Do Our Prejudices Show?

[kelmac07]

I agree with this, to an extent. While sometimes the opinions of others may sway me into trying a stick (specifically for those that enjoy a lot of what I enjoy), but for the most part I enjoy trying new sticks. I also use the two stick rule, as I may have received a "dud" before placing judgment on any cigar. I am a really huge fan of the Viaje line, but they have plenty of sticks in their line-up that I don't think are worth a hill of beans. I'm sure I have a few sticks in my "All Time Top 10" that plenty of others would never smoke and I am alright with that, because it's what I enjoy.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by kelmac07

I agree with this, to an extent. While sometimes the opinions of others may sway me into trying a stick (specifically for those that enjoy a lot of what I enjoy), but for the most part I enjoy trying new sticks. I also use the two stick rule, as I may have received a "dud" before placing judgment on any cigar. I am a really huge fan of the Viaje line, but they have plenty of sticks in their line-up that I don't think are worth a hill of beans. I'm sure I have a few sticks in my "All Time Top 10" that plenty of others would never smoke and I am alright with that, because it's what I enjoy.

I wish I could try more new sticks, but smoking time often gets in the way. What I mean is, I only smoke so often and only so much - I do not smoke a cigar everyday. So, while I like to try new sticks, I'm not going to waste all my limited smoke time on new stuff. Sometimes I want to have something that I know will be in the specific zone I am craving from a specific cigar, at that time, an unknown won't do.

Personally, trying new cigars also has to happen in a certain setting. Everybody is different in that regard, but I like trying new stuff around other cigar smokers. Not always true, but often. So, this approach also limits new cigar intake.

Most often, I smoke what I like because it makes my tastebuds happy.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

[Subvet642]

The thing is, that these "Top 10" lists give the semblance of objectivity to something that is, without doubt, subjective and thus are of no use to anyone, beyond entertainment. I don't read Cigar Aficionado so I don't see the hype or the ads, so I'm not affected by them. I get 99% of my cigar information right here, and if you ask me, we probably have more accumulated cigar knowledge, right here, than all the magazines combined.

[OLS]

I quit reading their reviews and stopped buying their magazine when I realized finally that
they don't really SAY anything. They tend to re-use the same tired phrases and use a
large portion of the already tiny blurb to tell me the wrapper was rumpled or the cigar LOOKED
uniform. Who the hell cares how it looks? Its clear they are just trying to fill space in a
review that is already woefully short. I liked Treasure Island very, very, very, very, very, very,
very, very, very, very, very, much. Its about a pirate who owns this island that has some
treasure on it.

Couple that crap with the whole lifestyle yacht coverage and 10,000 dollar pens and you
can take ALL of it and cram it. I don't really care WHAT the factor is that causes them
to sell out and say such useless things. I only know they do it.

[Emjaysmash]

Nice topic Todd. Might make it fun next herf if we all exchanged a blind stick and did a review.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by Emjaysmash

Nice topic Todd. Might make it fun next herf if we all exchanged a blind stick and did a review.

I was thinking about posting up a blind review option. This would be an interesting thing. I'd get 4 different cigars and 6 different reviewer. All the cigars would be the same size, but kept in 4 different sample baggies. Each baggie/sample would contain between 3 & 5 cigars. That way, someone tries a few of the same cigar to get a true "taste" of each. As I am not independently wealthy, this would cost each reviewer $75.

Funny thing is, I thought about this earlier - I already have the cigars picked out. I know the cost because I figured out what to buy, shipping to me and then shipping out to others. That cost would get everybody 15 decent cigars. These are all cigars I personally enjoy and would have no problem spending the money to buy them.

But, I don't think anybody would want to spend $75 to get in on a blind tast test.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

[Emjaysmash]

Yeah, excellent idea but you're right, I wouldnt spend money on a blind taste test.

[Weelok]

Hmm I'd be interested in paying to participate in the blind taste test.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

I was thinking about posting up a blind review option. This would be an interesting thing. I'd get 4 different cigars and 6 different reviewer. All the cigars would be the same size, but kept in 4 different sample baggies. Each baggie/sample would contain between 3 & 5 cigars. That way, someone tries a few of the same cigar to get a true "taste" of each. As I am not independently wealthy, this would cost each reviewer $75.

Funny thing is, I thought about this earlier - I already have the cigars picked out. I know the cost because I figured out what to buy, shipping to me and then shipping out to others. That cost would get everybody 15 decent cigars. These are all cigars I personally enjoy and would have no problem spending the money to buy them.

But, I don't think anybody would want to spend $75 to get in on a blind tast test.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Originally Posted by Emjaysmash

Yeah, excellent idea but you're right, I wouldnt spend money on a blind taste test.

Originally Posted by Weelok

Hmm I'd be interested in paying to participate in the blind taste test.

But some might. Do I start such a thread? It'd definitely be a unique deal.

[shilala]

I'd be happy to put together a couple blind review fivers, Todd.
It's been a long time since I've done anything like this, I think the last was with the old value smokes I had put back for a few years. (They didn't fare well.)

If you have a list of smokes in mind, pm me. I'll do the best I can to match them up.
Even if we just do one reviewer at a time, that'd be fun. If you have a reviewer in mind, that'd be good. I think Jamie would do a good job, Brad would, too.

[Whipper Snapper]

Said before and said it again- I've always been interested in blind reviews/doing one.
Let me know if one comes up and the price, and I'd most likely be in.

[jjirons69]

Blind taste test - for all those that want to give it a whirl, we already have an active thread. It's a lot of fun if you've never tried it.

Blind Taste Test

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by jjirons69

Blind taste test - for all those that want to give it a whirl, we already have an active thread. It's a lot of fun if you've never tried it.

Blind Taste Test

I'd suggest that anybody who is interested in this, get in on this taste test.

Jamie, this isn't a replacement for that thread in any way shape or form.

[Weelok]

I think what is being proposed is quite a bit different then the blind taste thread above. This is more of a blind review panel. I'm in for a new thread and pay to be a panel reviewer.

[hazydat620]

Why so many sticks? we do a blind review on another forum with pipe tobacco and cigars. a fiver out of your personal stash would be enough I think. sending diff. vitolas of the same would be expensive. send him one vitola, get him interested, and he seeks out the others on his own if he enjoys it or just sticks with that one. he would in turn send out five of his own out of his humi. The only real cost to play should be the postage for each send. post everything here on your thread so everyone keeps everyone honest, and keeps interest with constant bumps.pics are always fun.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by hazydat620

Why so many sticks? we do a blind review on another forum with pipe tobacco and cigars. a fiver out of your personal stash would be enough I think. sending diff. vitolas of the same would be expensive. send him one vitola, get him interested, and he seeks out the others on his own if he enjoys it or just sticks with that one. he would in turn send out five of his own out of his humi. The only real cost to play should be the postage for each send. post everything here on your thread so everyone keeps everyone honest, and keeps interest with constant bumps.pics are always fun.

This wouldn't be a blind taste test to get the reviewers to try something outside their own experience. This is beyond that. This is a review panel to get some perspective to all of us. Frankly, I have done exactly what you are stating, been the one sending out the sticks - been on the receiving end. Even did one where I sent out 5 different stick to 3 different people to see how they compared the same sticks. With one cigar of a particular vitola, sometimes there are issues, every once in a while a cigar escapes to get into our hands that is completely unsmokable. More than one cigar of a sample will hopefully alleviate that.

Hey, if you don't like the idea, you don't need to play.

[hazydat620]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

Hey, if you don't like the idea, you don't need to play.

no,no,no, I think you took it the wrong way, it's not that I don't " like" your idea, I thought you were trying to get a feel for some ideas or feedback of what has worked in the past and what has not. I apologize, after reading through you post it seems it is a little different than a "taste" test.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by hazydat620

no,no,no, I think you took it the wrong way, it's not that I don't " like" your idea, I thought you were trying to get a feel for some ideas or feedback of what has worked in the past and what has not. I apologize, after reading through you post it seems it is a little different than a "taste" test.

Nota problem, it is forgiven.

If you, or anybody else is interested in getting in on this, look in on the other thread.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=60169

Peace of The Lord be with you.

[mosesbotbol]

I can say from being in many blind wine tasting, people are all over the place. There is prejudice at all levels of the experience. Just like people assume color implies certain characteristics. I've always want to drink or smoke with someone who is blind and get a feel for their perspective.

[Tredegar]

I like reading CA at the local B & M while having a smoke. Do their ratings count? Not really. It seems that they review many cigar lines that I have never heard of and will never try.