Habana Mike
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2003
- Messages
- 16
I've been involved in a project for almost a year now that involves smoking and analyzing a lot of cigars blind. The input I and a few other 'analysts' provided have gone in to a database of cigar characteristics (construction, burn, aromas, flavors, balance, strength, value for the buck, etc.)
Anyway there's now close to 1200 cigars from across the board (standard NC stuff, boutiques, limited releases, Habanos, and more).
The principals of the project have recently gone live with a website designed to learn an individual's profile and preferences so as to recommend cigars they believe he or she would enjoy based on the analysis compared to his likes.
While probably most useful for the newer smoker in particular, there's value in this for anyone. Even with years of smoking experience, through the process I've been recommended cigars I may never have tried otherwise and some have been fantastic for me. As well I've found quite a few new favorites through the blind tastings along with a few that just don't sit with my palate.
It is a subscription site and while I am affiliated do not have any financial stake. I do however get to smoke several cigars a week at no cost to me!
The value proposition is that while there is a moderate monthly subscription, by avoiding one cigar that you aren't particularly going to enjoy you've saved the cost of the service. You'll also hopefully find the cigars recommended fit well with your palate.
One of the premises of the service is that, unlike reviews and general recommendations where your palate may not match theirs, this is designed to learn what you like and make recommendations from that.
Like most, I also use reviews and recommendations to decide on trying new smokes, particularly where I've found the individual has a palate similar to mine though that doesn't necessarily always pan out.
In regard to changing tastes, the profile adviser adjusts and refines your preferences every time you enter tasting notes based on the characteristics of the cigar and how you rated your enjoyment of it.
Being fairly new here and not quite sure what the guidelines are for promoting commercial activities, I am really more interested to hear people's opinions on their perceived value of something along these lines than anything else.
So, what do you think?
Edit: Removed link/references to the site. Apologies if I broke any rules.....
Anyway there's now close to 1200 cigars from across the board (standard NC stuff, boutiques, limited releases, Habanos, and more).
The principals of the project have recently gone live with a website designed to learn an individual's profile and preferences so as to recommend cigars they believe he or she would enjoy based on the analysis compared to his likes.
While probably most useful for the newer smoker in particular, there's value in this for anyone. Even with years of smoking experience, through the process I've been recommended cigars I may never have tried otherwise and some have been fantastic for me. As well I've found quite a few new favorites through the blind tastings along with a few that just don't sit with my palate.
It is a subscription site and while I am affiliated do not have any financial stake. I do however get to smoke several cigars a week at no cost to me!
The value proposition is that while there is a moderate monthly subscription, by avoiding one cigar that you aren't particularly going to enjoy you've saved the cost of the service. You'll also hopefully find the cigars recommended fit well with your palate.
One of the premises of the service is that, unlike reviews and general recommendations where your palate may not match theirs, this is designed to learn what you like and make recommendations from that.
Like most, I also use reviews and recommendations to decide on trying new smokes, particularly where I've found the individual has a palate similar to mine though that doesn't necessarily always pan out.
In regard to changing tastes, the profile adviser adjusts and refines your preferences every time you enter tasting notes based on the characteristics of the cigar and how you rated your enjoyment of it.
Being fairly new here and not quite sure what the guidelines are for promoting commercial activities, I am really more interested to hear people's opinions on their perceived value of something along these lines than anything else.
So, what do you think?
Edit: Removed link/references to the site. Apologies if I broke any rules.....
