Who are the taste experts?

[Doctorossi]

I'm an expert. I know exactly what I like. Don't know how anyone else feels about my reviews, though.

[JJG]

I agree with those who say they're best for entertainment value. I really enjoy reading and seeing pictures of rare and vintage smokes getting torched. The video reviews are fun to watch as well.

but taste being so subjective, I don't really base my decision to smoke something off of a review. I know many times I'm listening to someone describe a cigar I've tried and it sounds like they're talking about a completely different smoke than the one I had.

[Mr. Ed]

Originally Posted by JJG

I agree with those who say they're best for entertainment value. I really enjoy reading and seeing pictures of rare and vintage smokes getting torched. The video reviews are fun to watch as well.

but taste being so subjective, I don't really base my decision to smoke something off of a review. I know many times I'm listening to someone describe a cigar I've tried and it sounds like they're talking about a completely different smoke than the one I had.

I also really enjoy hi def pictures of cigars getting torched.

Taste is very tricky, I think it's difficult to get the true "taste" of a cigar from just doing or reading one review. Rote memorization is where it's at.

At the same time though, you can get a basic understanding of whether or not you should try the smoke. Most people can agree on whether a cigar is "smooth" or "harsh" or if the draw is too tight or too loose. It's when you start venturing into the cigar's strength and flavor profile that things get murky.

[Zanaspus]

I'm a newbie as well. I agree with the minority (is it a majority yet?) YOUR taste is what's important. That being said, if I see 50 negative reviews of something, I generally avoid it. If I see 50 positive reviews of something, I try a 5'er. I'm not rich. I really see no point in buying a "blind box." Bundle reviews I find handy just to see what is quality and what is not.

[Snake Hips]

I agree with the others. You can't go by reviews alone. However, they do help. When you've been in the Asylum for long enough, you start to notice members who have similar tastes to you, then you can give their reviews some attention. I use reviews myself to help me with purchases; if there is some kind of consensus on a cigar for or against it, it affects my purchase. If all the descriptions of the cigar are things I look for, I add it to my list. But I don't see a rave review by icehog or skywalker or landhoney or OLS and immediately go to buy a box of that cigar.

[HK3-]

Originally Posted by Snake Hips

I agree with the others. You can't go by reviews alone. However, they do help. When you've been in the Asylum for long enough, you start to notice members who have similar tastes to you, then you can give their reviews some attention. I use reviews myself to help me with purchases; if there is some kind of consensus on a cigar for or against it, it affects my purchase. If all the descriptions of the cigar are things I look for, I add it to my list. But I don't see a rave review by icehog or skywalker or landhoney or OLS and immediately go to buy a box of that cigar.

Who the heck are they?

[Snake Hips]

Originally Posted by HK3-

Who the heck are they?

Not sure - just a few bums I see hangin' around now and then

[landhoney]

Originally Posted by HK3-

Who the heck are they?

We are Spinal Tap! We are most definitely not bums.

[HK3-]

Too many variables involved. I would say tobacco fields and curring barns are not as controlable as lets say a Hershey factory. (my candy bar will most likely be exactly the same as yours... but cigars will vary within the same box, possibly)