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| Volume 2 Number 8 | August, 1997 |
"How do you taste test the cigars for your Editor's comments?" is one of the most common questions I receive. Unlike many other items that are judged and graded, cigars have no set guidelines or protocol to follow while rating their worthiness. Basically it is left to the individual to establish their own method. Therefore I can not tell you the "right" way to taste test a cigar, but I can tell you how I go about it.
It is not uncommon for me to smoke a new cigar "on the fly", in other words, just in the course of a normal day. It may be in the morning with a fresh palate, or possibly after I have smoked a half dozen cigars before it. When I smoke a cigar in this manner, it is normally because someone handed it to me and is looking for a quick opinion. Almost always I can form some sort of initial impression, particularly if it is bad. It is much easier to identify the dog rockets than those cigars that are worth your attention. This is simply because awful cigars assault your palate, while a worthwhile cigar may be too subtle for you to note since you smoked it after tossing back a huge Tex-Mex meal followed by three Habana Partagas Coronas. Whenever I taste test a cigar this way I always preface my comments with caveats warning that it is only my initial impression, and that it isn't worth very much. There have been plenty of cigars that I was initially impressed with, but ultimately found disappointing after having the opportunity to resample. Ditto on the flip side, some cigars I thought stunk during the virgin smoke were actually quite good once given the proper tasting.
When I am smoking a cigar to give someone a refined opinion, I have a strict methodology that I endure to complete its tasting. Initially I always sample the cigar mid-afternoon long after lunch, but before dinner. I only drink water while taste testing so as to not skew my tastebuds. This first taste test is to get an idea of what general type of cigar it is, for example the construction, the strength, and the degree of body it possesses. Of course I try to identify the flavors, complexities, and country of origin if possible, but really what I am trying to accomplish during this sampling is to determine if the smoke is a morning cigar, after a heavy meal cigar, while mowing the lawn cigar, and so on. With this in mind, I then smoke it when my own tastes are best suited to this individual cigar. During follow up tasting I still only drink water, and I try to concentrate exclusively on the cigar. I make written notes each time, but do not compare them till I have finished all the cigars within the sample. If I find discrepancies within my notes, I go back and smoke the same cigar again and try to resolve my conflict. This entire process typically take 5 cigars, and is stretched out over a couple of weeks.
When selecting the cigars for the MOTT I am very careful to select cigars that I have smoked no less than a dozen times previously. In fact, almost all of the MOTT cigars are ones that I have smoked well over a box of in the past. The "Editor's 2 Cents" are based upon my cumulative opinions regarding each cigar and not a single sampling. Does that make them any more right than the next guys' opinion? Absolutely not, however I do feel confident with my opinions as expressed, but their worthiness can only be judged by yourself compared against your own tasting. I try very hard to not dismiss a cigar that does not suit my fancy, but to grade it against all the other cigars on the market and rank it within its type of cigar. For me this is easier than for some others since I smoke a wide variety of cigars in origin, size, shape, and price. There are many cigar smokers that dismiss all that isn't Cuban, anything smaller than a robusto, or any maduro wrapped cigar. This is okay for them because they know what they personally enjoy, but it is not the firmest of foundations upon which to construct an impartial opinion. And finally, I also try to interject the commonly held opinion of others. Even if I think the cigar is lousy, I always point out that it has a faithful following of smokers who cherish its taste.
If you've read all of that, then you really do have too much free time on your hands. Bottomline, regardless of what any magazine prints, any "expert" claims, or what Bubba down the street says, you should always taste test every cigar for yourself prior to forming an opinion. The MOTT is here to serve as an entertaining and informative read, and to hopefully identify a few cigars you have yet to sample as worth trying. If you are one of those bozos that regard ratings as absolute I strongly suggest you consider the title of these reviews - the Monthly OFFICIOUS Taste Test. Look it up! ;>
I greatly appreciate your continued readership and support for this endeavor...thanks.
This month's tasters were:
- Mark Johnson
- Brian Mehle
- Tom Mullaney
All three tasters took their taste testing duties seriously, and put considerable effort into their reviews. At first I thought they just wanted to see me have to work harder, but the truth is they did a bang-up job for us. I thank them for their efforts on our behalf.
These are written by each taster to give you a quick insight
to their likes and dislikes.
Mark Johnson
"I've been smoking cigars for about 3 to 4 years. When I started I liked light bodied cigars like the Romeo y Julieta Vintage Series (especially the Vintage V). I have smoked a few maduros like Onyx and Santa Rosa and have started moving toward a medium strength smoke over the past year. I have always enjoyed a good Cameroon wrapper and found that EMS cigars are nice too. My frequent choices (non-Cuban) are Punch, Arturo Fuente Hemingway, AF 858, and Romeo y Julieta Vintage V. I also like to experiment. The last time I tried a Partagas it was still a little too stout for my tastes. My palate isn't the most refined, and my vocabulary doesn't earn a place in CA, but then the MOTT is meant to dispel that sort of thing, so maybe I'll do OK. I especially like the "special" rolls like torpedoes and pyramids. I usually smoke 1 to 5 cigars a week except when traveling or for special occasions (like crawls) then that number jumps dramatically. All MOTT cigars were smoked as the first cigar of the day. Water was the beverage of choice."
Brian Mehle
"37 year old male. Smoked cigarettes for 22 years. I quit in June of 96. Started smoking imported cigars in July. I generally smoke 2 to 3 cigars per day. I don't inhale. My preference for size is 6 x 45. I prefer cigars that have Honduran filler, are full bodied, and medium to strong in taste. I have smoked over 50 different brands of Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Honduran cigars. My favorites are Don Thomas SE 100s, Hoyo Excaliburs, and Gispert. I've also had the pleasure of smoking some Cuban Partagas and Montecristo No. 3s which were very enjoyable. PS: I have yet to be able to discern the distinct "flavors" such as chocolate or spice etc...that you aficionados describe."
Tom Mullaney
"Although I have been smoking cigars on and off for nearly 40 years I didn't undertake it as a serious interest until I retired 2 1/2 years ago. Now I smoke 6 - 8 cigars a day. My taste is very broad; I will smoke almost anything other than the most heavy bodied cigars such as ERHs or San Luis' and Nicaraguans as I don't generally like the taste of tobacco from Nicaragua. I am constantly searching for new segundos and then comparing them with their upscale brothers. I really enjoy getting together with the local ASCers in LA to share my latest discoveries."
The three cigars each of them blind taste tested for us were:
All of the particulars were rated within a simplified "check the appropriate box" type scheme with each taster encouraged to make personal comments. All of the comments are verbatim for everyone's review.
And finally on to the taste test!
made in: La Romana, Dominican Republic - made by: Consolidated Cigars size : 5 5/8" x 46 wrapper: Indonesia filler : Dominican Republic binder : Dominican Republic price : $4.35 ea.
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect Mark: xx ------ xx Brian: xx Tom: xx Mark said - Slight to moderate veining in the wrapper. The wrapper was medium in color - not a claro, but not a Cameroon either. It was about corona sized with a slight satin sheen to it that I would assume is from the oils of the tobacco. The pre- light aroma of the cigar can best be described as sort of, "Did I forget to wash my hands the last time I used the restroom?" A very close look at the wrapper showed those little small nodules that I think are called "tooth" all over it. Brian said - Had a brown natural wrapper. Consistent OD. Vein structure was very good and small, but "brown natural". Not very impressive. 6 x 45? Tom said - Very nice dark wrapper with slight mottling. Pleasant smell before lighting.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx Mark said - It was a little soft near the foot of the cigar, and the filler was a little uneven when looking at the exposed end of the cigar. There were no splits, tears, or lumps. It had a nice squared- off cap. Brian said - Very well made. Consistent firmness end to end. The cigar held together very well. Cap stayed intact. Tom said - Very well constructed, no recognizable defects.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled Mark: [no problems reported by any taster, except Mark Brian: who dropped his on the patio! He says the self- Tom: induced split corrected itself.]
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white Mark: xx --------- xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great Mark: xx ----- xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Taste = Mark said - It has a slight oily finish. It began with a sort of "bite" and a metallic taste. Maybe a Honduran? Before the halfway point it lost the metallic taste and the "bite" smoothed out. Brian said - A taste I've never experienced before. I don't think it is Honduran or Dominican. I am guessing USA or Philippines. The taste stayed consistent from start to finish. It started to get bitter at the band. The taste was dry. I could not pin it down. Tom said - Light spice and a hint of sweetness. Very heavy aftertaste.
Overall Impression = Mark said - It was a hearty work-a-day smoke. It would hold up well when drinking coffee or after a moderate meal. Brian said - The taste never finished developing itself. Kind of like a dry wine. I was still waiting. Tom said - I liked everything about this cigar, but the aftertaste. It would be difficult to follow up. I'd guess a Canary Island.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.) Mark said - Yes Brian said - No Tom said - YesSCALE ============= YOWZA!!! Great Smoke Pretty Good <--- Tom Decent/Worthy <--- Mark Ho-Hum Blah... <--- Brian Dog Rocket! Editor's 2 Cents - The H. Upmann Churchill's name has been a constant source of confusion to new cigar smokers for over two decades now. It is not a Churchill in stature as its packaging implies, but rather a Corona Gorda sized cigar. This cigar is one of Consolidated Cigars benchmark smokes, and has served as a dependable, consistent, and well made cigar throughout the years. A shift to Indonesian wrapper in lieu of Cameroon due to availability is the only change this elder Dominican has endured. If you talk to some of the old timers though, they consider this to have been huge mistake by Consolidated, and claim that it ruined what was regarded as one the best Dominican cigars ever available. The quality construction is still as solid as ever which is confirmed by all three of our tasters opinions. This stout little smoke provides the smoker with a definite taste of spice and a solid finish which showcases its medium bodied strength. The burn and draw are nearly always perfect during this 30 - 45 minute smoke. It lacks complexity and character with the Far East wrapper, but still remains a worthwhile cigar for you to sample. Mark's comment that it is a "work-a- day" is right on target. Personally I wish I still had some of the Cameroon wrapped ones left in my humidor so I could do a side by side taste test myself.Back to Top
made in: Santiago, Dominican Republic made by: JC Newman Cigar Co. size : 7 1/4" x 48 wrapper: USA Connecticut Shade filler : Dominican Republic binder : Dominican Republic price : $6.25 ea.
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect Mark: [no reply] Brian: xx Tom: xx Mark said - It had a very light, natural wrapper (claro?). It showed a few signs of lumps from the filler and binder. There was no sheen of oils at all. Brian said - Wrapper was a various nice leaf, but appeared dry. Light brown. No oil - natural. 7 x 46-48? Tom said - Some wrapper veins. No real smell before lighting.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx Mark said - There were a couple of hard spots and the foot showed a few voids in the filler. Brian said - Excellently made. Consistent body. Cap stayed intact. Burned very nice. Tom said - A little tight, but that is not a problem to me.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even Mark: xx ------ xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled Mark: Brian: [no problems reported by any taster] Tom:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid Mark: xx ------- xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged Mark: xx ----- xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful Mark: xx Brian: xx ----- xx Tom: xx
Taste = Mark said - This cigar was so mild it was hard to tell much about it. There was none of the complexity of cigar #3 either. It had a grassy/tobacco taste. Brian said - Mild, consistent to the end. I actually got a hint of sweetness at the very end. I could taste mild Dominican filler. Tom said - Mildly vegetal overall, consistent flavor throughout.
Overall Impression = Mark said - From its shape (and the fact that you had to cut and light it) it must be a cigar. Brian said - Very good cigar. A bit mild compared to my own tastes. Tom said - A one dimensional cigar with nothing in particular to recommend it. Tastes like a very mild Honduran.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.) Mark said - No Brian said - Yes Tom said - NoSCALE ============= YOWZA!!! Great Smoke Pretty Good Decent/Worthy <--- Brian Ho-Hum <--- Tom Blah... <--- Mark Dog Rocket! Editor's 2 Cents - The Cuesta-Rey Aristocrat is a Connecticut Shade Double Corona that comes ten to a box with each cigar encased within a glass tube. It makes for an attractive presentation, but I disagree with various manufacturer's claims that the cigars will be held in perfect condition within the tubes. I highly recommend that you open the tubes and store the cigars in a proper humidified environment. These cigars sport solid construction, blemish free shade wrappers, and even burn with a nice tight dense ash. So far so good huh? Well here is the snag - it has virtually zero body. With the exception of a slight nutty hint these cigars are almost devoid of taste and scent. Attempting to smoke this cigar faster in hopes of generating more flavor results in an unappealing grassy taste. Its mild blend is far too light to be used in a double corona sized cigar, and is better suited to a lonsdale or corona gorda format. If you are in search of an extra mild Double Corona, this cigar might just be the perfect ticket, otherwise I suggest you pass on these.
made in : Santiago, Dominican Republic owned by: Antillian Cigar size : 6 1/4" x 54 Torpedo wrapper : USA Connecticut Shade filler : Dominican Republic binder : Dominican Republic price : $6.75 ea.
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx Mark said - Even though this was cigar #3, my preference for "special" rolls made it my first MOTT selection for the test - I love a good torpedo! The wrapper appears to be a light CT shade, has only the slightest veining, and has a satin sheen. One detraction is that the filler seemed pretty lumpy near the cap. Since a torpedo is harder to make some allowances can be made. The pre-light aroma is good. As light a color as this one is, it looks to be one best smoked slowly and deliberately. Brian said - Beautiful perfectly tapered pyramid. 6 x 38-50. Light brown wrapper. Very nice color. Very fine vein structure. Tom said - Smooth oily wrapper, with a very good smell before lighting.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx Mark said - The exposed end (foot) of the cigar showed unevenly bunched filler and it's slightly soft near the foot. Again, the taper near the cap was pretty lumpy. Brian said - Very well made. Perfect taper, consistent body construction from end to end. Tom said - No apparent defects.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled Mark: Brian: [no problems reported by any taster] Tom:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white Mark: xx --------- xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid Mark: xx (w/ minor flakes) Brian: xx Tom: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great Mark: xx ------ xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub Mark: xx Brian: xx Tom: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful Mark: xx ---- xx Brian: xx ---- xx Tom: xx
Taste = Mark said - A mild smoke with a creamy finish. As it progresses it got stronger, but never got stronger than a medium body. At about the 1/3 point hints of spices were noted. Hints of leather appeared at about the halfway mark. Brian said - It tasted like a typical Nicaraguan cigar. I personally don't favor Nicaraguans. The flavor leaves something to be desired for me. I just smoked a "Casa De Nicaragua" churchill the night before. Similar taste. Tom said - A great straight ahead taste with a nice nutty flavor.
Overall Impression = Mark said - Smoke this one slowly! I took about 1.5 to 2 hours to finish this one. It started out very mild, but as with my favorite torps, it changed character the longer you smoked it. You'll note that I use a lot of "hints of this" or "hints of that." That is what this smoke is about - subtleties. A meal or a cup of coffee would overpower this cigar. I'd make this a first smoke of the day so that you can appreciate its mild flavors. It's sort of like smoking different colors of silk. Brian said - Very consistent flavor from start to finish. Well made cigar. Tom said - A very good pyramid. I am not normally a pyramid smoker, but for this one I will make an exception.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.) Mark said - Yes Brian said - Yes Tom said - YesSCALE ============= YOWZA!!! Great Smoke <--- Mark & Tom Pretty Good <--- Brian (if you're a Nicaraguan fan) Decent/Worthy Ho-Hum Blah... Dog Rocket! Editor's 2 Cents - The Family Selection No. 2 was introduced by the famous cigarmaker Juan Sosa in 1995, and named in honor of his family's life work. These handmade premiums are packaged in traditional cabinet style boxes of 10. The size/shape is referred to as "torpedoes" by the manufacturer, but actually it is a pyramide shape with a long taper from its narrow head to its broad foot. The wrapper is a blend of chestnut and honey brown with a glossy sheen of oil. The construction is outstanding throughout resulting in an excellent draw and even burn. Both the bouquet (pre-light aroma) and the smoke are tantalizing to the nose. The taste is rich and difficult to pin down as it fills your mouth with subtle flavors of nut, toast, and wood. The No. 2 requires a clear palate and to be smoked while relaxing in order to benefit from its subtle nuances; it is not a cigar that can be rushed, and should be enjoyed with only the lightest of spirits. All in all, I regard this complex mild-medium bodied Dominican torpedo as a "must try" cigar.
These three tasters were great! They really nailed all three of their blind taste test smokes with on-da'-money observations. Also they were very consistent with their comments and ratings. Brian's recommendation of cigar #2, which he personally thought too mild for himself yet realized as a well made cigar, is the mark of an impartial judge who doesn't allow his personal likes and dislikes to cloud his overall opinions. Mark and Tom's ratings were bull's-eyes throughout the test. An exceptional team of tasters whose opinions I regard as very noteworthy. Great job guys!
Do you think their heads are swelled up like pumpkins yet? Well let me just deflate your noggins a slight bit by suggesting all three of you give up guessing the origin of the tobaccos in the future. <wink>
The drawing for next month's MOTTley crew of tasters yielded the following names:
Congrats to you three, and your cigars are on their way!
To enter Saka's Monthly Officious Taste Test pool all you have to do is fill out the automated entry form by selecting the "become a taster" icon at the top. Your entry will be added to the pool from which I draw the names each month. Also if you haven't read the previous Monthly Officious Taste Tests then your making a huge mistake, possibly life threatening. OK, so I am exaggerating a little, but I assure you they are worth taking a peek.
Next month the MOTT begins its expanded format which will review five cigars instead of the usual three. Thank you once again for your continued readership and support.
Steven T. Saka
saka@cigarnexus.com
http://www.cigarnexus.com
©1997 Nexus InterMedia LLC. All rights reserved. MOTT is a trademark of Nexus InterMedia LLC
