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Discussion: Palate Changes

Discussion: Palate Changes

Happy Monday, folks! 

I’m enjoying a Sin Compromiso this morning by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and find myself in the middle of an internal debate in my head.  This cigar is constantly challenging my palate and beliefs, making me wonder if it’s something that I would have enjoyed years ago. 

Which leads me to today’s discussion question: 

How has your palate changed since you first started enjoying cigars?

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I like to believe that I would have always appreciated the complex flavor profile, maintenance-free construction, and silky-smooth smoking experience.  But, it’s entirely possible that I’m giving myself too much credit – the large bulk of my smoking history consisted of milder cigars until I dove into the ‘boutique’ stuff in 2015.  And I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have paid the cost of entry to enjoy Sin Compromiso until around the same time period.  

To this day, I consider myself a prime candidate for medium-bodied cigars like Don Reynaldo, Basilica A, Haut 10, 702, Cornelius, Campesino, Muestra de Saka Exclusivo, Patina, Epicure, La Hacienda, Byron, and the Serino’s Medio.  Looking at this off-the-top-of-my-head list, I don’t see a lot that resonates with the profile or strength of Steve Saka’s Sin Compromiso except for the texture and smooth experience.  

What’s really interesting though, is how often our palates shift to prioritize different experiences over months and years.  

In fact, I remember several brands that I would actively avoid years ago that I now gravitate towards when the mood is right.  It’s partly due to having broadened my experiences when reviewing cigars that I wouldn’t normally have selected, but I also think it’s due to where my palate is now – and knowing that my preferences will definitely change in the future.

I also went through a full-bodied phase for a while like most people before settling back down into the medium category.  And isn’t that interesting as well?  From most of the folks that I’ve talked to, there seems to be a natural progression from mild-medium to full, until a new appreciation develops for mild and medium cigars again.   

What about you? What have you noticed about your preferences over time? 

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Comments

4/8/2019 10:34 AM
When I started smoking cigars I was chasing full flavored, stronger cigars because, at the time, in order for me to “taste” something it had to be blatant and forward. So I found myself leaning towards cigars that I had heard or thought looked like something that would be bold. While I still enjoy that type of cigar, now I find myself going for something that doesn’t have those one or two “in your face” flavors but is more nuanced and has multiple layers of flavor.
4/8/2019 4:00 PM
When I first started I didn't like spicy cigars and now I'm starting to enjoy them.
4/8/2019 4:12 PM
It depends: sometimes on hot days I don't want much, but on cooler days I'm okay with the whole truck hitting my uvulaic dangle. Nonetheless I find that in the last few years, it's been easier to look over harsher flavors and at the same time easier to find the softer flavors.
4/8/2019 4:50 PM
I like trying new things, and I think that is what keeps me from staying stagnant on one level of body. My favorite smoke right now is Under Crown Sun Grown, but earlier today I had a Macanudo Cafe Hyde Park and loved every minute of it.
4/8/2019 5:27 PM
I am about 4 months into my obsession with cigars and my preferences have changed quickly. I started like many with Acid and Java cigars. I still enjoy them occasionally but now I am all about exploring the vast variety of natural sticks. I pretty much skipped light and medium bodied cigars and am currently focused on med to full body. Sin Compromiso, T52, and Tabernacle CT #142 are my favorites.
4/8/2019 6:06 PM
Went straight to Maduros!  Even though they're still my favored, I switch to non-maduro cigars a lot.  El Gueguense for example.  While the maduro is good, you just can't beat the original.
4/8/2019 6:27 PM
I started puffing toro size cigars ring gauge around 50 -52, and would look for a medium cigars with nice flavors but little spice on the finish.
As time went on moved up to a ring gauge of 50 - 64, and liked mild to full cigars.
10 years later I appreciate smaller ring guage and smoke larger ring guage less often. More often I love full flavored cigars with pepper and spice on the finish.
Lastly I spend more per cigars than when I started. I know what I am getting when I spend more and know that I will like it. In the begining I had no idea and wanted to try everything so the better discounts and prices were important to afford trying more cigars I knew little about.
And SB has the bomb cigars that aren't cheap cigars and at a great price, when you take advantage of their awesome discounts and nice samplers!
Pssita Brian Lewis
4/8/2019 6:33 PM
Hated spicy cigars in the beginning. Have always gravitated towards full body but now spicy is what I look for. Also I’ve found myself appreciating some medium sticks lately. Particularly anything from Aganorsa.  I want something that’s going to challenge my palate. Different always catches my eye
4/9/2019 6:31 AM
3 years now as a serious smoker.

Started out with mild-medium stuff (RyJ, Macanudo). Moved to the DE Undercrown Shade as a step up.

Next, I started to get to more medium bodied stuff, the My Father CT and the AJ Fernandez New World.

Then I got into full bodied powerhouse smokes for a while - those earthy pepper bombs.

Now,  I have totally lost my taste for those full bodied spicy cigars and I gravitate much more towards Cubans, Davidoff, Illusione, Warped. Stuff with lots of flavor without the pepper and earthy tastes.
4/9/2019 4:45 PM
When I first started smoking, I gravitated towards mild Connecticut shade cigars. As I started smoking more and more, I explored a variety of wrappers. These days, I smoke CT shade more often. Full circle!
4/9/2019 8:21 PM
When I first started smoking I was more into medium body cigars with a few milder ones in the mix. I remember really liking the Monte white label, but now I cant get any flavors from a mild cigar. As my palate has changed from med to med-full.

I was doing the full body thing for a while, but I felt like I was getting burnt out on them.

Went back down to the med to full spectrum and found myself able to stay and really enjoy a broad spectrum in that category.

I still cant taste milder cigars, but I believe there are enough for the med to full range that I wont be missing out too much.
4/10/2019 8:28 AM
I used to avoid anything with a  Connecticut wrapper because they all tasted like paper and mild tobacco. Over time they have become one of my favorite cigar wrappers. Sweet,creamy, woody goodness!
4/10/2019 10:23 AM
Just getting into this in the past year I went full throttle to the full flavored heavy maduros.  Now, most of those I don't even enjoy anymore.  My tastes have shifted to being able to appreciate all the flavors without needing the tongue pounding strength and heavy profile.  Most of what I enjoy now are Nicaraguan sticks and brands such as Warped, Tatuaje, and RomaCraft - ones with interesting flavors that I can't get enough of.  Warped GR88 is an absolute favorite of mine lately as well as some Connecticut wrapper cigars like the Cabaiguan.  Creamy, buttery, brown sugar, citrus, and spice are what I aim for now.
4/10/2019 10:45 AM
A cool thing I like to do is go back and smoke old favorite cigars and see what I think about them now. I think our pallets are constantly changing and evolving. It is what makes smoking cigars so awesome.
4/13/2019 8:12 AM
Started with cigars at 17-18 years old. First cigar was a Romeo Reserva Real. Found it bland and boring. Went straight to the opposite end of the spectrum to powerhouse Nicaraguans like LFD Double Ligero and Joya De Nicaragua. As time went on I wasn't enjoying those powerhouse cigars any longer.

A trip to Cuba brought me to love medium bodied smokes. Felt like I was getting so much more out of the cigar in terms of flavors and aroma. Now I sit on the medium full spectrum enjoying Warped, Illusione, Tatuaje and the like.

I enjoy drinking coffee or espresso when I smoke so its important to have a cigar that stands up to the drink but also doesn't completely overwhelm the pallet to the point where I cant pick out flavors and aroma. I am always learning and on the lookout to try new things to experience difference flavors and aromas.
4/14/2019 9:19 AM
Congrats Jon!  And many thanks to everyone else for participating in this week's discussion.

And although I use google's random number generator to pick a winner each week, it's a neat coincidence that JON won today on the return of Game of Thrones!  Cool stuff.