Disappointed if it isn't a real "cracker"?

[Akela3rd]

I'm pretty much in the same camp - a cigar is just a cigar. Different occasions call for different smokes. Right now I'm smoking a HUPC, sat in the garden with the radio on and the sun shining - it's nice, it's a cigar and importantly it's the one I wanted to smoke right now. Is it a cracker? No, it's just the right thing right now. Not disappointed in the slightest.

Thunder & Lightening '75-'15

[earthson]

Me, for one. I base my purchases on consistency. I know it isn't realistic to expect every one to be amazed, but I have come up with a system for cigars I have that aren't typically awesome: I make sure to smoke one of these less-than-stellar sticks after not smoking for days - I tend to appreciate them a lot more than if I follow them up on the heels of excellent sticks had in days prior.

[Colt45]

17 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I get disappointed if it isn't good. 

I get seriously pissed off if it is bad. 

I get blown away when it is stunning. 

The fact that I still get "blown away" shows to me that the experience is still far from the norm.

Bingo right there......

[BellevilleMXZ]

Well I used to be somewhat, ........but I've learned , that hey, its just a cigar. And hey everyone's taste is different, and its a great learning experience along the way.That said, I haven't had a bad one Ive had to toss either, lucky so far I guess

[Philc2001]

12 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I've had too many of the 1-cigar-in-the-box-is-stunning experiences to think it's a coincidence. I'm torn between getting upset at HSA for the terrible batting average or thanking HSA for one truly great cigar! I try to stay positive in that one sublime cigar gives me hope that truly great--yes, the hands-down best--cigars in the world can still be produced in Cuba, and perhaps one day we will see the level of quality and consistency that was common in the mid-90s and before.

Are you saying that every cigar is a disappointment, except for the one exceptional cigar in each box? If so, I agree, that is a terrible batting average. I would probably quit if that was the case. More often then not I get one or two bad cigars in a box, and I write that off. But for the most part nowadays I sample singles or fivers until I find a vitola that really tastes great and then I order a bunch of them, preferably with the same factory code and date. It definitely helps increase my batting average.

I'm not saying every cigar is great, but certainly the majority of cigars (~80%) I smoke are at least satisfying, and more than half are truly enjoyable, and then about 25-30% are truly exquisite. Yes, I do get the one in 20 or so that are truly mind blowing good, a truly memorable cigar that you wish all cigars would taste like, but I wouldn't rate all cigars against that one special one. Just me I guess. 

[NSXCIGAR]

11 minutes ago, Philc2001 said:

Are you saying that every cigar is a disappointment, except for the one exceptional cigar in each box? If so, I agree, that is a terrible batting average. I would probably quit if that was the case. More often then not I get one or two bad cigars in a box, and I write that off. But for the most part nowadays I sample singles or fivers until I find a vitola that really tastes great and then I order a bunch of them, preferably with the same factory code and date. It definitely helps increase my batting average.

I'm not saying every cigar is great, but certainly the majority of cigars (~80%) I smoke are at least satisfying, and more than half are truly enjoyable, and then about 25-30% are truly exquisite. Yes, I do get the one in 20 or so that are truly mind blowing good, a truly memorable cigar that you wish all cigars would taste like, but I wouldn't rate all cigars against that one special one. Just me I guess. 

No, this isn't typical at all. But it has happened an uncannily high number of times, maybe about once or twice a year for the last 5-7 years. 24 are fine--good, even very good. No complaints. But one is just sensational. WAY better than the other 24. And only one. Which I find just quite odd. What are the chances that one cigar in a box of 25 is going to be that much better than the rest? 

Usually, my experience is like everyone else's and on the bell curve of 2 or 3 sticks above the mean, 20 sticks at the mean and 2 or 3 sticks below the mean. But we're talking only maybe 1 or 2 point swings here between cigars. When I talk about the 1/25 phenomenon, I'm talking about a box of 90-91 with one outlier at 94 or 95.  

[Philc2001]

1 minute ago, NSXCIGAR said:

No, this isn't typical at all. But it has happened an uncannily high number of times, maybe about once or twice a year for the last 5-7 years. 24 are fine--good, even very good,. No complaints. But one is just sensational. WAY better than the other 24. And only one. Which I find just quite odd. What are the chances that one cigar in a box of 25 is going to be that much better than the rest? 

Usually, my experience is like everyone else's and on the bell curve of 2 or 3 sticks above the mean, 20 sticks at the mean and 2 or 3 sticks below the mean. But we're talking only maybe 1 or 2 point swings here between cigars. When I talk about the 1/25 phenomenon, I'm talking about a box of 90-91 with one outlier at 94 or 95.  

Ahh! Got it. That makes more sense. 

I think I concur with that. I typically attribute that one exceptional standout cigar to smoking conditions, be it weather, palate, mood, etc.