What are your cigar criteria?

[vtdragon]

I've been reading quite of lot of reviews lately, both here and at Top 25 Cigar and I am struck by how varied the criteria are that people use to judge cigars. It appears that most everyone has a preferred taste in cigars, though many, (like me), have a very difficult time describing what the taste is that they like. Thus, we get these descriptions such as fruity, nutty, cedar like, chocolately, earthy, spicy, leathery, etc. For purposes of this discussion let's leave taste out of it. I'll accept that you like what you like.

Having said that, my question for all you BOTL's out there is: "What is the single most important criteria other than taste that you use when choosing a cigar to smoke?

To give you an idea of what I'm thinking, my single most important cigar quality, (other than taste) is it remaining cool as I smoke it. I just cannot abide any cigar that makes the tip of my tongue hot as I smoke. I feel that the relative heat of a smoke is what seperates a good from a bad cigar.

Now others may be particular about how loose or tightly rolled a stick is, how the mouth end holds together, whether there are tunneling or other burn issues, the aroma, the feel of the wrapper, the look of the wrapper, the volume of smoke, the length of ash or whatever. I don't know. I was going to attach a poll to this thread, but am afraid that it would limit the answers too much. I'm interested in your thoughts, chime in tell us all what you think.

[punch]

Other than taste? Performance.

1) Burn should be even and not require a lot of touch-up.
2) Draw should be just right. Not too loose that you get a hot burn. Not so tight that you tire from trying to get air through the stick.
3) LOTS of smoke.
4) Wrapper should stay together.
5) Cap should not unravel when cut.

I figure that if someone takes the time to make the cigar right, they probably did not cut corners with the blend or the cure.

[Twill413]

Other than taste? I like 'em like I like my women...easy(draw), pretty(wrapper), and smoking(lots of smoke). Sorry to all the SOTL for being sexist, just couldn't help myself, although I may have just myself

[The Bruce]

It's got to be Draw. Too tight or too loose a roll can ruin a smoke and/or irritate the smoker.

[croatan]

For me, it's the way it feels. With a little pressure, you can tell if it is ready to smoke (humidity-wise) and, at least at the extremes, how it's going to draw (or not draw in the case of one where you can feel plugs).

[Dirty Dee]

Well, to me to leave out the taste factor also includes the aroma factor. The aroma of the smoke adds to the taste. without the aroma the taste would be bland. I prefer a pleasant aroma. If it smells good, it will taste good. Honestly, the most important thing has to be the draw. If the draw is too loose; you will probably smoke it to fast and get it too hot. Or if the draw is too tight; you might as well put it in an incense holder or the fire place and forget about it. What good is a cigar with little or no draw? That's my take on things. I hope it helped.

[LasciviousXXX]

Well for me, other than taste (which is always no 1) it would have to be:

Depth & Complexity. IMO, these are 2 of the most important factors in determining what I'm going to have other than flavor. However also, I believe that Depth, Complexity, and flavor go hand in hand.

XXX

[jgros001]

Originally Posted by LasciviousXXX

Well for me, other than taste (which is always no 1) it would have to be:

Depth & Complexity. IMO, these are 2 of the most important factors in determining what I'm going to have other than flavor. However also, I believe that Depth, Complexity, and flavor go hand in hand.

XXX

I agree.

#2, for me, is how the cigar will be down the road. Not always easy to figure that one out though.

[poker]

my question for all you BOTL's out there is: "What is the single most important criteria other than taste that you use when choosing a cigar to smoke?

age

[LasciviousXXX]

Originally Posted by poker

age

That figures..... friggin' old guys

[zamco17]

Originally Posted by punch

Other than taste? Performance.

1) Burn should be even and not require a lot of touch-up.
2) Draw should be just right. Not too loose that you get a hot burn. Not so tight that you tire from trying to get air through the stick.
3) LOTS of smoke.
4) Wrapper should stay together.
5) Cap should not unravel when cut.

I figure that if someone takes the time to make the cigar right, they probably did not cut corners with the blend or the cure.

Couldnt have said it better myself.

[TU09]

Single most important quality next to taste.... broadly, construction quality. Particularly not requiring any sort of burn corrections. Once I light the cigar I shouldn't have to pick up my lighter again until the next one.

[j6ppc]

Originally Posted by TU09

Single most important quality next to taste.... broadly, construction quality. Particularly not requiring any sort of burn corrections. Once I light the cigar I shouldn't have to pick up my lighter again until the next one.

Amen. I don't like having to fuss with the burn either.

Bests


Jon

[Bobb]

I think for me it is consistancy. I don't want my smoking experience to be a crap shoot. I like a brand I can trust...I want to know that 9 times out of 10 I'm going to have a great smoke from said brand.

Of course the things I want consistant are draw, good light with little to no touch ups, and LOTS of thick smoke

[Dogwatch Dale]

After taste, I'd have to rank aroma #2 and construction #3. Construction to me speaks to how well a cigar draws, the volume of smoke produced and how evenly it will burn.

At the right price point, I'll put up with a great tasting cigar with good aroma even if it looks like crap, but it must draw easily and make enough smoke to fill the mouth.