Halfwheel Review Analytics

[El Presidente]

Good analysis by Charlie

 

 

January 12, 2026 Charlie Minato Blog

2025 Reviews in Review

https://halfwheel.com/2025-reviews-in-review/459762/

[Chibearsv]

I find these numbers interesting. I doubt that FOH reviewers in general would have a 1 year average score this low. I know I tend to post and review cigars I really like rather than giving a score to each one I smoke. Since the numbers below are averages, how many of us have posted a review with a score below 85? Maybe we need to be more critical, or maybe we just smoke much better cigars.

• Brooks — 87.57 Average (51 Reviews)
• Charlie — 85.9 Average (60 Reviews)
• Patrick — 87.25 Average (68 Reviews)

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, Chibearsv said:

  Maybe we need to be more critical, or maybe we just smoke much better cigars.

• Brooks — 87.57 Average (51 Reviews)
• Charlie — 85.9 Average (60 Reviews)
• Patrick — 87.25 Average (68 Reviews)

I don't think (from memory) any Cubans comprised the cigars reviewed. 

Add the fact that we generally buy cigars that we like or are recommended and that, I suspect, would be worth 4-5 points+ increase in Average. 

[Cigar Surgeon]

The distribution of scores, and the YoY distribution comparison is what I always look for:

• 90 Ratings: 30 (12 in 2024)
• 91 Ratings: 26 (18)
• 92 Ratings: 1 (7)
• 93 Ratings: 0 (1)

This is what I expected before it published, so it's good as another sanity check for myself that this has been my experience for 2025, as well as the trend over the past few years.

We continue to see a compression towards the center, rather than a scatter of high and low scores.  Ultimately for the normal consumer it means you're more likely to enjoy a decent cigar, even when randomly picking off the shelf.  But it also means you're unlikely to find the 'Mount Rushmore' release.

[Cigar Surgeon]

36 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

I don't think (from memory) any Cubans comprised the cigars reviewed. 

Add the fact that we generally buy cigars that we like or are recommended and that, i suspect, would be worth 4-5 points+ increase in Average. 

Correct, no Cubans reviewed for 2025.

https://halfwheel.com/this-time-for-real-programming-notes/459614/

• Quote

  More Cuban Cigar Reviews — We have a major problem acquiring new Cuban cigar releases to review, and, as such, we did not review a single new Cuban cigar in 2025. I’d like to fix that. If you are a retailer who is willing to put aside some of the newest Habanos S.A. releases so we can buy them to review, also please reach out.

   

[zacca]

8 hours ago, Chibearsv said:

I find these numbers interesting. I doubt that FOH reviewers in general would have a 1 year average score this low. I know I tend to post and review cigars I really like rather than giving a score to each one I smoke. Since the numbers below are averages, how many of us have posted a review with a score below 85? Maybe we need to be more critical, or maybe we just smoke much better cigars.

• Brooks — 87.57 Average (51 Reviews)
• Charlie — 85.9 Average (60 Reviews)
• Patrick — 87.25 Average (68 Reviews)

Most of mine come in below 85. To me 80-84 is a good, solid cigar. 85-89 is a great cigar, >90 is exceptional.

I couldn’t find anything solid in the way of methodology for scoring that I liked, so I came up with my own to keep it as objective as possible. It doesn’t usually translate well here because most reviews I see scored are >90.