Damn you, Cigar Aficianado! Damn you all to hell!

raisindot

Okay, I admit I started a subscription to CA but only because I was offered a free subscription through one of those ubiquitous "free magazine offer for a year and then we'll automatically renew at it crazy expensive because you'll forget all about it next year and you'll have no idea how to stop it because you threw the subscription email away" things after I bought something online somewhere.

Anyhoo. 

I got my first mag last week, and all I can say, Damn You, CA! Not only are your crack-addict articles extolling the virtues of $200,000 cars, $100,000 watches and the Trump Golf course messing around my loony liberal hatred of things catering to the decadent habits of the 1% club, but they also had an article about bourbon that for a moment made me think, in a moment of weakness, "Hmmmm, maybe $200 isn't all that bad for a bottle of Elijah Craig 23 Aged Years Single Barrel." Fortunately, an email alerted me of the need to pay my kids latest college tuition installment curtained that fantasy. 

But then...the cigar reviews. They beckon, like sirens...and I got sucked into buying three of the 93-rated Laranja Reserva Toros (which, naturally, are just about sold out as singles or fivers except for one site I found), and am scouring the bid sites for the 93-rated Fuente Don Carlos Belicoso. And cackling--CACKLING in smugness because the  OpusX Lost City Robusto received "only" an 88, totally justifying my contention that, next to everything Gurhkha makes, the OpusX is the most overrated expensive cigar of all time. 

I mean, CA's ratings have to be right, don't they? Just because Padron is their biggest advertiser doesn't mean that the Pardon Family Reserve Robusto doesn't deserve its 92 rating, right? Right?

Still...I'm out $30 in cigar purchases this month...thanks a lot, CA. Thanks a whole damn lot. 

 

rsherman24

Damn CA. I enjoy the magazine, but take the ratings with a grain of salt.  Great read while smoking a cigar and good to see what they are reviewing, but if you run out and buy every 90+ rated cigar from them you will become broke and disappointed (and also miss a lot of great cigars that are rated low).

Usaf06

On the bright side, the Laranja is an excellent cigar. 

Bob_Luken

I don't ever come in contact with CA. I guess I'm lucky. My shop hands out (for free) 
Cigar & Spirits and also Cigar Press and I hardly ever read those as much as I intend to. 
 

jgibv

Gurkhas are always worth MSRP

Amos_Umwhat

Just $30?  That doesn't exactly put you in the crack-fiend category.  It is funny, though, I now stare my way through the pages of a cigar catalog the way 15yr old me looked at Playboy. 

wahooschock

I gottaget the issue of cigar and spirit with Voltaire's interview

raisindot

Amos_Umwhat said:

 I now stare my way through the pages of a cigar catalog the way 15yr old me looked at Playboy. 

Right there with you, brother. Isn't it f***ing sad that we now closely peruse the phallic-shaped objects on the pages of cigar catalogs with more scrutiny than we used to scan our wives' Victoria's Secrets catalog?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the Bums thread to refresh my manhood. 

Krieg

raisindot said:

Okay, I admit I started a subscription to CA but only because I was offered a free subscription through one of those ubiquitous "free magazine offer for a year and then we'll automatically renew at it crazy expensive because you'll forget all about it next year and you'll have no idea how to stop it because you threw the subscription email away" things after I bought something online somewhere.

Anyhoo. 

I got my first mag last week, and all I can say, Damn You, CA! Not only are your crack-addict articles extolling the virtues of $200,000 cars, $100,000 watches and the Trump Golf course messing around my loony liberal hatred of things catering to the decadent habits of the 1% club, but they also had an article about bourbon that for a moment made me think, in a moment of weakness, "Hmmmm, maybe $200 isn't all that bad for a bottle of Elijah Craig 23 Aged Years Single Barrel." Fortunately, an email alerted me of the need to pay my kids latest college tuition installment curtained that fantasy. 

But then...the cigar reviews. They beckon, like sirens...and I got sucked into buying three of the 93-rated Laranja Reserva Toros (which, naturally, are just about sold out as singles or fivers except for one site I found), and am scouring the bid sites for the 93-rated Fuente Don Carlos Belicoso. And cackling--CACKLING in smugness because the  OpusX Lost City Robusto received "only" an 88, totally justifying my contention that, next to everything Gurhkha makes, the OpusX is the most overrated expensive cigar of all time. 

I mean, CA's ratings have to be right, don't they? Just because Padron is their biggest advertiser doesn't mean that the Pardon Family Reserve Robusto doesn't deserve its 92 rating, right? Right?

Still...I'm out $30 in cigar purchases this month...thanks a lot, CA. Thanks a whole damn lot. 

 

Funniest post I've read in a long, long time. LOL

jarubla

Just got my issue, and damn if it didn't feel especially opulent. Nomos glasshaute watch for 43 k (low whistle...).

-Jay

Stubble

One of these days I might subscribe to CA...but the installments on the Rolls Royce are soooooo much!!  Oh, look what time it is...Rolex indicates I must prepare for church!! 

raisindot

As a kinda postscript to this, I tried one of the Laranja Reserva Toros after giving it a couple week's rest. Boy, I don't think I've ever been more disappointed by a "highly rated" cigar. None of the "hickory sweetness and notes of almond paste, espresso and orange citrus" was evident in mine. The draw was terrible, and it tasted like burning maples leaves to me. Bitter with no character at all. I'm going to give the other two all winter to get in shape. Serves me right to jump on a CA bandwagon. 

Woodguarden

The fact that you see Gurkhas being rated at all = credibility shot....

raisindot

Woodguarden said:

The fact that you see Gurkhas being rated at all = credibility shot....

So true!

Usaf06

raisindot said:

As a kinda postscript to this, I tried one of the Laranja Reserva Toros after giving it a couple week's rest. Boy, I don't think I've ever been more disappointed by a "highly rated" cigar. None of the "hickory sweetness and notes of almond paste, espresso and orange citrus" was evident in mine. The draw was terrible, and it tasted like burning maples leaves to me. Bitter with no character at all. I'm going to give the other two all winter to get in shape. Serves me right to jump on a CA bandwagon. 

Definitely give the Laranja another try. I love that cigar. Pairs great with a Belgium white also.