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This weeks subject is one that has been quite difficult for me. I typically smoke one cigar a day. But there are times when I will have multiple cigars a day. Smoking a cigar in morning and then another later in the day is how I usually smoke on the weekends. But when I’m at an event and I want to smoke a few cigars in secession, I usually have trouble distinguishing the flavors between smokes.
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So my question is; how does one really cleanse their palate between cigars to really enjoy the flavors from one cigar to the next? There are several different ways that many say are the best, but do they really work for you?
Over time, I have tried many ways to cleanse my palate. From what I’ve read and what I’ve been told in discussion with other enthusiast like myself, it is clear to say that there are several ways to do this, it all depends on one’s preference. So I did a little research and talked with a buddy of mine last week to get more incite into this perplexed issue.
When I first started smoking cigars, the after taste really bothered me and I would brush my teeth and scrub my tongue for several minutes. But even that really didn’t help and I really consider just quitting all together. But being the “nerd” that I am, I was determined to find a way to cleanse my tongue so I could enjoy more than just one cigar a day. I read several articles and watch a few Youtube videos, but none of the information was really helping. So I decided to talk with a few enthusiast and get there opinion on what works for them.
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Most of the enthusiast said that bourbon was the best way to cleanse the palate. Now in some cases this is true. But from my experience every bourbon is not good for cleansing. Bourbon can be a little spicy and can dull the taste buds. Although bourbon may be good for pairing with cigars, it may not always be good for cleansing.
Since I don’t drink alcohol as much as I use to, now that I’m getting older; I wanted to try something a little less intoxicating but just as enjoyable. So I noticed quite a few of my “Instagram friends” would drink Root Beer or Cream Sodas as a pairing or cleanser. Now I am not much of a soda drinker, but since I’m learning more about the cigar life, I guess I need to explore all option.
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The few times I did drink a Root Beer or Cream soda, it was not bad as a pairing, but did very little cleansing. The trouble I had with these drinks was that there was too much acid and causes a lot soda bubbles in my throat and I didn’t even drink half of it. This is one of the reasons I don’t enjoy soda much.
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Now I’m at the point where nothing seems to be working for me and I was just content with just smoking one a day. So when I did smoke in session during events, I was just smoking, and I was not really enjoying the second and third cigar. Then during an event, there was some desserts being served and I remembered someone saying that chocolates are good to have in between smokes. So I picked up this chocolate moose cake; it was not the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted but it helped. So now I usually grab some chocolates when I’m out at events or even at a lounge.
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Coffee and espresso have also been said to be the best way to cleanse your palate. And again I would say that this depends on several different factors. The strength, flavors, and the mix will make a difference. It will be either good as a pairing or a cleanser. In an interview with Cigar Advisor, Nick Perdomo say he enjoys cleansing his palate with coffee, cream and sugar. He states that the cream is an alkali. What is an alkali; it’s a neutralize. Now for me, I don’t use much cream; lactose intolerant, so again, this doesn’t work for me either. Although I enjoy pairing coffee with a good morning cigar, it does not cleanse well.
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While talking with a buddy, Jerry Cutrone, who is cigar rep for La Palina, Caldwell, Room 101, and La Barba, he shared with me quite a bit of knowledge that he has learned from these guys. He himself says that Sparkling water is his go to drink when he wants to cleanse his palate. Now I have heard this from a few cigar smokers but have never tried it myself.
But one thing that was interesting was something he learned working with Robert Caldwell. Licorice is Caldwell’s choice to cleanse the palate. Now he’s not talking about Twizzlers, but rather the old fashion licorice candy. So this intrigue me a bit. I’m not the biggest fan of anything licorice, but if I ever come across a piece of candy, I’ll be sure to try it. Hell if it’s good for one of the best cigar blenders in this industry, it’s worth a try.
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You’re probably saying by now; what the hell does work for you? And to answer that question; Sweet tea and sour candy. Sweet tea is something I probably drink 90% of the time when smoking cigars. The sugary taste helps even out the flavors but not wash then out or kill the taste buds. Now it does not cleanse my palate completely, but just enough for me smoke another cigar.
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Sour candy is what I eat when I have finished smoking for the day. The sour sugar coats my tongue and neutralize all of the tobacco flavors. My personal preference is Sour Worms; berry flavored.
To conclude, what I’ve learned is that our taste buds are very different. Depending on the strength of the cigar that you are smoking, it may require a stronger or milder cleanser. But don’t over cleanse, or you may kill the senses in your tongue and that will effect the flavors of the next cigar you smoke.
Stay Smokey My Friends!
Distinguished Smoker 