Whether you’re a passionate smoker or a professional in the industry, the Cigar Sense panel is where you can finally learn how to decode cigars in a way that is both consistent with other experts and deeply rewarding.
Let’s admit it: if you’re serious about cigars, you know that mastery isn’t just about having strong opinions or knowing how to create cigar demand. Most cigar enthusiasts love their hobby because of the fine flavors a cigar can deliver. The more flavor matters to you, the more you’ll realize that true mastery is fundamentally about the ability to taste – and to make sense of what you taste.

You’ve likely been told how a cigar “should” taste. But how often have you had the tools to validate or challenge those assumptions?
At Cigar Sense, we combine knowledge and method to help you understand why you perceive what you do – and we turn that into actionable insights that benefit both consumers and cigar companies.

How do you join the Cigar Sense panel?

Becoming part of the Cigar Sense panel is a serious commitment – but it’s also a path to scientific sensory education.

Here’s how to begin:

1. Register and on-board as a Cigar Sense user, if you are not already. This will help you understand the service we offer and how our system works from the member’s perspective.
2. Complete A Cigar Tasting Course. This online, on-demand course provides a solid foundation in cigar tasting. It covers the essential knowledge about tobacco, how tobacco blends interact with our senses, how perception works, and how to evaluate cigars fairly.
3. Participate in group training, trial analyses, and coaching. Further development is supported through regular meetings, practical exercises, and 1:1 coaching sessions.

Taste Intelligence* is a framework that includes sensory analysis, which helps us translate individual perceptions into consistent, meaningful data. The method follows ISO norms for sensory analysis, as far as technically applicable to smoke evaluation.

For more information on the Cigar Sense reviews process, here is a link to additional reading.

The panelists’ perspective

Some of our panelists shared their thoughts on what it means to be part of the Cigar Sense panel:

Zsolt A.

“When I first met Cigar Sense, I immediately felt that I wanted to be a part of this team. Cigar Sense does excellent and exceptional work, and most importantly they are independent from anyone. Only here can a cigar lover get a truly objective evaluation of a cigar. I’ve met many exceptional people, and thanks to expert advice, I constantly improve my perceptions during cigar tastings. I am very proud to be part of the Cigar Sense tasting panelan – d the journey continues :)”

Roberto F.

“Having joined the Cigar Sense panel years ago, I’m still enthusiastic about being part of it. This enthusiasm stems not only from the strong rapport I’ve found among the panelists and the joy of meeting people who explore, learn, and challenge their own preconceptions – but also because the I fully embrace the sensory analysis method. It’s about collecting data that’s as measurable and objective as possible, without rankings or subjective summaries that might be engaging, but less useful to smokers seeking real insight.”

Gavin L.

“I’m very privileged to be a part of the Cigar Sense panel. I have very little visibility or influence in the cigar world – I’m simply a passionate aficionado. What surprised me most was the rigorous scientific method behind the process. I had a lot to learn about sensory analysis, perception, and how to minimize bias.
Where Cigar Sense differs from conventional panels is in the training of tasters and the alignment of their palates (called collimation) to ensure consistent, statistically-sound analyses for the recommendation engine.
Also refreshing is the absence of a 100-point scale. While popular, such scores oversimplify cigars and ignore the depth of aroma and sensation, Cigar Sense adds far more value than any magazine or critic. It’s like your best friend – with your same palate – helping you decide what to smoke next. Long may it continue!”

Davide V.

“I joined the Cigar Sense panel about a year ago, and the experience has been genuinely exciting. It’s greatly enriched my passion for cigars and my understanding of them. Not only as a panelist but also as a consumer, I see how important it is to keep marketing influences in check. Cigar Sense helped me demystify cigars. The continuous monitoring and support we receive are key to developing awareness of the natural biases we all bring into tasting.”

 

“Developing your palate” is just the beginning.

References

On the Cigar Sense reviews process: https://www.cigarsense.com/the-cigar-sense-reviews-process/
On sensory analysis and its misconceptions: https://www.cigarsense.com/a-new-profession-in-the-cigar-industry/
On cigar reviews usefulness and standards: https://www.cigarsense.com/on-cigar-reviews-usefulness-and-standards/
On sensory analysis vs. tastings: https://www.cigarsense.com/sensory-analysis-or-tastings/
On the science of cigar tasting: https://www.cigarsense.com/the-science-of-cigar-tasting/
On sensory evaluations: https://www.cigarsense.com/005-on-sensory-evaluations/
On sensory analysis: https://www.cigarsense.com/004-on-sensory-analysis/
On the Cigar Sense panel: https://www.cigarsense.com/the-cigar-sense-panel/

*Taste Intelligence is a framework that includes sensory analysis, which helps us translate individual perceptions into consistent, meaningful data. The method follows ISO norms for sensory analysis, as far as technically applicable to smoke evaluation.