I read this rant from Cigar Scholar a while ago in Cigar Aficionado "letters" section, and it stuck in my mind ever since. Nice work, Cigar Scholar! I agree with you totally.
How many articles can a man be expected to read about golf, swiss watches, online gambling, and more golf? An endless number, apparently. And the celebrity interviews are conducted at about a 7th grade level.
I also love the fact the five over-entitled bald guys can make or break a cigar brand based on their dubious palates. By dubious I mean, half the cigars they love are just awful dogs. Yes, it's subjective. Yes, no two people are alike. Exactly my point.
One thing I concede: Their cigar reviews are pithy and creative. How many flavors can YOU taste in a cigar? Blueberry? Birch? Teakwood? Lets face it, there are 5 or 6 basic types of cigars, with minor variations in between and the occasional wacko from Drew Estate. Once in a while a cigar tastes really different - but jeeze not all 75 cigars in the issue! Oh well, its fun and I keep buying the magazine like a sucker. Love-hate, like the Scholar says...
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I received a one year subscription as a gift for C.A. and at first it was nice to have a cigar mag to read. After a few issues, I was tired of Marvin S. and his crew and the reviews were pure B.S. What the heck does lead taste like? Maybe they suck on a #2 pencil while jotting down notes of their reviews and yeah birch is another. I used those past issues fore fire starter in by back yard bon fire ring.
Sticks of MN
Thanks for the support! I'm currently on a Michigan-to-Florida cigar smoking road trip, but I will post a more cogent follow-up when I get back home...
Cigar Scholar/Chris
So, yeah, Cigar Aficionado printed my letter... Of course, my reverie was to be short-lived. It didn’t take a genius to realize the only reason Cigar Aficionado would print my missive in the first place was so they could in turn print the predictable defense letters from the magazine’s supporters. As expected, the very next issue (October 2010) the minions responded in force and the abuse began. I was referred to as, “…a bitter man, loathsome of anyone who has achieved more than me…” And it was suggested the magazine start a special section just for me: “Best buys at the Wal-Mart closeout bin; cheapest malt liquors; and convenience stores that sell two-for-one grape-flavored cigars.” Mildly amusing, perhaps, but not the type of letter you would expect to see in Cigar Aficionado. I sent another letter to the magazine, questioning the editor’s decision to publish such a mean spirited letter in a magazine of their caliber. No reply.
Then the December 2010 issue arrived. Again I was vilified. One reader said that I had, “given up [on life]” another that I “don’t understand the meaning of good life”. All untrue, I can assure you. And apparently the response to my letter was so great that the Editor himself posted this note at the end of the Out of the Humidor letters section: Editor’s Note: "We received a lot of letters about Mr. Salvetti’s comments. We do believe that part of our job is telling the world about the Good Life, and how to get the most out of living. It’s not always about expensive items but about things that we believe represent quality. Our real desire is to point people in the right direction so they can make the right choice for themselves."
So there you have it. I was kind of hoping they would contact me and offer me my own column. You know – the Average Joe Chimes In… or something like that. At the very least I was able to see my name in a national publication for three straight issues! That has to count for something…
So this is sounding like a good mag to stay clear of? Unless you are looking to stoke the fire in the back yard, Thanks
I have to say that all cigar reviews are bogus unless they tell you the following:
Type of draw the cigar had - loose, medium or tight.
The cigar burned well, and how long it burned well (half, two thirds, all the way to the nub).
The cigar is mild, medium, or full strength.
The cigar is or is not bitter.
All the rest is flavor, and flavor is subjective my friends. I don't care about appearance.
All of which means that cigar aficionado, and cigar blogs -- incluing my own -- are kind of bogus. Thats why I include a section in my blog called "see if you like my favorite cigars" because if you don't, my reviews don't corresond to your tastes. It's all very clunky and frustrating, I admit
It was nice reading this article.I have bookmarked it and have also shared with my friends.
Good comments, and I agree there are limitations in the number of flavors one can experience in cigars, but I would say I can identify at least 10 broad categories of flavor.
Thanks
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