I think my palate has reached a new level

[INT]

I've been enjoying cigars for 10 years. But it was only within the last 2 that I've done so regularly. Be it time, money, lack of humidor or decent local tobacconist, I only enjoyed them from time to time at parties or special occasions like a successful mission when I was in the AF. This is where it began to pick up, as with what I did we had quite a few "cigar" occasions (I.E. we bombed the **** out of something ). But as such, I tended to prefer mild to mild/medium smokes in both body profile and flavor. I could enjoy them, they had enough flavors to intrigue, and they wouldn't leave me feeling sick.

About two years ago I finally was able to purchase a small humidor and be able to afford (both with time and money) the chance to really keep a supply around and enjoy this wonderful hobby. I started slow, probably having one per week. Then as finances got better and sampled different ones that intrigued me more and more, one a week turned into two, then three and for the last 6-8 months or so I've been having 1, sometimes 2 daily.

Today, after having a mild cigar, I had sort of an epiphany. A light went off. I think I've sampled enough cigars of varying flavors and strength that I'm liking mild cigars less and less. At least liking them to enjoy as anything other than the "early morning coffee companion smoke." I find myself reaching for dark natural and maduro wrappers more and more. For example, I just sampled the Nub Maduro 460 not long ago. BOOM. Fan-freaking-tastic. The flavors and aroma...so much more rich. And I thought the Nub Connecticut had good flavors for being a mild. A step up in strength and maduro wrapper was a huge difference.

A year and a half ago all I smoked were mild to mild medium cigars. Now that I've been able to enjoy cigars on a consistent basis for a couple years, I've built up tolerance to more fuller bodied and flavored ones. Now I tend to go for the medium to full bodied smokes. The flavors and aromas are just more pronounced and provide more enjoyment. And I can handle them now.

There are still some mild cigars that offer a wonderful amount of flavor though. I really like the Nub Connecticut. It's mild, but the flavors and aroma are more pronounced than most connecticuts I've sampled. Cusano 18 is another, Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut as well. And for me, now at this stage in the cigar hobby, they have their place as an easy smoke on the stomach first thing in the morn to wake up with. No longer will they be regular smoke, unless I'm just not feeling it that day.

So I guess this my farewell to the mild cigar. I'm retiring you to morning duty. You'll forever hold a special place in my heart, for building me up the bigger leagues. Thank you.

[md4958]

congratulations! for me it was a Por Larranaga Petite Corona gifted by TRicker.

Thanks bastard, Im broke now because of you!!

[INT]

Lol! Awesome. I think for me if I had to pick one cigar that started the trend, it was the Perdomo Habano criojo, and here's why.

I sampled one when I was still pretty much on milds full time. The piece I got was the Gran Torpedo. I got about hald way through it and had to put it out. I was not feeling well if you catch my drift. I stayed away...far away from anything that wasn't mild after that for a while. Then about 5-6 months ago after sampling quite a few mediums for a while and said "Screw it. I wanna try this one again because it was great until I started feeling sick." So I did, this time a regular torpedo, and it was great. I had it on a full stomach. It's been down hill ever since. I've sampled a RP Decade, Cohiba Puro Dominicano, Some Gurkhas, and a few other medium and fuller smokes.

The difference in flavors and aromas is like "wow." So much more to the experience now. LP #9 is next. It's sitting in the humi

[jjirons69]

Those dark RPs are all good smokes (to me). Maduros are medium to full and are a fantastic way to go when trying something new. Corojos can be another adventure. There's so many blends out there and it's fun to see how each tastes. Try several of each one you run across to get a true representation. After a while you'll start noticing the ones that go best with morning Joe and the ones that go best after a hardy dinner. Don't worry about price, the lesser expensive ones often taste better than the expensive ones. That's what's truly neat about this hobby. There's so much variety and your taste will change from time to time. One last thing, there's a lot of hype out there. Smoke what YOU like. Good luck out there and have fun.

Also, thanks for your service!

[gator_79]

Congrats on moving up. If you like a maduro wrapper I suggest you try the Fuente 8-5-8 Maduro. They are medium in strength and flavor, and reasonably priced. About $5.00 locally here, and worth the price.

[SteelCityBoy]

For me it was a similar transformation. I still don't mind a milder smoke every now and then but my palate craves flavor and complexity. I love the challenge of trying to figure out what the cigar is offering me. If you haven't already,try the 601 Blue Label maduro. Excellent smoke!

[Crownedone]

Welcome to the dark side! My moment came from a Saint Luis rey G maduro.

[dave]

I had two significant game-changing taste-milestones. First was that initial time that I retrohaled and REALLY tasted a cigar for the first time. BAM. Whole new experience. Second was my first or second lancero. It was getting hot and bitter, so I forced myself to slow way down and WHAM. I realized that I smoked cigars for years without really having a clue.

When I first started smoking I hated mild cigars, because I thought they were bland and had no affect nicotine-wise.
Now I have learned to enjoy mild cigars as much a strong cigars.- but this may be due to the fact I now know good blends that make flavorful mild cigars.

When I first started smoking I wouldn't smoke anything but maduros;
now I tend to enjoy all types of wrappers and smoke more non-maduros.

When I first started smoking I bought nothing but Churchills thinking they were a better value.
Now I buy smaller cigars, and just smoke more than one.

When I first started smoking I had an RP Edge that kicked my rear and I never smoked another Rocky again.
This month I had a Litto Gomez that kicked my rear and I want to find another one.