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The LP Dirty Rat was just reviewed by CA...

TheCigarKid

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They gave the T-52 belicoso an 89. Stating it required many relights.
Not a lie by any means, I've had many T52's now and majority require touch ups. Especially the Robusto's, which don't seem to want to stay lit or burn properly for me. Never had that problem with a #9.
 

njstone

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I've had to touch-up T52s as well, I guess it just doesn't matter much to me if the cigar tastes like ambrosia.
 

jjon90

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I'm betting if Drew Estates had spent big advertising bucks with them the rating would have been higher!!
 
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I'm not surprised at all by this. Better yet, I normally expect it from CA.

If I got annoyed by each of their reviews, my headache would be too big for even alcohol to fix. CA is a decent reference to the new or novice cigar smokers, or the person who digs the variety of content that isn't cigars. But for cigar enthusiasts, it will never compare to the other magazines. It would be like buying an issue of playboy to look at killer porn. If I agreed with half of what they rated, I'd question myself.

"MTV is to music as KFC is to chicken" -Lewis Black. (......and CA is to cigars)
 

orangedog

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Well said.

I was highly considering purchasing that $27,000.00 hand crafted travel humidor luggage case thing.
I'm not adverse to the targeting of HNW individuals... but is that who these cigar makers are really advertising to? I can understand the higher-end Fuente ads, but it doesn't seem to me that the average purchaser of CA-affiliated/advertised cigars necessarily fits that category. And if they've done market studies, I'm sure no one fibbed on the "annual household income" question.

How many guys featured in a CAO Real advertisement drop $27k on yacht humi?

That aside, the DR is a good smoke, and T52 is better in my opinion... so I guess they are directionally correct.
 
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Not sure if it's in print anywhere, but I've seen several videos on their website where they've smoked about that much of a cigar and then moved on to the next one. I about had a stroke...

Dan
You want to watch a video of them smoking the whole stick? That would make it a the length of a feature film. Ever stop to think that they are making a short informative video for the audience so they may go from one stick to the other in the interest of keeping it interesting. I know I don't want to see them on screen for 2 hours smoking a stick. If they did cut scenes throughout the video until the smoke was finished you'd have some other complaint.
 

Thegreekone

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I can only speak for myself.

1) Yeah, that mag is about a lifestyle and how people want to cultivate the meaning and value to make money. Fine, I got no problem with that. Some people want a BMW and a box of pre-embargo Davidoffs and others want a Viaje hoodie and T110s that will last till dooomsday. I get it.

2) The reviews are just that. Some responding to a cigar given their preference for flavor, quality, construction, and a bias we all have to deal with. Speaking for myself, it isn't a question of if I have a bias, but how many.

3) One thing this place has taught me is that I don't need a person or magazine's approval in order to enjoy/approve my own enjoyment. When I do see or hear a different opinion about something, I have to me mindful that it is just that, an opinion. Furthermore, it's not an opinion that invalidates mine.

4) This whole thread paves the way for giving CA and a bunch of stuff way too much power.

One thing about the Rat for me is that while I do think it is one "MY" favorite releases of the year, I know that is because the flavor profile is one I enjoy and value. I will also be the first to admit that I have had a few that were flat and consistency hasn't exactly been "Padron-like." But I have had many more great ones than not.

Enjoy......Life is too short not to. YOU GUYS taught me that.
 
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You want to watch a video of them smoking the whole stick? That would make it a the length of a feature film. Ever stop to think that they are making a short informative video for the audience so they may go from one stick to the other in the interest of keeping it interesting. I know I don't want to see them on screen for 2 hours smoking a stick. If they did cut scenes throughout the video until the smoke was finished you'd have some other complaint.
Check out what jolietilfire said that was all the proof I needed.
 

BrooksW

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I have always read about how they only smoke an inch of the stick. I have tried searching for were that was published. Anyone got a link on to what there true tasting procedures are?

Thanks,
Yep...Take a look at this thread on CF from Gordon Mott, Executive Editor of Cigar Aficionado...

(excerpt for those that don't want to click)

"I have said openly that we smoke between half an inch to an inch of each cigar. I've had manufacturers rake me over the coals for that fact, and for the fact that we don't "smoke a whole box" to get the true nature of their product. I remind them that they are a consumer product manufacturer. If you say to me that you have to smoke half of a cigar to "get to the good part," I have a problem with that. If you light up a cigar, and it tastes like shit, not only for the first five minutes but for a good 30 minutes before you get half way down, the majority of people will simply put it out, and never come back. And if they smoke a whole box, and don't like half of the cigars in it, they won't be buying that brand again. We didn't just arbitrarily chose the half-inch to an inch limit, although Andy is right; there is a simple logistical imperative that comes into play. But after many hours of talking with cigar people, and I hope mastering some of the intricacies of what makes a handrolled cigar function, nearly everyone talks about a point where a cigar gets "running." It's usually after that first-half inch. By then, you will in 99 percent of the cases, know the true nature of the cigar; you certainly will a perfect idea of draw and burn, most flavor components, and whether or not you like it."

Link (about halfway down): http://lounge.cigarfamily.com/showthread.php?t=205414#post3000538


~brooks
 
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Check out what jolietilfire said that was all the proof I needed.
WTF are you talking about. I was referring to their videos. If you want to watch some guy smoke a cigar on film for 2 hours go ahead. I'd much rather spend 2:30 watching the synopsis and spend the rest of the time doing things I enjoy. They may just know that about their audience. None of us have proof of what they do.
 
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WTF are you talking about. I was referring to their videos. If you want to watch some guy smoke a cigar on film for 2 hours go ahead. I'd much rather spend 2:30 watching the synopsis and spend the rest of the time doing things I enjoy. They may just know that about their audience. None of us have proof of what they do.
I think if you re-read the thread you will see what is actually being said. I don't think anyone is taking about the length or quality of their videos. It is the fact they only smoke an inch of any given cigar. Not trying to argue just trying to clear it up because I asked the question that started this.
 

PLUSH

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Taste and preference are subjective, I see no issue here.


As was noted if it taste like shit with that first one or two inches, we should be hoping it will get better? I smoked a cigar today, within the first 2 minutes I could tell it was going to suck. This was not even an inch in.
 

njstone

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Yep...Take a look at this thread on CF from Gordon Mott, Executive Editor of Cigar Aficionado...

(excerpt for those that don't want to click)

"I have said openly that we smoke between half an inch to an inch of each cigar. I've had manufacturers rake me over the coals for that fact, and for the fact that we don't "smoke a whole box" to get the true nature of their product. I remind them that they are a consumer product manufacturer. If you say to me that you have to smoke half of a cigar to "get to the good part," I have a problem with that. If you light up a cigar, and it tastes like shit, not only for the first five minutes but for a good 30 minutes before you get half way down, the majority of people will simply put it out, and never come back. And if they smoke a whole box, and don't like half of the cigars in it, they won't be buying that brand again. We didn't just arbitrarily chose the half-inch to an inch limit, although Andy is right; there is a simple logistical imperative that comes into play. But after many hours of talking with cigar people, and I hope mastering some of the intricacies of what makes a handrolled cigar function, nearly everyone talks about a point where a cigar gets "running." It's usually after that first-half inch. By then, you will in 99 percent of the cases, know the true nature of the cigar; you certainly will a perfect idea of draw and burn, most flavor components, and whether or not you like it."

Link (about halfway down): http://lounge.cigarfamily.com/showthread.php?t=205414#post3000538


~brooks
I'm calling BS on Mott. You might get "the just of it" from an inch, but the difference between a 91 and a 93 cigar can't be found in an inch. Sure, if a cigar is crap for the first half then it's crap, few would disagree. But what if it's crap in the SECOND HALF, douchenozzle? How many cigars that we know of get bitter in the final third, or loose their flavor, or go from great to amazing (T52). All of those things factor into how good a cigar really is.

Just rubbish.
 
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I think if you re-read the thread you will see what is actually being said. I don't think anyone is taking about the length or quality of their videos. It is the fact they only smoke an inch of any given cigar. Not trying to argue just trying to clear it up because I asked the question that started this.
I read the thread and know exactly what is being said. I also know I was responding to one specific post referring to the videos. I'll repeat the fact that none of us know exactly what they do in rating these cigars even with Brooks post. I'll also state that if a cigar starts out poorly and you have to smoke it for an hour for it to get good it's not a good cigar.
 
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Just another example on how the print media is seperating itself from the true cigar smokers. I am sure that the average 1-2 smokes a month folks find the reviews helpful. However between the blogs, forums and twitter(a personal new found spot for cigar info) the true cigar smokers that most of us enjoy time spent with find little need for CA. I think some of the newer print cigar publications are doing a much better job. I agree that all reviews are subjective however if your going to review something you owe the product a full review. You dont just review a car you drive in first gear.
 
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