new entry from a newbee

[sptcigars]

im just going to throw this review in here just to catch some commentary the way a fisherman throws in the line just to see what tugs. i smoked the last of my cohiba robustos last night. since im a newbee and new to sources i couldnt tell you if its a legit habano or not. all i can say is that this is not the source i have used recently and i dont plan on going back to them. i got the CoRo around april of this year. it was part of a 25 cuban robusto pack. the overall appearence of the cigar was not that impressive. it was loosely wrapped in some places and showed some flaking. now at this point the cigar has had about four months in the humi. i smoked it with some red wine, which may have been my first mistake.. the burn was terrific creating a pleasing aroma. the draw had a little tug on it. i found the cigar to be very flavorful. it didnt even seem like i had to take a big draw in order to get all the flavor this robusto had to offer. the smoke was light in my mouth, not heavy. at times i didnt think the cigar was still burning. confused i would take a second draw only to ruin the perfectly balanced flavor hidden in the light smoke. there was a slight pepper or spice in the background. being a newbee, i find it frustrating that i cannot characterize what im tasting. about three fourths down and i did get this leathery presence, but i dont know. towards the end the cigar started to give me trouble. the core started to burn fast leaving the wrapper cold. i started to focus on other things and let the cigar go out. i resettled myself, fixed the burn and smoked it down. there was still a sweet taste but i did get some bitter as well. can someone enlighten me as to how i might better characterize the tastes of cigars. i find that i have a real problem with this. i have often thought that i may be the unfortunate one of a dull palate.

[tigger]

Spt-

Thanks for the review. A bit of friendly constructive criticism - some line breaks and capitalization would make it flow better.

Don't know if your CoRo was real or not - that would be the first thing to answer as far as the draw/burn problems you had.

The second question I have is what is the RH of your humidor? Oftentimes problems like you had are attributable to too much moisture.

I'm far from an expert taster/reviewer, but in my experience, the flavor descriptors I use are words that the things I'm tasting remind me of.

F'rinstance, I smoked a cigar on Sunday, that, for a couple of puffs, had me thinking, "ice cream sandwich with a dollop of honey." This was from a combination of flavors that were reminiscent of cocoa, vanilla and honey. I'm sure that had I had an ice cream sandwich and a jar of honey with me to sample, that the flavors wouldn't have matched exactly.

I believe there are wine tasting "flavor wheels" out there that can help with flavor descriptors. You might track down one of those.

In the be all and end all, as long as you enjoy what you're smoking, then your palate is fine. In my opinion.

edited for because I can't type write sometime...

[Colt45]

The only thing I'd add to Tigger's post would be that I hope when procure what you

know to be a legitimate Cohiba robusto, you'll post another review :-)

[El Presidente]

Hard to add to much more to Tiggers post.

Humidity setting makes a huge difference and we do harp on it but try different settings until your cigars smoke "right" for you. I would start at 65% RH.

Don't focus too much on your cigars. If they are good enough they will grab you by the cojones and make a statement through their flavours and poise. Strength, body, mouthfeel are all discernable traits.

I like to sketch out a cigar by determing the above first. Aroma, spice (savoury or sweet?) through the nose or on the palate comes next.

Flavours evolve. Tigger is right in that you often recall or are alluded to other experiences from prior tastings of other foods. Often when you write down these experiences your tasting notes become far more detailed than you had imagined possible.

Good start

[sptcigars]

» Hard to add to much more to Tiggers post.

»

» Humidity setting makes a huge difference and we do harp on it but try

» different settings until your cigars smoke "right" for you. I would start

» at 65% RH.

»

» Don't focus too much on your cigars. If they are good enough they will

» grab you by the cojones and make a statement through their flavours and

» poise. Strength, body, mouthfeel are all discernable traits.

» I like to sketch out a cigar by determing the above first. Aroma, spice

» (savoury or sweet?) through the nose or on the palate comes next.

»

» Flavours evolve. Tigger is right in that you often recall or are alluded

» to other experiences from prior tastings of other foods. Often when you

» write down these experiences your tasting notes become far more detailed

» than you had imagined possible.

»

» Good start

I get what you all are saying. I just find it hard sometimes to describe what I taste. I have been referred to what is believed a legit source but I'm thinking of staying away from the Cohiba line for a while. This is just do to the price of the Cohibas. Yes I do want to purchase a CoRo in the future to see what they taste like. My Humidor is running at 65-69% according to my digital hygrometer. The analog that is built into the humi reads around 80% but I trust the digital alot more. What about temp. Right now in the summer my temp is up. It's around 75. I dont like the temp and I'm thinking of putting the humi in the basement until summer is over. As for tasting, I only hope the my palate becomes more experienced in time. I have the same problem with wine. Now, I'm buying 8-9$ wine so who knows, but I really try to pick flavors out and just can seem to get past, fruity, bitter, acid or sweet.