When trying a new cigar, how many of the particular brand do you try before you give it a thumbs up or down? Me, I usually try a couple. I've had experiences where the first smoke wasn't enjoyable. I give them the benefit of doubt due to age, storage, etc. The second one I usually store myself for a period of time, (months or even a year). If the second one is a dog rocket, that's it, it's off my list! Just curious as to how others go about the process? It's important to note, that I try to always smoke the same size, ring gauge, etc. I will aslo say the opposite isn't true, if the first smoke is great, then I'm buying more. Most of the time this works, sometimes not.
How many before you pass judgement?
- Thread starter Web
- Start date
two...but I'm impatient.
8ball
Ruler of Grayskull
It takes several to give up on a brand in general, but a blend, I'll say two. And that's if I consider it "meh". If it's 
than I'm one and done. Now that I've moved my price point to about $5 and up, it's rare that I find a cigar that I would not try again.
than I'm one and done. Now that I've moved my price point to about $5 and up, it's rare that I find a cigar that I would not try again.
TraderCigarCo.
Alex
There are certain things that I know right away with the first whether or not I'm going to like the blend, so I would say for most one. However, there are times like with the TAA2014 that I had a couple of months ago that I will buy a few more to sit on and try later.
Normally it's 1. haha
Normally it's 1. haha
"depends"
If I smoke something that just outright sucks.. I wont revisit.. even after just one attempt.. unless it is obvious to me that something was "wrong" (stick gets rave reviews otherwise.. was obviously over humidified or dried out.. or something.. etc..).. there are just too many other options out there for me to go back to the same well over and over again.. thereby wasting time/money/enjoyment..
if I smoke something that is "ok".. but doesnt "wow" me.. that others really seem to like.. or that I think should fit my tastes, but for some reason just didnt work.. I might go back to it a couple of times just to see "whats up".. but.. again, if it doesnt really impress my by the second or third try.. I move on to something else..
I tend to make box purchases these days.. and only buy singles to try something new.. if the "new" something doesnt get my attention within the first few smokes.. I am certainly not grabbing a box..
If I smoke something that just outright sucks.. I wont revisit.. even after just one attempt.. unless it is obvious to me that something was "wrong" (stick gets rave reviews otherwise.. was obviously over humidified or dried out.. or something.. etc..).. there are just too many other options out there for me to go back to the same well over and over again.. thereby wasting time/money/enjoyment..
if I smoke something that is "ok".. but doesnt "wow" me.. that others really seem to like.. or that I think should fit my tastes, but for some reason just didnt work.. I might go back to it a couple of times just to see "whats up".. but.. again, if it doesnt really impress my by the second or third try.. I move on to something else..
I tend to make box purchases these days.. and only buy singles to try something new.. if the "new" something doesnt get my attention within the first few smokes.. I am certainly not grabbing a box..
I think some of it depends on the cigar. If it's something random of the shelf at my B&M, two is generally enough to tell me I don't want to smoke anymore. There are others, if I've read a lot of good things about them from multiple sources, I'll try more than twice. Sometimes I find I missed something the first two times and sometimes I find it's just a cigar I don't like. Good example is the Tat Black Label. I'm a Tat whore. These things come very highly recommended. I've smoke about 6 and they just don't do it for me. I'm pretty much done with them, though I've got a few left in the bottom of the cooler that I might revisit in another year.
If I'm testing a blend out, I usually stick with a roburo or Cg. I'll try at least two to give it an honest opinion. If I'm trying out a cigar line, I usually try at least two different sizes twice. It gives that cigar a fair chance,
two - of a particular line within a brand...not the brand itself.
sometimes a few more, if im on the fence about the stick ive tried.. ill try a different vitola (both smaller and larger) to see if i get some better flavors from it. it isnt written in stone that the most flavors come from the smallest of RG.
just my 2cents.
sometimes a few more, if im on the fence about the stick ive tried.. ill try a different vitola (both smaller and larger) to see if i get some better flavors from it. it isnt written in stone that the most flavors come from the smallest of RG.
just my 2cents.
ChefBoyRG54
BoM Sept '14 & BoY 2014
I judge it by it's cover
You know, I'll be happy to take thos Tat Blacks off your hands. No need for you to waste any or your time on those dog rockets. It's the least I can do for a fellow BOTL
StogieNinja
Derek | BoM June 2014
It all depends. If people whose palates I trust rave about the cigar, I might give it 3-4. If everyone thinks it's crap, I probably won't even give it a try. Not that public opinion is everything, but when you have a group of like-minded cigar connoisseurs with palates you respect, it's kind of a different ball game.
One thing I won't do is pass judgement before 6 months. If I smoke one and don't like it, I'll wait a few months to see how downtime helps. Since nearly all of my orders are online, a period of rest and acclimation only seems fair before passing judgement.
I only trust reviews to give me an idea of overall flavor profile, and have found that buy reading several reviews I can kind of get a consensus on overall flavors to see if it's in my wheelhouse. If it is, then I look to see what other BOTLs are saying, and if they're guys who smoke similar stuff to me and they're raving, I'll buy a fiver. If the first sucks, four go into a rest period, and I'll try again in a few months. If it's great, then I'll get ten.
One thing I won't do is pass judgement before 6 months. If I smoke one and don't like it, I'll wait a few months to see how downtime helps. Since nearly all of my orders are online, a period of rest and acclimation only seems fair before passing judgement.
I only trust reviews to give me an idea of overall flavor profile, and have found that buy reading several reviews I can kind of get a consensus on overall flavors to see if it's in my wheelhouse. If it is, then I look to see what other BOTLs are saying, and if they're guys who smoke similar stuff to me and they're raving, I'll buy a fiver. If the first sucks, four go into a rest period, and I'll try again in a few months. If it's great, then I'll get ten.
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Too many choices out there. Reviews are completely subjective. I'm one and done as in the case of the RP Connecticut. It was so bad that I won't take a chance on any of their cigars again regardless of reviews. After all, the Connecticut line gets good reviews according to the sales sites.
Craig Mac
BoM 4/10 7/11 12/14
I have been fortunate to try a ton of new cigars over the last few years and I would say it depends on how complex the blend is for me and/or the opinions of certain people (some of which here on botl) have to say about said cigar if I will "give up" on the brand or not.
If it's a simple blend of say Ecuadorian wrapper, Nica binder and filler and it sucks, I won't revisit it. Too many cigars with that blend that shine and are solid that I can move on to. If it's a cigar with a more "worldly blend" comprised of several different tobaccos I may give it another shot if it seems to fall flat.
There is also the understanding that it may have been poorly constructed or something may be off with the humidity that caused it to be bad, but honestly, even though I like trying new cigars, there are plenty I can grab and get what I expect out of it.
If it's a simple blend of say Ecuadorian wrapper, Nica binder and filler and it sucks, I won't revisit it. Too many cigars with that blend that shine and are solid that I can move on to. If it's a cigar with a more "worldly blend" comprised of several different tobaccos I may give it another shot if it seems to fall flat.
There is also the understanding that it may have been poorly constructed or something may be off with the humidity that caused it to be bad, but honestly, even though I like trying new cigars, there are plenty I can grab and get what I expect out of it.
My B&M is pretty good about what has been put in the store fresh off the truck, so I will usually get a heads up if something is a little too humidified but as a rule of thumb I will give the cigar 2-3 sticks before I pass my judgement. Sometimes you need to give a cigar an inch or so in before it starts to get really good, and usually I am going to smoke it to the half way point before I pitch it, even if it's a real dog rocket... The best example I can give there is the Padron Family Reserve 50yr Natural. It's about the first half inch being a bit peppery but after that it gets extremely good!
The first few years of cigar smoking, I insisted on two or three before passing judgement. Nowadays, I trust my palate enough to write off a blend after one. Especially, if I know its a wrapper type that hasn't sit well with me in the past. Now, I recognize that I may miss out on some cigars that I'd eventually like. My La Duena experience is instructive, though.... FWIW; I had a rob that I didn't like too much, followed by a beli that I didn't like at all. Some months after I'd written them off, someone sent me a PL. Turns out I loved that size and have gone through many boxes the last couple of years. Now, I enjoy the other sizes somewhat, too...not nearly as much as the PL, but I do like them.
So, I know that I will miss out on things by writing some off early....but, I've got such a long list of cigars that I already know I enjoy, I don't feel bad about it. I do trust some others' opinions, however, and will, on rare occasions, revisit much later, some cigars that are liked by those whose opinions I regard highly.
So, I know that I will miss out on things by writing some off early....but, I've got such a long list of cigars that I already know I enjoy, I don't feel bad about it. I do trust some others' opinions, however, and will, on rare occasions, revisit much later, some cigars that are liked by those whose opinions I regard highly.
Often I have decided within the first few puffs, five minutes at most.
If it is a sample blend I am working on and even if I dislike it, I will typically smoke through 3 to 5 to try to pinpoint how the tobaccos in the liga are interacting and see if they develop through the duration plus I like to smoke them fresh, @30 days, and @60days. It is tedious at times, but I feel compelled to do it. Luckily this approach has resulted in me compiling a pretty good feel for what works well with what and allows me to focus on identifying the problem leaf(s) and/or proportion issues. Twenty years ago my blending process was like throwing darts, but today I can typically whip up a decent blend in minutes just by looking, touching and smelling the leaf, the issue is creating a great blend that offers richness, ages well and provides enough complexity to entertain an experienced palate. This still takes me many months and often dozens of iterations from a common base blend.
If it is someone else's finish product, I rarely will even finish the first if it isn't striking my fancy and will seldom try it again. The only time I will revisit it is if someone whose palate I admire speaks highly of the cigar or it receives an over abbundance of consumer accolades. When I do revisit, I will typically smoke it much more consciously, trying to identify what about it makes this particular cigar appealing to others.
I know, I know... not exactly fair-minded, but at least I am being honest, there are simply too many good cigars available for me to feel compelled to try to find the good in a product that isn't pleasing me initially.
BR,
STS
ps: This truncated approach is an evolution of my own practices, in the mid-90's I subscribed to the practice of affording every cigar two full tries from light to nub.
If it is a sample blend I am working on and even if I dislike it, I will typically smoke through 3 to 5 to try to pinpoint how the tobaccos in the liga are interacting and see if they develop through the duration plus I like to smoke them fresh, @30 days, and @60days. It is tedious at times, but I feel compelled to do it. Luckily this approach has resulted in me compiling a pretty good feel for what works well with what and allows me to focus on identifying the problem leaf(s) and/or proportion issues. Twenty years ago my blending process was like throwing darts, but today I can typically whip up a decent blend in minutes just by looking, touching and smelling the leaf, the issue is creating a great blend that offers richness, ages well and provides enough complexity to entertain an experienced palate. This still takes me many months and often dozens of iterations from a common base blend.
If it is someone else's finish product, I rarely will even finish the first if it isn't striking my fancy and will seldom try it again. The only time I will revisit it is if someone whose palate I admire speaks highly of the cigar or it receives an over abbundance of consumer accolades. When I do revisit, I will typically smoke it much more consciously, trying to identify what about it makes this particular cigar appealing to others.
I know, I know... not exactly fair-minded, but at least I am being honest, there are simply too many good cigars available for me to feel compelled to try to find the good in a product that isn't pleasing me initially.
BR,
STS
ps: This truncated approach is an evolution of my own practices, in the mid-90's I subscribed to the practice of affording every cigar two full tries from light to nub.
Hoshneer
Drew Estate NotRex
I pass judgment within the first third of a cigar. If I don't care for it I MU it now. I really appreciate the time I have to smoke and I want to spend it with a good cigar. I should add that I do rarely not enjoy a cigar and if I do it is usually a gamble on a dog rocket.
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TraderCigarCo.
Alex
This is some serious insight. Thanks for taking the time to post this.