Before I smoke a cigar i'lll pull up a review to see if I can pick out the flavors the reviewer mentioned, anyone else do this?
[Reply]

Kind of. I pull up the review before I smoke but just to see what others say. Not to try to pick out the same flavor profile.
[Reply]

i try not to.ill enjoy the smoke first then look up reviews after. i dont want to go in with high exceptions and then be disappointed. i rather go in blind see if i like it then see what other people think.
[Reply]

I do this sometimes!
[Reply]

I don't do this, but now that I think of it I should start. You know, with getting past the Noob phase and all.
[Reply]

I don't, I want to form my own opinion while I smoke it.
[Reply]

I'm with Larry on this one.
[Reply]

This is how I go about it as well.

However, over the years of smoking and reading the forums I have come across many a review or semi-review of certain cigars. I tend to log most of everything I read into my mental file cabinet, so by proxy I do what the OP suggests. It's hard to smoke a cigar (especially a newer hyped cigar) with a blank canvas, but I strive to do so in order to give an unbiased review of flavors.
[Reply]

I do not, the power of suggestion is strong, and like several others, I want to form my own opinions.
[Reply]

What he said ^ .

I prefer to smoke and form an opinion and then see what my opinion compares with others.
[Reply]

I look at reviews after I smoked the cigar. Just for comparison reasons, usually have to do with the years on cigars. Seeing the variance or what I might look forward too.
[Reply]

I only look at reviews after smoking a cigar if there is something unique that I can not place and I want to see if someone else has figured out what it is so I know next time I come across the flavor.
[Reply]

I check the reviews and I think I still manage to keep an open mind. Smoking blind does have some benefits as well. Every once in a while I'll have my wife pick me out a cigar and remove the band. Most times I figure it out but there is that cool moment when a cigar that I normally don't enjoy surprises me and comes out swinging.
[Reply]

+1. I try to go into the smoke unbiased. But I do read some of the reviews here on CA before I buy boxes. Some people have the same tastes as me.
[Reply]

I read so many reviews on here and some of the blog sites that it's likely I've read something about it before I've tried something new. Whether I can remember all of what I've read is another story. Usually I'll search for a review after I've had a cigar that really grabs my attention and see what others have gotten in terms of flavors or experiences. There's a lot of times my newbie palate just can't pinpoint the flavors and someone else’s perspective might just be the thing I need to give me the insight I needed to give me the specifics of what I tasted.
[Reply]

I have an app on my phone called MyCigarBook. While im smoking i'll log my thoughts on flavor and what not and they go back and see a review as well. Its like a game haha.
[Reply]

I used to do this to try to pick out the flavors "most commonly found" in the cigar.

After a while over-examining the cigar took away from the overall enjoyment of it, so I just smoke em now.
[Reply]

I also do this in reverse. Smoke then read. I am always afraid if I read the review beforehand that it will influence what I taste. I use the reviews to help find names for those flavors you can't quite put your finger on while you smoke.
[Reply]

Me, Too!:-)
[Reply]