While browsing the thousands upon thousands of cigars available at Best Cigar Prices, you might have come across a few with a cigar rating. These ratings are denoted in a little circle, and they let you know what the most discerning critics thought of that cigar. But how do the critics arrive at a number? Obviously, the criteria differ between publications, so we’ll focus on Cigar Aficionado, which is the source we use for the cigar scores featured on products.

Selecting the Cigars

You may think Cigar Aficionado critics simply grab the hottest new cigar when deciding which blends to review. It’s actually much more in-depth. An independent party known as a “tasting coordinator” selects which cigars will be scored. Then, all cigar bands are removed. This ensures any bias (conscious or otherwise) toward certain brands is eliminated.

Scoring the Cigars

Once this blind tasting is all set up, the panel of editors can finally start smoking. The score they arrive at is out of a possible 100 points, and the categories are weighted as follows:

Structure & Appearance (15 Points)

Although this category is weighted the least, it’s a reminder that when it comes to cigars, looks matter. Even a cigar with a mouth-watering, complex flavor is going to be dinged if it has blemishes on its wrapper.

Smoking Characteristics (25 Points)

This category covers practically everything outside of looks and taste. How does the cigar light? Does it burn evenly? How about the mouthfeel of the smoke? This category accounts for all the little things that can make or break a smoking experience.

Flavor (25 Points)

This is where the editors of Cigar Aficionado can show off their refined palates. These experts pick apart the flavor profile, identifying all of those subtle, underlying notes that many of us wouldn’t even notice.

Overall Experience (35 Points)

The remaining 35 points are reserved for the “overall experience.” Obviously, this is an especially subjective category, but it gives the editors plenty of wiggle room if they feel strongly about a cigar despite over- or under-performance elsewhere.

When the scores in these four categories are added up, you have the final score. Most premium cigars generally land in the high 80s and low 90s, but let’s not forget that these are ultimately just numbers. If you want to try out a cigar that looks tasty, there’s no reason to let a low score scare you away! On the other hand, if you’d like to browse through cigars that were rated favorably (90+), be sure to check out our Top-Rated Cigars page.