Cigar speak

October 13, 2010

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Abstract
I feel comfortable in saying that Body and Strength are not the same… nor are Flavor and Strength… or Scent and Aroma… or Body and Overall Quality. In the most common parlance of cigar appreciation, each of these terms seems to hold its own distinct, special meaning.

After sorting through the essential ideas and, most importantly, listening carefully to how smokers engage in “cigar speak”… I’ve
found that several common terms are central:

STRENGTH… FLAVOR… BODY…

AROMA… SCENT…

VALUE… OVERALL QUALITY

The most valuable opinions are the ones that help facilitate communications…

…and, this is why I’ve made a project of trying to understand and
compile the most common language of cigars.

I don’t mean to say that it’s a cut and dry, by any means. You will find a wide difference of opinion regarding even the most basic terminology… however, what I have to offer are the mass or average opinions… distilled from discussions with many cigar makers, as well as hundreds of cigar enthusiasts, and the reading of dozens and dozens of books and articles on the subject.

I’ve managed to piece together what I believe is a unified set of cigar tasting terms, and a logical way for them to all work together. I encourage your input, criticism and discussion in its evolution…

Strength
Strength is a measure of nicotine only… it’s a cigar’s “kick.” A very strong cigar delivers a lot of nicotine… examples: the Habanos Bolivar Belicosos Fino, or El Credito’s El Rico Habanos are very strong cigars; and the Dominican Romeo y Julieta Vintage Series are comparatively mild in terms of their strength. Most smokers, even experienced ones, get a nicotine kick or buzz from strong cigars.

Depending on your condition (e.g., thin, over-weight, over-tired, just
ate, empty stomach, drunk, etc., etc.)… a very strong cigar can produce either very pleasant feelings or very unpleasant ones… like feeling “lucid, mildly euphoric and/or energized”… or feeling “dizzy, green, nauseous and sweaty”. That’s nicotine… and it is a cigar’s strength.

Inhaling very strong cigars, even once by accident, should be avoided,
IMO. The nicotine will send you for a loop and likely detract from the overall experience. In fact, inhaling of any tobacco smoke should be avoided all together. FWIW, my detailed survey of nearly 200 ASCers in 1996 found that only 4% of those polled did inhale cigar smoke all the time.

Aside from its heady kick, nicotine can frequently be noted as a peppery or warming tingle on the lips and tongue, even before the cigar is lit. To enhance to your smoking experience, you might want to make a practice of tasting a cigar right before you light it up, for 15 seconds, or so. Just let your lips and tongue moisten the wrapper and the filler in the freshly clipped foot of your cigar… it’s a quick way to judge the strength of the smoke to come… and, you’ll also get an idea of how much of the flavor of the cigar comes from the taste (non-nicotine oils) of the wrapper and clipped foot, as opposed to the smoke itself. (You’ll be surprised how much it is!)

It’s also worth noting that young or “green” cigars (less than 3 months old) are at their peak nicotine concentrations (or strength). While aged cigars seem to mellow out, and loose strength over the years… with cigars 20-30 years old having very little kick (nicotine) left.

I rate a cigar’s “strength” (or nicotine delivery) on a 6-point strength continuum, or scale, as follows:

1. mild (or weak)
2. mild-average
3. average
4. average-strong
5. strong
6. very strong (or, “strong as balls!”)

And, I personally feel that a cigar’s strength (nicotine) is generally not related to the “Overall Quality” (see below). However, stronger cigars have proven to age better and longer… and retain acceptable smoking characteristics for years longer than milder cigars do.

Flavor
A full-flavored cigar (which should not be confused with purposely
flavored cigars, such as vanilla treated cigars like Ornelas, or herb
enhanced blends like the Lars Tetens) is not necessarily a strong cigar. Flavor does not equal strength, even when the cigar is very flavorful. Nicotine does not give tobacco it’s unique tastes or flavors to any significant degree.

Aside from the particular SEED VARIETY (e.g., Cuban Seed, etc.), it’s the SOIL and CLIMATE where the leaf is cultivated that contributes most to a cigar’s distinctive flavors… as does when and how the leaf is harvested and fermented. Other “flavor factors” include: aging, blending, construction, storage and the density, length and girth of a cigar.

Flavor refers specifically to the: NATURE and DEPTH of tastes a cigar
produces on the palate and lips, and sometimes in the nose and throat as well.

The _nature_ of a cigar’s tastes are most often expressed through
adjectives which are used to describe the kind of flavor (and scent/aroma) a cigar gives the impression of (e.g., nutty, coffee, cherry, sweet, salty, apricot, dog sh*t, chocolate, green tobacco, mature tobacco, acidic/fruity, leather, yummy, delicious, etc…. the list goes on and on)… and the _depth_ of that taste or flavor is a matter of degree… it can run the gamut from massive… to very little flavor (and is totally unrelated to the nicotine or strength.)

I’ve come to rate a cigar’s “depth of flavor” (or intensity of taste) on a 6-point flavor depth continuum, or scale, as follows:

1. bland (flat or no flavor to speak of)
2. hints
3. overtones
4. decidedly
5. rich (or full)
6. massive (or gushing)

So, in practice, you would say that a particular cigar had “hints of oak and coffee”; or a different cigar would have a “decided taste of
expresso”; or another might be “massively earthy and yummy.” Essentially, for Flavor descriptors, you combine a depth/intensity
adjective with a flavor/nature adjective.

Time is a third variable in flavor appreciation. The flavor (and it’s intensity) of a fine cigar will change throughout the smoke. Initially the length and girth of a cigar act to filter the smoke, delivering a cooler and less intense experience on the palate. As the cigar burns down, and as the tars build up, collecting and concentrating in a smaller and smaller remnant, the flavors (and strength) evolve and intensify… with the final quarter of your cigar delivering the most complex and dramatic flavors. (And, this can be both good and bad… from sublime to harsh.)

Sometimes you hear smokers say that a cigar is boring. I take this to mean that it’s either bland, or that the flavor does not evolve over the smoke. Just imagine smoking a 9 inch cigar for two-and-a-half-hours (like a fake Monty A)… and, the cigar simply didn’t do anything new as it burned down… now, that’s boring.

And BTW, high quality cigars are never ever boring. In particular, I have enjoyed quite a few very memorable cigars, which I have termed
“chameleons”… because of their keen ability to deliver as many as 5
distinctive taste experiences… each unfolding individually, as the cigar burned down to its nub. Aside from several very expensive brands, I’ve found this most generally in cigars which have been aged the longest… with their smoking experience going from very measured, mild tastes at the light-up, to a lip licking sweet tobacco syrup, by the end. In fact, sometimes I wondered if the cigars were rolled in progressive layers of different leaf blends, to purposely achieve that “chameleon effect.”

So, as I hope you can see, talking about a cigar’s flavor is a big
topic… incorporating: intensity… tastes… evolution… complexity.

Scent, Aroma & Stink
Just a quick sidebar on “cigar smell.” Scent and Aroma are the parts of a cigar that your nose enjoys (or perhaps on occasion, it doesn’t.) What I’d like to point out is the difference between SCENT and AROMA, and what role they play in the taste and enjoyment of a cigar.

The scent of a good cigar is what you imagine the cigar smells like before you light- up. When you open a box of cigars and put it to your nose, and declare, “Ahh, I love that tobacco smell!, or, I love the smell of this humidor”… what you’re talking about is the _scent_ of cigars.

A cigar’s joy begins well before you light up. It begins the moment you select your smoke and luxuriate in that gentle, sweet scent of properly fermented tobacco. Sometimes I’ll just open up my humidor and put my nose in for a few deep whiffs… absolutely delightful, every single time. How many times have you thought that the smell of fresh ground coffee is a pleasure unto itself? Well, the same is true of cigars… so, don’t miss it.

Aroma, on the other hand, is what you smell after you’ve lit up your stogie. It’s what other people will notice first when they walk into a room where smoking is going on.

I find that the aroma of a cigar contributes to its taste in a substantive way. How substantive? To see just how much… go in your backyard when no one’s home some afternoon, and put a clothes pin on your old schnoz… then, go ahead and smoke one of your favorite cigars for about 10-15 minutes. Yes… aroma does make a huge difference. Even if you don’t inhale or French inhale, the aroma of a cigar somehow gets into your nose and works its magic on your taste buds.

So, the lesson here is, when you’re looking for adjectives to help
describe your cigar’s flavor… don’t forget to look in the aroma
department for a few clues. Flavors like earthy, musty or loamy and
cedary, woodsy or leathery… are arguably more than a third due to your cigar’s aroma (with another third from the taste of the wrapper on your tongue and lips, and the final third being the smoke itself on your palate.)

Once you know where to look for a cigar’s flavors, you’ll be
surprised just how different the cigars you smoke actually can taste… and, how well you to be able to describe those elusive tastes and flavors… you know, all the ones you thought were just other people’s over- active imaginations.

Oh, yes… and, to fully understand stink, just leave your cigar butt in the ash tray for a day or two, in a room with little ventilation. There’s nothing good about a cigar butt… except, of course, the memories it might elicit.

One of the worst cigar lessons I ever learned was in my last year of
graduate school, back in the mid-70s. I lit up an expensive cigar, and soon realized that I didn’t really have the time to fully smoke it down… so, being a thrifty guy, I clipped the ash end off, and threw it back in my little humidor to finish the next day. Well, when I opened the box the next day… pee-ewe!!… what a friggin’ stink. That cigar remnant stunk so bad it not only tainted the scent of the other cigars in my humidor… it ruined the humidor itself… and took a week of sitting out in the open sun, to get most of the stink out. Bottom-line: Once smoked… all cigars stink to high hell.

Body
First a word of caution… this is heavily debated territory. I use the
term body to describe the aggregate impression you get while
smoking a cigar. However, Body it does NOT incorporate Overall Quality.
Body is a subjective composite of the combination of:

• FLAVOR (nutty, smoky, coffee, bitter,
  woodsy, sweet, etc.),
• DEPTH of flavor (bland, hints, overtones,
  massive, etc.),
• TEXTURE (creamy, smooth, biting, etc.),
• VOLUME of smoke per puff (thin, generous,
  thick, etc.)
• AFTERTASTE and its persistence on your
  palate (a cigar’s “length” or “finish”),
• and to a much lesser degree, IMO,
  STRENGTH (or nicotine).

A “full bodied cigar” is usually a stronger cigar with masses of flavor,
volumes of smoke and a lingering aftertaste. It is full in so many
dimensions, that many smokers refer to this complex set of sensory
impressions as “lush” or “chewy” or “huge”.

I’ve come to rate a cigar’s Body (or as some say, “Bones”) on a 6-point
body continuum, or scale, as follows:

1. light bodied
2. light/medium bodied
3. medium bodied
4. medium/full bodied
5. full bodied
6. very full bodied… or, robust

However, a full bodied cigar may not necessarily be a high quality

cigar… or, an enjoyable cigar either.

Overall Quality
A high-quality cigar (i.e., its “overall quality”) is one which is
in total balance and generously flavored… at best,
full-bodied, balanced and VERY PLEASANT IN ALL RESPECTS. Most
importantly, it is a reflection of each smoker’s personal set of
expectations and preferences.

To me, a cigar’s overall quality (my overall rating, if you will) is a
function of the depth and nature of flavor/taste, the smoothness vs. bite,
the aroma, burn and coolness, flawless physical construction, scent and
finally, the consistency of all of the above over a full box, or even
better, over several boxes. However, you will surely find others here who
will require a cigar to be strong to be considered of high quality…
that’s a matter of personal taste, and that’s why getting together with a
bunch of dedicated herfers is the best fun of all!
In terms of a continuum (or overall rating system) from a quality
perspective, I have developed a personal evaluation scale, over that past
20 years (borrowing much from how wine is tasted and evaluated). Here’s my
20-point OVERALL QUALITY cigar rating scale, if you’re interested:

JC’s Cigar Rating Scale (for Overall Ratings)

20 = MAGIC.

Possibly one of the 2 or 3 best cigars in the world. It’s worth
missing a mortgage payment to buy a box, if you can find them.

18 = WORLD CLASS.

One of the two best in it’s size category for starters. Perfectly
balanced. One hell of a terrific smoke from its unlit scent right down to
its delicious lingering aftertaste. Leaves you wanting another
immediately.

16 = VERY SPECIAL.

A blow-away smoke.

14 = SPECIAL.

No flaws. Rich, forthcoming, complex tastes and enticing aromas.

12 = VERY PLEASANT.

An above average premium smoke.

10 = PLEASANT.

A cigar good enough to be your regular “house cigar.” It always
delivers enough flavor and satisfaction to remind you just how much you
love cigars.

8 = NICE.

A few tiny flaws. You wouldn’t buy a box.

6 = FAIR.

Noticeable flaws, definitely not a total experience.

4 = UNDISTINGUISHED.

No personality, if all cigars were like this, there wouldn’t be a
cigar industry.

2 = POOR.

Strange flavors, a lousy smoke.

0 = AVOID.

Bane, lethal, sickening, spoiled.

However, a High Quality cigar is not necessarily a good VALUE cigar.

Value… and Beyond!
To many cigar smokers, value is a common denominator, a personal benchmark
of sorts. Value is not the same as cost, however.

Cost simply reflects what people can be convinced to pay for a
cigar… and, more often than not, it is a function of advertising
investment and brand prestige… and, not quality, rarity or manufacturing
expense.

Value is a subjective perception derived from considering the
relationship between Cost and Quality….. the Quality that you yourself
perceive (and no one else!)

Essentially, a great value is simply the best cigar you can buy, at
the lowest price. However, there are plenty of shades of gray in between
great and garbage.

To me, Value is a fun pastime when I’m thinking about cigars… trying to
figure out what the best cigar in the world might be… the best Value,
that is. Once you’ve smoked and “rated” a hundred different cigars,
you’ll be in a better position to begin to discern Value. And, after a
thousand, Value becomes obvious.

Value??? Is that $484 Havana Trinidad a good Value… or, is that $8.30
Dominican Fuente Trinidad a better Value?… or, is that $4.00 Fuente
8-5-8 an even better Value? Is any Cuban cigar a better Value that the
average non-Cuban? Are Hondurans generally better Values than Nicaraguans
or Dominicans? Can any cigar be a Value if it costs over $10?

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