've been smoking cigars for about three years
>now and although I enjoy them I don't *really* enjoy them. I
>love the whole ritual of cutting and toasting and the
>camaraderie of lighting up with fellow smokers but I am
>still missing something. I do want to enjoy a good cigar
>like a good meal but all I taste is smoke. I usually smoke
>inexpensive sticks (2 to 3 bucks) but I have gotten some
>primos in bundled deals and to tell the truth I can't tell
>the difference.
>
>This is not an attempt at a mooch or a plea for pity. Just
>looking for some tips that might help me learn how to enjoy
>a cigar the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

Key points:

Smoke slowly. Take at least a minute between draws. When you do draw,
draw *gently*. Tobacco flavors come from oils in the tobacco leaf.
You want to heat those oils and burn them off slowly. If you blast
them with heat, they burn up too fast to contribute any flavor.

Involve your nose. I've been smoking cigars for years, yet I still
remember the epiphany I had, sitting on my back porch, when I
discovered how much flavor I was missing when I let some smoke drift
out of my mouth and pulled it into my nose. It was a La Gloria Cubana
robusto, and I couldn't believe how much better it tasted when I blew
a little of the smoke out my nose.

Smoke fewer better cigars. Don't waste your money buying $1 cigars.
You are better off with 1 $5 cigar a week than with 5 $1 cigars.

HTH

Mickey

On Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:45:25 GMT, Van Nostrand <user@example . net >
wrote:

>I really do. I've been smoking cigars for about three years
>now and although I enjoy them I don't *really* enjoy them. I
>love the whole ritual of cutting and toasting and the
>camaraderie of lighting up with fellow smokers but I am
>still missing something. I do want to enjoy a good cigar
>like a good meal but all I taste is smoke. I usually smoke
>inexpensive sticks (2 to 3 bucks) but I have gotten some
>primos in bundled deals and to tell the truth I can't tell
>the difference.
>
>This is not an attempt at a mooch or a plea for pity. Just
>looking for some tips that might help me learn how to enjoy
>a cigar the way it was meant to be enjoyed.


It's not the cost of the cigars. There are several quite good cigars
in that price range and more than a few acceptable ones.

You can educate your palate. Light a cigar and take some smoke into
your mouth. Hold it there for several seconds and then open your mouth
and let the smoke drift out, without exhaling. Now close your mouth
and and see if you taste anything. Sit for 30 seconds or a minute and
take another puff, again holding the smoke and releasing it slowly.
Repeat a few more times and then finish the rest of the cigar as you
normally would smoke it.

The next time you smoke a cigar, repeat this process. And the time
after that. Don't be in a rush to achieve enlightnement, just enjoy
the process.

Wow, that is some deeply Zen shit right there. Let that one roll
around in your brain awhile.

Okay, that's long enough.

After a while you should be able to start recognizing some flavors.
Try to recall where you have tasted similar flavors before. It's not
going to taste just like coffee or chocolate or any of the other
descriptions you have read others mention, because there's no coffee
or chocolate involved. The oils in the tobacco will fool your
tastebuds much the same way wine will. When you taste citrus or
strawberries or whatever in a glass of wine, it's not because the wine
was made with those things, but your nose and tastebuds work together
with your brain to find a close sense memory.

So just relax and enjoy the ride without worrying about the
destination, and you'll be much happier. That's my 2 cents worth of
wisdom for today. Zen philosophy included at no extra charge.

There are a lot of name brand cigars (unfair to list them) that have
been coasting along on marketing for years. I have learned to seek out
less expensive more obscure smokes. My number one cheap smoke is still
the Muniemaker Palma 100 with the added cachet of being 100% US tobacco
made in a US factory right in Pennsylvania. It cannot be smoked fast,
as the draw is a bit tight, at least in my experience. My number one
smoke is the El Rico Habano Club maduro, every one is a delight. In box
qty they are four bucks. Both of these are full-bodied with plenty of
nic kick. For milder smokes, I like the Cameroon wrapped Oliva G and
milder yet the Hoyo de Monterey Excalibur with Connecticut wrapper. A
recent discovery is the H de M Sterling Nobilis, mild to medium.
As the other posters have mentioned, you really do need to take your
time. It usually takes me an hour to smoke the ERH Club, which is not a
big cigar.

Bill Taylor <william.taylor4@comcast . net > wrote:

>There are a lot of name brand cigars (unfair to list them) that have
>been coasting along on marketing for years. I have learned to seek out
>less expensive more obscure smokes. My number one cheap smoke is still
>the Muniemaker Palma 100 with the added cachet of being 100% US tobacco
>made in a US factory right in Pennsylvania.

You sent me one of these, and I have to admit, it wasn't bad.


> It cannot be smoked fast,
>as the draw is a bit tight, at least in my experience. My number one
>smoke is the El Rico Habano Club maduro, every one is a delight. In box
>qty they are four bucks. Both of these are full-bodied with plenty of
>nic kick. For milder smokes, I like the Cameroon wrapped Oliva G and
>milder yet the Hoyo de Monterey Excalibur with Connecticut wrapper. A
>recent discovery is the H de M Sterling Nobilis, mild to medium.
>As the other posters have mentioned, you really do need to take your
>time. It usually takes me an hour to smoke the ERH Club, which is not a
>big cigar.

"Van Nostrand" <user@example . net > wrote in message
news:9HuJj.157$vF.146@newssvr21.news.prodigy . net ...


> This is not an attempt at a mooch or a plea for pity. Just looking for
> some tips that might help me learn how to enjoy a cigar the way it was
> meant to be enjoyed.

Some good advice already (particularly Mickey) so I shan't repeat ....

A couple of additional observations:

first, don't be too impressed by explicit reviews that detect a whole
rainbow palette of flavours in a cigar. Most of us don't get into it that
far, or even manage to reproduce the same experience for ourselves. This
goes especially for the professional media such as, for example, Cigar
Aficionado: those guys get paid to be wordy and a simple "I fired up the new
brand X, and I tasted smoke. The End" would be a quick way to a career
change opportunity.

Secondly, relax. Give it time. Don't force it. This is a very personal
and subjective experience, and you can't really learn it by numbers. There
are no set questionnaires where you will achieve a pass by learning to tick
the right boxes.

Third, don't underrate ritual and cameraderie. They are a very important
part of the whole cigar experience. I have had super-premium Cuban cigars
which turned out to be a waste of time and money because the people and the
atmosphere weren't right, and some of the best cigars I have had were truly
cheap gas station smokes simply because the time and company were perfect.

If you really want to train your palate, I'd suggest simple comparisons.
Try smoking different sizes from the same brand to see if you can taste
differences -- doesn't matter what, just detecting variation itself is good
enough. Or do comparison tests between different nationalities such as
Nicaraguan versus Honduran cigars (same size is preferable).

On Sat, 5 Apr 2008 01:13:01 +0100, "Alex W." <ingilt@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:

>
>
>Third, don't underrate ritual and cameraderie. They are a very important
>part of the whole cigar experience.

Agree with the entire post, well done Alex!
Also, come out to a herf.. . it 's great fun and you'll get to meet other
cigar lovers.
CigarBaron