Cigar afficianado

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Banihex

Joined Jan 2006

280 Posts | 0+

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Discussion Starter
• Mar 25, 2006

• #1

How does one become one of these people that rates cigars in CA? Or how does one rise to the top of the totum (sp?) poll of smoking. Enough to where that is your job, if that makes sense.... Maybe starting your own cigar label.

The only thing is that when you read about all of these big buffs you see their spanish last name, and that they grew up in a cigar family that has always been in the business. What if you don't fall into any of those categories? Anybody know? Because I sure don't!

 

J

jesse52

Joined Dec 2005

792 Posts | 0+

Vermont

• Mar 26, 2006

• #2

The rating system in CA seems to be advratizing driven. So I'd say, start your own label, Spend a bundle on Ads in CA, then ask them to be a cigar rater for their magazine


Its one way you could go :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

C

Capt

Joined Jul 2005

3K Posts | 0+

MI

• Mar 26, 2006

• #3

I also believe the ratings are advetisment driven, the more you spend, the better review ya get. In order to get a job doing reviews, you must first be able to identify charbroiled meat notes with a Brazilian cherry undertone, followed by a pencil lead finish.... :wink:

 

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Texasbassmaster

Joined Mar 2006

54 Posts | 0+

Plano, Texas

• Mar 26, 2006

• #4

Like everything I'm sure it's all money driven. Who you know and how much you spend.

 

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Alex Svenson

Joined Dec 2004

1K Posts | 0+

Chicago

• Mar 26, 2006

• #5

The ratings and reviews are done by staffers at CA. Namely James Sukling and Dave Savona. I probably just butchered the spelling. As far as who rates I think it depends place to place. At cigar.com you can add your review and rating any cigar we sell. For our newsletter and most other sources, Thor does our ratings and occassionaly you will see myself, Donny, or Tim.

 

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Bloofington

Joined Sep 2003

9K Posts | 0+

Puerto Rico/NYC

• Mar 26, 2006

• #6

Savona you got right, and it's Suckling for the other guy. Once I learned how the points system was done by the cA guys, I lost a lot of faith in it. I'd like to think that integrity exists at any establishment, so I'm reluctant to accuse anyone of pandering to advertisers, but I understand the sentiment. It sure does look funny a lot of the time. I believe however, even more importantly, is that the system is flawed.

According to their own statements, at least a few years back, when I was a rip roaring member of their site, the whole cigar is not smoked. It is smoked until the flavor undergoes a significant change.

EXCUSE THE HECK OUT OF ME????!?!?!?!!! So then, that could be after you've smoked an inch, or after you've smoked the whole thing, right? And what's the point of wasting somebody's tobacco, who's counting on you for a fair appraisal? And how can you detect complexity in a cigar UNLESS YOU SMOKE THE WHOLE _______ THING?!?!?!?!?!

:duh: :duh: :duh: :duh: :duh: :duh: :duh:

 

A

Alex Svenson

Joined Dec 2004

1K Posts | 0+

Chicago

• Mar 26, 2006

• #7

No matter who is smoking the cigar or who is rating it I think the whole idea of smoking one cigar and rating it is kind of flawed. I have smoked an entire box and of the same cigar and had ratings range from 85 to 92. Simply becuase some had issues that others did not. I smoked some in diiferent environments and different climates. Some where paired with a particular coctail etc. I do have fun rating an entire box based on an average rating of its sticks.

 

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Bloofington

Joined Sep 2003

9K Posts | 0+

Puerto Rico/NYC

• Mar 26, 2006

• #8

One huge and very good point. I know that a bunch of the hard core Cuban smokers I've read, say that they smoke two or three boxes to make a final determination on a certain cigar line.

 

vince

Joined Feb 2004

3K Posts | 42+

159 Knobvue Drive Freedom Pa 15042

• Mar 26, 2006

• #9

I could never review or rate one cigar, I always smoke 3 or 4 of them to get a good idea what I have , some are fine the first & last time I smoke it & others never are any good , some so bad I dont want to try it again, like all the flavored stuff, , if I light it up & find I cant finish it, I dont want to go back to it again , the Dirt, Kuba kuba , & Sauza Tequila flavored cigars come toi mind at first . Just cant take them any way shape or form , But i will smoke a Anisette flavored Avanti or a coffee flavored Mayorgia . whos to say what I might try next, I pass on the brandy & borboun flavored smokes also, years back there was a Scotch whisky flavored cigar call Invincabele or Incomparable , some thing like that , flavored with 25 YO Springbank single malt whisky, I did have more than one of them !, I will leave the ratings to the professionals hahahaha, I know what I like & smoke what I want !. I dont like to smoke some thing to give it a rating unless I like the cigar . Enjoy, Vince

 

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jesse52

Joined Dec 2005

792 Posts | 0+

Vermont

• Mar 26, 2006

• #10

Well, I lost all respect for the CA rating system, when I read that the White Owl Green Apple Toro, only recieved a 87 rating. What could they be thinking? obviously they didn't smoke the whole cigar. You can't get a deep appriciation of that cigar till you hit where the band should be. And don't get me started on the very low rating the White Owl Grape recieved. :shock:

 

vince

Joined Feb 2004

3K Posts | 42+

159 Knobvue Drive Freedom Pa 15042

• Mar 26, 2006

• #11

Grape, dammmm I havent seen the grape yet or is it I haven t seen the green apple < Duhhhh !

 

B

Bloofington

Joined Sep 2003

9K Posts | 0+

Puerto Rico/NYC

• Mar 26, 2006

• #12

JESSE!!! umpkin: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :cryinlaugh: :cryinlaugh: :cryinlaugh: :cryinlaugh: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: umpkin: :rotflmao:

 

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chrisguinther

Joined Aug 2005

2K Posts | 0+

Gahanna, OH

• Mar 26, 2006

• #13

It's funny to watch the trends with CA ratings. If something relatively inexpensive gets a good rating...it's gone. You won't be able to find it for months. Look at the Ole and the Fuente Sun Grown. Now it's probably going to be the Exodus Double Corona. Not that all of these aren't good cigars, but I've seen low ratings on cigars that I like much better such as the Cohiba Robusto and the Padron 5000. Again, it's their opinion. Smoke what YOU like.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

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Carduus

Joined Jul 2005

588 Posts | 0+

Nebraska

• Mar 26, 2006

• #14

I subscribe to CA and plan to continue. I read through the ratings but don’t give them much stock as do I any cigar rating from any source. I know what I like and I will smoke what I like even if it gets a 70 rating. Everybody may have different tastes for one cigar or another. In my own personal cigar journal I rate cigars how I liked them but I usually do not describe a certain taste in them. If they get a low rating the first time I try them I will try it again to make sure if it is good or bad.

 

C

cutter

Joined Feb 2006

285 Posts | 0+

• Mar 26, 2006

• #15

Carduus said:

I subscribe to CA and plan to continue. I read through the ratings but don’t give them much stock as do I any cigar rating from any source. I know what I like and I will smoke what I like even if it gets a 70 rating. Everybody may have different tastes for one cigar or another. In my own personal cigar journal I rate cigars how I liked them but I usually do not describe a certain taste in them. If they get a low rating the first time I try them I will try it again to make sure if it is good or bad.

Click to expand...

Very cool idea Carduus! I was thinking of doing the same thing as far as a cigar journal goes. I am learning that one cigar smoked is not worth basing an opinion on an entire brand. The first Patel 1990 I smoked I absolutely loved. The second, sucked. At least for me it did.

I have been saving all of the bands of the sticks I have smoked. I am going to start a journal where I paste the band aand write my own little rating of it. I think that is the best way I can build my palate and appreciation for the different brands.

 

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Bulz

Joined May 2005

210 Posts | 0+

CT

• Mar 30, 2006

• #16

I personally use the ratings as a point of reference on new cigars or ones I havent tried yet. Obviously if the cigar reviewed says mild all over it, I can pass since it isnt what I am looking for.

Tastes are too different to believe that everyone is going to agree on whats better or best. Hell, you must know people that smoke the same cigars that you like but they love one you hate and you love one they hate.

That being said...

I am participating in a tasting of the top 10 cigars of 2005 (as rated in Cigar Aficionado). They remove the Cubans (obviously) and will be speaking on the ratings system and we'll be tasting the other non-Cubans.
Savona and Mott are the speakers and if anyone has any specific questions they would like addressed, I would be happy to pass them along and report back.

 

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cutter

Joined Feb 2006

285 Posts | 0+

• Mar 31, 2006

• #17

They rated a La Auroa Robusto higher than a Don Carlos GOF. What's up with that?

 

Bikeman

Joined Oct 2005

3K Posts | 14+

Central Canada, eh?

• Apr 1, 2006

• #18

Carduus said:

I subscribe to CA and plan to continue. I read through the ratings but don’t give them much stock as do I any cigar rating from any source. I know what I like and I will smoke what I like even if it gets a 70 rating. Everybody may have different tastes for one cigar or another. In my own personal cigar journal I rate cigars how I liked them but I usually do not describe a certain taste in them. If they get a low rating the first time I try them I will try it again to make sure if it is good or bad.

Click to expand...

I am with you on that one. I do not believe you can form an opinion on any cigar untill you have smoked it at least 3 or 4 times. That way you can form a decent opinion, but you are also getting to try new cigars all the time. My wife says that I have enough cigars to last me over a year already, and they are pretty much all different - that is half the fun anyway!!