Balance. I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who first tweeted, "Bitches love #balance." & ol' Honest Abe was never truer. But what is this "balance?" This is a very important question, as balance is cited in cigar reviews almost as often & darn near as vaguely as is "complexity." The thing is, as with complexity, balance can mean several things -- can be achieved several ways -- and found to be lacking in just as many. Also, it is a prerequisite of positive complexity, as without balance, complexity is a jarringly helter-skelter cacophony.
Here's a message I sent a brand owner earlier today (1/17/2020) regarding a question they had stemming from my review of their cigar: "I'm thinking a better marrying of over & undertones. At times, it was almost like smoking two diff cigars. In interior design, there's a thing called cross-pollination. A red pillow on the beige chair, a beige pillow on the red chair. That sort of thing, but between primary & secondary flavors. Make sense? It's a form of balance, I imagine."
Balance. Funny, because I was just then set to pen this article. Kismet! That question which ultimately touched on balance, again, what this article is about... You following any of this? GOOD. You're doing great, hon. How else is balance measured aside from the aforementioned rather rarity?
A very much more popular way a lot of popular sticks miss the balance mark is in FLAVOR | STRENGTH that being when one (typically/popularly strength) lurches out in-front of the other. Nic-bombs, you see, are imbalanced drek, by strict definition. #sorrynotsorry Transversely, a cloyingly sweet body with a pencil neck geek strength, while less of an affront --- still outta weirdly outta whack.
Ever smoke a 5-country blend and only taste the characteristics of a singular origin leaf? That ain't balance. That's also a waste. Why round up the good shit from say DR, Honduras, Costa Rica, and USA -- only to find success in highlighting the Nicaraguan component? (I point that hypothetical finger at no one in particular, just to say.) Basically, balance here is in the allowing of varying leaves to be seen. Think primings | fermentations, as well.
More often than not, when I PERSONALLY cite cigar profile balance or lack thereof, I am speaking to this final take on the topic: primary tastes. Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami. Then there's the flavor not taste of pepper... Flavor v. taste maybe needs its own Notes on Notes or... lemme lift this from somewheres I forget wheres... "Flavor refers to the smell and to the texture of food, as well as the taste of food. Taste refers to the actual connection of the tongue and taste buds in the mouth to recognize the basic tastes of sweet, sour, bitter salty and umami."
K
[digression leading to final paragraph]
(As I do grow weary.)
Without balance? Hectic, lurchy, spastic, clamorous. Unsettl(ed/ing). Ultimately shy of enjoyable. But is this the end? & if it is the end, the end of what tf exactly? Regardless, balance is nothing without structure. As it is a component of that. Maddening, ain't it? Read this: Notes on Notes "Broad Across the Tongue" ((( link ))) it's my first Notes on Notes entry & it seems now that the snake has eaten its tail. Oh, wow.
::: very :::