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Last post 23 years ago by guano. 12 replies replies.
question for Cigar International honcho
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aberdeen Offline
#1 Posted: Wed, Apr 25 2001, 3:23 PM EST
Joined: 06-11-1999
Posts: 741
I am curious, do you hold new issues of smoke/cigar magazines with sweaty palms anticipating the new reviews? I mean if a cigar gets a great review and you carry the cigar, does demand for it increase significantly? and you dance in the street for having the right cigar at the right time? On the other side, you don't have the highly reviewed cigar, but have tons that just received a bad review, does that put boss in a cranky mood for weeks? If cigar reviews have quite an effect on many people cigar buying habits, that must be a tough part of the business to anticipate. I mean look at Onyx, pretty much a dead fish in the water, I suspect little demand these days and few retailers carry much of it as it isn't a cigar worth remembering. Then all of a sudden a new line gets a 94 rating and everyone wants it. Or not as big a deal as that?
bud451 Offline
#2 Posted: Thu, Apr 26 2001, 2:58 AM EST
Joined: 09-11-2010
Posts: 2,237
Good question, and will that "94" rating be used to mislead and sell the old line? Seems many people use one good rating to describe different lines/sizes. Hell, I know people that think "robusto" is a manufacturer, so I am sure some will think an Onyx is an Onyx R.
bigbro94 Offline
#3 Posted: Thu, Apr 26 2001, 3:57 AM EST
Joined: 05-23-2000
Posts: 70
Great point guys! As you guys now even though a particular size of a gar in a line gets a 90 dosen't mean the others in that line are any good..
couldITbe Offline
#4 Posted: Thu, Apr 26 2001, 5:05 AM EST
Joined: 06-06-2002
Posts: 201
That is a good question. The fact is that there are a hell of a lot of good cigars that get no recognition, and a lot mediocre brands that get excellent ratings. For knowledgeable cigar smokers, a good rating has an impact inasmuch as there are so many brands out there, it helps put a cigar on your radar screen that you might otherwise have passed over. Whether it has legs and you continue to smoke it is the real test. Most regular CigarBid-ers are very knowledgeable and realize that a magazine's ratings are subjective at best, paid advertising at worst. Sometimes we at CigarBid point out that a brand, not necessarily a particular size, has been rated 92 or something, but it is meant as informative rather than misleading - if an industry standard like SMOKE or Cigar Aficionado rates a cigar highly, it's like the recommendation of a tobacconist, it's interesting to know and it might lead you to try it but whether you actually do or not is another question. For newbies and occassional smokers, a rating tends to have a bigger impact.
Chairman_VI Offline
#5 Posted: Thu, Apr 26 2001, 6:27 AM EST
Joined: 03-20-2001
Posts: 42
Let me give you an example of how ratings within a brand differs. A friend once bought me a Punch Grand Cru Britana in San Deigo because he was not able to get me a cuban in Mexico. He tried to convince the shop in San Diego to sell him a Cuban, but no dice. The talked him into the Britanta. I loved it. When I ordered some I ordered the larger Diamantes, which were not as good - they are good, but the Britana is great. I later read in CA that they gave the Britanta in the high 80s and the Diamante around an 82. This disparaty exist in most brands. In fact, it is the exception where the disparity does not exist.
couldITbe Offline
#6 Posted: Thu, Apr 26 2001, 8:11 AM EST
Joined: 06-06-2002
Posts: 201
Everyone probably agrees that the taste among different sizes differs among cigars with the same blend. But still I believe it's interesting to know that, let's say, the Onyx Reserve received a 91 in the Mini Belicoso size, even if you are evaluating whether to bid on a different size, like the Torbusto.
bud451 Offline
#7 Posted: Thu, Apr 26 2001, 9:22 AM EST
Joined: 09-11-2010
Posts: 2,237
Well Keith, I agree with most of your points except this one. I do think it is misleading to state that a cigar got a "91" rating without stating it is a different size than the one receiving that rating. Especially considering many of the times the size being sold has been rated (but probably lower). When the cigars are "rated" they give a size and IMHO the size should stick with it's "rating", not their entire line. Alright...I got a headache now...and I don't even pay much attention to ratings!
Chairman_VI Offline
#8 Posted: Thu, Apr 26 2001, 1:10 PM EST
Joined: 03-20-2001
Posts: 42
Bud is right on. Another example. La Finca, a pretty bad cigar, but the corona has some how stole a 90 before; but it would be stealing to slap a 90 lable on all La Fincas which regularly score in the high 70s or low 80s.

Cigar stores and internet sites selling cigars do thie bait and switch thing all the time. They say, "Rated 90 by CA" when in fact the cigar rated 90 has sold out and all they have are the 77 rated londsdales.
BrentM01 Offline
#9 Posted: Thu, Apr 26 2001, 2:20 PM EST
Joined: 05-30-2000
Posts: 343
This is a complex and interesting dilemma. I too have been fooled by merchants who erroneously have stated that just because a Double Corona got a 90 on previous tests that "all" cigars regardless of size were the same rating. This is the trouble with cigar ratings. I think 'Smoke" mag has a little better idea introducing 4-5 critiques by us "regular smokers" who give their rating. Personally, I don't much like getting fooled into believing the adage "Hey, it's a great buy!" anymore. Obviously there is no fool-proof method except to try ALL OF THEM! I am much more interested in what my fellow herfers have to say about a particular cigar. Most here on this board are very well informed and I for one appreciate any review I can get. I was told long ago on this very board! , that it is all up to personal taste. I still use that rule of thumb today! (and yes, they were right about the Ashton VSG...yummy) Subjective data on a good cigar is almost as good as objective. .....Cheers.....Brent
CL Offline
#10 Posted: Fri, Apr 27 2001, 8:56 AM EST
Joined: 02-08-2000
Posts: 855
My humble, probably skewed, opinion: I don't pay one ounce of attention to ratings. Maybe I have a wacky palate, but too many times I've seen one of my absolute favorites get pummeled by ratings. I personally just pass over the ratings and read the articles. As hard as I try, anyway, I just can't find nutmeg overtones and hints of cinnamon with earthy lingering notes.
Toro650 Offline
#11 Posted: Sun, Apr 29 2001, 1:44 PM EST
Joined: 09-05-2000
Posts: 16
As far as a advertisement reflecting a rating that covers the entire line, that doesnt bother me. I use it for what it is worth. What bothers me is the ads for Onyx Reserve and the regular Onyx line. They are touting the regular Onyx and referencing the Onyx reserve ratings just to try and sell the product that won't move. That is wrong. Two different lines completely. Just because the name is the same, the product is not.
mark Offline
#12 Posted: Mon, Apr 30 2001, 4:14 AM EST
Joined: 08-03-1999
Posts: 143
I agree with Toro.I have never seen them do that for differnt lines here at CB but have seen it elswhere.
guano Offline
#13 Posted: Mon, Apr 30 2001, 8:16 AM EST
Joined: 07-17-2000
Posts: 18
Hmmmm.....I think they DID tout the ratings of the Onyx Reserve in selling the old crappy Onyx cigars!!!!!
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