Five Steps to a Blind Review.
By Tynan Szvetecz
1. Preparation
Naturally, a blind tasting relies on the taster not knowing which cigar he or
she is sampling. Give a friend or family member a sampling of five to ten of the
cigars you are eager to sample. Have them replace the labels on the cigar with a
piece of paper marked only with a number. Have your accomplice match the number
to the name of the cigar and keep the list out of your sight until the tasting
is finished.
For each cigar, prepare an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper divided into four sections.
At the top of the sheet, place the number of the cigar you are sampling. Place
headings at each of the four sections labeled Aesthetics, Construction,
Flavor and Strength and General Comments, respectively. These will
be the four elements you score the cigar on.
2. Aesthetics
As is the case when enjoying food or wine, the aesthetic of the item you are
sampling is half of the appeal and half of the fun. For cigars, this largely
pertains to the wrapper and the overall facade. Look for veins in the wrapper
leaf. Is the wrapper smooth, dry and brittle, dark, light, silky, gritty, oily
or coarse? Make observations on whatever comes to your mind. Remember: the idea
is to capture your initial impression. At heart, did you like the look
and feel of the cigar? Was it attractive to you? Or was it beat-up, brittle and
worn-out? Rate your impression of the aesthetics on a scale of one to ten,
pretending that you were judging an Olympic event. Don't be shy about
withholding or offering decimal points for minor details.
3. Construction
As you prepare to light the cigar, roll it between your fingers. Does it have
soft spots? What is the weight like? Does it feel dense or light? Take in the
aroma before you light it. Is it pleasing? As you light the cigar, pay
particular attention to the draw. Does the smoke pull through on its own? Does
the cigar appear to burn evenly with little effort? Take a look at the ash. Note
the color and the texture. Use adjectives like flaky, solid and messy.
Take notes on all of these characteristics both before and after you light the
cigar. Rate your ultimate impression on a scale of one to ten.
4. Flavor and Strength
One of the easiest observations for a blind taster to make is whether the cigar
is full-bodied or mild. Look for undertones that seem musty, sweet, harsh,
floral, robust, green or salty. Write them down along with if they were pleasing
or not. As the cigar is smoked, does the flavor increase or decrease? Did it
steer towards more complex flavors or end in bitterness? As with wine, the
after-taste is key: the sensation that remains in your mouth after each puff is
an important reflection of quality. Spend a few moments thinking about how the
after-taste makes you feel. Are you eager to take another puff to get rid of it,
or is it something that you want to linger? Take notes on the overall aroma of
the cigar as you smoke it. Use adjectives like grassy, harsh, woodsy,
overpowering, unpleasant and floral. Rate your observations on a scale of one to
ten.
5. General Comments
This element is important for context. Some cigars are repulsive early in the
day but absolute perfection in the evening after a meal. If the cigar you are
sampling seems like it has potential but doesn't create synergy with the mood
you are in at that moment, have your accomplice set another one aside for
tasting at a different time. Cigars can reflect on seasons, times of day and
moods just like anything else. Use this category to make notes on what mood
would fit the cigar and whether it's something you would like to enjoy often or
rarely. Feel free to use this area to make overall observations such as,
"All in all it was boring," or, "This cigar changed my life and
it will yours too." Rate this category on a scale of one to ten.
Average your four scores at the end of your sheet and record the ultimate
rating. If you are feeling particularly motivated, you can create an excel
spreadsheet that organizes your ratings so you can observe not only the highest
average rating for all of the cigars you have tasted, but the highest rating for
each individual category. In this way, you will free yourself from the confines
of a mass cigar media that encourages biasing and pushes the idea that you
should like this. Cigars, like art, wine, or food, are all about individual
personality. One cigar's demeanor may or may not jive with your own, and that,
after all, is the most important information you need to have.