Tasting the cigar
The taste analysis
Having lit the cigar, it is now time to have a taste of it.
At
this point, the cigar presents its savour and force to the smoker. This
is the ultimate analysis, the taste of the smoke, through which the aficionado
will finalise his judgement on the quality of the cigar.
The savour perceived varies and evolves as the cigar is smoked. Three great "moments" are generally recognised during the time a cigar is smoked. If the cigar is divided into three equal parts, these moments correspond to first, second, and the third parts, which the Frenchman calls le foin, le divin and le purin, respectively.
At each of these three phases, the smoker can discern the distinct aromas and savour associated with each of them.
At the start of combustion, the smoker generally perceives savours of underbrush and vegetable. The gustatory papillae of the smoker are tantalised by the sentiments and impressions that range from a feeling of autumn in the woods, through some wild feelings and smells of humid landscapes, the bush dews.
During the combustion of the second part of the cigar, the gustatory impressions become more complex and unctuous. They may, in some cases, tend to be sugary, while demonstrating often certain qualities of a cowshed and of leather.
During the last third of the cigar, when it has been greatly exploited, the savours tend become what the Frenchman describes as empyreumatiques, as well as bitter and toasted. Le purin often reveals itself to be significantly the most piquant and strongest part of the cigar. Often, it is at this point that many smokers extinguish their cigar.
The defects that can be identified through gustatory analysis of a cigar include a bad taste that may appear bitter, as well as a strong and forceful piquant savour.
The burning cigar
The
observation
of how a cigar burns when it is lit is a very important element in determining
the quality of good a cigar. Very often the
quality of a good cigar is extremely limited to a sole analysis of its
draught. However, many elements still need to be analysed: for example,
the cigar's capacity to maintain its glow, the rhythm and uniformity of
the its combustion and the character of its ashes.
A cigar can be said to have a good combustion if, having a satisfying draught, it remains lighted during most of the smoking time, if the ring of incandescence progresses relatively slowly and uniformly, and if the ashes are whitish or light grey and compact.
Re-lighting the cigar
Some smokers like to re-light an extinguished cigar. Some even willingly allow the cigar's light to quench frequently so that they can do what they like best - re-lighting the cigar. In other circumstances, the leaves may present some combustion defects that, consequently, cause the cigar to frequently extinguish itself. If the loss of light does not affect the aroma of the cigar, then there is no cause for alarm. The smoker only has to correctly and carefully re-light his cigar - to avoid a degradation of the cigar's gustatory quality.
Before
re-lighting a cigar, the ashes at the combusting end must be dropped off
the cigar by gently tapping on its inferior part while turning it round.
Finally, the smoker should carefully remove the last part of the ashes
with his fingers. Then, the cigar can be carefully and homogeneously re-lighted.