Cigar Tasting for the sensory challenged

It seems that some cigar smokers are born with or blessed with a superb palate that allows them to distinguish sandalwood from hickory, sweet grass from hay and marzipan from whatever would be the non-marzipan equivalent.  On the other end of the spectrum are the cigar smokers that can only acknowledge good, bad and ammonia.  Perhaps these are the more fortunate among us because they can enjoy a wider array of cigars without the burden of such subtleties as burnt toast or organic mango spice.

Somewhere in the middle of these extremes is where I believe most of us live.  We notice the more dominant flavors in a cigar whether they be sweet, sour, bitter, salty and/or savory but only occasionally do we identify the subtle flavor blending in a cigar that might indicate its tobacco origins.

This does not indicate that we enjoy our cigars any less than the super palates among us, nor should we feel in any way inferior to them.  For while it is exciting to discuss the intricacies of cinnamon, rosemary and thyme, the goal is to find and enjoy a premium cigar.  Being able to dissect the flavors of a cigar does not make you a better cigar smoker.  It may make you more popular at the local shop and give you something to blog about, but it does not make you an expert on cigars.  Cigars are a very complex experience and cannot be defined merely by their individual flavors. 

Developing your palate

So how do you work to develop your palate?  In searching for an answer, I came across the ReMARKable Palate podcast (iTunes).  The specific episode about developing your palate is episode #177, available here.  It is a long winded discussion of taste but it does point out many interesting facets of flavor.

Also, be sure to read the Tasting section on Tobacconist University.  This is an excellent explanation of taste and senses that will help you understand how we taste.

For me, the act of 'tasting' a cigar is based on identifying the basic tastes of bitter, sweet, salty, sour, spice and umami.  Once you learn how to identify these basic tastes, you can start to work on the flavors that result from combining these tastes.  To do this, I can offer a couple of suggestions.  The first and most important is to smoke a variety of cigars that represent a wide variety of flavors.  This will help you to appreciate the various flavors (don't forget aroma!) that can be present in cigars.

The next step would be to take a cigar that has been described to have a specific flavor and prior to lighting the cigar, sample an example of the flavor you are looking for.  For example, if a cigar is described as having a black pepper flavor, taste some black pepper.  Then smoke the cigar and see how the experience of the black pepper is exhibited in the cigar.  This is a long process but if you really want to develop your palate, this will help.  You can follow the same process with many foods such as lemons, cinnamon and other foods/spices.  As you taste each one, try to identify the characteristics that set each flavor apart.  Does the flavor appear on one portion of the tongue or is the aroma very identifiable?  For some, taking notes will help them to assimilate the characteristics into their memory.

Remember, that as impressive as it is to be able to dissect the flavors of a cigar, it is not necessary to being an accomplished cigar enthusiast.