How much do you think smoking affects your palate, whether it be cigarettes, cigars, or pipe? This was an interesting conversation in the office the other day, and I am curious as to what everyone else things, and how much it affects what you can and can't taste in wine... -mJ

Smoking does affect your sense of taste but I believe that the greatest effect of smoking is to impair one's sense of smell. This limits your ablity to pickup on all the elements that outstanding wines have to offer.

I always wonder have many serious wine drinkers also smoke.

Gibby

When I smoked, I basically lost my sense of distinguishing subtle differences in aromas and I tended to eat spicier foods, because food tasted bland otherwise. I've been smoke free since 1990.

On occaision when I have a cigar, I never have wine the same night. I think some dessert wines may be ok but I'd skip.

Smoking sucks.

I can't stand to around smokers as it affects me terribly, but fortunately it's actually rather rare in SoCal these days, at least in the civilized part along the coast. Based on my limited personal experience with smoking, mostly years ago in college, I have to say that it greatly affects my ability to taste anything, especially something delicate and nuanced like wine.

That said, I understand that the great California wine master André Tchelistcheff smoked like a chimney, even when tasting wines. In fact, he reportedly said that when he tried to quit smoking, it made the wines taste funny to him. Go figure!

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Originally posted by Lentini:
Smoking sucks.

Ditto.

Cigar after wine, never before for me.

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Originally posted by indybob:

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Originally posted by Lentini:
Smoking sucks.

Ditto.

What they said.

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Originally posted by RDCollins:


but fortunately it's actually rather rare in SoCal these days, at least in the civilized part along the coast.

Where is the uncivilized part of your state?

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Originally posted by GlennK:
Cigar after wine, never before for me.

Sounds great; I think I'll enjoy one tomorrow night...after the wine, of course.

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Originally posted by wine+art:

Where is the uncivilized part of your state?

Fallbrook, Bakersfield, Oroville, Fortuna, Somes Bar, Santee, Lone Pine, Salinas, Copperopolis, Calexico, Crescent City, Blythe, Kettleman City, Chino. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Santee

I lost my F'ing vehicle registration notice with the number that allows me to renew online. I have to go to the DMV in Santee. I was going to do it now, but I decided to have a beer instead. I will save my strength and do it Monday morning.

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Originally posted by spo:

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Santee

I lost my F'ing vehicle registration notice with the number that allows me to renew online. I have to go to the DMV in Santee. I was going to do it now, but I decided to have a beer instead. I will save my strength and do it Monday morning.

At least it's not Fallbrook. Good luck!

The thing I hate about smoke is that it gets in that chamber between your mouth and your sinus and that is not exactly like you can brush that away. I do think having cigars is a decent sober up activity, I try not to do it anymore though.

How does smoking marijuana affect your palate?

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Originally posted by Altaholic:
How does smoking marijuana affect your palate?

Didn't you learn anything in high school? "Hunger is the best sauce".

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At least it's not Fallbrook.

Similar vibe though.

Putting aside the moral and social issues surrounding that noxious, skinking habit ; it does impact on your ability to smell, but the question is how much?

Some of the greatest winemakers in the world have been smokers. Also, many people with increadible palates are smokers; one can only wonder how much better their palates would be if they didn't smoke.

The occasional smoker is more likely to have their sense of smell ":confused" than regular smokers who are used to it.

As for marijuana, its mind over matter when you smoke that stuff. After a joint, you don't mind so it doesn't matter.

I finally stopped smoking about a year ago. Like others, I didn't notice a bit difference in my capacity for taste, but the sense of smell, WOW! What a difference!

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Smoking does affect your sense of taste but I believe that the greatest effect of smoking is to impair one's sense of smell. This limits your ablity to pickup on all the elements that outstanding wines have to offer.

Smoking kills both the smell and taste for me. I've stopped smoking cigars for just this reason. Beer however seems to be unaffected by smoke.

Do you mean, if you are a smoker how much taste do you lose when drinking wine?

Or do you mean, if you smoke while you are drinking or before?

I don't think you loose that much if you are a smoker but do not smoke at all for a couple of hours before and then none during.

You do loose a bit if you smoke right before or during. More if it is a cigar. (Something else? Forget about it... from what people have told me )

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Originally posted by indybob:

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Originally posted by wine+art:

Where is the uncivilized part of your state?

Fallbrook, Bakersfield, Oroville, Fortuna, Somes Bar, Santee, Lone Pine, Salinas, Copperopolis, Calexico, Crescent City, Blythe, Kettleman City, Chino. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Careful, indybob, I think we have a forumite who runs a wine bar in Chino....

Andre T when he was at Beaulieu thought he couldn't taste as well when he quit smoking but for me I don't smoke unless an occasional cigar and It doesn't seem to be a problem with my palate because I don't smoke untill after all the wines and dinner.

I some about 2 cigars a month, and never if I am going to enjoy a good wine. I have often wondered how juggling cigars and vino had impacted JS's ability to taste. I guess if you smoke frequently, you start finding like 10 100 point Bordeaux in one vintage