Geeks Critiques Now Live

SenorPablo · 01/14/2009 09:15 PM

Our Geeks Critiques are now live for our first official month. You may have noticed the home page has changed a bit. Cigar Passes have moved to the right column and Geeks Critiques are located just below the forums and just above the member reviews. They are also at the top of the reviews page as well. Let me know if you find any problems.

Thanks to the first few Geeks Critiques members. We will be doing the January month Geeks Critiques as well - this time will be the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos. I'll be looking fot the next round of reviewers soon. Some reviewers may be the same as before and some will be new. I'll be setting up a poll to let members vote on a few to be repeat reviewers based on who they liked best from last month, and then i'll choose a few new ones.

So for members out there that are interested in getting a free stogie to review for our Geeks Critiques, now is your chance. I'll basically be looking at reviewers who have consistently submitted above average member reviews of cigars (whatever that means.)

Cheers!
-Paul

Ken Kelley · 01/14/2009 09:19 PM

I would to take a shot at this job.

Bob Cordell · 01/14/2009 09:25 PM

I like the end product, the step by step breakdown makes the reviews look uniform and easy to "fill in the blanks". Everybody's review seems to flow in the same direction at the same time.

Very cool in my opinion!

If needed, I will apply myself fully!

junglepete · 01/14/2009 10:00 PM

That's great news Paul. I have been hacking like a dog this week with a nasty cold, cough, and sore throat and I am dying to smoke that Hemingway. I will have to wait a couple of more days until my head clears and give the cigar its due respect. Sorry about the delay!

SenorPablo · 01/14/2009 10:01 PM

Quotejunglepete - 1/14/2009 11:00 PM

That's great news Paul. I have been hacking like a dog this week with a nasty cold, cough, and sore throat and I am dying to smoke that Hemingway. I will have to wait a couple of more days until my head clears and give the cigar its due respect. Sorry about the delay!

No worries Pete. I'd rather have you give a review with a clear head.

podman28 · 01/14/2009 10:09 PM

Sounds like a great plan. If given the chance I would gladly accept the honor.

qman22 · 01/14/2009 10:11 PM

the reviews look great

they were a captivating read

lowpro75 · 01/15/2009 07:43 AM

Well done.

BlackIrish · 01/15/2009 08:18 AM

Great reviews, guys!

Pablo, I'm interested in contributing a review in the next cycle.

lowpro75 · 01/15/2009 08:20 AM

Duker,
I'm curious as to why your rating was so low. It seems that you enjoyed the cigar from the review but your flavor score was really low compared to the others. If I was just to look at the numbers I would believe that you thought this was a rather average cigar. Like I said, just curious.

Duker511 · 01/15/2009 01:12 PM

I noticed the same thing

My reason is that Ive never used a ranking with 20, 30 and 35 points possible and even though I liked the cigar, I wanted to leave room for better cigars. If I gave 18 out of 20, or 32 out of 35, then there isnt much room for better cigars. Ive been using this layout for cigars Ive been smoking recently so I can get more used to the numbers, I need to fine tune my scoring a bit.

I gave 23 out of 35 for flavor because at the end, the cigar gave a very bitter tarry substanse from the foot, it wasnt good.

I gave 18 out of 20 for appearance because while the cigar was very well made, I may find some that are smoother or better color or something like that, better.

I gave 27 out of 30 for constuction because it was a little tight for the first few puffs but then loosened up.

Basicly I just wanted to have room for a better cigar, I see now that when you add them all up, it scored low but A tight draw at first, tarr from the foot and good taste but Ive had better earned it an 81, Im firm but fair!!!lol

I would have to say I would have given it higher ratings if I had figured out the numbers sooner. If I do it again I will have it down.

I see it like this- 0-59 Poor
60-69 Fair
70-79 Average
80-85 Good
86-90 Very good
91-95 Excellent
96-100 Superior
Or something like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SenorPablo · 01/15/2009 01:23 PM

QuoteDuker511 - 1/15/2009 2:12 PM

I noticed the same thing My reason is that Ive never used a ranking with 20, 30 and 35 points possible and even though I liked the cigar, I wanted to leave room for better cigars. If I gave 18 out of 20, or 32 out of 35, then there isnt much room for better cigars. Ive been using this layout for cigars Ive been smoking recently so I can get more used to the numbers, I need to fine tune my scoring a bit.

I gave 23 out of 35 for flavor because at the end, the cigar gave a very bitter tarry substanse from the foot, it wasnt good.

I gave 18 out of 20 for appearance because while the cigar was very well made, I may find some that are smoother or better color or something like that, better.

I gave 27 out of 30 for constuction because it was a little tight for the first few puffs but then loosened up.

Basicly I just wanted to have room for a better cigar, I see now that when you add them all up, it scored low but A tight draw at first, tarr from the foot and good taste but Ive had better earned it an 81, Im firm but fair!!!lol I would have to say I would have given it higher ratings if I had figured out the numbers sooner. If I do it again I will have it down.

I see it like this- 0-59 Poor
60-69 Fair
70-79 Average
80-85 Good
86-90 Very good
91-95 Excellent
96-100 Superior
Or something like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me know if you want to adjust them and i'll do that. I knew this first go round it would take some time to get used to the new points system.

Duker511 · 01/15/2009 01:41 PM

No, its fine, an 81 isnt too bad, if Im allowed to do it again Ill put more thought into the numbers. Thanks though Paul.

stogie_foggie · 01/15/2009 02:45 PM

I think it's OK to have slightly skewed numbers -- the only reason Tim dinged the cigar is that he had a bad experience on the last part, unlike Scott and I. If you look at the other categories, we are all close.

I mean, the next time someone might have a plugged cigar, cracked wrapper, a tobacco stem blow out the side

, etc and give it a very low score. It's all relative and the taste, especially, is very subjective.

lowpro75 · 01/15/2009 03:27 PM

I just want to make it clear that I'm ok with it too. I think anyone should be able to rate anything however they want to rate it. If Duker's response was "Hey, I've upped my standards, up yours!"

I would have been ok with that too.

I appreciated the clarification.
I suspected you dinged it from the bitterness, but I got the overall impression that you pretty much enjoyed it at much as the other two guys but your score was much lower. I have to admit I am probably somewhat conditioned to looking at the CA ratings where I usually don't think it is worth it to try anything lower that an 87 or so. This one I would probably try. Again, I like the idea of multiple reviews on one cigar.

stogie_foggie · 01/15/2009 03:32 PM

Quotelowpro75 - 1/15/2009 2:27 PM

This one I would probably try.

Definitely do. One of the better AF blends.

BlackIrish · 01/15/2009 07:07 PM

QuoteDuker511 - 1/15/2009 2:12 PM

I noticed the same thing My reason is that Ive never used a ranking with 20, 30 and 35 points possible and even though I liked the cigar, I wanted to leave room for better cigars. If I gave 18 out of 20, or 32 out of 35, then there isnt much room for better cigars. Ive been using this layout for cigars Ive been smoking recently so I can get more used to the numbers, I need to fine tune my scoring a bit.

I gave 23 out of 35 for flavor because at the end, the cigar gave a very bitter tarry substanse from the foot, it wasnt good.

I gave 18 out of 20 for appearance because while the cigar was very well made, I may find some that are smoother or better color or something like that, better.

I gave 27 out of 30 for constuction because it was a little tight for the first few puffs but then loosened up.

Basicly I just wanted to have room for a better cigar, I see now that when you add them all up, it scored low but A tight draw at first, tarr from the foot and good taste but Ive had better earned it an 81, Im firm but fair!!!lol I would have to say I would have given it higher ratings if I had figured out the numbers sooner. If I do it again I will have it down.

I see it like this- 0-59 Poor
60-69 Fair
70-79 Average
80-85 Good
86-90 Very good
91-95 Excellent
96-100 Superior
Or something like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rich, I'm glad you asked because I was wondering myself -- the review seemed positive and I was surprised by the lower score for flavor. And I, too, am accustomed to the CA/Cigar mag ratings and their grade inflation; seems anything good scores between 85-95, and anything in the low 80s is subpar.

But I understand Tim's explanation and I'm fine with it, too. Good to have a little spread in the scores.

Thanks, Paul, for putting this together. I'd love to get my hands on one of these.

Aequitas86 · 01/16/2009 01:47 AM

Great work guys.

I wouldn't mind giving it a go, to further advance our site.

Duker511 · 01/16/2009 07:01 AM

The more I thought about it, the more I agree with my score. From a little past the halfway point this cigar gave a very bitter tar substance that literally got all over my teeth and I had to wipe it off the foot of the cigar twice with a paper towel. I think it was from the tight draw at the first part of the smoke and a slightly tight draw for the rest of the smoke. This was not the first time Ive had this happen with the Hemingway series, its happened a couple times. I had to leave room for cigars that didnt give off foul tar and a bad bitter flavor. Most of the cigar was tasty but the last third was terrible and my score reflects that.

SenorPablo · 01/16/2009 08:21 AM

QuoteDuker511 - 1/16/2009 8:01 AM

The more I thought about it, the more I agree with my score. From a little past the halfway point this cigar gave a very bitter tar substance that literally got all over my teeth and I had to wipe it off the foot of the cigar twice with a paper towel. I think it was from the tight draw at the first part of the smoke and a slightly tight draw for the rest of the smoke. This was not the first time Ive had this happen with the Hemingway series, its happened a couple times. I had to leave room for cigars that didnt give off foul tar and a bad bitter flavor. Most of the cigar was tasty but the last third was terrible and my score reflects that.

Good deal. Never second guess yourself. Your first impression is usually correct as it hasn't been over-analyzed and over-rationalized.

podman28 · 01/16/2009 09:42 AM

This system seems to allow for much more information about the cigar. I have rather enjoyed it.

texlewee · 01/16/2009 01:55 PM

I agree with Duker Wholeheartedly. If I would have experienced the same things he did, my rating would have dropped as well. I do, however, find it interesting that most of his others were relatively close to the rest of them.....

BlackIrish · 01/16/2009 04:05 PM

QuoteSenorPablo - 1/16/2009 9:21 AM

QuoteDuker511 - 1/16/2009 8:01 AM

The more I thought about it, the more I agree with my score. From a little past the halfway point this cigar gave a very bitter tar substance that literally got all over my teeth and I had to wipe it off the foot of the cigar twice with a paper towel. I think it was from the tight draw at the first part of the smoke and a slightly tight draw for the rest of the smoke. This was not the first time Ive had this happen with the Hemingway series, its happened a couple times. I had to leave room for cigars that didnt give off foul tar and a bad bitter flavor. Most of the cigar was tasty but the last third was terrible and my score reflects that.

Good deal. Never second guess yourself. Your first impression is usually correct as it hasn't been over-analyzed and over-rationalized.

Ditto.

Duker511 · 01/16/2009 05:10 PM

If the cigar wouldnt have leaked bitter tar, it would have been closer to 90, bitter tar takes at least 8 points off an otherwise great smoke. From what Ive read when I googled," tar leaking from a cigar"

I found that some people say that if the hole is too small, like from a punch cutter or a slice cutter, or like the small opening in this AF Hemmingway, that a bitter tar build up may happen. Others say its this and that some tobacco leaves ferment at different speeds and sometimes some leaves that were not fermented properly, or enough will give off this tar substance. I wouldnt think AF would have the fermentation problem but some say it can happen to the best cigars occationally. I think its because of the hole, I just clipped the very tip at first, then a little more because of the tight draw.

junglepete · 01/18/2009 10:57 PM

Okay, I've smoked and reviewed the Hemingway. Nice smoke. Thanks again Paul for the opportunity. I liked doing the review in that it was easier than using a 1-5 star rating. More thought was required but the cigar gets more justice. Thanks.

Pete