Smoking cigars and pipes... impure flavors?

[dls]

For those gorillas who smoke both cigars and pipes, do you think that going back and forth between the two could confuse your palate? It seems that many people coming to the dark side from cigars have a hard time picking up on the flavors of pipes, which makes me wonder if cigars sort of stun the palate. I'm wondering this because I got a new humidor for Christmas (which I seriously needed) and it sort of reignited my interest in stogies. My preference lies with pipes, as I believe it always will, which makes me hesitant to do anything with may jeapordize my enjoyment of this hobby.

[ultramag]

For me, after most cigars, smoking a pipe is merely going through the motions for a week or so after a cigar or two. I just can't pick up the subtle flavors and nuances that is what makes piping the joy it is. Part of this in my case may be that I tend to smoke a more full flavored cigar than I do pipe baccy. :2

[Joan]

Used to wonder about this very thing!

I like mild to full cigars and usually only med to full pipe blends. Unless I'm following the strongest stick with an immediate bowl, as in the next breath, I have no trouble discerning the pipe tobacco nuances. For me it's more of a mental shift in gears, a reminder to smoke slower and notice the subtle flavors of the pipe.

I say try it out! Remind yourself when going from one to the other that the smoke is a different experience. Maybe try a little water or Knob Creek Special Solvent #9 to help clear your palate. :D

[CigarGal]

Now there's a girl after my own heart. Knob Creek small batch will sooth a multitude of ills.

I smoke both and because I don't smoke everyday my palate seems to be ready for anything. If you are a heavy smoker I think you could wear that palate out!

[pistol]

I'm with Marianne; I don't smoke everyday (I smoke probably 4-5 times/week), but I do find myself smoking my pipes more often than my cigars. I had a cigar today for the first time in week or so, and I followed it with a bowl about an hour or so later. I didn't notice a "stunted" palate or any weakened flavors during my evening pipe. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed my day as I rarely get to smoke a cigar and a pipe in rapid succession like that!

[Sancho]

I find intermixing pipes and cigars helps me enjoy more of both worlds, I have found I can better identify certain tastes. Plus how many cigars have latakia and perique in them?

[uncballzer]

I've definitely not picked up all the flavors out of the pipe that I should be, and I just recently started, so with a n00b palate, I might say that there is some bluntness from the cigars obscuring the pipe flavors.

[EvanS]

I don't find that I have any problem with trading off cigars and pipes. But I really wouldn't expect to get or identify all the new flavors of a tobacco that I wasn't familiar with. But if I know the tobac it does not seem to be an issue

[kvm]

I just came back to pipe smoking a short while ago and I'm just starting to pick up on the subtle flavors in pipe tobacco. I have found that I seem to be able to pick up the flavors in cigars more now then I could before. Then again I smoke about 20 bowls for every 1 cigar.

[Mr.Lordi]

I just came back to pipe smoking a short while ago and I'm just starting to pick up on the subtle flavors in pipe tobacco. I have found that I seem to be able to pick up the flavors in cigars more now then I could before. Then again I smoke about 20 bowls for every 1 cigar.


I had this happen as well. I didn't get the flavors from cigars when I first started smoking them, but I switched to pipes, then tried cigars again and all of a sudden I could taste what people were talking about, it was great.

Granted I too notice I smoke pipe tobacco a lot more than I was cigars, but that is also because I can buy a tin of tobacco for pretty much the same price as most cigars and make it last for as long as I want.

[IceChant]

I don't have this problem but I don't smoke much, only 1-2 cigars a week and 1-2 bowls as I need more time for the pipe.