Something I always talk about regarding the cigar community is how we all have different tastes. There are brands I really like that you may not. There are brands that you like that I don’t. It’s the natural order of things. There are tobacco blends, flavor profiles and even sometimes unique construction methods that don’t jive with people, for whatever reason. That’s okay, and it’s perfectly reasonable to discuss your preferences.
But there are ways to take that discussion too far into negative territory, especially when you’re talking to newcomers to the hobby. Nearly all cigar enthusiasts love sharing their experiences with others. That’s why there are so many blogs, review sites, and social media accounts dedicated to the craft. But you also have to understand that a lot of it is subjective.
What do I mean by that? Take a seat, light up a stogie with me and let’s hash this out.
There’s nothing quite like firing up a new cigar. It can go either way. You can fall in love with that blend and immediately set to ordering more, or add it to a list of must-haves. Or, you could go the opposite direction and discover that you really don’t like it. Now, I will say, it is a bummer when you’re expecting more out of a particular blend and it lets you down. It’s going to happen.
You’ll see cigars, brands and master blenders talked about all over the place that the community seems to rant and rave about. Then, when you try the cigar, it doesn’t hit right.
There’s nothing wrong with you and nothing wrong with anyone else that has a different experience. In fact, I’ll argue that’s exactly what cigars are all about. We all love sharing our experiences with one another, for better or worse. A neutral stance is almost always the healthy route to take, and there are a few reasons why.
Because most cigars are handcrafted, there’s no such thing as a truly perfect blend. I’m sure some folks will have a label that comes close. That is awesome. But you have to understand that is your experience and, in many ways, it’s unique.
The point is really that, even within the same blend, cigars vary. There could have been issues at the factory with a certain crop. Every roller makes a cigar dissimilarly. Hell, cigars can even be shipped, stored, and maintained differently. I’ve been to my fair share of lounges and shops that keep their cigars way too over-humidified.
That’s one of the reasons why you want to try a new cigar more than once to get a feel for the experience. A cigar might be defective, or it might not have been properly cared for. And that can happen with lounges, shops and even friends or other enthusiasts. It’s entirely possible for someone to keep their cigars at a humidity or temperature level that’s not beneficial to the tobacco.
Every cigar experience is different, even your own
It’s not just the cigar or the tobacco inside, either. Your pairings can absolutely alter the experience. Both the food you ate recently, or your beverage of choice, can influence your palate. You might smoke a cigar with coffee, for example, that’s delicious. Then, have it later with some whiskey or soda and realize you don’t like it as much. Liquor and soda are just as diverse, too. You could choose to drink a type of bourbon with your cigar that doesn’t mesh well, whether because the flavor profile or strength of the cigar or the individual flavors in the drink.
The only way around this and to find pairings you love is to experiment. That also means that everyone else around you is going through the same thing.
Never write off an entire brand because of one bad cigar experience
All too often, I see people making a huge mistake by swearing off a select brand. That’s your prerogative and no one can make you do anything. But doing that is probably a mistake. Good cigar companies can make less than stellar cigars. Meanwhile, cigar companies you wouldn’t normally like can come out with a surprise banger. It happens all the time.
Sure, life is short and you don’t want to spend it doing things you don’t like. I get that. But the reality is that everyone is different, everyone has different tastes, and no cigar blend is made for everybody.
If it happens frequently with a certain cigar, like when you run into poor construction, tunneling and other burn issues, then okay. There are cheap cigars and even premium cigars that don’t meet quality standards. But try to keep an open mind. Maybe not for you, but at the very least, for others.
I don’t like mild or mellow cigars as much. That doesn’t mean they are bad cigars, it just means they’re not for me. My brother-in-law hates really earthy flavors. So, he won’t smoke many cigars that have that flavor in spades. When we’re going back and forth talking about a new blend or cigar experience, he might really enjoy it and I don’t, or vice versa.
So, what am I getting at with all of this?
Practice neutral discussions with the rest of the community
Opening up a discussion with someone by telling them a cigar is “trash” or “bad,” is not the way to go. It’s funny because I’m talking to adults and you’d think this would be obvious, but it’s not. Especially if you tell someone getting into the hobby that the cigar they just had is terrible, it’s not going to go down well.
Instead, try exploring a more neutral discussion where you actually talk about what you didn’t like and why. That will help them more than just saying a brand, label or blend is flat out terrible. In fact, if you open a dialogue that way, I’m willing to bet it will be more enjoyable for all parties involved — you included. You might get a chance to recommend some cigars you like. You might make a new friend. You might even encourage someone to try something new.
But if you’re always chasing everyone down with a hostile attitude, you’re more likely to just isolate yourself, and that’s not good for anyone. Newcomers to the craft need that guidance and experience from you. Don’t let them down by being a jerk.
So, the next time you see someone posting or talking about a cigar you don’t like, open a discussion and have an actual conversation about it. Try not to come off as hostile the first time you communicate with someone new. That should be true whether they’ve been smoking for years or they’re just trying their first cigar.
We all got into this for the same reasons. We love cigars. We love the experience they offer and, for many of us, we love sharing a cigar experience with others. Active discussions are the best way to go.
Briley has over 16 years in the publishing and content marketing business. He's been writing about cigars for nearly half that in various forms. What makes him a tour de force is he also smokes them.
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