A few miscellaneous cigar questions

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by MrOneEyedBoh

I did a search and couldn't find anything similar to what I was asking. So here they are...

1) When a cigar burns in a cone shape what does that represent? What about an inverse cone? What about a flat burn? ( I'm talking about after you ash a cigar, the cherry is either cone, inverted or flat ) Is this a direct representation on how your smoking the cigar? ( Fast, slow, drawing too hard, not hard enough )

2) Seems like when I smoke now the only flavors I can identify is floral and nutty flavors. Why? Is is because that is the only ones I can pick out yet, or maybe I'm manifesting it in my head that those are the flavors I'm tasting?

3) When aging cigars, what is the prime age? Say someone says it has "3 years" on it, are they using the box date and going three years on that, or are they going three years on from when they receive the box? How old is too old ( age wise ), like if I have cigars and I plan on sitting on them for a bit. When do they just skunk out and taste that vintage taste I keep hearing about?

I'm sure some people are going to flame me and say put these in the noob thread, but I think these are more specific and there is more then one answer needed here. These seem like more than just a yes no answer.

Hopefully someone can help me out here.

1. A slight cone in normal. Ligero used is normally in the center and burns a little slower than other leaves of the plant but if the cone is really large you could be smoking too fast or the inside of the cigar is more wet than the outside. An inverted cone or tunneling, to me, is either again smoking too fast and or the outside of the cigar is more wet than the inside. Flat is just right, imo. Most of the time that is my experience with most cigars and my smoking rate with maybe a very slight cone.

2. You taste what you taste. The more you smoke the more you are likely to taste and the nasal exhale is very important as you taste the most with the olfactory system, not the tongue.

3. Prime age is whatever you determine that to be. There is not set date as people don't have the same tastes. When determining age, most will go by the box code if there is one and if not, just the time they have had it. How old is too old? That, you can never tell and again is totally up to your tastes. Proper storage is the key. Vintage is usually considered more than 10 years but some cigars age slower than others so it takes more time to taste "vintage". One you taste that "vintage" taste, you will never forget it. Find a large herf and get into a ppp with some experienced people. That's how many of us first had that experience with the sic junk.

I'm sure others can add to this but I hope this helps a little.