CA Ratings

Fourtotheflush

ug dan

I like to look at them and see how they lined up. I don't go out and buy sticks just because they're on the list, but it might influence me further down the line if I see one at a B&M.

Vulchor

I love reading the reviews, and they do influence me to try some new stuff when I see it------but this being said-----the bias toward Cuban cigars gets me a little bit sometimes. As does how they can say the cigar was acidic, musty, like burnt paper, with a poor ash and burn-----THEN RATE IT AN 84!......Although I feel quite vindicated when a 6 dollar stick (Casa Magna, AB Family) beats the 30 dollar Zino's and 20 dollar Davidoffs with regularity..............in short-----fun reading, not very reliable.

Krieg

i like to see what the top 3 cigars of the year are, but that's just cause im planning on going to the Big Smoke next year and they give out the top 3 cigars.

Krieg

speaking of Top 3...I bet you one of the top 3 is gonna be another Padron.

ug dan

no bet!

Vulchor

You know it Kreig------every issue has to rate AT LEAST 6 Padrons and 2 opus X's............... and one AVO usually near the bottom with a Griffins if not, lol

kuzi16

cleake

When was the last time they rated a stick sub 80 pts? according to their scoring chart 80-90 is considered great if I remember correctly.

kuzi16

cleake:

When was the last time they rated a stick sub 80 pts? according to their scoring chart 80-90 is considered great if I remember correctly.

its been a while since ive seen one. i think they rat a TON of cigars and pick some of the top X% to post in the magazine. im sure they also go out of their way to not rate the crappy cigars.

docbp87

cleake:

When was the last time they rated a stick sub 80 pts? according to their scoring chart 80-90 is considered great if I remember correctly.

Yeah, but if you look at the cigars they publish ratings for, they really DON'T smoke crappy cigars. That's probably the reason a score less than 80 is so rare.

ug dan

I don't go out of my way to smoke crappy cigars either!

Nick2021

Haven't read up on the new ratings yet but am excited to see what comes out in the top 5

Jetmech_63

Ratings are so subjective. I mean, whats stopping us from coming up with our own magazine and rating cigars with reviews and selling it. Same thing. Of the CA's i've seen(something to do while puffing at the b&m) ive never seen a "boutique" brand reviewed. Some stuf they say is 90+ point, i think tastes like ass. Something i like Kuzi may think tastes like ass, and something Kuzi likes Jozer make think is a dog rocket. I take CA with a bit less than a grain of salt, but i take forum reviews a little more to heart. We seem to be the guys more in touch with the realm of cigars..... If that makes any sense... Then again....if there is money to be made in doing it...there is money made to be made reviewing it.....

docbp87

Jetmech_63

JCizzle

I thoroughly enjoy reading these discussions and top 10 lists, but my ignorance saves me from any kind of bias, at least for now. My top 10 list is the list of my favorite sticks I've had so far, however few they may be.

Vulchor

Jetmech_63:

Which is a shame because CA(like em or not) does have the power to drive and steer a decent chunk of this market. That being said i think CA is an extension of marketing, rather than a basis for unbiased review. I'm not their target audience, far from it lol, but wherever there is money to be made, there will be bias.

This was said PERFECTLY

Krieg

If you ask me, I think the way Cigar Magazine does ratings is spot on. They select their subscribers at random, then send them a bunch of cigars with rating sheets. I was selected for a review last year, it was a ton of fun and would love to do it again (not just for the free cigars).

Dynaguy

I have been a CA subscriber for years, dating back to when it was CIGAR Afficianado, not cigar AFFICIANADO. The magazine is totally supported by advertisers and you will not see CA rating house blends like Diesel, Old Henry or JR Ultimate. In short, their ratings can hardly be called unbiased. The fact is that a lot of the cigars they rate highly, I have found to be absolute drek (Casa Magna comes to mind). I am sympathetic to how hard it must be to come up with cigar related contend when so much of the industry is so secretive about how about they go about what they do. On the other hand, while I make a pretty good buck, the lifestyle portrayed my CA is way out of my league. I'm just not interested in reading about this stuff. Why not have articles of more general interest. For these reasons, I have finally let my subscription lapse and I will not review. Besides, with the advent of forums like these, there is a much better, unvarnished source of opinions regarding cigars. So, as to CA's Top 25, meh.....

madurofan

Well said Dyna.

phobicsquirrel

docbp87

kuzi16

Fourtotheflush

kuzi16

madurofan

kuzi16

Dynaguy

Thanks for the formatting help. Also, got to type better, lots of misspellings. Same point though.

Fourtotheflush

xmacro