Homepage Research Adventures Images Random Things Cigars Cigar Ratings Books that Morgan Recommends... Perelman's Pocket Cyclopedia of Cigars, 2000 edition - by Richard B. Perelman. This makes my cigar ratings look quite paltry, but then again, mine are free. The cigar encyclopedia. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cigars - by Tad Gage. There must be a lot of idiots out there, because this series sells well! Seriously, this book gets great reviews. A good choice to help a beginner wade through the hype and confusion. Extra... I don't sell cigars, but here are some places where you can buy them online. Cigar.com Great cigar availability. Lots of related products.

• 10 - A truly transcendent smoke, faultless and perfect in every sense of the word.
• 9 - An excellent cigar, definitely to be purchased if available.
• 8 - A very good cigar with a couple small imperfections.
• 7 - A solid cigar, worth a reasonable price. It either has some minor flaws or is unspectacular in certain respects.
• 6 - An above average cigar, but not one to rave about, and certainly not one to seek out at the cigar shop. In a pinch, however, this cigar will do.
• 5 - A completely average cigar.
• 4 - A below average smoke, one that should never be purchased again, yet is probably still finishable once it's been lit.
• 3 - A bad cigar. Never buy it. I wouldn't even smoke it if someone gave it to me! You might even be repulsed enough to put it out before it's done!
• 2 - Now we're into the dregs of the coffeepot... A disgusting cigar, on par with the Swisher Sweets that we all smoked in Junior High.
• 1 - You get the picture...

ARTURO FUENTE
DOUBLE CHATEAU FUENTE (maduro)
Score = 8

This is a truly fine cigar. Although it comes with a natural (claro) wrapper, I prefer the maduro. With a size on the order of a double corona, this cigar will take a while, but every minute is pure heaven. It starts mellow but flavorful, with rich coffee tones. The burn is consistent and even throughout. As the end of the cigar is approached, a complex bouquet of nutmeg, leather, and coffee/chocolate flavors is exposed. The final inch of the burn is cool enough to be comfortably smoked. A great all-around cigar - even better when the $3.50 price is taken into account! (review date: 5/96)

This is a fantastic smoke, spicy yet smooth from start to finish, and very well-constructed. The cigar begins with a restrained tanginess, then develops earthy hints of leather. The burn is even, and the draw very good, all the way to the end. The last two inches are not hot, and display a full bouquet; floral and rich, creamy flavors to balance the spiciness of the tobacco. This is not an extremely hard cigar to find, so I would recommend picking one or more up. Cost: $5.50... (review date: 1/31/96)

A large (8"x50) cigar, available in both maduro and claro wrappers. This review concerns the maduro. Strong tobacco flavors permeate this cigar all the way through. There is a nice hint of sweet chocolate/cocoa that progressively increases as the cigar is smoked. Full-bodied all the way through, but especially creamy at the end, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Fairly well-constructed, but this cigar has a tendency to go out. All-in-all, an excellent smoke. Cost: $4.00... (review date: 2/3/97)

A great all-around cigar. Very mild with a creamy, nutty flavor, excellent draw, and consistent burn. Received an 87 in Cigar Aficianado - a score I feel is totally justified. However, as the demand for all cigars goes up, quality control necessarily goes down, so it's no suprise that I've noticed some inconsistency from box to box with this cigar. Cost: around $3.50. (review date: 7/95)

This cigar is well constructed, with an even roll and beautiful oily Maduro wrapper. Initially, pleasantly smooth earthy flavors dominate, with leathery notes gaining prominence as the cigar burns. The burn and draw are even and consistent. The end of this cigar is very flavorful and spicy, with strong tobacco tanginess balancing smooth creamy flavors. However, the finish is a bit too hot and grassy for my liking. Overall, a very good cigar. Cost: $5.40. (Review date: 3/8/97)

A decent cigar, but fairly inconsistent from start to finish. At first, the draw is much too loose, and the flavors too harsh. However, this cigar eventually settles down into creamy, smooth nutty flavors, with a very nice draw. Unfortunately, the quality comes full circle, with the last third having a hot burn and very harsh flavors. The middle third of this cigar is a wonderful, but great cigars are good from the beginning to the end. Cost: $5.50. (review date: 1/26/96)

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