Identifying Cigars By Look

[Mazeman]

For you more seasoned smokers, what are the odds that you would be able to identify a cigar by just looking at it, if the band had been taken off?

I'm not so much talking about its taste or smell, but only its appearance. I'm also not talking ablout cigars with unusual or distinctive shapes, but just, let's say, a common Robusto.

The reason I ask is I'm wondering if "blind tastings" of cigars can be truly blind, or do seasoned smokers have a good idea of what they're smoking by just looking at it.

Thanks in advance....

[stjohnroe]

Well, when you are talking cubans, the PSD4 and the CoRo are quite distinctive from the other robustos, however in most cases I would have to pass. Of course with cigars of other nations the term robusto seems to cover a wide size range and there are a lot of them. I think that I would probably fail the test.

[grand cru no 2]

I think most cigar smokers could determine by appearance what a cigar is not, I think it would be almost impossible to definitively identify a "common robusto" simply by the look of it/

[Mazeman]

The reason I ask is that I was thinking of starting a thread similar to the "Free Cigars" thread, but with a twist. (Maybe call it "Review This!"). If you are the "winner", you would get a single cigar mailed to you without its band or any other identification. Upon reciept, your job would be to smoke it and review it on the thread. At that point the identity of the cigar would be revealed (by the sender), and the person who won the cigar would offer one up for the next winner. I think "blind" tasting/reviewing would really test a smoker's discrimination. It could also be a setup for (good-natured) embarrassment. I mean would you want to be the one who pans a world-class stoagie? So I posted my question because it wouldn't be as interesting if most people could identify a cigar by just looking at it.

Does this sound like a good idea, or would people not be interested?
If it does happen, would it be best in the "Exchange" (where "free cigars" resides) or "Review" section of the board?

[SuperChuck]

It might be fun to send 2 cigars, smoke both, and try to determine which was the high-end stick

[TheSilentChamber]

I'd be up for it.

[ggiese]

I actually have been involved in two contests - where five different robusto's were given to each participant, and they were asked to identify the five cigars. Some were fairly easy because of the type of wrapper (corojo, for example) when not many existed. I actually was fooled because one was a Davidoff and I would have thought I would have picked it out easily - I didn't!!! I don't think it's going to be as easy as one would think...

That sounds like a great idea - but I also like the idea of doing one common ($3.00 range) vs. something a bit better (at least the $8 or more range) to see who can pick out the better cigar. The more thought that goes into what's sent out - the better....

I like your thinking!!!

[thepyrofish]

I can't identify a lot of cigars with the band ON.

Something like this was done on CP I believe, but it was many cigars to many people al at once and I got impatient to see the results. I think doing it as a PIF and revealing each cigar right after the review would be pretty neat. I'd be in!

[Mazeman]

It might be fun to send 2 cigars, smoke both, and try to determine which was the high-end stick

Yeah, and I guess the potential for embarassment would still be there. People would need to write very brief reviews on each. Then say which is "the better one".

[Mazeman]

So what would the consensus be? 1 cigar or 2. There would be a quicker turnover time if you only had to review one. You COULD still be reviewing a classic smoke or a toad (within certain reasonable parameters).
With 2 cigars, you have the advantage of knowing one of them is supposed to be better.

Also, would this be on the "review" section, or "exchange"?

[godfather]

So what would the consensus be? 1 cigar or 2. There would be a quicker turnover time if you only had to review one. You COULD still be reviewing a classic smoke or a toad (within certain reasonable parameters).
With 2 cigars, you have the advantage of knowing one of them is supposed to be better.

Also, would this be on the "review" section, or "exchange"?

Awesome idea Mazeman!!! I'm in!

My suggestion -

Get a list of participants. Everyone gets randomly assigned a 'buddy.' You and your 'assigned buddy' exchange 2 cigars each ...and let the games begin from there...

That way the interest is kept up and those of us in line don't have to impatiently wait to be called on :). It'd be fun to see everyone participate in something at the same time and I'm sure the posts will be pretty entertaining.

Group wide board VIRTUAL HERF baby!!!!

[Mazeman]

Awesome idea Mazeman!!! I'm in!

My suggestion -

Get a list of participants. Everyone gets randomly assigned a 'buddy.' You and your 'assigned buddy' exchange 2 cigars each ...and let the games begin from there...

That way the interest is kept up and those of us in line don't have to impatiently wait to be called on :). It'd be fun to see everyone participate in something at the same time and I'm sure the posts will be pretty entertaining.

Group wide board VIRTUAL HERF baby!!!!

It's a good idea. but when everyone recieves their cigars simultaneously there would be a chaotic flurry of posts/reviews that might be hard to follow.

[nhcigarfan]

Here's my thought. Get an even number of people, say 16, make two groups 1 through 8, Then draw one number from each group. For example say 3 from the first group and 7 from the second. So 3 and 7 send each other two cigars, no bands. Then 4 and 8, 5 and 1, 6 and 2, 7 and 3, 8 and 4, 1 and 5, 2 and 6.

- after the first review is posted by 3 and 7 then the next group sends their cigars and so on until everyone has gone. At which point we can start again.

Also maybe the first round can be robusto maduros, 2nd round rubusto nat. then 3rd round are corona's mad. then corona nat. etc. until we get sick of playing together and go home.

Credit due (this is based on GF's idea with an attempt to address Mazeman's concern)

[Mazeman]

Thanks. Good thoughts, all.

It looks like there may be some interest in this, so here's the plan:

I'll continue to get input here for any additional thoughts/ideas. Then, sometime tomorrow I'll make a post in the "Reviews" section of the forum outlining the rules. It might be similar to the "Free Cigars" rules, in which case the first one to jump on it will be the first recipient/reviewer. Or.... it might be more of a group endeavor, similar to the GF/nhcigarfan proposals. In that case, we could divide the interested parties (up to 16) into two equal groups.

Chime in if you have more opinions, otherwise check for tomorrow's post.

[stjohnroe]

I'm in, prefer the single cigar idea as I am at most two a week and I generally like to select my cigars for the mood I am in. Also, need to take into account that a cigar often needs to rest after travelling.

[TheSilentChamber]

I like the idea of sending two, reviewing each and saying which you think is the classier smoke. Also you will have to make sure you identify the cigars when you send them like put them in seperate bags and lable them 1 and 2 and make sure the sender remembers which is which.