Over on Cigar Chronicles, a member asked if people can actually taste all the different things that are described in reviews. He is my response edited for pipe smokers -
As far as tasting, there is a combination of natural talent and training involved. Even someone that might not be blessed with a refined palate can train themselves and develop one. It just takes the desire and determined practice.
I think a lot of guys just want to smoke pipes to relax and unwind, which is pretty much the whole point.
Doing a professional tobacco review takes away at least half of the relaxation and unwinding. You have to concentrate in a quiet place, not talk or read, and take notes.
If you do have the desire to train your palate, some recommendations are to -
1) Smell Everything
If you're reading the newspaper - smell it. If you have a leather couch - smell it. Making homemade chili - smell the chili powder from the jar before you add it. Making a margarita? - Smell the rind of the lime before cutting it. Changing a flat on your bicycle - smell the tire. Potting a plant - smell the dirt. Working on a DIY project where you are cutting wood, or drilling? - smell the sawdust.
It sounds weird, but smell everything.
2) Taste everything that is described in a review. If the reviewer says "rich earthy notes and spicy flavours with nuances of paprika and cayenne" - go get the paprika and cayenne out of the cabinet and taste it. If the reviewer describes coffee, open the coffee can and take a whiff, or eat a coffee bean.
Gary Vaynerchuk, in his book, "Crush It", describes how he became an expert wine reviewer immediately upon reaching legal drinking age. When he was still too young to drink, he worked in his father's liquor store, and wanted to be knowledgeable about the wines so he could make the right recommendations to customers.
He would read all the reviews in Wine Spectator, and every time they described a flavor as being similar to some type of food product, he would go to the store, buy it and eat it.
Most guys probably don't want to deal with all that stuff, and would rather just smoke a pipe and relax, and there's nothing wrong with that.
As far as tasting, there is a combination of natural talent and training involved. Even someone that might not be blessed with a refined palate can train themselves and develop one. It just takes the desire and determined practice.
I think a lot of guys just want to smoke pipes to relax and unwind, which is pretty much the whole point.
Doing a professional tobacco review takes away at least half of the relaxation and unwinding. You have to concentrate in a quiet place, not talk or read, and take notes.
If you do have the desire to train your palate, some recommendations are to -
1) Smell Everything
If you're reading the newspaper - smell it. If you have a leather couch - smell it. Making homemade chili - smell the chili powder from the jar before you add it. Making a margarita? - Smell the rind of the lime before cutting it. Changing a flat on your bicycle - smell the tire. Potting a plant - smell the dirt. Working on a DIY project where you are cutting wood, or drilling? - smell the sawdust.
It sounds weird, but smell everything.
2) Taste everything that is described in a review. If the reviewer says "rich earthy notes and spicy flavours with nuances of paprika and cayenne" - go get the paprika and cayenne out of the cabinet and taste it. If the reviewer describes coffee, open the coffee can and take a whiff, or eat a coffee bean.
Gary Vaynerchuk, in his book, "Crush It", describes how he became an expert wine reviewer immediately upon reaching legal drinking age. When he was still too young to drink, he worked in his father's liquor store, and wanted to be knowledgeable about the wines so he could make the right recommendations to customers.
He would read all the reviews in Wine Spectator, and every time they described a flavor as being similar to some type of food product, he would go to the store, buy it and eat it.
Most guys probably don't want to deal with all that stuff, and would rather just smoke a pipe and relax, and there's nothing wrong with that.
