Do you believe in cigar ratings? Does your opinion change based on cigar ratings? This is a huge topic of debate because of our favorite rating system, Cigar Aficionado Top 25(tm). Cigar ratings have been the topic of discussion for many reasons. Key of which whether to buy the cigar or reconsider. If they get a good rating online (like most anything else you review before purchasing including restaurants, hotels, flights, appliances, etc) then you’re more likely to buy it...but don’t worry, Mark Jr. and I are here to set the world straight. There are basically are two kinds of shoppers when it comes to to cigar enthusiasts.
The first are those who prefer to read reviews and public opinions about a cigar before lighting one up. They wanna know at least the basics like what kind of cigar is it? What do people say about this cigar and is it worth the money? One could argue this is the most common way people shop especially online because everyone wants a “good deal”. Everone wants the most value for money and if everyone else says it's good then it must be good, or at the very least OK. Sometimes you cannot help if you are shopping online and look below the descriptions of the cigars, the reviews and public ratings are right there. Public reviews can be invaluable to some people, because if the majority of reviewers are consistently saying the same thing, there must be an element of truth to it. Keep in mind there is no right or wrong answer to this debate it's really a matter of personal preference.
You also have those that shop strictly on the descriptions and tobacco makeup of the cigar and prefer to smoke it themselves and decide if they like it. They do not want to know what other people think because sometimes reviews can be flawed, or even artificially generated to improve the sites SEO and gain more online traffic. The more cautious shopper prefers to smoke the cigar on their own and let their tastebuds and olfactory senses do the decision making. After all, at the end of the day, you're the one who is either going to like it or not. Public bias be damned! This is my decision and I will decide if it is worth it to me! Alright that was a little overdramatic, but you see my point.
If you really want to humbly decide on the smokes you will like, please visit a cigar shop. The owners and employees at these shops are trained and eager to help guide you through your shopping journey. If you are looking for a particular type of cigar or perhaps a recommendation of a cigar for a particular occasion, seek these cigar shops out and it might very well be the difference between a good smoking experience or a great one. Plus you don't have to worry about online public opinions because you are not online, you are in store and receiving one an one assistance. Don’t just take my word for it, let us know what your thoughts are on cigar ratings. Drop us an email or comment and we will include it in the following episode. Thank you for reading!