09-01-2007, 12:24 AM
MikeD Wrote:Very intresting article, Doc.Exactly! Further, I found I could never rely on a blind test that was done by someone other than me. Everyone's palate is different. Even my own palate is different from day to day; there are just too many factors that can influence my taste and experience of a cigar on any given day. And, If I had to blind taste every cigar myself before I bought it, I wouldn't be buying many cigars. It is impractical to blind taste every cigar prior to purchasing it.
I tend to agree with the points made in the article. This, to me, shows why most of CA's ratings are pretty much worthless. The expectation of a certan cigar, or anything for that matter, is a part of the whole experience.
Blind reviewing is one of those things that sounds like the right thing to do, but in the end, it just doesn't pan out. With so little information on which to base one's judgement, how could one be sure that they have anything really meaningful and that their estimation of a cigar on any given day is due to the tobacco rather than indigestion? I would rather have more information, than less, to help me make my decisions.
That is one of the reasons for REVIEWS (as opposed to numerical ratings) with plenty of descriptions. You may not have the same palate as someone else, but it is useful to read their research and the story behind that cigar and how it was aged, what tobacco was used, and what interesting techniques were used in aging or rolling or storing, or whatever. It's even good to read their descriptions of the flavors and body of the cigar: this gives you a baseline on which to compare your own experiences. Whether you agree or disagree, at least you have a target to aim at. This just makes you a more informed consumer. Of course, like any consumer, you must decide which of the factors are most important to you, and which reviewers are the most knowledgeable and trustworthy. Nevertheless, having more information is always a good thing, in my opinion.
Doc