One of the things I plan to do with regularity on this site is post reviews of cigars and tobaccos. The purpose of these reviews is to give the facts of the cigar or tobacco and to share my thoughts, impressions, and experiences with you.

What you should expect:

• I will provide the manufacturer’s details on vitolas and blends.
• I will include my tasting notes.
• I will share any pleasant surprises or difficulties I might encounter.

Regarding Ratings:

I have a love/hate relationship with the idea of ratings. While I don’t think there is anything wrong with having some kind of scorecard or grading system for cigars or tobacco, ratings should not be why you avoid trying a cigar or tobacco. Because they are largely based on perception of taste and aroma they are by nature subjective. What one person finds pleasing and attractive another will balk at. Instead of using ratings given in industry magazines, I recommend finding a person who enjoys the cigars and tobaccos you do and take their recommendations more seriously.

Case in point: Cornell & Diehl’s best-selling pipe tobacco is an aromatic blend called Autumn Evening. It is a Virginia Cavendish topped with maple. But after more than 300 reviews on tobaccoreviews.com, it only has a 2.86 star rating out of a possible 4 stars. If you just looked at the rating–not even a 3–you might well be tempted to dismiss it. But one of the reasons the rating is what it is, is because a good number of the people reviewing it are not smokers of aromatic blends. I love how one reviewer addressed this fact in their review.

First, you smokers of old camp fires and used leather goods, why do you buy something that claims to contain maple flavorings, sugar rum, vanilla, whisky, and citrus flavors, and promptly start whining that it is too sweet. Why are you spending your hard earned money buying tobacco that you don’t like unless you simply want to bash.

On to the tobacco, it does not get ashy. I’ve went through two large tins, one older and one newer. It never happened. Next guess what? The tobacco was sweet, maybe very sweet. You know why? Maybe because it had maple flavorings, sugar, whisky, citrus flavors, rum and vanilla. It is exactly what it says it is. Now that that is resolved, let’s review this tobacco based on what it is supposed to be. It’s strength is somewhere between medium and strong. The older tin I had was somewhat milder than the newer tins. Also the nicotine was a little more than I expected from this tobacco. The room note was fine for me but I live alone. I could see how it might be too much of a good thing to some people. As far as taste goes, I like it. Guess what? It had a taste similar to sweet maple since it has in it maple, sugar, rum, vanilla, citrus flavors, and whisky. A fine tobacco which might be over the top for some tastes. If you like blow out taste and aroma, you will love it. It is what it says it is and is really good.

You can read the whole review here: <https://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/2077/cornell-diehl-autumn-evening/?rating=all&orderBy=tr.UpVotes>

I am constantly having to order the stuff for our store. For pipe smokers who like aromatic blends, unless you have an aversion to the aroma of waffles and the taste of maple syrup, you will love that blend! But I digress…

So in the spirit of full transparency and to set you up to follow my own advice, let me share what you need to know about my palate.

I tend to smoke stronger, darker, fuller cigars and tobaccos. My palate preference leans decidedly towards savory things rather than sweet things. If I have a choice between cheese and crackers or cake and ice cream, I will likely pick the former. I do smoke aromatic tobaccos and flavored or infused cigars, but only occasionally as I am not usually looking for something sweet.

Some of my go to cigars are:

• Padron 2000 Maduro
• Padron 1926 No. 48 Maduro
• RoMa Craft Neanderthal HN
• Foundation Olmec Maduro or Claro
• DT&T Mi Querida Black Papa Saka
• Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto
• Aladino Fuma Noche
   

Some of my go to pipe tobaccos are:

• GL Pease Cumberland
• GL Pease Barbary Coast
• Gawith Hoggarth Dark Birds Eye
• 7-20-4 Briary Blends: Queen City
• 7-20-4 Briary Blends: Little Gold Dust
• 4th Generation Night Slice
• C&D Speak Easy

That gives you an idea of what I gravitate to. I do enjoy a lot more than what I listed, any my tastes go all over the board, but that is where I center. If you like similar things, you will find my reviews especially helpful.

Something you will not see in my reviews is brand bashing. Anything that comes to market is the result of someone’s dream, passion, hard work and perseverance. Trash talk has no place in reviews! I will always be respectful of brands and their blenders and owners. Just because something is not for me, it does not follow that it is bad, nor does not mean I cannot recommend it for someone else.

So, with all that in mind, I will rate cigars or tobaccos I will be coming from my own personal preference declaring that this was…

Just Blowing Smoke: It did not resonate with me.

Not Just Blowing Smoke: I enjoyed it and would definitely smoke it again.