Strength, flavor, body. What is the difference?

[HabanoMan]

Excellent topic. I've been at this for several years and still don't use the terms right. I think I get "flavor", but the other terms confuse me.

I can't easily use nicotine as a strength indicator, because I smoked cigarettes for years and am largely immune to nicotine.

There have been a couple of good "tasting" cigars that were too "strong" for my liking, but that was the smoke, not nicotine.

How would you classify Oliva V and La Gloria Series R, as they were both "tasty," but too "strong" for my liking?

Henry, I feel you on the cigarette thing. I currently smoke 11/2 - 2 packs a day. I have found that a lot of the nicotine heavy cigars seem to dry my mouth out quite a bit. As far as the Series R and the Olive V, maybe someone with more experience on them can chime in. I don't smoke them often enough to have an informed opinion (Have not had a V in a couple of years and do not think I have ever smoked the series R). Most of my smoking these days come from that little island south of Miami. I do recall the V being a bit of a spice bomb so maybe that is what you noticed. Some people don't care for overly spicy cigars and may describe them as "strong". That would not be entirely incorrect since they would be strong in that particular flavor (Bold).

[HIM]

I'd agree the Oliva V is a full bodied and full strength cigar. As @HabanoMan described before think of body as mouthfeel, smoke thickness, texture. Strength is what it is and if your used to nicotine you'll have trouble noticing it unless you smoke way too fast or on an empty stomach. Sometimes pepper gives the impression of strength but they don't necessarily have any relation.

[Indyhp]

Henry, I feel you on the cigarette thing. I currently smoke 11/2 - 2 packs a day. I have found that a lot of the nicotine heavy cigars seem to dry my mouth out quite a bit. As far as the Series R and the Olive V, maybe someone with more experience on them can chime in. I don't smoke them often enough to have an informed opinion (Have not had a V in a couple of years and do not think I have ever smoked the series R). Most of my smoking these days come from that little island south of Miami. I do recall the V being a bit of a spice bomb so maybe that is what you noticed. Some people don't care for overly spicy cigars and may describe them as "strong". That would not be entirely incorrect since they would be strong in that particular flavor (Bold).

Thanks! I smoked a pack a day for 30 years, but gave them up 6 years ago. I have only gotten a cigar buzz once or twice, and then on a empty stomach.

I love flavor, and pepper in particular, so that's not what I think of as "strong."

I guess what I find objectionable in the Oliva V and La Gloria Series R is not "strength," but that they are too full-bodied for my liking.

I will endeavor to utilize the correct terminology from here on.