Who's interested in a group tasting?

[Spect]

Still in.

[SilverFox]

[SIZE=3]I am still in.

And for what its worth I will back tw3enty to be in, I have read a couple of his reviews and I think he has what it takes.
[/SIZE]

[heatmiser]

I'm still in!

[gnukfu]

PM sent - I'm still in too

[z3ro]

Im in

[ScottishSmoker]

Count me in as well Mike...

[Beagle Boy]

don't forget to PM me your address


I have 4 of the 5 chosen, I'll look tonight for something that fits

[Guitarman-S.T-]

Oh hell, i may be a little to late for this one. If not- Im always up for a ginni' pig assessment

Originally Posted by Beagle Boy

Ok guys and gals, I am looking for those who might be interested in taking part in a group blind tasting.

The way this will work:
Looking for 12-20 interested people.
If there is enough interest, I will get in the balance of the supplies I need.
Then I will send out PMs to the interested people, letting them know the cost of this tasting (probably be in the $50-100 range, not looking to make money on this, just cover some of my costs)
Those people who still want in will send me their checks or MOs, and then I will send out the 10-15 cigars that we will be tasting. The cigars will be numbered so everyone smokes the same cigar each week
We will wait 1 week after everyone has received their sticks, then we will review 1 cigar each week (each in its own thread). I will reveal what the cigar was at the end of it’s week.
This is [SIZE="5"]NOT[/SIZE] about guessing where the cigar is made or who the manufacturer is – so please no guessing in the threads!
This tasting will be all "domestic" smokes (keep all the reviews in the same forum), different sizes, shapes and price points


The format of the review will be this:
Scale will be 1-10 (best)

Looks: describe the appearance, what color is the wrapper, is it oily, what kind of cap does it have – is it pretty

Construction: any soft spots, was it an easy clip, is the draw too tight or loose? How long is the ash holding on for, any burn issues?

Flavors and strength: try to describe the tastes & smells – not just "it's good" or "it's a dog rocket". How strong is the cigar

Overall rating: 1 (never want to see it again) to 10 (want to smoke it for the rest of my life, its perfect) and why did you give it this rating

Would you want it in your Humi: I want a box, it’s a good yard cigar, my brother-in-law likes to mooch


You would be committing to post one review a week for this tasting, so a couple suggestions:
This should be the first cigar of the day
Try to smoke it in a quiet, somewhat consistent place – so you can take notes and not have a 20 mph wind messing up the burn
As this will go on through the summer, you might want to try to get 1 or 2 weeks ahead of the review, so if you are going to be on vacation someone else can post your review for you – or if you happen to get a summer cold, you have a bit of a cushion. (or do you like being mocked for always being late )
Do not read any of the reviews of the cigar before you smoke it!


I think I would like to keep this tasting limited to those that have been on CS for at least 6 months – nothing personal, just as these cigars might be all over the place in flavor and strength, it might fit those who are very new to cigars.

I think I have most of the bases covered in this, but if you have any questions, please let me know.
To keep the threads obvious – I think I need to give the tasting a name: Simple Simians Summer of Smokes (SSSS)?

So, if you are interested, indicate it in this thread. If you see 30 people interested already, still post – they might have lost interest or the price might not work for them.
A finial list of participants will be posted after $ is determined and people have accepted the invite

[ScottishSmoker]

I will be starting tomorrow Mike...is there any place in particular that you want the reviews posted? There are quite a few sticks that I have absolutely no clue as to where to begin....

[gnukfu]

The cigars were shipped out? Nice!

[ScottishSmoker]

I don't think Mike has mailed the sticks...he came out to Las Vegas this past weekend for a vacation and brought with him the sticks for the tasting...They all are giving me a hard time as far as what they may be...and I know that there is at least one...actually all...that are really going to throw me threw a loop...

[Beagle Boy]

Hey guys, just got home a few hour ago from my Memorial Day weekend.

Update:
I have everyones address
I have all the bags loaded, I'll get the boxes packed tomorrow night, and they will go out this weekend with DC#s posted here.
After things get shipped, I will post a picture of the cigars in the tasting
I will post the first thread for reviews after everyone has their cigars - the thread will be "SSSS #1" - if people get ahead of the planned schedule, just save your reviews and wait for the threads please

For a reference, one of my postings from a blind tasting on another site:
Cigar #4
Aesthetics: Shinny maduro, measuring about 6x46 (estimate) with a box press. A couple areas on the wrapper and cap where it doesn’t look like a clean cut. Rating 7

Construction: Bit of a soft spot at the foot. Tried to use my large punch, but that made the entire cap come off the cigar, so I used the cutter to try to save it. Stiff draw prior to lighting, makes me think there might be problems. It does look like the moisture from my lips is beading up on the wrapper. Solid white ash that held together for about 1.5 inches. Lot of smoke given off by the cigar, and a very even burn. The stiff draw did not become the problem I thought it would Rating 6

Flavor and Strength: A bit of sweetness on the lips before lighting. First third, lot of leather on the nose. On a couple of puffs I was getting something sour that I can’t identify. Second third, the sourness still seems to be there, ant the taste moved toward earthy and nuts. I would call this a medium bodied smoke. Last third, the leather is coming back. Putting it down with 1.5 inches left. Rating 4

Overall: I am not a huge fan of box press cigars, just don’t like the way they feel in my mouth. I might be willing to try another one of these to see if the sourness might have been something left on my pallet from lunch. Based of this sample, I don’t think I would have these in my humi. Rating 4
This was later revealed to be a Hoyo De Monterrey Prensado Oscuro

[Beagle Boy]

Originally Posted by Guitarman-S.T-

Oh hell, i may be a little to late for this one. If not- Im always up for a ginni' pig assessment

Sorry man, I made sure that I had enough for the guys that had responded -- using the last sticks in two boxes. I want to make sure that everyone gets the same sticks out of the same boxes

If this goes over well, I may look to another one in the fall/winter

[Beagle Boy]

Ok guys - the cigars not being hand delivered went in the mail today:

CALGARY, AB CJ171518860US
FEEDING HILLS MA 0103 8555 7494 4490 8655
FORT COLLINS CO 0103 8555 7494 1345 1373
SAN DIEGO CA 0103 8555 7493 9247 9856
LEXINGTON SC 0103 8555 7493 8199 4094
TUCSON AZ 0103 8555 7494 0296 5614
INDIANAPOLIS IN 0103 8555 7494 2393 7133
BREMERTON WA 0103 8555 7494 3442 2895

Please make sure to let me know when you get them


I'll post the unbanded picture later tonight

[TanZ2005]

Originally Posted by Beagle Boy

Ok guys - the cigars not being hand delivered went in the mail today:

CALGARY, AB CJ171518860US
FEEDING HILLS MA 0103 8555 7494 4490 8655
FORT COLLINS CO 0103 8555 7494 1345 1373
SAN DIEGO CA 0103 8555 7493 9247 9856
LEXINGTON SC 0103 8555 7493 8199 4094
TUCSON AZ 0103 8555 7494 0296 5614
INDIANAPOLIS IN 0103 8555 7494 2393 7133
BREMERTON WA 0103 8555 7494 3442 2895

Please make sure to let me know when you get them


I'll post the unbanded picture later tonight

Thank You for the Digits.

James.