Ratings and Premiums....

jd50ae

Lee.mcglynn

I don't rely on ca ratings at all but find them interesting. As for premiums well it's a hit or miss depending on what you think a premium is. Either way I like what I like and I know what I like so it just doesn't matter too me

Rain

Premium is anything I like and think is worth the money.

catfishbluezz

Ratings and premiums mean nothing to me. The opinions of those with palates I trust do.

SleevePlz

Ratings? I don't really put any stock in them. I've seen people rate my favorite cigars very low and very high. If you are curious about a cigar, just smoke it and decide for yourself. Your rating is the only one that matters. I checked CA's No. 1 for the past 10 years and I've only had 4 of them. One of them I thought was horrible and the others were Padron

Lee.mcglynn

SleevePlz:

Ratings? I don't really put any stock in them. I've seen people rate my favorite cigars very low and very high. If you are curious about a cigar, just smoke it and decide for yourself. Your rating is the only one that matters. I checked CA's No. 1 for the past 10 years and I've only had 4 of them. One of them I thought was horrible and the others were Padron

thank god for padron!!

J.S.

I used to read all the mags back when I started smoking in the early 90's. I learned a long time ago that what the guy reviewing thought and I thought were very different. I stopped reading them more than a decade ago. I used to keep very detailed notes about what I smoked too but that has stopped too. Just too many new blends out and new lines and who has the time? I know what I like, I know blenders that generally have things I enjoy and I try to smoke something new at least 2 or 3 times a month. No need to read someone elses thoughts. Although if you are just starting out it does have some advantages.

Martel

kuzi16

dennisking

I use the ratings a litmus test sometimes, especially if I am intrigued with a brand and am curious as to the performance of a particular stick. Word of mouth from someone who has a similar palate is more informative to me though.

catfishbluezz

Personally I like reading reviews, but it takes time to get to know a reviewer if you ask me. If you find a reviewer whose palate you can trust, there is no better recommendation to me, unless you have a tobaccanist that knows you.

The Kid

catfishbluezz:

Personally I like reading reviews, but it takes time to get to know a reviewer if you ask me. If you find a reviewer whose palate you can trust, there is no better recommendation to me, unless you have a tobaccanist that knows you.

My local tobaccanist doesn't smoke,, so I cant put any of that into what he says, also kinda bothers me he keeps offering cigars that he only stocks in big RG 's when Ive told him several times I don't care for the plumpers, but what are ya gonna do, im sure most of us have more knowledge than the majority working in the retail industry.

catfishbluezz

The Kid:

catfishbluezz:

Personally I like reading reviews, but it takes time to get to know a reviewer if you ask me. If you find a reviewer whose palate you can trust, there is no better recommendation to me, unless you have a tobaccanist that knows you.

My local tobaccanist doesn't smoke,, so I cant put any of that into what he says, also kinda bothers me he keeps offering cigars that he only stocks in big RG 's when Ive told him several times I don't care for the plumpers, but what are ya gonna do, im sure most of us have more knowledge than the majority working in the retail industry.

For sure, and that is probably the case more then not. I am lucky and have a good one. He probably bats about 90% with my palate. Rarely when he tells me I will like something, do I not. Normally, he just looks at me and says no lol.

bigharpoon

jd50ae

PAtoNH

If I see a review here or elsewhere online that looks good I'll consider trying a stick… I'll always look at top 10 or 25 lists to see if there's something new or interesting to check out. It doesn't drive what I buy but I'm always curious.

Bob Luken

lawhornjp

Echambers

The ratings have encouraged me to try a cigars I might not have otherwise tried--or at least moved them up my list a bit. Case in point is the Arturo Fuente Hemingway short story. Weird size and shape and I would likely not have picked it up but a 93 rating peeked my interest enough to try, and quite honestly I did enjoy it. If you've read my wish list you'll see that I am really just interested in trying as much variety as I can. I'm the same way with food and drink--if there is something I haven't tried on a menu I will order it. Ratings focus this a little for me much like a review of a wine or a restaurant my encourage me to go. Of course that's not the same as saying that I always agree with the reviewers...