| For cigar aficionados at the dawn of the 21st | | | | light it. Is it pleasing? As you light the |
| century, it's difficult to find anything but | | | | cigar, pay particular attention to the draw. |
| greatness in the increasing availability of | | | | Does the smoke pull through on its own? Does |
| quality, handmade cigars throughout the | | | | the cigar appear to burn evenly with little |
| world. Where once there was a small, | | | | effort? Take a look at the ash. Note the |
| Cuban-centric industry controlled by an | | | | color and the texture. Use adjectives like |
| elusive elite, there is now a blossoming | | | | flaky, solid and messy. Take notes on all of |
| global trade that is supporting the addition | | | | these characteristics both before and after |
| of fresh new players eager to highlight not | | | | you light the cigar. Rate your ultimate |
| only the high art of handmade cigars, but | | | | impression on a scale of one to ten. |
| also the technology that is making them more | | | | |
| affordable than ever. However, the websites, | | | | 4. Flavor and Strength |
| magazines and general media that are helping | | | | |
| to rate cigars and keep quality in check are | | | | |
| inadvertently producing a downside: how can | | | | |
| cigar hobbyists objectively find the cigars | | | | One of the easiest observations for a blind |
| that suit their tastes when price, ratings | | | | taster to make is whether the cigar is |
| and brand-reputation weigh in to taint their | | | | full-bodied or mild. Look for undertones that |
| opinion before the first draw is even taken? | | | | seem musty, sweet, harsh, floral, robust, |
| The solution lies in mastering the art of the | | | | green or salty. Write them down along with if |
| blind tasting.By following the five easy | | | | they were pleasing or not. As the cigar is |
| steps outlined here, cigar hobbyists, store | | | | smoked, does the flavor increase or decrease? |
| owners and even professional tasters can be | | | | Did it steer towards more complex flavors or |
| sure that they are influenced only by the | | | | end in bitterness? As with wine, the |
| inherent quality of the cigar they are | | | | after-taste is key: the sensation that |
| smoking at any given moment. | | | | remains in your mouth after each puff is an |
| | | | important reflection of quality. Spend a few |
| 1. Preparation | | | | moments thinking about how the after-taste |
| | | | makes you feel. Are you eager to take another |
| | | | puff to get rid of it, or is it something |
| | | | that you want to linger? Take notes on the |
| Naturally, a blind tasting relies on the | | | | overall aroma of the cigar as you smoke it. |
| taster not knowing which cigar he or she is | | | | Use adjectives like grassy, harsh, woodsy, |
| sampling. Give a friend or family member a | | | | overpowering, unpleasant and floral. Rate |
| sampling of five to ten of the cigars you are | | | | your observations on a scale of one to ten. |
| eager to sample. Have them replace the labels | | | | |
| on the cigar with a piece of paper marked | | | | 5. General Comments |
| only with a number. Have your accomplice | | | | |
| match the number to the name of the cigar and | | | | |
| keep the list out of your site until the | | | | |
| tasting is finished. | | | | This element is important for context. Some |
| | | | cigars are repulsive early in the day but |
| For each cigar, prepare an 8.5 x 11 sheet of | | | | absolute perfection in the evening after a |
| paper divided into four sections. At the top | | | | meal. If the cigar you are sampling seems |
| of the sheet, place the number of the cigar | | | | like it has potential but doesn't create |
| you are sampling. Place headings at each of | | | | synergy with the mood you are in at that |
| the four sections labeled Aesthetics, | | | | moment, have your accomplice set another one |
| Construction, Flavor and Strength and General | | | | aside for tasting at a different time. Cigars |
| Comments, respectively. These will be the | | | | can reflect on seasons, times of day and |
| four elements you score the cigar on. | | | | moods just like anything else. Use this |
| | | | category to make notes on what mood would fit |
| 2. Aesthetics | | | | the cigar and whether it's something you |
| | | | would like to enjoy often or rarely. Feel |
| | | | free to use this area to make overall |
| | | | observations such as, "All in all it was |
| As is the case when enjoying food or wine, | | | | boring," or, "This cigar changed my life and |
| the aesthetic of the item you are sampling is | | | | it will yours too." Rate this category on a |
| half of the appeal and half of the fun. For | | | | scale of one to ten. |
| cigars, this largely pertains to the wrapper | | | | |
| and the overall facade. Look for veins in the | | | | Average your four scores at the end of your |
| wrapper leaf. Is the wrapper smooth, dry and | | | | sheet and record the ultimate rating. If you |
| brittle, dark, light, silky, gritty, oily or | | | | are feeling particularly motivated, you can |
| coarse? Make observations on whatever comes | | | | create an excel spreadsheet that organizes |
| to your mind. Remember: the idea is to | | | | your ratings so you can observe not only the |
| capture your initial impression. At heart, | | | | highest average rating for all of the cigars |
| did you like the look and feel of the cigar? | | | | you have tasted, but the highest rating for |
| Was it attractive to you? Or was it beat-up, | | | | each individual category. In this way, you |
| brittle and worn-out? Rate your impression of | | | | will free yourself from the confines of a |
| the aesthetics on a scale of one to ten, | | | | mass cigar media that encourages biasing and |
| pretending that you were judging an Olympic | | | | pushes the idea that you should like this. |
| event. Don't be shy about withholding or | | | | Cigars, like art, wine, or food, are all |
| offering decimal points for minor details. | | | | about individual personality. One cigar's |
| | | | demeanor may or may not jive with your own, |
| 3. Construction | | | | and that, after all, is the most important |
| | | | information you need to have.Tynan Szvetecz |
| | | | is an editor for an online cigar boutique |
| | | | that is helping bring the feel of your local |
| As you prepare to light the cigar, roll it | | | | cigar shop to the internet. It features a |
| between your fingers. Does it have soft | | | | unique cigar collection as well as cigar |
| spots? What is the weight like? Does it feel | | | | tips, cigar culture advice and cigar |
| dense or light? Take in the aroma before you | | | | accessories. |