Palates you respect, follow?

[Mike Mecklenburg]

I like Dr. Joe, Dutchcigars and Mr. Lancero (new world) but they are no longer reviewing cigars.  Currently, I like:  JohnS, FOHtv, Dave Dude, Habanos Chris, Smokers Spot, sauttercigars and Zigarren.Balkon.

[99call]

Used to like 'Aye Aye' fellas,  'Puro Paul'. Obviously the trifecta of @El Presidente, @Ken Gargett and @JohnS are Gospel. I would say Rob has altered his feedback on cigars quite significantly since becoming a "pseudo-blender" (Ken's words not mine).  He references stuff much more like he commented Hamlet would.  i.e. not picking specific flavours, but more overall terms like , "Rich, Sweet, Aromatic, Strong". etc etc. I find my palate much more in tune with Ken's. Whilst I admire John greatly (and am largely in tune with him on around 80% of stuff), he has a "Mocha" section of tastebuds that god saw fit not to bequeath me with. Interestingly, although we differ on this small specific point, I can still read John's reviews and completely understand where he's coming from, and sort of convert it to how I might read that specific cigar. It goes to prove that agreeing with someone is one thing, but If they having developed a huge resource of information (as John has) it allows a given smoker to read and learn almost a separate language, and to be able to translate it. 

Bravo to anyone that takes the time to do reviews.

[Fugu]

Pilates?! Nah, not for me.

[JohnS]

5 hours ago, 99call said:

It goes to prove that agreeing with someone is one thing, but If they having developed a huge resource of information (as John has) it allows a given smoker to read and learn almost a separate language, and to be able to translate it.

Exactly. Well said, @99call! You absolutely have to point out your biases/preferences concerning your palate if you do reviews. Some prefer sweet, some savoury, some unami and some sour flavours. We're all different in that way.

[Cigar Surgeon]

6 hours ago, Fugu said:

Pilates?! Nah, not for me.

Strong cores are important! 

[Fugu]

7 hours ago, Cigar Surgeon said:

Strong cores are important! 

Ah, so true! And in particular I am all for that “pelvic mobility” part. 😄

[BoliDan]

On 5/12/2025 at 9:25 AM, Cigar Surgeon said:

Ironically the number one complaint we get is that "we don't even like cigars". Consistently week over week. 

When you give an honest review of one of someones favorite cigars. When I'm in a B&M and watch what other people buy, I'm not surprised the majority has tastes for mid cigars 

[Cigar Surgeon]

3 hours ago, BoliDan said:

When you give an honest review of one of someones favorite cigars. When I'm in a B&M and watch what other people buy, I'm not surprised the majority has tastes for mid cigars 

What's ironic about the whole process is that we're not even saying these cigars are bad, we're saying that they're average. But the 'score creep' has become so bad that everything has to be 90+ and doing an honest critique seems to be an outlier. 

I enjoy it most when the panel is divided with half really enjoying it and half saying it's average.

[Habanoschris]