Re: cigar rating for beginners.
I could be wrong, but what I think is that people who love food and can taste ingredients in food have a natural transition to tasting the nuances of cigars.
I've cooked my whole adult life and I'm adventurous in my quest for new flavors, so for me to discern some of the more subtle flavors in a complex cigar is easy; I have a frame of reference for it. I know all the spices and herbs, and I make a conscious effort to discern individual flavors in food.
Also, realize that in order to discern the complexity of a cigar, that cigar has to be complex. Just as you wouldn't ask a non-musician to be a virtuoso cellist, don't ask a cigar that is made to be just a straightforward powerhouse to have much nuance.
Read the reviews; pick out cigars that you see described as having complexity and nuance, and try those; try to pick out the flavors others already have. That would be a good start.
__________________
|