Stick Picks
How Cigar Ratings Work: The 100-Point Scale Explained
Cigar ratings use a 100-point blind-tasting scale, scoring appearance, draw, burn, flavor complexity, and overall impression. Scores of 90+ signal an excellent cigar; 95+ is rare and elite. Major publications like Cigar Aficionado and Halfwheel use blind panels to remove brand bias, but scores are still subjective, so treat them as a guide, not a rulebook.
Cigar ratings are everywhere: printed in magazines, stamped on retailer websites, debated in every forum thread titled “is this worth buying?” Most collectors never slow down to understand the actual mechanics behind the numbers. Once you do, you’ll use ratings far more intelligently, and stop paying a premium just because something hit 93.
Wait, what actually is the 100-point scale and where did it come from?
Cigar Aficionado, first published in 1992, built its reputation as a leading authority on fine cigars and launched the annual Top 25 list that introduced the 100-point rating system to the hobby. The format was borrowed almost directly from wine criticism and has since become the de facto measuring stick across cigars, wine, spirits, and more.
In Cigar Aficionado’s blind tastings, the panel smokes cigars without knowing what they are: bands removed, identities concealed. Each cigar is scored on appearance, smoking performance, flavor, and overall impression. The result is a single number that collapses a complex sensory experience into something a collector can reference quickly. That compression is both the system’s greatest strength and its most significant limitation.
How are the points actually allocated?
A question we hear often: collectors see a score of 91 and want to know whether it means the cigar smokes beautifully or just looks great in the box.
Appearance and construction account for 15 points. It’s the smallest single category, but it reflects how seriously the panel takes construction quality. Flavor commands roughly 25 points, covering freshness, complexity, uniqueness, and strength. Characteristics (draw tightness, burn rate, how consistently the cigar stays lit) earn another 25 points, because even a brilliantly flavored cigar disappoints if it keeps going out in your hand.
The remaining points cover overall impression: whether the cigar feels balanced and memorable as a complete experience. Top-rated cigars achieve harmony between draw, burn, and flavor while delivering something that justifies the score.
A useful mental model: picture a cigar starting at 100. A burn issue in the first third costs a point. A tight draw costs another. An inconsistent burn loses more. A cigar that never develops complexity across its thirds loses even more.
What does each score range actually signal?
Cigar Aficionado classifies its 100-point scores as follows: 95-100 = Classic; 90-94 = Outstanding; 80-89 = Very Good to Excellent; 70-79 = Average to Good Commercial Quality; 0-69 = Don’t Waste Your Money.
| Score Range | Label | What It Means in Practice |
|---|---|---|
| 96-100 | Classic / Exceptional | Rare. Often limited-run or aged releases. Buy multiples if you find them. |
| 93-95 | Outstanding | Superb flavor and balance. Worth cellaring for long-term appreciation. |
| 90-92 | Excellent | Strong everyday-rotation and box-buy candidates. The sweet spot for value. |
| 88-89 | Very Good | Minor flaws in burn or complexity. Excellent daily smokes, often underpriced. |
| 85-87 | Good | Solid cigars with some construction inconsistency. Sample before boxing. |
| Below 85 | Average or Below | Usually not worth seeking out unless the price reflects the score. |
Any cigar topping 90 is considered excellent; anything above 95 is a rare feat. Cigars in the 85-90 range tend to have real positives offset by problems in construction or flavor, while premium cigars below 80 typically have meaningful construction issues.
Are all rating systems the same, or does it matter which publication I trust?
Readers frequently ask: whether a 90 from one publication equals a 90 from another. The short answer is no, and the differences matter.
Cigar Aficionado and several other publications rate by panel. Halfwheel relies on a single reviewer smoking the same cigar multiple times for consistency, and marks cigars scoring 88 or above as “box-worthy,” a lower threshold than the 90 benchmark used elsewhere. That philosophy helps explain why Halfwheel generally issues fewer 90+ ratings overall.
Cigar Dojo takes a different approach: rather than numeric points, it uses a percentage-based scoring system that also publishes separate scores for appearance, draw, and flavor within each review. Cigar Coop rates cigars two ways, on merit using the standard 100-point system, and on value, treating 90 as the threshold for genuine excellence.
The practical takeaway: a 91 from Cigar Aficionado, a 91 from Halfwheel, and a 91 from Cigar Coop reflect genuinely different scoring philosophies. Serious collectors cross-reference at least two sources before committing to a box. Magazines provide expert reviews, forums offer honest feedback from everyday smokers, and your local tobacconist adds the tactile experience of seeing and smelling cigars firsthand. None of those three perspectives is redundant.
Do ratings favor certain cigar styles over others?
This one comes up a lot: collectors notice that high-scoring cigars tend to skew toward full-bodied Nicaraguan blends. That’s not entirely coincidental.
A common critique is that full-bodied cigars may reach top ratings more easily because panelists respond to bold, assertive flavors. The subtlety of a well-crafted mild or medium-bodied smoke is harder to register when you’re evaluating many cigars in a single session. Ratings also tend to favor limited editions and new releases, which can create hype but reduce availability. And it’s worth noting that magazines have advertising relationships with many of the brands they review, which has led to some reasonable skepticism among consumers.
None of this makes the ratings useless. Highly rated cigars often do reflect real craftsmanship and consistency worth exploring, especially when you’re cross-referencing multiple sources. But it does mean an 87-rated Connecticut Shade robusto may deliver exactly the nuanced, creamy experience you want, even if it never makes the Top 25. According to Cigar Aficionado’s own data, in a single year the publication rated 628 handmade cigars, with 43 percent (268 cigars) scoring 90 points or higher. That’s a lot of excellent cigars competing for the same consumer attention.
Should I use ratings to decide what goes in my humidor?
Ratings work best as a discovery engine, not a purchasing mandate. A full-bodied cigar that earns top marks from seasoned smokers may not be what you want if you prefer milder, creamier blends. Some lesser-known brands may suit your palate perfectly despite modest scores.
The smartest approach: use a 90+ rating to justify trying a single, then use your own experience to decide whether it earns a box. Try cigars across a range of scores, countries, and brands. Track your own preferences. Build a palate that reflects what you enjoy, not just what a panel recommends.
This is where a humidor app like Stick Picks becomes genuinely useful. When you log a cigar after smoking, noting your own score alongside the published rating, you quickly build a personal dataset. Over time, you’ll notice whether your palate tracks Cigar Aficionado closely, runs higher on Halfwheel, or consistently diverges from both. That self-knowledge is worth more than any single published score.
How do ratings affect cigar prices and availability?
The market impact is real and fast. Retailers rely on the rating system to stock accordingly, knowing that a high-ranking cigar will see a sudden spike in demand. Producers of top-rated sticks tend to keep those blends in high production as sales follow.
A 90+ score can cause cigars to sell out within days of a list being published. If you spot a cigar with a strong rating before the announcement gets traction, that’s often the best window to buy at normal retail. After Cigar Aficionado’s annual Top 25 drops each December, consumers and retailers rush to acquire featured cigars, especially those in the top ten. Secondary market prices on popular entries can spike 30%-50% within weeks.
The collector’s edge is patience combined with knowledge: understand the rating mechanics, know which publications align with your taste, and build a rotation around your logged preferences rather than the current news cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 90-rated cigar mean? A score of 90 or above indicates an excellent cigar with superior construction, flavor complexity, and a consistent burn. Most collectors and retailers consider 90+ the threshold for a genuinely standout smoke worth buying in quantity.
How does Cigar Aficionado rate cigars? Cigar Aficionado uses a blind-tasting panel that removes bands so reviewers don’t know the brand. Cigars are scored on appearance, smoking performance, flavor, and overall impression using a 100-point scale. Only cigars scoring 91+ are reconsidered for the annual Top 25 list.
Are cigar ratings reliable or biased? They’re a useful starting point but remain subjective. Panels have personal palate preferences, and some critics note that full-bodied cigars tend to outscore milder blends simply because bold flavors register more easily during high-volume tasting sessions. Cross-reference multiple sources for a balanced view.
What is the difference between Cigar Aficionado and Halfwheel ratings? Cigar Aficionado uses a multi-person blind panel; Halfwheel relies on a single reviewer smoking the same cigar multiple times for consistency. Halfwheel also considers 88+ as “box-worthy,” a lower threshold than the 90 benchmark most other publications use.
Should I only buy highly rated cigars? No. Ratings are one data point among many. A cigar rated 87 may fit your palate far better than a 95. Use high ratings to discover new blends, but build your collection around what you personally enjoy, and log your own scores to develop a reliable personal baseline.
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 90-rated cigar mean?
A score of 90 or above indicates an excellent cigar with superior construction, flavor complexity, and a consistent burn. Most collectors and retailers consider 90+ the threshold for a genuinely standout smoke worth buying in quantity.
How does Cigar Aficionado rate cigars?
Cigar Aficionado uses a blind-tasting panel that removes bands so reviewers don't know the brand. Cigars are scored on appearance, smoking performance, flavor, and overall impression using a 100-point scale. Only cigars scoring 91+ are reconsidered for the annual Top 25 list.
Are cigar ratings reliable or biased?
They're a useful starting point but remain subjective. Panels have personal palate preferences, and some critics note that full-bodied cigars tend to outscore milder blends simply because bold flavors register more easily during high-volume tasting sessions. Cross-reference multiple sources for a balanced view.
What is the difference between Cigar Aficionado and Halfwheel ratings?
Cigar Aficionado uses a multi-person blind panel; Halfwheel relies on a single reviewer smoking the same cigar multiple times for consistency. Halfwheel also considers 88+ as 'box-worthy,' a lower threshold than the 90 benchmark most other publications use.
Should I only buy highly rated cigars?
No. Ratings are one data point among many. A cigar rated 87 may fit your palate far better than a 95. Use high ratings to discover new blends, but build your collection around what you personally enjoy, and log your own scores to develop a reliable personal baseline.