- April 15, 2026
Cigar News Exchange (“CNE”) uses a proprietary 25-Point Rating Scale to evaluate cigars with clarity, fairness, and consistency.
Our goal is to provide readers with an honest and structured understanding of a cigar’s performance based on real-world smoking experience.
Every cigar we score is evaluated independently by our editors and contributors.
Our reviews are never influenced by advertisers, affiliates, sponsorships, or external partnerships.
The CNE 25-Point Scale reflects craftsmanship, construction, flavor development, and overall smoking satisfaction — the qualities that matter most to cigar enthusiasts.
The CNE scale is divided into five 5-point categories, each representing a critical aspect of the cigar-smoking experience:
We evaluate:
Wrapper quality and sheen
Vein presence and uniformity
Cap construction
Band design, branding, and overall presentation
5 – Exceptional craftsmanship
4 – Above average with minor cosmetic flaws
3 – Standard appearance; nothing remarkable
2 – Noticeable imperfections
1 – Poor presentation or flawed wrapper
We assess how well the cigar is built and how it performs physically:
Draw resistance
Burn line accuracy
Smoke production
Ash structure and stability
Tunneling, canoeing, or relighting issues
5 – Perfect draw and razor-sharp burn
4 – Mostly clean burn with small corrections
3 – Acceptable draw and burn with moderate issues
2 – Frequent burn problems or tight/loose draw
1 – Poor construction, consistent problems
We evaluate flavor complexity, balance, transition, and depth, including:
Initial (first third)
Midpoint (second third)
Final third
Consistency and development
Harshness, refinement, or flatness
5 – Rich, complex, evolving flavors
4 – Very enjoyable with minor flat spots
3 – Good but linear or lacking depth
2 – Unbalanced or muddy flavor profile
1 – Harsh, unpleasant, or underdeveloped flavors
We assess the cigar’s aromatic presence and the overall sensory environment:
Room note
Smoke aroma
Warmth, density, and texture
Retrohale character
5 – Outstanding aroma; highly enjoyable
4 – Strong positive aroma with slight inconsistency
3 – Average or neutral aroma
2 – Off-notes or inconsistent aroma
1 – Unpleasant or overwhelming aroma
This is the reviewer’s final judgment of:
Enjoyment level
Value vs. price
Would they smoke it again?
Does it stand out?
5 – Memorable cigar; highly recommended
4 – Solid cigar; would smoke again
3 – Decent for casual use
2 – Would not repeat
1 – Poor overall experience
Each category is scored 1–5.
Scores are added to produce the final rating out of 25:
Total Score = (Appearance + Construction + Flavor + Aroma + Satisfaction)
Maximum Possible = 25 Points
23–25: Exceptional
20–22: Highly Recommended
17–19: Good / Above Average
14–16: Average
11–13: Below Average
10 and under: Not Recommended
To ensure fairness, each cigar is smoked:
Under normal, real-world conditions
Without pairing unless noted
With notes taken during all thirds
Using consistent journal templates
By reviewers with experience in cigar evaluation
Multiple samples may be smoked if construction varies significantly.
Reviews may also include pairing notes, lounge environment considerations, and personal impressions — but only the 5 core categories determine the official score.
Cigar News Exchange maintains strict independence in the review process.
We do not:
Accept compensation for higher scores
Guarantee positive reviews
Adjust ratings for affiliate partners
Allow advertisers to influence editorial content
Our goal is to reflect real smoking experiences, not marketing agendas.
CNE may feature community ratings in the future.
These will be separate from official CNE scores and clearly labeled.
For inquiries, collaborations, or clarifications about the CNE 25-Point Scale, contact us: