Flavor differences

[fvfanmc]

Why does the flavor profile change between sizes, For example, I buy the Sumatra cigars in 3 different sizes, Churchill, Toro and Robusto. Each size has a different profile. They all have the same tobacco in and out.

[grtrx]

all the same tobacco but the size changes (ring gauge or length) changes the ratio of teh tobaccos, the amount of surface area burning, the ratio of surface area to volume of tobacco in the cigar, etc. each change is a change and each change can impact taste.

or another way... one or two pieces of wrapper, but the amount of filler is way different.

[CJ3]

Mostly ratio of filler/binder volume to wrapper. The larger the ring guage, the less impactful the wrapper, which generally imparts the most flavor, I believe. The filler/binder distribution may change a little between rings also, one would think.

Isn't the Panatella supposedly the "ideal" size for blending/flavor purposes?

ahem, Dr. Brian? Care to weigh in?

[grtrx]

the perfect cigar is the one perfect to you, I recall the cuban corona touted as the perfect size too... yep most of the flavor is wrapper, most of the body is the filler...

also the bigger ring gauge has more surface area burning to volitalize the oils in the cigar, I think...

brian knows everything, he will happen along sooner or later

[Rob G]

Paging Dr. Brian, Dr. Brian . . .

[spiridon]

The illustration that drove this home to me was my experience with the Cain Daytona. I have always smoked the lonsdale size in this line. For me, it had the very combination of spice and earthiness that I like. One day I happened to pick up a larger ring gauge of the Daytona and lit it up......what a difference! It still had the earthiness, but was lacking the spiciness that I like. I went back to the lonsdale.

[Briandg]

anyone can take a broadleaf wrapped maduro, one with say mexican binder rather than another broadleaf binder, and take of the wrapper, and find out that suddenly that cigar ain't so maduro, and it ain't too good.

It really is all conjecture, for the most part, because this ain't a subject that holds to empirical study. Through the nose, back of the throat, how it gets there doesn't matter much, but it certainly does to the smell receptors in both ways, and without them, the cigar is going to be so much hot air.

As far as the balance of wrapper, filler, binder, and even worse, what part of the multinational blend in the filler makes up noticeable parts, hell, how could anyone ever begin to really quantify it? We couldn't if we tried. Even among ourselves, we all have different structures, and heck, I may even be missing receptors necessary to appreciate certain blends. I know I'm sure as hell missing the gurkha receptor.

It's just like a wine. Ya got nothing but grape juice, but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of different flavor components in the fermented juice, and it's the combination and proportion of all of those components that make each bottle different.