I see a lot of hype around cigar ratings. "An astonishing 93 by Cigar Aficionado!" "Receives continuous ratings in the 90's"

My question is, does the rating system take price into account? If not why would anyone buy a 30 dollar stick that is rated 86 when you can buy a 2 dollar stick that is rated 92? I understand ratings are subjective but you can see what I mean I'm sure.

They aren't supposed to.

The reason some smoke 30 buck a stick smokes instead of 2 buck chuck is the same reason we look at the guy in the 8 series Beamer different than we do the guy in the Honda Accord.

We rant and rave about it, its not right, its usually not even true to the person, but image is everything.

I drive a Kia

the cigar aficionado ratings are a joke! most cigar vets feel that way, so do i.. just look at they're annual top 25 list. it's all money driven, same guys each year are at the top cause they have big advertising contracts in the magazine.

oh, and to answer your question they do take price into there consideration, i don't know the exact formula thats used but it doesn't matter.

I did a quick Google and found this...

Quote:

Cigar rating system developed by CIGAR AFICIONADO™ (This text is from The Cigar Lover's Diary) There are four components used in the system developed by CIGAR AFICIONADO™ for assigning a rating number to a cigar: APPEARANCE AND CONSTRUCTION (15 of the possible 100 points) Visually, a premium cigar should have a smooth, flawless wrapper and be consistent in color and shape. When held, it should feel firm and give off a slightly oily moistness. Points are deducted if the wrapper has areas of large veins or if the cigar feels dry or firmer in some parts than others. FLAVOR (25 of the possible 100 points) Although each premium cigar has a distinctive taste, all premium cigars should taste smooth and rich. If a cigar leaves a bitter or harsh taste on your lips, tongue or mouth, points are deducted. SMOKING CHARACTERISTICS (25 of the possible 100 points) A perfectly made and stored premium cigar should light and burn easily and evenly. The draw should be comfortable and the same throughout the cigar. The smoke should be cool in your mouth. Points are deducted if the cigar burns too quickly, if it burns faster on one side, and if you have to pull hard to get a mouthful of smoke or if that smoke is unpleasantly hot. OVERALL IMPRESSION (35 of the possible 100 points) This is the most heavily weighted category because it is the most important.

It doesn't say anything about cost specifically but "Overall Impression" may take it into account.

OK. I defer to the Honerable Congressman from Mass-a-two-sets.

Seems like I read they weren't but it wouldn't be the first time I have been wrong.
I still hold to my reason why a bunch of folk smoke em. of the 'super premiums' there are less than a handful that are worth it IMO. 'Sides for way less than 30 bucks per you can get the real deal from south east of mobile lucille.

When I rate cigars for myself to see which ones I will continue to buy I give I use the following order of importance.

1) Flavor - This is the most important factor for me. If it doesn't taste good I could give a crap about how it looks and burns.

2) Construction - I really hate it if the wrapper unravels.

3) Burn - It is always nice to have a good burn to make the smoke more enjoyable but, I will deal with having to touch up a stick (if it is not ridiculously bad) if it taste really good.

4) Cost - I take cost into account to depend if it will be a frequent smoke or a once in a while smoke.

5) Appearance - I don't place a lot of weight on the appearance. If it taste good, stays together, and burns well (or sometimes not so well ) I could care less what it looks like for the most part. It is all going to be turned into ash anyway .

This is what works for me, as always, YMMV.

All I know is, those rating have little to do with whether or not I like a cigar, they're really all over the board and my taste certainly doesn't line up with their ratings. The ratings are pretty useless to me. They seem to be a mix of marketing and positioning with the occasional bit of honesty thrown in to keep things lively. For opinions that seem to ring a whole lot truer to my tastes, I listen to the Dog Watch Social Club podcast, those guys will bash a high dollar stick in the blink of an eye if it isn't a great cigar and will also weed out the $6 smokes that taste like $1 smokes as well as let you in on $2 smokes that smoke better than $10 smokes. They're really honest and I find that their reviews are much more useful than the print mags.

I don't know if I always agree with Cigar Aficianado but I seem to think they don't play favorites when it comes to ratings. Here's my case: In the April of 08 issue they rate a:

CAO Gold as 88. MSRP $4.50

CAO America as 85. MSRP $14.50

I think if they where biased they would give the higher priced cigar a higher rating.

A Davidoff Aniversario no.1 rated 86 MSRP $33.60 I huge blow to such a well respected brand!

Then they rate a Hoyo de Tradicion. Rated a 90. MSRP $4.50



As I look through the magizine I do see a lot of advertisements for cigars that have recieved high ratings. Ex. Ashton and Fuente. But I also see advertisements for cigars that have recieved low ratings Ex. Gurkha.

I also see an OPUS X rated a mere 86!

That's would seem to support the case that C.A. doesn't rated based on advertisement sales.



All that said... I don't hold their ratings in high esteem because it is so subjective. But I will use them as a general guide just as I do when I ask other smokers what they think of a particular cigar.

that's just my .02!


Thanks,
Lucky

Good afternoon All,
Reading this thread I would like to echo Python's comments exactly. The one and most important quality that I look for in a good smoke is first of all TASTE.
I haven't read CI in years, now much preferring to read Cigar Magazine. For my personal views the articles/advertising are more along the lines of my affordability, they are very informative concerning tobacco farming, production, manufacture and it's a read that I totally enjoy.
I guess the bottom line for me is the best cigar (taste) for the least amount of cost.
Andy

Well said guys.
Some of my favs are poorly rated. For example:

Dutchmaster Select Reserve rating:23
Phillie Sweets ( Corona Grande-very rare) rating:39
White Owl Grand Reserve- rating: :29


...and one of most cherished:

Swisher Sweets Cran Cru Reserva Royale Cameroon-rating: 4

A four!!!! can you believe that....the system is rigged I tell ya'!











Davey the Humerous

Davey, didn't Dutch Master or White Owl have a Churchill sized Natural that came in glass tubes back in the mid-eighties. When I was overseas and would come back to the States a friend of mine would have me pick up as many boxes as I could. They were a great tasting cigar.

LMAO ! At Davey!

Classic!

Lucky

ahhhhh,

MD, I'd almost forgotten.

Ahh Yes MD,
And do you recall the El Producto Queens which were glass tubed?? Back in the 60's !!!! they were priced at 25 cents, and they were the most expensive cigar that we sold in the Deli where I worked way back then.
Imagine a Deli with a humidor. Well we did have one and sold many cigars, Optimo, Gold Label, etc. and the most expensive quality pipe tobacco was Amphora brown at 35 cents a pouch.