Is it me?

[shilala]

Originally Posted by lenguamor

Our palate evolves, but it's not as linear a process as we'd like to envision; it also goes through phases.

For instance, I'm not a big chocolate lover; I can take it or leave it most times. But then, there are times when I suddenly crave it, and it tastes like heaven for a little while. Same with ice cream.

With cigars, you have to factor in that each cigar is constructed of leaves which should each fit a certain flavor profile in order to make a greater whole, but may vary individually, and sometimes a lot.

Also your mood, the condition of your taste buds at a given time, weather—all that and more combine to influence how a cigar tastes to you at the exact time when you smoke it.

And there are cigars you like, and those you simply don't. For example, Joyas have a fervent and loyal following, but I will never enjoy one no matter the circumstances; they simply aren't what I look for in a cigar. Maybe Liga isn't your cup of tea, either. No biggie.

Which would suit you better, Joe?
A cigar like a LFD triple Ligero A, or Tat Noella, or Liga Undercrown that starts at it's flavor, and then stays at that exact same flavor for 2-4 hours
...or...
An '08 JJ maduro or Oliva blue band, or Padron Anni that starts as one thing that's incredibly good, then changes into another thing that's incredibly good, and changes again, then culminates into something that's so incredibly good that words can't describe it? Something that's totally made you lose track, or care about time?
That second one, that's a good cigar to me.

[lenguamor]

Originally Posted by shilala

Which would suit you better, Joe?
A cigar like a LFD triple Ligero A, or Tat Noella, or Liga Undercrown that starts at it's flavor, and then stays at that exact same flavor for 2-4 hours
...or...
An '08 JJ maduro or Oliva blue band, or Padron Anni that starts as one thing that's incredibly good, then changes into another thing that's incredibly good, and changes again, then culminates into something that's so incredibly good that words can't describe it? Something that's totally made you lose track, or care about time?
That second one, that's a good cigar to me.

Scott, that Oliva blue silk band that you sent me was a freakin' revelation. Life-alteringly good. But it had 10 years on it; I wonder what I would have thought of that cigar if I had tasted ROTT...

I do love the Tat Noellas and all of the small gauges from PJ that I've tried; hated the red-band Havana VI; again, here you have circumstance injected to the equation: I was at one of my nephew's ball games and I had no other cigar, so my resentment of "being stuck" with that awful stick compounded my feelings.

Padron Annis are heaven to me, especially the maduros. The Undercrown...they're a conundrum. Smoke them ROTT and you'll likely be underwhelmed; but JD himself told me that waiting 30-45 days after you buy them makes a difference. And I'd love to have the wherewithal to put a number of them away for 1-5 years, tasting along the way and making notes to compare.

The LP-9 I had was superb; a UF-13 was also superb, a singular joy. I have a couple T-52s and MUWAT Baitfish waiting in the RTS humi. We passed a FFP around at the Blueface/Mr. Maduro herf last month and it was underwhelming, but I could see a lot of potential there.

I'll never like anything with "triple ligero" in the name, nor anything that advertises itself as "strong as balls." Strength just isn't what I smoke cigars for, and pepper is a nice undertone in an otherwise complex cigar, but in the forefront I find it offensively obstructive. It gets in the way of anything else the cigar might have to offer.

The skill of a blender shows in a blend which allows many flavors to come through the smoke; nuanced, bold...mingled, separate—every flavor change is pure joy for me, like opening one present after another on Christmas. No flavor has to be "greater" than another, just so that all can have their moment. That to me is a perfect cigar; Punch Ninfas and PLPCs give me that...the HU Mag 50 ELs I smoked ROTT after their release too. And that Oliva. :

[lenguamor]

To finish my last post...

Conversely, anyone at all can just throw a bunch of ligero and medio-tiempo into a blend and call it good. I think of that as lazy blending; it demonstrates no art nor craft. It takes no skill nor imagination, because a cigar like that won't taste like anything except pepper, and it's just designed to deliver nicotine.

And while I don't begrudge anyone their taste, that's definitely not for me.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by lenguamor

The skill of a blender shows in a blend which allows many flavors to come through the smoke; nuanced, bold...mingled, separate—every flavor change is pure joy for me, like opening one present after another on Christmas. No flavor has to be "greater" than another, just so that all can have their moment. That to me is a perfect cigar; Punch Ninfas and PLPCs give me that...the HU Mag 50 ELs I smoked ROTT after their release too. And that Oliva. :

I didn't mean that question to be cigar specific, but you worked right through the confusion to the answer I guessed you'd give me.
I keep tons of cigars that take me on that trip, because that's what I like from a cigar. I get that from a PLpc, as well. You should try a Hoyo du Gourmet, you'd die twice, my friend.
I've not tried a Punch Ninfa, it's one of those cigars that's managed to elude me for lots of years. If I ever stumble across a box, I'll definately gather them up.
Punch RS 11's deliver the same kind of morphing, twisting, changing experience, and so do Old Henry maduros with a couple years.
There's not an Oliva that I've found worth smoking ROTT. They all need a year to air out, so far as I'm concerned. After 2-3 years, they get REAL good and they stay there. That blue band isn't an anomaly with Oliva, it's the rule. Their stuff ages fantastically.

[lenguamor]

Originally Posted by shilala

I didn't mean that question to be cigar specific, but you worked right through the confusion to the answer I guessed you'd give me.
I keep tons of cigars that take me on that trip, because that's what I like from a cigar. I get that from a PLpc, as well. You should try a Hoyo du Gourmet, you'd die twice, my friend.
I've not tried a Punch Ninfa, it's one of those cigars that's managed to elude me for lots of years. If I ever stumble across a box, I'll definately gather them up.
Punch RS 11's deliver the same kind of morphing, twisting, changing experience, and so do Old Henry maduros with a couple years.
There's not an Oliva that I've found worth smoking ROTT. They all need a year to air out, so far as I'm concerned. After 2-3 years, they get REAL good and they stay there. That blue band isn't an anomaly with Oliva, it's the rule. Their stuff ages fantastically.

I believe we can fix that. :

And I haven't tried a Le Hoyo that I haven't liked, Scott. I have a box of '00 du Maires that I value like gold.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by shilala

I didn't mean that question to be cigar specific, but you worked right through the confusion to the answer I guessed you'd give me.
I keep tons of cigars that take me on that trip, because that's what I like from a cigar. I get that from a PLpc, as well. You should try a Hoyo du Gourmet, you'd die twice, my friend.
I've not tried a Punch Ninfa, it's one of those cigars that's managed to elude me for lots of years. If I ever stumble across a box, I'll definately gather them up. Punch RS 11's deliver the same kind of morphing, twisting, changing experience, and so do Old Henry maduros with a couple years.
There's not an Oliva that I've found worth smoking ROTT. They all need a year to air out, so far as I'm concerned. After 2-3 years, they get REAL good and they stay there. That blue band isn't an anomaly with Oliva, it's the rule. Their stuff ages fantastically.

Originally Posted by lenguamor

I believe we can fix that. :

Oooo, I haven't tried one of those either. Can you fix me too?

[lilninjabuddy]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

Oooo, I haven't tried one of those either. Can you fix me too?

Never tried one? I've never even heard of it before!

[Emjaysmash]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

Of course, there could be another explanation with that one - it was just 1 cigar, and it was a bad one. Ask MJ to chime in here. There was a metallic tast to it, even set off my fillings (you know, like when you touch aluminum foil to a filling).

I remember having a problem with not liking that cigar. I love Oliva Vs, so this should have been right up my alley.

Of course, that's one cigar I'd be willing to take a bullet for the team and try again.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

I concur with what the good Reverend has stated. Both to the WOAM and the Blue Cloth Band. I seem to remember we had smoked another Blue Cloth band that was somewhat better, but nothing to write home about.

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

Oooo, I haven't tried one of those either. Can you fix me too?

You're starting to sound like Moochburg over here.

That boy's a bad influence!

[Zanaspus]

Smoke what you like, like what you smoke.

Illusiones seemed to be loved by every Asylum member other than me. Same with Fuente. I don't let it bother me. I buy what I like.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by lenguamor

I believe we can fix that. :

And I haven't tried a Le Hoyo that I haven't liked, Scott. I have a box of '00 du Maires that I value like gold.

I've eyeballed some fresh du maires, I know I'd like them. I can only guess how these du gourmet's would smooth out with time. Right now they're fantastic, but they're a bit wet and like to go out on me. I've thought that since I'm smoking mainly cc's I should bring down my big humi to 60%, I just haven't done it. I'm not excited about waiting a year till things straighten out from that big a change, ya know?
I think you and I should do a ninfa/blue band swap. I have the bold orange silk O's that John likes, too. I'll send you a pic...