Flavor and notes
Cigar tasting journal
A cigar tasting note records the draw, then the burn, ash, flavors, strength and body for each third, and ends with a rating. Fill in the form below, or print a blank sheet.
Private by design. Entries never leave your browser. They are saved on this device only, and nothing is sent to Cigar Primer.
Your saved cigars
Download my notes saves a file you can load on another device with Load saved notes. Download as spreadsheet opens in Excel or Numbers.
- No entries yet. Saved cigars show up here, newest first.
What goes in a good cigar tasting note
A useful note is short and specific. You want enough to recognise the cigar again, and enough to compare it with the next one.
- The cigar. Name, size and wrapper. Size changes how a blend tastes, so write it down.
- The draw. Tight, right or loose, tested with a cold draw before you light.
- Burn and ash. An even burn and firm ash point to a well-rolled, well-kept cigar. A canoe or tunnel is worth noting.
- Flavors. Two or three per third, picked from the flavor wheel. Same list, same meanings.
- Strength and body. Two separate dials. Strength is the kick, body is the weight. More in strength vs body.
- A rating and a verdict. Would you smoke it again? That one line is often the most useful thing in the log.
Why judge a cigar by thirds?
Because most cigars change as they burn. The first third is usually lighter. The middle settles. The final third often gets stronger and hotter as the smoke passes through less tobacco.
Scoring by thirds catches those shifts. One overall score would hide them. If the third third turns harsh every time on one size, your notes will show it.
Retrohale once per third. Much of the aroma reaches you through the nose, and a single gentle pass tells you more than ten puffs.
Your entries stay in this browser
The journal saves to your browser's local storage. That data is kept across sessions, tied to this site, on this device. There is no account and no server copy, so Cigar Primer never sees what you write.
The flip side: clear your site data, or use a private window, and the entries go. Use Download my notes now and then to keep a copy. If storage is blocked, the journal still works for this visit; download your notes before you close the tab.
A printable cigar tasting sheet
One page, three thirds, room for flavors. Use Print a blank sheet above, or your browser's print command on this page.
Cigar Primer · Tasting sheet
Cigar
Size
Wrapper
Date
Draw: Tight Just right Loose
| First third | Second third | Final third | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burn | Even · Wavy · Canoe · Tunnel | Even · Wavy · Canoe · Tunnel | Even · Wavy · Canoe · Tunnel |
| Ash | Firm · Flaky · Dropped | Firm · Flaky · Dropped | Firm · Flaky · Dropped |
| Strength | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 |
| Body | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 |
| Flavors | |||
| Notes |
Rating: ____ / 10 Smoke it again? Yes Maybe No
Summary
Flavor prompts
Earth: soil, mineral, hay, mushroom, peat
Wood: cedar, oak, campfire, toast, sawdust
Spice: black pepper, red pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, anise
Sweet: honey, caramel, molasses, brown sugar, vanilla
Nut: almond, cashew, peanut, walnut, chestnut
Coffee and cocoa: espresso, café au lait, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa powder
Fruit: raisin, fig, dried cherry, citrus peel, plum, date
Floral and herbal: floral, black tea, mint, herbal, grass
Leather and savory: leather, barnyard, savory, salt
Cream and bread: cream, butter, fresh bread
Questions about keeping a cigar journal
What should a cigar tasting note include?
The cigar and its size, the draw before lighting, then for each third the burn, the ash, the main flavors, and how strong and full it felt. Finish with a rating and whether you would smoke it again.
Where are my journal entries stored?
In your browser's local storage, on this device only. Cigar Primer has no account system and never receives them. Clearing site data or using a private window removes them, so download a copy now and then.
Can I move my cigar journal to another device?
Yes. Use Download my notes on the old device, then Load saved notes on the new one. Download as spreadsheet gives a file that opens in Excel or Numbers, if you would rather keep the log there.
Is there a printable cigar tasting sheet?
Yes. Print a blank sheet prints the template on this page on one page, with boxes for each third. Print this entry prints a filled sheet from the form.
Where the storage and tasting facts come from
- Window: localStorage property, MDN Web Docs
- Retronasal smell, Wikipedia
Tools that feed the journal
Length, ring and pace in. A realistic window out, so you pick a cigar that fits the evening.
Interactive Flavor WheelTap a family, then a note. Every note defined in plain words, not a PDF.
Strength and Body ScaleStrength and body are two different dials. Set both and see where a cigar sits.