Monday, November 29 1999
Q. Why does the flavor of a cigar change as you smoke it?
- C. Miller
A. Great question. The flavor changes because as the cigar begins to smoke down, the flavors in the tobaccos meld and often intensify. It's an evolution of sorts. A well-blended cigar will remain reasonably consistent from start to finish, and may even become more "complex" as additional flavors are revealed during your experience.
Often though, the cigar will turn bitter at some point, usually late in the final third. Once it does, toss it. There's no use continuing to smoke something that tastes lousy. What started out as a good cigar, could cause you to remember it as a bad cigar. Even if it was an expensive cigar, if you smoked most of it and really enjoyed it, then it was worth it.
One last piece of advice: Make sure you toast and light your cigars properly, and don't draw on them too often. This will help bring out the best of your cigars' flavors.
