Does it influence you?

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When you're flipping through the cigar catalogs how much attention do you pay to the "cigar ratings?"

In comparing two similar sticks are you swayed by the rating and then purchase based on the number assigned by the "experts"?
 
None. I have a few favorite brands and I prefer the corona size, so that pretty much eliminates much of what the "experts" like, anyhow. I've been led astray a few times too many by others' recommendations. I think it's every man for himself for individual stogies, although the general reputation of a manufacturer, like, say, Fuente, is useful for a novice.
 
So this influences my cigar buying habits:

30% packaging (band, box art, etc. Let's just admit it...)
25% description of constituent tobaccos (Nicaragua a plus, also like Habano and Maduro wrappers)
25% Price $$$ (If I buy by the box I have a hard time paying over $5 per stick)
15% Customer reviews
5% "professional" reviews
 
Hmmm, I guess I have never really thought about it all that much, although I tend to agree that an attractive band goes a long way when you're window shopping.  

I usually buy my stogies in person and I try to carefully inspect what I buy. Construction is the most important thing to me. I am okay with toothy wrappers and tiny inconsistencies, but I will not purchase anything that looks like it even remotely has a chance of smoking poorly.

I have always had a few favorites but they have changed a lot over the years & I have discovered that I can't depend on those brands anymore. Either that or my tastes have changed..
 
Ocelot55":enz70kmm said:
So this influences my cigar buying habits:

30% packaging (band, box art, etc. Let's just admit it...)
25% description of constituent tobaccos (Nicaragua a plus, also like Habano and Maduro wrappers)
25% Price $$$ (If I buy by the box I have a hard time paying over $5 per stick)
15% Customer reviews
5% "professional" reviews
Click to expand...
Personally, I would say I'd place the tobaccos above all others because it gets me in the ballpark of what I like. Much the same way a wine's origin or varietal(s) would help me choose for the occasion. The review/score helps confirm that the types of tobaccos will indeed satisfy the itch.

Reviews from customers and even industry pros are hit and miss for me. Sometimes I find "creamy", "smooth", "leathery", while accurate descriptors, are actually a little too vague. And some of it is bound to be marketing verbiage. But, I approach lots of things like that--wine, whiskey, pipe tobacco: Taken with a grain of salt, yet given the benefit of the doubt that the descriptions are not absurdly inaccurate.

All said, if a cigar is well-rated, I stand a better than 50% chance to buy it. If it's a brand/series that I have already had and/or know much about, it pretty much sells me there. If it's a cigar that's unrated or the rating is unposted, I'll ask about it first, with comparison to a familiar reference. The taste part is the last variable for me that I like to take the chance on. There's some mystery, but not too much. ;) 
 
screw the "Professional" reviews and ratings, I'll ask you guys!

I like maduros that are naturally sweet, with that warm & subtle cedar-wood flavor and a bit of spice without a boat load of nicotine. What would you recommend?   :?:  :?:  :?: :face:
 
Fuente!  :D 

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DrumsAndBeer":cxrvl1ze said:
screw the "Professional" reviews and ratings, I'll ask you guys!

I like maduros that are naturally sweet, with that warm & subtle cedar-wood flavor and a bit of spice without a boat load of nicotine. What would you recommend?   :?:  :?:  :?: :face:
Click to expand...
Don't really go for maduro. But I'd imagine all the bigger names will have both a maduro and habano version of many of their offerings. If the habano gets a higher nic rating, chances are the maduro will be in the same vein. E.g. EP Carillo, Oliva Serie G, My Father, Rocky Patel Private Cellar, Nub Maduro, La Aurora (Preferidos, ruby), and Padron are some that come to mind. La Aurora & Padron, esp. the '26 & 64' series, will break the bank though.

But there are some that are their own series, so it's hard to say about those. Certainly you can weed out the ones that definitely will give you a kick like Oliva, Liga Privada, Cain, etc. Have you tried Onyx?  :lol!: But seriously, I'd think that the Liga Privada Papas Fritas would work? La Perla Habana makes one too with Brazilian wrapper, but I don't know how much it hits the sweettooth.

The Ramon Bueso Genesis project has intrigued me too. It's Connecticut wrapper, but it's dark & oily, med-full. Been wanting to try it, but haven't gotten there yet what with my being targeted in the May bombing mission. :face: If you try that or an EP Carillo, let me know if they're any good. I like the habano and Connecticut lines from Carillo, so I'm expecting the maduro would be medium bodied?

You have some much summer to be enjoying. Get smoking! 8) 
 
I have a select few company's I enjoy , Rocky Patel, CAO, Padron and then individual sticks I enjoy from other company's lines like a Partagas Black , La Flor Dominicana Ligero, Punch Gran Puro, etc.  

Now days I seldom try 'new cigars' .. Am I missing something?  Maybe, but a lot can be said about knowing what you are getting when you drop the coin for your pleasure. So ratings influence? Not so much.
 
Jesse, I used to smoke Fuente's. I absolutely loved the maduro sticks that they were making in the mid to late 90's. I am sure my taste buds have changed some, but to my taster A. Fuente's are nowhere near as good as they used to be.   :( 

I am thinking perhaps that the industry has mostly moved away from the classic sweet, simple & mild black peppery maduro stick. Most of what I run into nowadays is something designed to tear your head off. Maduro sticks named after swords, guns, warriors and weapons of mass destruction seems to be all the rage at the moment. I paid $14.00 for a Hoyo De Monterrey Excalibur and it was an utter disappointment. Excellent construction, boring flavor. All earthy and no nuances. Strong though.

Josh, I'll check some of those suggestions out. Onyx, is the only one in your list that I have smoked. They're okay. I did smoke a Rocky Patel Edge a while back, once again strong but good flavor, not great.

PB-I do have a Partagas Black, been meaning to smoke it for a few weeks now.
 
DB, Onyx used to be my go to stick. A bit inconsistent, but they were affordable. They ranged from ho-hum flavor to "Gawt-Dang Fantastic!"

Lately one stick has re-emerged as a favorite: CAO Brazilia. Fantastic Maduro.
 
Ocelot.  The CAO Brazilia Gol  :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: 


Since we are discussing ratings I'll say it.  Ratings are about as dependable as reviews.   I was reading reviews (just now) of the Gol, probably my most oft enjoyed cigar, and it went 7-8-9 good reviews.. Then *someone says 'a fellow BOTL said' (what is this ridiculous habit of appealing to an anonymous authority ) then there were 4-5 bad reviews.  The final review ended "buy a Don Thomas Maduro" ....

Rankings, ratings, and reviews matter far more in the herd than anyone gives them credit.  Funny how no one listens to them and yet there are hundreds of review sites and entire magazine lines built upon putting numbers after cigars.





* see what I did?
 
I've got to smoke a cigar to know if I like it. I usually visit the shop 3 or 4 times a month and will get 2 of whatever new things strike my fancy. Occasionally one of those test runs turns in to a box purchase, but more often its just a chance to try something. I use reviews to see what's new, get info on the tobbaco used in the cigar, etc. But I usually don't agree with the reviews. For example, I recently bought a couple of the Drew Estates Kentucky Fire Cured and can honestly say I find them to be a bland and unremarkable cigar despite the hype. Bit clearly folks love them because they can't keep them on the shelf. To each his own, that way there is plenty for all.
Mike.
 
Hey "DrumsAndBeer". If you haven't tried it, I would try the Jaime Garcia by My Father cigars. It's got a decent amount of peppery spice and oaky richness. It has a lot of flavor and it's not super heavy. Medium at best. If you can get your hands on it, try the Jaime Garcia TAA edition (box-pressed torpedo), I love that size. L'Atelier makes some very nice maduros as well with a similar but slightly more peppery/cedery profile. Last but not least, if you ever feel like splurging, try the La Aurora 100 Anos Maduro. It's a very rare stick and will run you about $20, but it has all of the elements that you are looking for and is a beautiful blend.

Happy smoking!  :D 
 
There are a few guys who are professionals, in that they work in a b&m shop, in whom I put great value in their opinions. Other than that, not so much.
 
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