Ideal Palate Development Sampler?

Puff_Dougie

This may be a stupid question, but if you were to put together the perfect sampler to help someone new to cigars to develop their palate, what sticks would you include? Would there be an ideal mix of smokes that you think would provide a broad experience of different strengths, flavors, and blends? If you had to pick, say, six cigars for an Intro to Palate Development Sampler, what would they be, and why?

ejgorman

Although I haven't tried enough to offer any specific advice, I'm interested in seeing what our more experienced members come up with. Personally I've only encountered 2 cigars that have stood head and shoulders above the rest, but as someone new to cigars I would think offering some contrast in terms of strength and flavor profile would be a huge help to developing someone's palate.

Martel

catfishbluezz

Palate developer? Stop smoking for a week. Start back once a day after dinner with mild-medium the next week, think connys. Then Dominican for a week medium stuff. Take notes on everything, smoke alone, and drink ice water. All of the sudden the fuller blends you might've been used to might not be so distinct. Third week only Nica puros on the fuller side. Fourth week only San Andreas. You will start to get the feel for what it good and what you like from each region and profile. As you progress, each week concentrate in specific regions or blenders. Best thing you can do is only smoke Cubans a month and then go back. It will give you a while new appreciation for the better blends from each region. Really what I am trying to get at, is most smoker go through a natural progression from mild-full. Take some time off, and go back through it again and concentrate on specifics. That will get you in tune with nuance from regions, blenders, etc...

Amos Umwhat

How new to cigars is the person? That would be my first consideration. If they're very new, I'd start with the CCOM house blends sampler, gives them a chance at different styles without breaking the bank. After that? Martels suggestions are spot on, I don't think I could top that line up.

Martel

Lee.mcglynn

IMHO the la aurora preferidos is a great way too see how wrappers really affect the blend. They are med bodied and all have the same blend...difference being the wrappers oh and yup the figurado shape really helps as well. But if you just want too pick up different notes in a cigar then that's a different story all together

Bob Luken

Puff_Dougie

Ken Light

catfishbluezz

Puff_Dougie

Awesome! Very helpful suggestions from everyone! And some fantastic recommendations! This is exactly what I had in mind.

catfishbluezz

Once you understand regions, you can understand how complexity develops in a blend with tobacco from several regions. Once you understand San Andreas as a wrapper, or say Mata Fina, then you can understand how that might affect a Conny as a binder. Make sense? Or how it may influence the finish as a filler.

Puff_Dougie

Rain

A week off? Heck to the no!!! Newbie sampler? Smoke everything.That was easy.

jgibv

Rain

If a new guy smoked the MOW (FTW) sampler....he would be hooked for life. Conny? Got one. Maduro? Chyeah. Overwhelming power? MOW effing PA FTW.Oh, I like other cigars too. Quesada Tributo for DR and a Partagas short for ISOM.

jgibv

kuzi16

kuzi16

Puff_Dougie