What Makes an Exceptional Blend Exceptioinal?

With thousands of cigars on the market it can be difficult to differentiate blends, the combination of different tobaccos used to create the flavor in a cigar. Some cigars taste dull, some taste similar to other brands, and some are exceptional and stand out on their own.  Today I will be shedding light on what I think makes for a well blended cigar. 

When I smoke a cigar, I am looking for a few things, however, Flavor profile is my priority.  Typically, there is an initial burst of flavor that diminishes into what I refer to as Flavor Body.  The most common Flavor Bodies I come across are of Cedar, Pepper, Nuts, Sweetness, or Earth and last through the whole cigar.  From here, I pick out notes of what I taste.  This can be challenging when you are first starting out.  A lot of people tell me they can’t really taste a difference between cigars.  Fear not, the more effort you put into searching for it, the easier it will come.  Keep in mind that these notes aren’t exact. It’s more about what you’re tasting reminds you of and then build upon it.  For example, if I say a cigar is Sweet, I try to differentiate whether the sweetness taste like Sugar, Fruit, Chocolate, Caramel, Vanilla, etc.  For Spice, is it Cedar, Hot Pepper Heat, a Bright Oaky Bite, a Brandy-like alcohol fume, Mint Coolness that radiates? These flavors will come and go, as a cigar changes while your smoking it.  The components layered into the blend are spread differently in each blend.

All that being said, Complexity, Subtlety, and Nuance is what makes for an exceptional blend.  The tougher it is for me to describe, the more excited I get.  Complexity as in the Range of flavors and how they work together, Subtlety as in how much of a flavor I taste and how long does it last, and Nuance as in have I tasted these combinations before.  Some of the more recent cigars with exceptional blends have been the Ashton Symmetry, Davidoff Yamasa, Avo Fogata, God of Fire, Davidoff Colorado Claro, and Padron 50 Years.  Hand me any one of those cigars unbanded and I’ll tell you exactlywhat it is.  These cigars are all unique with a flavor profile that is like a fingerprint.  If you’ve never had any of these, please, give one a try.