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smoss11
Rookie Topic Starter

9 years ago

I would be very interested in any thoughts forum members have on the validity of cigar ratings. Here are some of my random observations:

1. There sure are a lot of them. Cigar Aficionado, Puff, Cigar Inspector...The list goes on
2. Inexpensive cigars (less than $5 per stick) can be as highly rated as cigars that cost 4x as much.
3. My local cigar retailer thinks ratings are rigged or influenced by manufacturers or advertising spend.

Recognizing that cigar enjoyment is a subjective endeavor, does anyone use ratings in their decision to purchase cigars? Does anyone completely ignore ratings in their purchase decision? Is it legitimate to expect that a cigar with a 93 rating is meaningfully better than a cigar with an 88 rating?

Just askin???

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Mandoman
Herf-A-Holic

9 years ago

The only ratings that matter are your own.

Speyside
Herf-A-Holic

9 years ago

Ratings will not change your enjoyment of a cigar. The review may give you information about if the profile is to your liking.

Edited by user 9 years ago | Reason: spell

dstieger
Herf-A-Holic

9 years ago

smoss11 wrote:

Ratings for most consumer goods are subjective, however, for some things the ratings have value. IMO, for cigars, they do not. By far, the only 'rating' that I've found value in is: Get on here and other cigar forums...spend a lot of time reading - start paying attention to some posters/reviewers who like cigars that you have liked...and dislike cigars that you dislike. Until you find your footing, this can be a somewhat decent way to fall into cigars you haven't tried before.

Another thing to try to do is find aspects of cigars you like and seek them out in different cigars. Origin of wrapper, or certain vitolas, or blender(s).

Price is another dangerous measure. I have had nasty $10 cigars...if you count Gurkha and Graycliff, I've had nasty $15 cigars. OTOH, I've had cigars that cost me a buck that I thoroughly enjoyed. Your shpo is correct that ratings can often be influenced by manufacturers.

deadeyedick
Herf-A-Holic

9 years ago

While ratings are very subjective the descriptions can be a big help in finding cigars with a flavor profile that you might like or want to avoid.

CA once listed a cigar I was interested in trying from the description with a low score (87) because it had burn issues and had to be touched up. That cigar has become one of my favorite N/C and I have never had burn issues over many boxes.

tonygraz
Herf-A-Holic

9 years ago

Take ratings with a grain of salt. This is a matter of personal taste and what someone else raves about you may think is crap and vice-versa. If you are going to lend credence to anything, do so to a cigar that no one says anything good about and avoid those cigars.

Edited by user 9 years ago | Reason: Not specified

DrMaddVibe
Herf-A-Holic

9 years ago

Ratings Schmatings

Taste is where its at.

2 turntables and a microphone...where it's at...[frypan]

euodias
Herf-A-Holic

9 years ago

smoss11 wrote:

4. Even the most honest ratings are specific to the current production run. The same cigar you buy a year later could have a different blend of tobacco from a different year rolled by different rollers.

Abrignac
Herf-A-Holic

9 years ago

euodias wrote:

Does mean that they have to find a new crop of virgins each year upon whose thighs certain cigars are rolled?

KingoftheCove
Herf-A-Holic

9 years ago

#10

Does mean that they have to find a new crop of virgins each year upon whose thighs certain cigars are rolled?

Abrignac wrote:

Yes.............that's exactly what it means.....

shaun341
Herf-A-Holic

9 years ago

#11

No wonder the cigar rollers are like 14 years old nowadays

gummy jones
Herf-A-Holic

9 years ago

#12

grab a couple fivers in the high 80s, low 90s and mid 90s and see for yourself
grab a couple fivers of things without much fanfare that catches your eye or you read something cool about

my personal opinion: having done the above, it is my opinion that ratings are incredibly hit or miss and you'd be better off exploring on basis of brand loyalty (pardon, fuente, tatuaje, upper end drew estate, etc) first to taste what a proper cigar in each vitola/wrapper/filler/etc should taste like

Transplant
Enthusiast

9 years ago

#13

Ratings can be helpful, IMO. They've pointed me in the direction of several great, high-value sticks....CAO Flathead, Prensado, CAO Brazilia, RP Edge, to name just a few. This said, I was turned on to a couple of my all-time favorites, the Joya Red and Tatuaje Tattoo, by forum posts.

Bottom line for me is that a little research can go a long way and you shouldn't limit yourself to one info source.

Edited by user 9 years ago | Reason: Not specified

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