The cigars have been sent today. The panel was chosen from here and members from another board. I will post results on both boards.

The elitist panel of experts is:

Hoyodude (cbid); d.c.# 9405503699300158965229

jimbud (cbid): d.c.# 9405503699300158965182

tj2001cobra (cbid): d.c.# 9405503699300158965199

hscmit (cbid, hut, asylum): d.c.# 9405503699300158965212

emjaysmash: (asylum): d.c.# 9405503699300158965175

SteveH (asylum, cigars 1-4) d.c.# 9405503699300158965205

Let me know when they land. I have my review format I will pm each of you. I also have it in excel (nice for using to take notes on while smoking), and word (to send to me in). Get me your email address and I can email them to you if you want them (lou2row@hotmail). I also have a "flavors wheel" sheet. I stole the idea from a wine tasting brochure that is of help when you can't really tell what a particular taste is.

Steve, #5 is the only stick I didn't have enough, so you are in for 1 through 4. I know it is tough to get reviews in from six people in a timely fashion, but this way if someone gets sick or has a family emergency we can still run with five.
[Reply]

E-mail sent.
[Reply]

How did I miss getting in on this thing? :-)

Have fun guys!! I love reading blind reviews.

M
[Reply]

Sorry Mike; I'll keep you in mind next go round. And being in Ohio the shipping would be cheap! :-)
You should try to make it over for a herf with the gang sometime.
[Reply]

Nice to see that you brought this over here Lou.

Now, just don't ship anyone any Independencias as part of the taste test. I still haven't forgiven you for that my friend. :-)
[Reply]

It was a new box! They changed em and I didn't know they got milder. Not as bad as you guys made them out, but not something I would have put in a review sampler if I knew. :-):-)
[Reply]

:-)
At least you didn't send me a gaddamn Gurkha like Potts did for his blind taste test, I'll give you that.
[Reply]

received them today

will get started soon


thanks for hosting this lou
[Reply]

Got them today as well. Thank Lou! Let me know when you want the first one done.
Still wiating for the review format.
[Reply]

Lou -
WHOA - got mine today...Thanks ! Please shoot me the details.

I gotta say - I really enjoyed your labels...#3 is....awesome !
[Reply]

format is


Construction:

Prelight:

First Third:

Draw:

Burn:

Ash/Smoke:

Second Third:

Final third:

Strength:

Flavor:

Overall:

Scoring

Construction: /10
Prelight: /5
First Third: /15
Draw: /10
Burn: /10
Ash / Smoke: /10
Second Third: /10
Final Third: /10
Overall impression: /20
Total Score: /100
[Reply]

Thanks. Interesting ratio used - IMO 1st/2nd/3rd should be equal in rating...If anything maybe bump draw up to keep 100pts as that's something that affects the entire smoking experience...

Just my $0.02...I'll go along with whatever the man wants though :-)
[Reply]

When I was getting opinions from some others that were into reviews, everyone had their own thoughts on what went the most. I felt by adding the overall opinion points of 20 into the equation left an avenue for each reviewer to "add their own value" to where they felt it deserved to be.

I agree that draw is more valuable than ash or burn, but it usually plays itself out in the thirds values by lowering your enjoyment throughout the cigar.

When doing this format, I intentionally smoked two of the worst cigars I had tried to see how the formula worked. Free Cuba came in at 54 (nice draw and construction, but "stomach acid after vomiting" was one of the flavor profiles) and a 47 for another one that was a train wreck construction and smoking wise.

This grades out more like a school test score than CA's 100 point system that only uses about 86 to 94. And it leaves frugal shoppers as well as elitists with their own way to judge.

Scoring:
90-100: An exceptional cigar. Recommended to any smoker.
80-90: A very good cigar. Only minor issues keep this from top rating.
70-80: A good cigar with some minor flaws. Price starts to play into purchasing.
60-70: A decent yard or utility cigar. Some palates will not care for this grade of cigar.
<60: Not good at any price. Discourage others from purchasing.
[Reply]

The unbalanced score through the thirds was because so much seems to go on in the first third. It kind of makes or breaks the cigar, so a little higher value was placed. The final third usually varies in testers, due to if complex or boring, or if it turns hot or bitter.

formats have been emailed to Steve, Emjay, and Hoyo. If you want to give the cigars a couple days to acclimate in your humidors, that is fine. One package is going to Texas, so TJ will probably have to give them a couple days for sure.
[Reply]

In case anyone didn't see it, you are to email your reviews to me. Once I have them all I will post them up together. Luckily the new cbid format allows editing.

This keeps any later reviewers from being turned by an earlier review.:-)
[Reply]

lou,

all done, reviews are in your inbox
[Reply]

Looking forward to watching this one as it plays out. I love blind reviews!
[Reply]

Wow, you are a force! Thanks for participating my friend! I am sorry I drug this out until you were getting ready to move. Hope all is well in your new place!
[Reply]

Dang! I best be getting a move on!
[Reply]

The timing actually worked out great, the last 5 nights I have had a nice cigar to enjoy and take my mind off of everything else with.
[Reply]