Guide
How to taste a cigar in thirds (and what to write down)
7 min read
A good cigar changes as it burns. The first inch rarely tastes like the last, and that change is a big part of what you are paying for. Tasting in thirds is the simplest way to notice it, and a few notes per third are enough to remember a cigar for years.
Before you light
- Look and feel. Check the wrapper for cracks and soft or hard spots. Gentle, even firmness along the length usually means an even draw.
- Smell the foot and the wrapper. Hay, barnyard, cocoa, spice. It sets expectations and trains your nose.
- Cut a little. Remove just enough of the cap to open it, usually a couple of millimetres. Cutting too much makes the wrapper unravel.
- Cold draw. Draw air through the unlit cigar. Note the resistance (tight, good, loose) and any flavors: raisin, spice and sweetness often appear here.
- Toast, then light. Warm the foot evenly without touching the flame, then light while rotating the cigar. An even start prevents canoeing later.
The three thirds
| Third | Typically | Pay attention to |
|---|---|---|
| First | Brighter, sometimes peppery; flavors are still settling | The first two flavor families that appear; draw and burn line |
| Second | Fuller and rounder; the blend's core character | Whether flavors change, sweeten or deepen; body and balance |
| Final | More intense, richer, sometimes harsher | Strength build-up, bitterness, whether it stays enjoyable to the end |
First
- Typically
- Brighter, sometimes peppery; flavors are still settling
- Pay attention to
- The first two flavor families that appear; draw and burn line
Second
- Typically
- Fuller and rounder; the blend's core character
- Pay attention to
- Whether flavors change, sweeten or deepen; body and balance
Final
- Typically
- More intense, richer, sometimes harsher
- Pay attention to
- Strength build-up, bitterness, whether it stays enjoyable to the end
A cigar that changes in an interesting way from third to third is often called complex. One that tastes the same throughout is not bad, just simpler. Both are worth knowing about your own taste.
How to smoke so you can taste
- Pace: one draw every 45 to 60 seconds. Smoking faster heats the cigar and makes it bitter.
- Palate: hold the smoke in your mouth for a few seconds to judge sweetness, bitterness and body. Do not inhale.
- Nose: let a little smoke out through the nose now and then (a retrohale) to catch pepper, wood and fruit.
- Drink: water or sparkling water between draws keeps your palate fresh. Save the whisky for the second half if you are taking notes.
- Ash: let it fall naturally. A long, firm ash is a sign of good construction, but do not wear a white shirt to prove it.
- Relighting: if it goes out, blow through it gently to clear stale smoke, then relight. Relit cigars can taste harsher for a few draws.
What to write down
Long reviews are nice to read and hard to keep up. This short template captures what you will actually use later:
- Cigar: brand, line, size; where and when you bought it.
- Per third: the two strongest flavor families (see the 12 flavor families) and a word on strength.
- Construction: draw (tight, good, loose) and burn (even, needed touch-ups, canoed).
- Pairing: what you drank, and whether it helped.
- Overall: a rating, and one sentence: would you buy it again?
That is half a minute of writing per third. After ten cigars you can see patterns: the flavor families, wrappers and strengths you keep rating highly. That is your profile, and it is what makes the next purchase easier.
Tasting with aficio
aficio's smoke ritual follows this method. A full-screen timer runs while you smoke, you tap flavor chips as notes appear, slide draw and burn, add a voice note or a photo, and rate the cigar at the end. Each rating updates your flavor profile and the match % of the cigars you consider next. It works offline too, so a cigar on a terrace without signal still gets logged.
Questions
- How long does it take to smoke a cigar?
- Roughly 30 to 45 minutes for a robusto, an hour or more for a churchill or toro, at a relaxed pace of one draw a minute.
- Should you inhale cigar smoke?
- No. Cigar smoke is tasted in the mouth and, if you like, a little is let out through the nose. It is not inhaled into the lungs.
- Why does a cigar taste bitter towards the end?
- Usually because it has been smoked too fast or relit several times, which heats the tobacco. Slowing down and purging stale smoke with a gentle blow through the cigar helps.