There are at times a lack of reviews in this forum. With all the cigars we are smoking each month, assuming we all try something new from time to time, we should be seeing more reviews. Why aren't we?
Apparently some people feel that they can't write a good review. I've even had a few members offer to send me cigars so I could smoke them and write the review because they didn't feel they could do it justice.
I'm here to tell you people it ain't that hard! You just have to follow a few tips:
First and foremost, when reviewing grab a notecard, sheet of paper or cocktail napkin and something to write with. Before I ever pick up the cutter or lighter, I grab some paper and writing utensils.
This does two things. First it forces you to think of the cigar critically and evaluate it instead of just sitting back and relaxing. It also gives you a basis to work from when you post. How are you suppose to remember all the subtle nuances and thoughts that jump into your head while smoking a cigar if you don't jot them down?
Next, start off with a clean palate. You don't want garlic from dinner or mint from a a recent toothbrushing to throw off your perceptions. I usually drink water, but will sometimes have black coffee, beer or single malt with a cigar. I know how these beverages affect my tastebuds and color my perceptions of a cigar, so I take that into consideration when reviewing.
Now you are ready to start smoking. First look at the cigar. Note the packaging, band and overall presentation. Jot a line or two about that. Next remove the packaging and examine the wrapper and construction closely. What color is the wrapper? Is it silky, rough, oily, dry, flat, etc? Is the wrapper applied well? Is it wrinkled, puckered, jagged? How is the cap? Is it well made? Rough, uneven, nicely tripled? Check the foot (open end) and see what the filler looks like. Is it stemmy, light, dark, bands of ligero visible in the middle?
Once you have noted the appearance jot down a few lines about it. Now cut the cigar and tell us how you cut it. Guillotine, punch or v cut? This will let us know how the cut may have colored your experience and if there is a method other than our preferred method that works well on this cigar.
When you snip the cap, note how cleanly it cut; was there any shag, loose bits of filler, stems, cracking, etc? Take a prelight draw and try to put words to the taste you experience. Was it like tea, mild tobacco flavors, anise or nothing at all? Was the draw tight, loose, just right or like sucking a bowling ball through a garden hose?
Light the foot and note how it lit. Did it take an unusual amount of time/puffing/flame to get it going? Did it light even or jagged? Did it tunnel from the word go or did it burn straight? Take a few puffs and note any initial flavors, keeping in mind that initial puffs can be charry and a bit bitter, especially if you make a habit of puffing while lighting so that a big flame puffs out of the cigar. (That's another topic but that is bad form and ruins the taste of a cigar.)
Now note the first third of the cigar. I try and assign a main flavor like woody, coffee, roasted meat, etc. and then find any other notes if present. Also note the physical presence of the smoke on the palate, was it creamy, dry, hot or spicy?
At the mid-point of the cigar build off your initial flavor findings and let us know if they are still present, have they faded or turned into something else completely? Appraise us of how well it is keeping an ash and the condition of said ash. Is it flaking like dandruff in a snow storm or is it tight? Is it light and loose or dense and gritty? White or grey?
As you finish up the cigar, note the flavors as the cigar nears the end. Usually a cigar starts to turn for the worse now; did it go south with 2" left or did you nub it? How were the flavors? Did the head stay firm or did it get gummy after an hour of smoking?
Next give your overall impression of the cigar. Some people prefer numbers, and I was one of them. I now just like to give my opinion and advise as to whether or not it's a good cigar, a decent cigar but not for me or an out and out dog rocket.
I will usually include where I bought it, a line about whether it's a good value and sometiems where they can be found online cheap.
So all of you guys who don't think you can write a review get cracking and start smokin' and scribbling. Your input is valuable on the review site!
. I did my first review this month, and followed the format ive seen before. I plan on doing more reviews soon, and really enjoyed the one i did. It was fun to actually really pay attention to the cigar all the way through, noticing things i sometimes dont while im smoking. I got some good feedback on the review i did for the CX2, and cant wait tosee what everyone thinks of the reviews i will do in the future.
