Anyone else with cigar memory overload

[tjhemp]

I have realized lately that when I smoke a cigar I like for whatever reason and then after smoking a number of others over the next few weeks I no longer remember why I liked that particular cigar. I tend to smoke a lot of different cigars trying to find new things but I so easily forget the ones I liked before and why.

I have chatted with some BOTL's that seem to remember every smoke they have had and why.

Anyone else have this issue and how do you remember them?

[Billb1960]

I was going to post something relevant but I forgot what it was

[rodwha]

I'm like that with plenty of things, but then again I'm one of those ADD guys.

For beers (commercial) I use Untappd to better keep track. Maybe you could keep some sort of notes for your sticks. I keep thinking I should do that.

[DrBob]

i use a spreadsheet to track where my purchases are in the wineador, when i bought them, and cost. I also use it to keep notes and ratings so When trolling for cigars I can see if I previously rated something high and why.

Surprisingly the notes hold up over time.

[Zeede]

I have realized lately that when I smoke a cigar I like for whatever reason and then after smoking a number of others over the next few weeks I no longer remember why I liked that particular cigar. I tend to smoke a lot of different cigars trying to find new things but I so easily forget the ones I liked before and why.

I have chatted with some BOTL's that seem to remember every smoke they have had and why.

Anyone else have this issue and how do you remember them?

I repurposed an old Rolodex and glue the cigar band to the cards, with the date, vitola and relevant tasting notes. Plus I've been on a reviewing binge, so that helps too :)

[Old Smokey]

Just look at it like you are always smoking a new cigar! Variety never ends. Works for me!

[Upstatemax]

Kayla sent me an awesome little cigar journal that helps me keep track; when I remember to use it...

My memory sucks, notes keep me chugging along.

[TreySC]

I keep telling myself I need to get a note book, but I always forget.

[tjhemp]

I think I may need to try the notebook route.

[Emperor Zurg]

If I like a cigar, I like it. I don't really care why I like it. If I don't like it, same thing: don't care why. Good is good, bad is bad.
So...
If I really like a cigar I toss the band in a corner of my humidor. If it's just 'meh' or I don't care for it, I toss the band in the trash.

It's simple and easy. There's no way I'm over-complicating this by keeping a journal. I've got enough to do.

[Zeede]

If I like a cigar, I like it. I don't really care why I like it. If I don't like it, same thing: don't care why. Good is good, bad is bad.
So...
If I really like a cigar I toss the band in a corner of my humidor. If it's just 'meh' or I don't care for it, I toss the band in the trash.

It's simple and easy. There's no way I'm over-complicating this by keeping a journal. I've got enough to do.

I have to harness my anal retentive tendencies, else they be used for evil and nefarious purposes. :)

[herman]

If I like a cigar, I like it. I don't really care why I like it. If I don't like it, same thing: don't care why. Good is good, bad is bad.
So...
If I really like a cigar I toss the band in a corner of my humidor. If it's just 'meh' or I don't care for it, I toss the band in the trash.

It's simple and easy. There's no way I'm over-complicating this by keeping a journal. I've got enough to do.

I like your carefree attitude, but seriously, it takes like 2 hours for me to smoke a cigar. How hard would it be to jot a name and description down?
It's even easier with a smartphone. Just type into a note app.
I ask myself after every smoke why I don't take pictures and do a review and actually make use of my hobby... Can't be that hard, right? I do admire your carefree spirit though. I could use some of that.

[allusred]

Not too certain what the question was. But, if memory serves.....sorry mistake,
memory is something to do with computers or such like.

Think I may recall the original question posed.
You smoke a cigar,its good, real good,great.
But...you done smoked it.
Can't smoke it again.
If you were to light up another, same brand,type,size,etc...it is another one...can't be the same, tho might be close.
Notebooks, record keeping, any such is going to require attention,time better spent sitting back and enjoying that smoke you've just lit.

[Ilroy]

I have a simple note on my phone that I have all the contents of my humidor, or those that used to occupy it, along with how many of each I have. Next to the marca, I simply put a mark as follows:
++Very Good Buy More
+ Good, Buy More If Good Price
= Good, But Price Not Worth It
- Not Good

This way I know what I have and how many, and what I should buy more of or what I should avoid.

[droy1958]

Hell, I'm getting so old that I can't remember if I like $h!t or apple butter with my toast....

[Billb1960]

Hell, I'm getting so old that I can't remember if I like $h!t or apple butter with my toast....

Note to self: Politely decline any breakfast offers at David's place

[fastnbulbous]

I definitely have the memory overload. Even with keeping a spreadsheet it was hard for me to keep up with everything. One of the reasons I am settling on my favorites to buy boxes of for a while. I was terrible with taking notes, or at least rereading the notes, so I gave up on that fairly quickly. The cigars that I remember, I figure that I remember for a reason. I really wanted to study them in-depth, which I kind of did, but not to the point I wanted to get to. I still hope to age and test the differences over time. That may be my next thing once I buy the boxes.

From what I can tell so far Pipe tobacco, which I am just getting into, is even worse!
My brain is already angry with me....

[Hermit]

I was going to post something relevant but I forgot what it was

I could plan my own surprise party. :rolleyes:

[MrMotoyoshi]

I'm a cigar noob. I've probably only smoked about 30 sticks in my life. And about 20 of those were in the past 2 years. I've been saving the bands and putting them in a little picture holder styled to look like an old travel suitcase.

Given the small amount of sticks that I've smoked it's still a manageable figure but I think my problem will quickly resemble yours in the not too distant future. I have smoked some cigars that were so delicious I don't think I could forget how tasty they were (I'm looking at you Alec Bradley Nica Puro) The idea of a notebook just seems like something I wouldn't be consistent with especially if I'm going to be coming to this site and asking you fellas for advice. Feel silly writing notes twice. A journal thread is a potential solution that I've been kicking around.

[allusred]

I could plan my own surprise party. :rolleyes:
Invite me I'll bring some smokes, if I remember.

[Tobias Lutz]

I don't worry about remembering them. When I smoke one that I REALLY like, I have no problem keeping it in the back of my mind. If it was something I enjoyed but wasn't blown away by, I can always forget it and be pleasantly reminded by it later on. The last thing I need to to create a written record of yet another thing in my life :)

[Cool Breeze]

I don't remember the subtle nuances of each stick (probably because I can't pick up on them most of the time) but I remember if I like it or I don't.

My memory is still somewhat in tact. Somewhat.

One thing is for certain. I'm not keeping journals about what I liked or didn't. I smoke to relax and I can't do that if I'm concerned about every little thing.
I don't scoff at those who do though. I know some of you guys enjoy that part of it, and that's great too.

[garublador]

I don't worry about remembering them. When I smoke one that I REALLY like, I have no problem keeping it in the back of my mind. If it was something I enjoyed but wasn't blown away by, I can always forget it and be pleasantly reminded by it later on. The last thing I need to to create a written record of yet another thing in my life :)That's my method, too. For stuff like this I actually have a fairly good memory so it generally isn't an issue, anyway. I figure if I either really liked it or disliked it then I'll remember. If not then trying it again won't hurt anything. I also dislike being organized with detailed lists for my hobbies, so I don't do stuff like that anyway.

[AK47]

I'm in the keeping notes camp. It helps me concentrate more on the cigar and pick out flavors. As I get better and better with that, the shorter my notes will be.

[herman]

I'm with Ilroy. I used to do what Emp. Zurg did, but I soon realized there were too many differences between them all.

I simply add names with a 1-10 rating and 2 word description next to each in my phone. If good, I read the product description in hopes of remembering what wrapper and filler were used and maybe the story behind it. I get how the formalities can kill your buzz. It's like a job that sounds easy or fun but then the formalities and intensity make it feel like work.

But if someone asks me in a walk-in, I like to be able to share some knowledge and opinion if they ask for it.

[Emperor Zurg]

...it takes like 2 hours for me to smoke a cigar. How hard would it be to jot a name and description down?
It's even easier with a smartphone. Just type into a note app.


Well that's the thing; I'm never just sitting around for 2 hours to smoke a cigar... don't know if I could do it - can't sit still that long without getting bored with it. If I have a cigar I'm either driving, walking, hunting, mowing, working on something, maybe even talking to someone. I'm not at a desk and I usually have my hands full (or dirty) so just jotting a few things down is a real PIA - dangerous even in the case of driving.

Random but...
I never like any cigar at first light. Always takes at least 1/2" in for me to even begin to appreciate the stick
For that matter, I never like the first bowl of a new pipe tobacco either.
If a cigar has me impressed by around the half-way mark, I take the band off and put it in my pocket.
If the stick then starts to get nasty or fall apart or whatnot, the band comes out of the pocket and goes in the trash.
If I am impressed all the way thru to the end, the band goes into the Corner of Honor in the humidor.
I almost always buy a 5 pack so a particular vitola has 5 chances to end up in the Corner of Honor.
If there's a chance of wrapper confusion, I do jot the wrapper type on the back of the band.

[boro62]

I have a cigar journal that I keep notes in. Some entries are more extensive than others. I usually do a quick recap in it after I'm done smoking. The jibberishness of the entries usually depend on how many drinks ive had while smoking, Ive actually had some entries that make no sense the day after.

[allusred]

I don't remember the subtle nuances of each stick (probably because I can't pick up on them most of the time) but I remember if I like it or I don't.

My memory is still somewhat in tact. Somewhat.

One thing is for certain. I'm not keeping journals about what I liked or didn't. I smoke to relax and I can't do that if I'm concerned about every little thing.
I don't scoff at those who do though. I know some of you guys enjoy that part of it, and that's great too.

This post is deserving of five gold stars.
So long as we recall the good and forget the rest life is good.
Relaxing,smoking a good cigar,is time well spent in (my) life.
Just as time with Cigarbum feels like home to me,and all to work that's been put into making the Bum this way is most sincerely appreciated by this Bum.

[LAN CERO]

If I like a cigar, I like it. I don't really care why I like it. If I don't like it, same thing: don't care why. Good is good, bad is bad.
So...
If I really like a cigar I toss the band in a corner of my humidor. If it's just 'meh' or I don't care for it, I toss the band in the trash.

It's simple and easy. There's no way I'm over-complicating this by keeping a journal. I've got enough to do.

Exactly, I'm not down for notes and notebooks.

There's several locked-in the memory so far, thank goodness. For the other things that are good, and I'm only on my first order, or sampler of them, that's where I can get challenged. Thankfully, all of the e-tailers so far have an 'account' page with my purchase history. I go back and click on prior orders, and instantly recall whether or not I thought a particular stick was worth, or not. Just got offline with an order on CI, and did exactly that.