THE RETROHALE SCORING SYSTEM

At The Retrohale, every cigar tells a story. My reviews aren’t about chasing sterile perfection — they’re about savoring the craft, the experience, and the emotional arc of each cigar. This scoring system reflects my personal palate and honest impressions.

HOW I SCORE CIGARS

Each cigar receives:

The Retrohale Score: Letter Grade (Numeric Score)

Short Flavor Summary

Example: (From Romeo y Julieta 150th Anniversary)

The Retrohale Score: A (95)

Poetic, complex, and emotionally captivating with refined balance, layered transitions, and an unforgettable emotional arc that evokes Shakespearean depth.

This format offers both a quick snapshot for casual readers and a deeper narrative for those who want the full story.

THE RETROHALE SCORING SCALE

A+ (97–100): Legendary; once-in-a-decade perfection

A (95–96): Absolute personal masterpieces

A (92–94): Box-worthy excellence

A– (90–91): Excellent; nearly box-worthy

B+ (88–89): Very good; strong revisit potential

B (85–87): Good; enjoyable but lacking resonance

B– (84): Disappointing but smokeable; lacked character

C+ (82–83): Weak; some redeeming elements but underwhelming

C (80–81): Poor experience

D/F (Below 80): Serious flaws or failure

MY PHILOSOPHY — AND HOW MY SCORES REFLECT MY EXPERIENCE

Cigar scoring can vary quite a bit across different reviewers. If you compare my scores to sites like Halfwheel, Cigar Aficionado, or Cigar Dojo, you may notice that my numeric ratings occasionally land a point or two higher for certain cigars.

That’s not because I’m grading on a curve — it’s because I view cigar evaluation as a full experience, not just a technical checklist.

For me, a great cigar is not just about flawless construction or textbook transitions — it’s about emotional resonance.

   • Did the cigar create a memorable experience?

   • Was there a story unfolding in the smoke?

   • Did it make me want to slow down, savor, and revisit?

At The Retrohale, my scoring system reflects this full narrative approach. I strive to honor cigars that may not be perfect in every technical aspect but deliver something meaningful, satisfying, and worth remembering.

That said, you’ll still see plenty of critical honesty here. Cigars that disappoint will score low; cigars that move me will earn their place. The system is designed to reflect my honest experience, not just a formula.

In short:

My scores are emotionally honest, not mathematically rigid. And that’s exactly how I want The Retrohale to remain.