REQUIREMENTS
In City Slickers, Jack Palance's character, Curly, said there's "Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don't mean ..." When reviewing cigars that one thing is Honesty. A person's integrity--their willingness to speak the truth about what they feel regardless of the consequences and who you might offend-is the only real requirement that I have found. Everything else is just window dressing. There have been accusations for years that Cigar Aficionado sells their reviews to the highest advertiser. This is the kind of practice that simply cannot stand. Just because a company provides you with revenue or, in the case of most bloggers, free cigars, does not mean you owe them a review of any particular number. For the record, I do not believe CA actually does rate based on advertising; I pored over advertisers versus ratings for several issues and the conspiracy theory simply does not hold water. What I do object to in CA is the fact that they apparently have never smoked a cigar that they found to be less than a B-minus, as apparently every cigar gets at least an 81 to 83 ratings. I have seen other reviews that have a similarly skewed rating and wonder if those people just like anything someone gives them.
Back to the "window dressing," as I called it. These are things I would call "Bonuses" for the cigar reviewer, but not requirements. First is "Experience." The longer you have been smoking and the more cigars you have tasted the more you can speak with some authority on the matter of smoking cigars. I am neither a newbie, nor a life-long smoker; I will be celebrating 9 years since my first cigar this month, but I did not start reviewing until I had about 7 years of experience under my belt. "Knowledge" of cigars and the industry can be gained through research, conversations with industry insiders and even just hanging around your local B&M. You can write without knowledge, but don't expect many to listen to what you have to say. Some kind of "Talent" is also nice. God blessed me with a desire to write and an ability to write pretty well (I'm not trying to be arrogant here, just relating what others have told me) but I let that talent lay dormant too long. Reviewing cigars has been a wonderful outlet for my writing. If you are going to write reviews, some level of writing ability is good to have or people will simply navigate away from your site; if you are doing video or audio reviews, some modicum of speaking ability should be brought to the game. If you stammer around and say "uh" a lot, you probably should not be bothering. If you speak well, but have a "face for radio" consider just posting the audio for your reviews instead of doing video.
QUALIFICATIONS
First-another simple one here--you have to be a smoker! And not just a casual, I-smoke-while-I-golf smoker, but a regular consumer of the products. If someone were just an occasional movie viewer, would you trust them to review a film? This one is so simple I won't say much more--most people who are only occasional smokers would not be interested in spending the time to create a blog.
Which brings us to another fairly easy thing: have an opinion. This can get tricky for some people, not so much for others. You can't vote "present" and you cannot stay "undecided" and expect to gain many fans one way or the other when you are reviewing cigars. Make up your mind and state your opinion, whether you need 3 to 5 cigars to make up your mind or you just need a single stick. I personally see advantages and disadvantages to either method and have come to feel that the choice between one or the other is like Pepsi vs. Coke or Mac vs. Windows. I read one person state that cigar should ever be evaluated unless it's had a chance to sit your home humidor under constant supervision for at least a month. I had to suspect the guy was joking, but apparently he is serious-apparently he believes manufacturers do not want you to buy a stick and spark it up right there in the shop (where you might actually buy more if you like it), but want you to experience it "as they intended" which means you have to home-age it extensively. So much for all those events that manufacturers throw at shops every week! Next time I go to one, I'll tell the rep (or President of the company if he happens to be there) that I'm taking the stick he handed me home to rest in my own humidor for a month and then decide if I want to buy more...and I'll make sure to record how hard the guy laughs at me!
Opinions, by their very nature, are highly personal issues and cannot be said to "be fair" or "unfair" to manufacturers or consumers, at least not if they were arrived at honestly--see it all comes back to honesty. The bottom line here is that I, and all other cigar bloggers, are just rendering opinions and nothing more--there is no reason to think too much of yourself just because you were able to hold an opinion.
METHODS
There are as many different methods are there are reviewers out there. CA magazine reportedly has a buyer who shops at different tobacconists in the New York area, replaces the bands with numbered pieces of paper, and delivers the cigars to the different reviewers. They "blind taste" 70, 80 or more sticks in a two month period and take notes, compare those notes at the end of the period, then get to see what they voted on. Each reviewer smokes one cigar and price is never taken into consideration.
Some reviewers decide on a multi-stick method wherein they smoke 3 to 5 cigars and average the results. This is meant to weed out the odd "bum stick."
My specific method results from the way I have always approached cigar smoking. When determining what I would like to buy more of, I would always buy a single cigar based on previous knowledge or a recommendation from someone else. If I liked it, I would buy more; if not, I would pass it over for other sticks. Since I was--and mostly still am--spending my own hard-earned money for these cigars, the first stick from a line got a chance to impress me in some way; that first stick is the one that has to make such an impression on me that I want to let that manufacturer reach into my wallet and take more of my money. If it didn't, the likelihood of it being purchased again was low. This is the origin of my review method: that "single stick" that I choose for a review gets a chance to "wow" me in some way. If I am not impressed, I will let you know and I won't be back to spend more of my hard-earned money on it. If it suits me, I will let you know. Even if I don't like it, though, I try to see who might and issue a recommendation for those people. Sometimes what I smoke is actually the first time I have ever smoked that cigar; other times it is not, but I still base my review on that one stick as long as it is typical of others I have smoked. In the case where it differs from previous samples, I note that in the review and may adjust my scoring based on previous experience as well.
I like to set certain conditions for a review period as well to even out the playing field as much as possible. I like a "review stick" to be the very first cigar I smoke on a given day; if it's not the first one, I at least will wait 4 to 6 hours after my last stogie before reviewing something. I like to drink only water while reviewing to minimize the amount of outside influence other beverages exert; if I make exceptions to this rule, I always note it in the review.
My reviews are very much akin to the "cigar journals" that many of you might have kept at some point where you pasted a band in and made notes so you would remember a cigar later. The Tiki Bar started off as not more complicated than a way to organize my own thoughts on the matter. I now research the cigars I smoke and review so they will be of more interest to the general reader, but these are still just my opinions and reflect my likes and dislikes. If you disagree, please leave a comment and let's talk about it. If you hate the methods I use when reviewing, there are 5,000 other cigar blogs out there and you are more than welcome to check out others or start your own.
My reviews are very much akin to the "cigar journals" that many of you might have kept at some point where you pasted a band in and made notes so you would remember a cigar later. The Tiki Bar started off as not more complicated than a way to organize my own thoughts on the matter. I now research the cigars I smoke and review so they will be of more interest to the general reader, but these are still just my opinions and reflect my likes and dislikes. If you disagree, please leave a comment and let's talk about it. If you hate the methods I use when reviewing, there are 5,000 other cigar blogs out there and you are more than welcome to check out others or start your own.
Regarding multi-stick reviews, if a cigar manufacturer wishes to put 3 to 5 cigars in my hand for review we will be more than happy to base my review on several samples. Judging from what I have read on some other blogs, many of their review samples arrive in this manner. We have not been so blessed in that regard as of yet, but there have been a few samples thrown our way...you'll be seeing those reviews in a few weeks. (Note: so far, the multi-stick reviews I have been working on are resulting in the same review that a single-stick review would have...funny how that works.)
After much thought on the matter, I have decided to make one slight change in the presentation of the reviews you will find here on the Tiki Bar. In recognition of the fact that sometimes the reviews are "first time" smokes and others are not, from now on we will make it plain in the body of the review if it is the first time we have smoked a particular cigar (and you can regard it as a "first impressions" type review if you like) or if it is something that we have smoked previous to the review stick (and we will try to specify approximately how many we have smoked previously). I enjoy capturing the experience of a "first impressions" type review for posterity just because you never will have that exact same feeling about a cigar again...the joy of discovering a new blend that may become your favorite, but letting you know if it is a cigar we have smoked on previous occasions will give you a better idea if the reviewed experience is typical of that line. (There have been at least a couple occasions when I have sat down to review cigars, found that a particular sample was not typical of what I had smoked before and thrown out the review until I could obtain a different sample.) This change may not happen overnight as there are still some unpublished reviews in the pipeline, but by the end of July it should be standard operating procedure. Again, this will not change how we review cigars here at the Tiki Bar, only how we present those reviews.
CHALLENGE
In looking at a great many of those "5,000 other cigar blogs out there" I have discovered that most do not discuss their reviewing methods. They might have an explanation of their scale, but no explanation of how they get to the exact number on the scale. If you look under the "Ratings Scale" on the Tiki Bar (up top, just under the logo) you will find an explanation of how we review cigars on a regular basis and exactly what all the numbers in the scale mean. That page has been there an easily accessible since early this year. With that in mind, I issue the following challenge to other cigar blogs:
1. Come up with your own set of standards or guidelines by which you review cigars.
2. Post those standards in an easily accessible place on your blog.
3. When you review, stick to those standards in all ways possible.
4. When you make exceptions to those standards, clearly state that you did so in a review.
Easy, really...who will step up and take the challenge?
After much thought on the matter, I have decided to make one slight change in the presentation of the reviews you will find here on the Tiki Bar. In recognition of the fact that sometimes the reviews are "first time" smokes and others are not, from now on we will make it plain in the body of the review if it is the first time we have smoked a particular cigar (and you can regard it as a "first impressions" type review if you like) or if it is something that we have smoked previous to the review stick (and we will try to specify approximately how many we have smoked previously). I enjoy capturing the experience of a "first impressions" type review for posterity just because you never will have that exact same feeling about a cigar again...the joy of discovering a new blend that may become your favorite, but letting you know if it is a cigar we have smoked on previous occasions will give you a better idea if the reviewed experience is typical of that line. (There have been at least a couple occasions when I have sat down to review cigars, found that a particular sample was not typical of what I had smoked before and thrown out the review until I could obtain a different sample.) This change may not happen overnight as there are still some unpublished reviews in the pipeline, but by the end of July it should be standard operating procedure. Again, this will not change how we review cigars here at the Tiki Bar, only how we present those reviews.
CHALLENGE
In looking at a great many of those "5,000 other cigar blogs out there" I have discovered that most do not discuss their reviewing methods. They might have an explanation of their scale, but no explanation of how they get to the exact number on the scale. If you look under the "Ratings Scale" on the Tiki Bar (up top, just under the logo) you will find an explanation of how we review cigars on a regular basis and exactly what all the numbers in the scale mean. That page has been there an easily accessible since early this year. With that in mind, I issue the following challenge to other cigar blogs:
1. Come up with your own set of standards or guidelines by which you review cigars.
2. Post those standards in an easily accessible place on your blog.
3. When you review, stick to those standards in all ways possible.
4. When you make exceptions to those standards, clearly state that you did so in a review.
Easy, really...who will step up and take the challenge?
In writing this, I ironically saw that I was again only stating an opinion, just like I do for the reviews that I post. I worked hard at supporting this opinion, but as I stated above, that doesn't make me particularly special. If you have an opinion and want to talk about it more, leave a comment. Please be civil and respectful of others' views and support your arguments well.
I'll take the challenge. I'm new to the blog-o-sphere, but I have been thinking about this subject myself. I'll post my guidelines and use them for all future reviews. Thanks for stepping up and writing this.
ReplyDeleteEven though I have just recently started my online reviewing of cigars, I believe the same philosophy as Dave does. A cigar need to wow me before I'll buy another one. I also think the change that we will be making will make it clearer in whether or not we have had others or if this is a true first experience. As Dave mentioned this is just our opinion and we are all free to agree or disagree and there isn't any problem with it.
ReplyDeleteKeith,
ReplyDeleteI loved your bold challenge & truthfulness. I am only a month or so into my own blog. I have dabbled with cigar reviews, restaurant reviews, event & entertainment views all from the angle of an "average guy". I agree that in any writing or blog, opinion is #1, some degree of experience is needed, and not just random thoughts thrown onto "paper" will interest all readers.
I just found your blog 2 weeks ago and have enjoyed reading your reviews. I even picked up 2 of the stogies you reviewed last month.
My purpose of my blog is to counteract the "paid" bloggers. I am the country's #1 conspiracy theorist, cynnic, & cautious "realist" and believe all things in life are marketing ploys. Many of the "5000" blogs you described are alot like paid comercials.
I've been enjoying cigars for about 5 years now and still feel like I don't know enough to be an expert, but can speak my opinion to newbies & novices from the Average Guy's Prospective.
Thanks again for the great blog. Hope I didn't ramble too much.
Alan
@Otownstillerfan
http://averageguychronicles.blogspot.com/
I agree with much of what you posted. However, I would like to add in that there is no "wrong" way to review a cigar so long as your process is explained. I don't use ratings, I just keep my blog set as a journal, since it's half for me to keep track of what I smoked, and half to pass on what I've learned, but I think I stated that in the about section. I think that honesty is important, but I also have a possible hypothesis as to why you see some of those skewed ratings.
ReplyDeleteI know that I tend to smoke, for review, cigars that are either new and hot, or ones suggested to me by cigar insiders or people who's tastes I trust. Because of this, I tend to smoke cigars that I already know that I'll at least enjoy. After all, I don't really see the point in smoking cigars that I wont like; as much as reviews are needed for them, there is 4,999 other sites to review it. You'll notice very few mild cigars on my site, and no Gurkhas. That is, I suppose, a form of bias, but I just don't really want to pay money or smoke what I already know I don't like.
Finally, another point on experience; I think it's definitely important, but when you combine passion, thirst for knowledge, you general ability to taste and perceive things, etc etc, your amount of time smoking or number of cigars smoked can mean less then other factors. I've been smoking cigars for about three years and change, and I consider myself to have a very decent palate. I have a very, very intense passion for cigars (just ask anybody who knows me) and I spend hours learning more. I absorb every factoid I hear, and I try to add that knowledge into the whole smoking experience. That's part of what I love about cigars; there is just so much culture and information! I guess the point is, 10 years of smoking cigars versus five years of smoking cigars doesn't mean the ten year guy will be better at reviewing.
The other point is that taste is subjective. I like that there are many blogs, because it lets you find one that suits your tastes, and then follow that one closely, or those couple closely. Chances are, if they like cigars you like, you'll be pleased with their reviews and thus have a better chance at finding stuff that you like to smoke.
Now as to the "how many" point. I will smoke a single cigar and review it, or maybe more then one. For me, that all comes down to cost. I'm a student, and my funds are limited. I buy the vast majority of my own cigars, and so I will usually review as many as I can afford to. Unfortunately, that tends to be one, or sometimes two. If somebody sends me samples, I think it's important to A. First make sure everyone knows you got these samples from somebody, and then B. Smoke more then one, since they were sent to you to review. You have no obligation to give it a good review, but you certainly have an obligation to give it more then just a single try. I would say that ideally, each cigar should be smoked three times; it's just cost prohibitive.
I have a great respect for an "honest" review. Even if it's based on a single experience. I also admire your commitment to sharing your personal experiences outside of cigar reviews. Keep up the great work!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone who posted a reply here and especially for those bloggers who took me up on the "Challenge" part.
ReplyDeleteDave, I have to say that your piece here is arguably the finest and most thoroughly well articulated statement on this entire subject matter. The measuring stick (pun intended) that I use on something's worth is whether or not I would pay for it and I would have paid for your post here just like I would pay for a magazine to have on hand to use as an ongoing reference on a subject matter I like.
ReplyDeleteIt should be noted that this is the first time I've ever discovered your blog and that was due to the fact that I follow Barry's blog as I like his very much. I am delighted to now have three blogs that I will now follow on a regular basis, the third one being Cigar Inspector.
I am not a blogger, but simply an aficionado and semi-collector with about 15 years of experience. Actually, I need to clarify that. I have been smoking cigars for over 15 years, but not at a frequency that would qualify me as an expert the way you and Barry are considered experts. I smoke perhaps two to four cigars on average per week, more if I am at a smoking allowed establishment with cigar buddies. or at my private lounge. I have on hand in a fairly large floor standing cabinet humidor, around 3000+ cigars or so, many of them with 5-7 years of personal humidor age on them and a few boxes (and singles) that I have bought 10+ years ago that were already 5/10+ years old when I bought them. I only mention these things NOT to brag but simply to establish my history and or background as a cigar smoker (a point you bring up well as a "minimum" requirement for someone to begin a discussion on their cigar smoking knowledge).
So the point of all this. The single most important thing that the three of you do bar none is that you provide an incredibly important community service to cigar smokers who are either longtime smokers or newbies into the joys of smoking cigars. Forget about the relative methods of your respective review processes. In fact, I tend to agree with your methods simply because that's how I go about my box purchases. If I smoke a cigar that someone has given me or recommended or often, based on one of your reviews, I buy ONE cigar, smoke it wherever and if I like it and it wows me right then and there, bam I buy a box of them. Call me foolish and I'm not even remotely wealthy, but the bottom line is if I liked it, damn the torpedoes (my favorite shape by the way) I buy a box. And yes, this is where my wife thinks I'm plenty foolish.
But again, its because of yours and Barry's and the Cigar Inspectors knowledge, experience, dedication and credibility that I can read one of your reviews and go find that particular cigar, buy 1, try it, like it, and then buy it (a box). If I don't, I almost 100% of the time will not buy another one to see if I will subsequently like it. The terms I used here describes what must be present in someone who is dedicated to community service and the bottom line is that this is what you guys do. And for that, I sincerely thank you for it.
A final footnote. As I said, I am a big fan of Barry and it was one of his own reviews that brings some relevance to the single cigar modus operandi debate. Barry did an absolutely fabulous review on the Alec Bradley Tempus Magistri Maduro. Based on my previous "single" cigar experience I had with the non-Maduro version of the Magistri - I hated the cigar. However, Barry's review of the maduro version had me damn near drooling (BTW - I love maduro wrapper cigars). Now get this. Based only of the power of his review I bought a box without ever having smoked a single one. I smoked ONE fricking stick - and OMG it was one of the best cigars I have ever smoked. I promptly bought 2 more boxes right then and there. Yes, sometimes it only takes a single solitary stick to make your choice.
Dave, I look forward to now following you on a regular basis. To the triad of you, Barry and the CI, I salute you all.
Komodota