How much stock do you really put into the CA reviews and top 25?

[big_jaygee]

i prefer the thoughts and reviews of the inmates here over Ca....people here dont get a dime everytime they say they like a cigar.

[BHalbrooks]

Originally Posted by kelmac07

I take absolutely ZERO stock in any of Cigar Aficionados reviews. When your scale is from 96 (best I've seen) to an 86 (worst I've seen)...doesn't leave much room for in between. If I smoked a cigar and thought it was an 86 (based on a scale of 100), I'd say it was a pretty damn good stick. Now if it was a 96, I'd say it was fantastic. If it sucks...why not give it a score of 6? ------Rant off------

While I faithfully read it each month...still waiting for the day when I purchase my first $ 5,000 pen, $ 35,000 watch and a Lamborghini.

I think you get all that at your 10 year subscription mark, Mac.

Iirc, they smoke an inch or two, and then write a review based on that, and pitch the Cigar

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by BHalbrooks

I think you get all that at your 10 year subscription mark, Mac.

Iirc, they smoke an inch or two, and then write a review based on that, and pitch the Cigar

Brian skim through the link I posted and read Gordon's comments in the comment section on that. That was the straw that broke the camels back for me but do agree with a statement he made and Im paraphrasing "like most things if you start out a cigar and get a little into it and hate it you aren't going to wait an hour to see if it transitions into something you might like."

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by big_jaygee

i prefer the thoughts and reviews of the inmates here over Ca....people here dont get a dime everytime they say they like a cigar.

I'm on about 7 cigar forums in one form or another and have quickly gravitated to this place the most frequently and just started posting quite a bit as I wanted to observe the ebb and flow. This is the most user friendly in terms of members, non-elitest, by far the most hilarious and like that its so diverse in the cigars talked about and doesn't sack ride a particular brand or two. A passionate group yet down to earth.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by FUEL

I'm on about 7 cigar forums in one form or another and have quickly gravitated to this place the most frequently and just started posting quite a bit as I wanted to observe the ebb and flow. This is the most user friendly in terms of members, non-elitest, by far the most hilarious and like that its so diverse in the cigars talked about and doesn't sack ride a particular brand or two. A passionate group yet down to earth.

I like to hear that.

We've got a pretty good group here that is well balanced. We're not without our warts but the people are proud of what they've built here.

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by pnoon

I like to hear that.

We've got a pretty good group here that is well balanced. We're not without our warts but the people are proud of what they've built here.

As well as they should be. Its a great eclitic place. Not often do I read a few members posts then make note of them and seek their posts daily. "Lockspur" absolutely cracks me up. My same sense of humor but figured I best get known a bit before releasing the hounds.

[big_jaygee]

Originally Posted by FUEL

As well as they should be. Its a great eclitic place. Not often do I read a few members posts then make note of them and seek their posts daily. "Lockspur" absolutely cracks me up. My same sense of humor but figured I best get known a bit before releasing the hounds.

thats because Scotty aint right

[BHalbrooks]

Originally Posted by FUEL

Brian skim through the link I posted and read Gordon's comments in the comment section on that. That was the straw that broke the camels back for me but do agree with a statement he made and Im paraphrasing "like most things if you start out a cigar and get a little into it and hate it you aren't going to wait an hour to see if it transitions into something you might like."

Is that the Paragraph you copied a few posts down?

Originally Posted by FUEL

As well as they should be. Its a great eclitic place. Not often do I read a few members posts then make note of them and seek their posts daily. "Lockspur" absolutely cracks me up. My same sense of humor but figured I best get known a bit before releasing the hounds.

Don't encourage Scotty... Nor Jason (Bigjaygee or whatever haha)

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by BHalbrooks

Is that the Paragraph you copied a few posts down?

Don't encourage Scotty... Nor Jason (Bigjaygee or whatever haha)

Yes sir.

[big_jaygee]

Originally Posted by FUEL

I'm on about 7 cigar forums in one form or another and have quickly gravitated to this place the most frequently and just started posting quite a bit as I wanted to observe the ebb and flow. This is the most user friendly in terms of members, non-elitest, by far the most hilarious and like that its so diverse in the cigars talked about and doesn't sack ride a particular brand or two. A passionate group yet down to earth.

this is the only forum i am on....and if you say this is the "most user friendly in terms of members, non-elitest, by far the most hilarious and like that its so diverse in the cigars talked about and doesn't sack ride a particular brand or two. A passionate group yet down to earth." then i dont think i am missing anything on the other forums.

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by big_jaygee

this is the only forum i am on....and if you say this is the "most user friendly in terms of members, non-elitest, by far the most hilarious and like that its so diverse in the cigars talked about and doesn't sack ride a particular brand or two. A passionate group yet down to earth." then i dont think i am missing anything on the other forums.

I guess it depends on your perspective. My favorite two brands are almost exclusively very very hard to find so I like to bounce through other forums posting here and there, start with some entry level trades to establish trust amongst the community and through that to get access to secondary market purchases and trades.

To be fair I don't hate everything about CA and there is some good info and I like their "beyond the brand" videos and such but I despise and will never again post nor visit the CA forums. What a bunch of just complete a-holes for the most part. CP has some great members but not quite as diverse as here. Frankly I really like how laxed it is here in that you can be a complete smart ass and politically incorrect (obviously not grossly over PI) and people just pile on it and embrace it. Its like hanging out with your buds in person.

The attitude here where members don't act like party line voting Republican and Democrats and if its not "their" brand or someone says something they don't like about it they jump down their throat and flame them is refreshing. Its also as I think I mentioned before its not just people posting pics of R&HTF sticks that few have access to. Its like some of those guys have some serious small dick issues they need to boost themselves up on a cigar forum by posting pics of a cigar. My .02 guess I should get off my soapbox but at 6'4" its more like a 1/4 sheet of plywood =P

Back to the topic, this I found interesting, disturbing and somewhat making sense...

From Gordon Mott -- "We do not smoke all of the cigar, but after injudiciously saying once that I (I don't speak for all the tasters) only get the cigar "running," in tobacco speak, before giving it a final rating, I have revised that comment. I have observed my process carefully since that statement, and I spend somewhere between 20 to 30 minutes on each cigar...smoking three to four during an afternoon of tasting with some time to clear my palate between each cigar. As always, just as in the Wine Spectator, all cigars are tasted blind except where otherwise noted. Our scores are meant to provide a guide for consumers to make selections based on flavor and performance--I will, and have always argued, with smokers and cigar smokers who say "you have to get to the 2nd half of my cigar to the good part." That just doesn't work for 99 percent of normal consumers of any product--and carries about as much weight as saying, Open that bottle of wine 24 hours before your dinner party...it will be ready to drink by then. If a cigar tastes poorly at the outset, very few people will wait out the 20 to 40 minutes to get to the "good part." That doesn't mean it won't acquire some different flavor profiles, but I would wager that in 20 years of rating cigars, the number of times a bad cigar has turned great could be counted on one hand."

[mkarnold1]

Originally Posted by FUEL

If a cigar tastes poorly at the outset, very few people will wait out the 20 to 40 minutes to get to the "good part." That doesn't mean it won't acquire some different flavor profiles, but I would wager that in 20 years of rating cigars, the number of times a bad cigar has turned great could be counted on one hand."
[/u]

I don't read Cigar Aficionado, but this statement really bugs me. I have not had many (if any) cigars go from bad to great, but I've had many go from mediocre to good or good to great. On the reverse, I've had several that started out good and went bad, for various reasons, at the halfway point or thereabouts. IMO, it's just plain lazy to judge a cigar by the first 1/3 or 1/2 (unless it sucks).

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by mkarnold1

I don't read Cigar Aficionado, but this statement really bugs me. I have not had many (if any) cigars go from bad to great, but I've had many go from mediocre to good or good to great. On the reverse, I've had several that started out good and went bad, for various reasons, at the halfway point or thereabouts. IMO, it's just plain lazy to judge a cigar by the first 1/3 or 1/2 (unless it sucks).

I agree - sort of.
I understand what you're saying and know that cigars will change somewhat. But if I'm not enjoying a cigar 1/3 of the way into it, I'm pitching it and lighting something else.

[FUEL]

Originally Posted by BHalbrooks

Read it, interesting...

With me I have found a couple Guys on C Asylum have similar tastes as me, so I'll keep their Reviews in mind. I like to try new Cigars as often as possible. I've been smoking for 3ish years, and I haven't smoked 1/20th of the Cigars out there. Always try new things

I agree to a point...price point. I have my favs and do expand but for example a brand IMO that gets too much hype for what they put out and how they select who gets what is Viaje. There is a B&M near that gets their stuff in but is not an "authorized merchant" for whatever that is worth and he is a huge distributor and sells at or below MSRP on some items (no idea how) and I might pick up and try one from him but the notion of finding these sticks and how the company comes off to me discourages me from them. I'm not going to spend over $15 on a over hyped / ultra rare / very limited edition when I wouldn't want to give the brand my money in the first place. Hope that kinda makes sense.

I will however if I find a stick I like a bit there is something not quite "there" for me I'll try a different vitola of it as I am very into and firm in the philosophy of the trifecta of wrapper, filler and binder ratios and how they play on the flavor and strength profile. Recent examples being Undercrown and MUWAT. The smaller sizes are dramatically different than that of even a 50 RG going down to a 44 RG to 46 RG for those particular blends.

Originally Posted by pnoon

I agree - sort of.
I understand what you're saying and know that cigars will change somewhat. But if I'm not enjoying a cigar 1/3 of the way into it, I'm pitching it and lighting something else.

I'm the same way hence why I get leery on the $15+ sticks and if I want them despite how I feel about the two big auction sites being a little low on quality of care of sticks (i.e. arriving dry or cracked) I try and snag them there when I see them.

[mkarnold1]

Originally Posted by pnoon

I agree - sort of.
I understand what you're saying and know that cigars will change somewhat. But if I'm not enjoying a cigar 1/3 of the way into it, I'm pitching it and lighting something else.

I think you agree with me all the way. If a cigar sucks, chuck it. My point was about a decent cigar getting better through gaining complexity, not toughing out a crappy cigar in the hopes of it getting better.