Harsh start

[MiamiE]

I like to give it a real light toast. Anything prolonged seems to give those first few puffs a harsh taste.

I do not think it is from the lighting of the cigar but could be wrong. It is not just the first few puffs but a solid inch of smoking. Maybe the whole NUB thing does have merit!

[Razorhog]

Guess it depends on what you mean by harsh. A lot of the cigars I've been smoking start off with a blast of black pepper and spice and tend to mellow a bit or at least change flavor profiles. Pepin's blends of course

Just finished a series JJ which I tried for the first time. I am yet to meet a cigar by Pepin that I have not really enjoyed. I would not describe it as spice but almost like a really dry cigar and the smoke burns the back of your throat a bit. After and inch it was a smooth and great cigar. Seems to happen with all the cigars I smoke not just Pepin. I personally get the best flavors in the middle third of the cigar