Aficionado vs. Connoisseur

By BillieBLVD

In an infamous cigar rant I posed about two years ago I fearlessly challenged those within my orbit of influence to answer a simple question

"Do cigar aficionados smoke flavored cigars" 

I had no idea of the bee's nest I rattled.  The responses ranged from you are an old school snob to indeed Sir no true aficionado would ever smoke a flavored cigar.   Suffice it to say that most of my tribe agreed with my addict that you should smoke what you like and be free of any criticism; however, you are most certainly not an aficionado.  But I was syntactically wrong.  

I did not truly delve into the meaning of the word.  An aficionado is someone that is passionate (that's it).  Passion does not require a strict adherence to tradition or a respect of natural processes.  Passion like beauty is in the eyes of the beholder but a connoisseur is something very different.  A connoisseur is an expert judge in matters of taste.  

There is a difference between having passion (aficionado) and being an expert judge (connoisseur).  The former can be sparked in one session of smoking a cigar while the latter is only formed with experience and knowledge.  Lets argue!

Billie B