http://www.sptimes.com/2002/11/03/TampaBay/Cigar_aficionados_puf.shtml 

St. Petersburg Times, November 3, 2002

...Robert Spoden, the president and chief executive officer of Bucanero Cigars, said it makes you think about the days when Cuban immigrants rolled each cigar by hand.

"There's so many cigars out there, if you take the band off, there's no distinguishing traits from one to the other," said Spoden, whose company specializes in hand-rolled cigars.

I agree with him. If you put an IT Super Fuerte Maduro next to a Mayorga Maduro and a Maria Mancini Maduro and a Perdomo Cabinet Maduro, you will be hard pressed to tell them apart. They smoke very similar too. That's just a few examples. But the Bucs? Nothin' else like 'em! Arrrgghh!

I am not an expert, but I with my limited knowledge, I would disagree with this. I havent, for example, had many smokes that tasted like the Acid Def Sea. I would agree that a lot of smokes have resemblences to each other, but "no distinguishing traits"...
Anyone else?
Ezell

I read this in a book;

"I have never tasted cinnamon in a cigar. Neither have I tasted nutmeg, leather, fruit, or a hint of straw. Cigars taste like cigars, and they should be judged on their body, the quality and age of the tobaccos, and the consistency of construction. These are the things by which you discribe a great cigar"
-A cigar company executive

buffallo --- I think that Robert was referring to 'real' cigars ...

... not the ones 'pumped up' with the stuff they use to scent candles and bathtub water ... 😉

Slim....you crack me up! You wrote what I was thinking...DOH! Is this thing on? I didn't say that out loud...I was just thinkin' it...yeah, that's the ticket!

SP, that cigar quote hits the nail right on the head. None of that stuff is ever put in a cigar anyway, so I'm baffled as to how anyone can claim to taste it.

puskarich --- different tobaccos from different parts of the world will have different flavor 'notes' associated with the curing processes, soil conditions, climates, type of plant, where it is harvested from the plant, sun or shade ... etc.

Just like fine Wines, Scotches, etc., will have different flavor notes from one to the next, the bouquets (scent will affect taste), the different bodies ... and so on.

I dunno ... maybe some folks taste buds are more 'keen' or more 'in tune' to the subtle flavors that exist in different cigars ... more than others are ...

When I worked for the National Food Laboratory many years ago, I was trained as a 'taste test' panelist. This training went on for many months. We actually had to taste samples of carboard, leather, etc. to train ourselves to be able to detect these properties in foods ... if they were present.

It's not hard for me to detect many of the different flavor profiles that may be in cigar smoke ... that is, if it's there.

^ So whats your preference, cardboard or leather?

I prefer my cardboard with a hint of pencil lead. LOL

Barry

Slim, I see what he is saying.. but statements like that are too general.. then again the press never get it right.. I was once called a "Genius" (Ft. Worth Star)

I tasted beetlejuice once...er no er wait a minute I saw the movie Beetlejuice once, yeah that's the ticket. JonR

Hey, I'm Betelgeuse!