After seven years, Cigar Coop is introducing two new value ratings: Splurge and Don’t Splurge. These ratings differ a little from our other value ratings.

The Value ratings stem from our past partnership with Stogie Geeks. Stogie Geeks used a rating system that combined merit with value. As Cigar Coop evolved, it became clear these two categories needed to be separate and distinct, so we built our own value system using the foundation set forward by Stogie Geeks. This resulted in the following categories.

• Not Recommended – this replaces Lawn Mulch. If we don’t like a cigar, we don’t recommend it – case closed.
• Try a Sample – we recommend you try this cigar before purchasing outright.
• Buy One – simply means we recommend purchasing a single cigar.
• Buy Multiples –  covers buying two or more cigars. The focus should be on two to three cigars at most.
• Box Worthy Consideration – This cigar is good enough to consider a box purchase, but it is not a stone-cold lock for one. It might be worth getting if there is a discount or commercial deal. Or it might simply be because it has limited availability.
• Box Purchase – this cigar is good enough to buy a whole box.
• Fight Chuck Norris for Them – Easily worthy of a box purchase and worthy of a fight with someone like Chuck Norris for the last box. A cigar in this category or above deserves Cigar of the Year consideration.
• The Oasis – An elite cigar that is one of historic proportions – regardless of price and difficulty to obtain.

The system has shown some holes as cigar prices have increased. We’ve reviewed many cigars costing from $30.00 to $100.00. In these cases, we have said the cigar is good, but we wouldn’t recommend buying one unless you have a sample.  The result was a lot of “Try a Sample” ratings for the expensive cigars. In reality, nobody is getting a sample of a $30.00 cigar, so the category name was a problem.

The solution was to introduce two value ratings geared at cigars $29.99 or higher: Splurge and Don’t Splurge. These will join the eight other value ratings above but will be used only on cigars $29.99 and up. As the market changes, this minimum price could increase over time.

• Splurge: If you have the money, take a flyer on this cigar. It would be worth it.
• Don’t Splurge: This is a little different from a Not Recommended. This means this cigar is just too expensive to splurge on. If the price were lower, then it would be worth considering.

The new Cigar Coop value ratings will apply to future Cigar Coop The Magazine reviews and may be used in conjunction with the other categories.