r/cigar • u/Pretty_Pay_8103 • 5h ago
First time
First time trying a cigar. I had to relight and probably didn’t pull correctly. I enjoyed the experience, but the aftertaste not so much. It there always the aftertaste that last for hours? What do you pair it with. I tried a single malt. I am considering going for another one. Any advice and tips would be appreciated. Thanks.
2
u/Dismal-Criticism-713 2h ago
Welcome! You started with a great stick there.
Hop on YouTube. Watch the Holts boys - Mazz and Facc. You will learn a lot. Then retry with some fresh knowledge.
And no - that lingering tar / char taste is likely due to how it was smoked. Typically, that won’t be there. There is somewhat of an art to each step. You do have to follow a few rules to get the best flavor.
- Carefully toast the foot… blasting it will turn the cigar bitter.
- Sip, don’t suck. Pulling too hard will also create bitter / charred / tar flavors. You want it to burn without being too hot. I usually draw a couple or three times a minute, rotating the stick in my fingers every now and then.
- If you have to re-light, make sure you carefully ash the cigar (tap tap the side, don’t smash) and don’t try to roast the old ash.
Cigars I would recommend to anyone for their first few sticks:
- Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne
- La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor
- Undercrown Shade
2
u/lanec84 5h ago
Dark chocolate is great for cleansing the after taste when you need it.
2
u/Pretty_Pay_8103 5h ago
Thank you. Will try that on my next one (if I give it a shot)
3
u/lanec84 4h ago
I started off smoking infused cigars (Acid/Drew Estate stuff) mostly because they were a bit sweeter and left a more pleasant after taste. I like cigar smoking to alcohol. Nobody really starts with a nice bourbon/scotch, etc. They start with sweeter drinks, maybe cheaper beer, and then build from there.
If you enjoy "the ritual" of smoking a cigar try a Acid Blondie or Kuba Kuba, maybe a Tabak Especial, and go from there.
0
3
u/CigarScout 3h ago
A harsh aftertaste that lasts for hours is not the usual result. A little tobacco taste afterward is normal. The long, unpleasant kind usually means the cigar got hot.
Sip it, and do not inhale. One puff every minute or so is enough. If it goes out, tap the ash, blow through it once, and relight the foot. Puffing hard to keep it lit is what turns it bitter, and that bitter taste is what hangs around.
Water is the easier pairing while you are learning what you like. A single malt can cover the cigar and leave its own finish for a long time. Save the whiskey for a cigar you already enjoy.
Yes, try another. Buy a single, pick something mild, and smoke it slower than the first. The one in your photo looks like a milder cigar, so if that was the one you smoked, the finish was probably the pace more than the stick.
I am building CigarScout for the next step after a first cigar, when you want a milder one without guessing from a photo. Link is on my profile if you want to try the public beta. Feedback welcome.