Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I am looking for 3 volunteers to blind reviews. But, I'm not just going to take anybody. I want you to follow a specific format for your reviews. So, before you volunteer, look at the format for review (below) that I would like those who wish to take up the challenge to follow. As you can see, it really allows a thorough investigation of the cigar.

Also, the same beverage must be drunk with every cigar - what that beverage is, doesn't matter, but it must be stated what the beverage is - and you must have that beverage with each cigar. (this is for consistency)

Also, the cigar must be the first cigar each day - what time of the day is up to you. (again, for consistency)

I also want reviewers who have sampled both Non-Cuban and Cuban cigars. It doesn't matter if they prefer one or the other, just that they have sample them.

How am I going to choose my group? Simple. The first three to correctly guess in what months my wife, and two sons were born in gets to play. Just the 3 months, you don't have to specify what month each was born.

Have fun!

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Review Format
In each of the categories below rank the cigar with this system
0.0 - 2.0 = poor/inferior quality
2.1 - 2.9 = fair
3.0 - 3.5 = good
3.5 - 4.5 = excellent
4.6 - 5.0 = superior

1) Aesthetics: the look of the cigar - oily, coarse, smooth, dry, light, dark, pretty, ugly, etc...

Score for aesthetics:

2) Pre-light Construction: Roll cigar between fingers - soft spots? loose? tight? dense? lightweight? Well rolled? how does it smell?

Score for Pre-light construction:

3) Post-light Construction/How it smoked: Does it draw well, does smoke pull through on its own, do soft spots appear after lighting, burnes evenly? smokes hot or cool? What is ash like? color of ash? flaky or solid?

Score for post-light construction:

4) Flavor and strength: What does it taste like? Full-bodied, med. or mild? Does it taste earthy, spicy, fruity, vegetal, sweet, rich, harsh, direct, floral, robust, woody, green (haylike), acidic, salty? Is it pleasant or unpleasant? Does it build in flavor and/or complexity as you smoke it? Is it bland, flavorful, complex? Did it get bitter?

Score for flavor and strength:

5) Finish/Aftertaste: Finish or aftertaste is the sensation &/or flavor on you palate after each puff, not the taste left after you finish the cigar. Is it heavy - light? Spicy, cedary, fruity, bitter, hot, grassy? Mild - strong? Pleasant or not? Harsh?

Score for aftertaste:

6) Aroma: What does it smell like? Good - bad? light or heavy? pervasive - mild? floral, perfumed, grassy, harsh, woodsy, overpowering, unpleasant, magnificent?

Score for aroma:

7) General Comments: Are samples consistent? Did you particlarily enjoy of with a certain food or beverage? Did they appeal more at certain time of day? Did it remind you of something? Would you buy them? Sum it up as you would to a friends ("That cigar was awesome!") and give it an overall score (this is not a total, or an average of the others - it is you overall rating of the cigar)

Overall score for the cigar:

8) Recommendation: Would you recommend the cigar? Pick one of the following and explain:

Not Recommended
Possibly Recommended
Recommended
Highly Recommended

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I'll bite


March, May, and September

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I will guess June, July, and August.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Nov. Jan and feb

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

May, August and January

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I forgot to say how many guesses per day, so I guess I better state that - you get three guesses per day. I will give hints based upon guesses periodically.

Tim & MJ & Tom, having spoken with you all at length live and in person, I think you may know these, or at least part of them. So, I am sorry, but I must exclude you.

0 of 3

1 of 3

1 of 3

1 of 3

Now I am off to teach a Bible Study, may come back later.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

June, January, August.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Jan, Dec, Nov

thats 2 for me today

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Nov, Oct, March.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Jan, Mar, Sep
Thanks for the contest.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

January, July and December

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

If Canadians can play
my guess is Aug, April, Dec

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

1-nov / oct/ april
2-aug/ nov/ aprl
3- aug/ nov/ oct
My dumbass is not sure if you meant 3 months per guess or 3 sets of months guesses per day, so If i haffta stick with one it wqould be aug/nov/aprl

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

August, January, October

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

December, April, January

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Sorry, I misspoke - 2 of 3.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

January, July, October

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

2 of 3

Yes. 0 of 3

There are you three guesses today.
1. 1 of 3
2. 1 of 3
3. 1 of 3

1 of 3

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

2 of 3

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

January, July, and November

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Kirk can think quicker than me. I concur with him though:tu

Jan, July, Nov

Both right or both wrong:D

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

How about Nov, Jan and July

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Hey, that means I wasted a guess because the Rev misspoke.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

And we have our three contestants.

If you could each PM me your addys, I'll get the sticks out to you.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

lol should have read page 2 before my guess huh?

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Awesome gesture brother, thanks for the contest!

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I would love to do this but I already owe two reviews and some pics. Great idea and gesture though. Thank you!

Congrats to the three winners!

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I had to do something a bit different to get the reviewers. I knew that my sons months were available for someone who was dilligent. My wife's was a 1 in 12 guess.

Congrats to the winners. I hope to get these in the mail Saturday or Monday.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I would like to ask why, why you want these reviews and want them in that particular format. What are you up to? Maybe you do not want to share now, maybe when we are done.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

nicely done, Todd!

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Thanks Todd, very gracious of you:tu

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

If you don't want to do them, that's fine. I would be glad to find another volunteer if you feel uncomfortable doing them.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

No, not at all uncomfortable, just curious. I'm in.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Why do I want the reviews? does there have to be a reason? I'm a pastor, not a cigar vendor. I enjoy the CA forum and the people here. It is things like this which make if fun to come back and read stuff, to follow a challenge and see how other people's palates discern things and how they appreciate a fine cigar. And, I like to challenge people to think about what they are smoking. These will be cigars out of my humidor, cigars I enjoy - some from a bit of everywhere and from different bands of the spectrum.

It is also my hope that by doing a blind review, the reviewers will sample the cigars w/out prejudice. Sometimes a band, showing the marca of the cigar, can skew a review even before it is begun.

As for the format? It is a format I use, and I think it allows someone to judge a cigar on the total experience. These are all factors that some take into consideration when picking their smoke.

I hadn't thought about the reasons, but...
1) This is an excuse for me to bomb someone with cigars without repurcussion. :D

2) It is an opportunity to allow someone to do a review and really think about what they are smoking.

3) My tastes are not the same as everybody else's, and different reviews give a different slant on different sticks - I'd like to see what people think of what I enjoy.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Sounds like a great thing ya got goin Rev.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Rev, you're reasons are very admirable. I am happy do this. Thanks!

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I wouldn't count on it :r:xxx

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Now be nice.

This was actually supposed to be a scientific experiment - yeah, that's what it was.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

A couple situations have arisen that together will delay the mailing of the samples to you reviewers.

1) I have some sticks in the freezer and I'd like them to go through the staging process before they are shipped out

2) One of the reviewers will be leaving town for a short trip, and would rather not have the cigars sitting in the heat.

So, I will be mailing out your samples on June 10

Once you receive your samples, to ensure uniformity and the scientific method - could you please smoke/review them in the following manner.

1) (most important rule first) Have fun with this! I know I'm giving you some rules, but they aren't oppressive and they are given so that the cigars are smoked in as objective a manner as possible.

2) Smoke them in order as they are numbered, and PM the reviews to me (not this thread). When I have all the reviews for a certain cigar, I will post them together - along with the naming of the cigar.

3) Smoke them as the first cigar of the day (This will ensure a clean palate for your tasting) and always with the same beverage, preferably something rather neutral (different drinks can alter different results in tasting, some beverages must be paired carefully and can often alter one's experience dramatically). Water, coffee, tea, and some others are rather neutral. It doesn't need to be those, but try to drink the same beverage -- and if you cannot, list that it was different.

4a) Use the review format in the first post.
4b) If you want to hazard a guess at what it is you have smoked, go for it.

5) Have fun with it and enjoy the cigars.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

:banger

Can't wait! I love these threads!

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

kgoings; fissure; dyieldin are the three reviewers, but I think we should get to know their tastes in cigars a little bit. This won't change what is sent to them, but knowing their tastes will lead us to see that they may or may not come to the same conclusions about these cigars.

So guys, here are a few questions to answer.

1a) My favorite wrapper is usually...
1b) but I also enjoy...
1c) and I really hate...

2a) My preferred size vitola is...
2b) but I also enjoy...
2c) and I really hate...

3a) My 5 favorite cigars (thought I don't normally spend the money on) at present are...
3b) My 5 favorite/go to cigar are...

4) 5 cigars I try to avoid (don't name ones we all avoid, but things people wouldn't expect)...

5) 5 cigars I'd like to try, but haven't are...

6) I'm hoping the Rev puts one of these in the sampler...

Thanks for your participation.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

1a) My favorite wrapper is usually... Besides Cuban I love Camaroon
1b) but I also enjoy... the rest of them
1c) and I really hate... can't say I really hate any of them

2a) My preferred size vitola is... Lanceros I used to say Robusto but I am really enjoying Torps and Churchills right now...so they all are good!

2b) but I also enjoy... Ninfa's
2c) and I really hate... cant say I've had a vitola I hate

3a) My 5 favorite cigars (thought I don't normally spend the money on) at present are... I smoke pretty ordinary stuff so I buy the ones I like. Havent smoked anything super expensive or fancy.

3b) My 5 favorite/go to cigar are... Boli Corona Gigante, Boli PC, Upmann #2, LaGloria Cubana MDO #1, Upmann Mag 50

4) 5 cigars I try to avoid (don't name ones we all avoid, but things people wouldn't expect)... Tat's and Peppins, I have had some that I like but I am not super impressed with their spiciness.

5) 5 cigars I'd like to try, but haven't are... I can't really think of anything specific. sorry

6) I'm hoping the Rev puts one of these in the sampler... I'll be pleased with whatever you send!

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

1a) My favorite wrapper is usually... Cuban
1b) but I also enjoy... sumatra, maduro, corojo
1c) and I really hate... bland

2a) My preferred size vitola is... PC or Corona

2b) but I also enjoy... Lanceros
2c) and I really hate... Big ring gauges > 50

3a) My 5 favorite cigars (thought I don't normally spend the money on) at present are... Pepins, tats, Cohiba (CC), Kristoff, San Cristobal

3b) My 5 favorite/go to cigar are... Partagas lonsdale, Hoyo du prince/du roi, Little havana overruns, LGC #1, Partagas millie fleur

4) 5 cigars I try to avoid (don't name ones we all avoid, but things people wouldn't expect)... Punch CC's, Bolivar CC's (haven't found one that has wowed me yet), Older RyJ CC's (like the fresher taste in the RyJ's), Tat LE's, Fuente (almost all)

5) 5 cigars I'd like to try, but haven't are... 1980's davidoff:D, Cohiba Behike, other lanceros that I haven't tried, a good punch or boli, NC Davidoff

6) I'm hoping the Rev puts one of these in the sampler... 80's davidoff;) Seriously, I know I'll be happy with whatever is sent:banger

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Thanks guys for playing. I am not doing this to figure out what I am sending - you are getting what you are getting. Free cigars are always wonderful, but the goal of question #6 isn't to see if you'll be happy with what you get, nor is it a chance for modesty. It is an opportunity for me to see what your "dream" cigar would be - 80's Davidoff - cool. If you get one, send it to me. :=:

It is truly fun to see what you like. From what you two have written, I think you will enjoy the selections I am sending you.

This is really looking to be fun.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

This sounds like fun.

Would you be willing to share the cigars that were blind tested and give us the reviews?

It help decide whether I would like to try something new or different from what I have smoked in the past. Plus I can decide if my likes/dislikes align with the reviewers.

Thanks for your project.:tu

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Yeah, Im pretty sure Todd is only having the reviews sent to him so he can post them in a coherent style. He's going to post all of the reviews, then reveal what they smoked.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

MJ is very, very close. The only reason that the reviews will be sent to me is so that I can post them all together and then reveal what that particular cigar is. They will be getting instructions to smoke the cigars in specific order, and then I can post their reviews together.

That raises another question for the reviewers.
How many cigars do you smoke per day and/or week?

I am not wanting these to be the only cigars you smoke, so I am thinking that maybe we can get one review a week? Or maybe one every two weeks?

I smoke 4-7 a week, usually closer to 4. When I reveiwed for SMOKE, I never had a chance to have a cigar for me. While reviewing is fun, when I sit down with a couple friends to have a pint of porter, I want a cigar that will pair with that. Smoking cigars blind can be a crap shoot in that regard - you can end up with a great cigar and a great beer - but the just don't go well together.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I rarely smoke more than one a day. And I usually smoke at least 2 a week. But I am on sabbatical so I figure I will smoke quite a bit more. I am okay with one a week.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Depends on the weather for me, but usually 3-4 a week in the summer. So 1 a week will be very doable:tu

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

August January November!:banger