Top shelf vs Connsoueir

I wanna know how much u guys pay for the top shelf strains, and if u have connosuier strains, and what u would consider connosuier?

i visit my favorite dispensary in the san jose area, which is medmar
they have connosuier (25 g), top shelf (22 g), high grade (20g), mid grade (15 g) and value line (11 g)

now i am a little irritated that they would list certain strains for connosuier for as high as they charge, sometimes its a bit ridiculous, right now they have petrolia, bro diesel and ak...i cant speak for the first 2 strains, but ak is not connosueir herb, imo its on the level of jack herer, very good strains, but not worth the class and price, and they list jack in their high grade.
i got fooled one time, i believe it was my first time there, when they suggested strawberry kush as a connosuier, i bought some and wasnt all that impressed, yes it was very good but wasnt worth the price, they also suggested gold dust, which i was an immediate fan of

if any of u have smoked bro diesel or petrolia, maybe u have some input, but what do ur favorite dispensaries offer at higher prices, and are they worth it?
and what would u consider connosiuer? thc content? flavor? the high? the grow?

connoisseur: should be the most aesthetically pleasing to look at, well manicured, tight compact nugs, awesome smell and flavor BUT its not going to be overwhelmingly potent next to the others-a plant whos grower took 110%.
You can buy a $100 bottle of scotch or a 25$ bottle, one will taste better, be smooth, but both are 80 proof and get you to the same point.
imo when dealing with top end bud i really dont see much dif on the potency scale.

Washington sells $12 a g top shelf...ECSD... pre 98 bubba...Exodus cheese...Chemdog 4... all from clones ..no seed breed

dam612 said:

connoisseur: should be the most aesthetically pleasing to look at, well manicured, tight compact nugs, awesome smell and flavor BUT its not going to be overwhelmingly potent next to the others-a plant whos grower took 110%.
You can buy a $100 bottle of scotch or a 25$ bottle, one will taste better, be smooth, but both are 80 proof and get you to the same point.
imo when dealing with top end bud i really dont see much dif on the potency scale.

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so whats the difference between top shelf and connossieur? because when i go there and physically see them, i dont see a difference in the looks of the buds

Connoisseur I would take as a harder to find, rare fantastic flower. Top shelf would be the more common strains but grown to perfection. AK grown at any level is not connoisseur, can't be, IMHO. Obviously the other levels are just attempts at producing the connoisseur and top shelf.
When one category is low, a bullshit dispensary will cheat and fill hole with anything and then they are just grading on a curve. lol.

gladstoned said:

Connoisseur I would take as a harder to find, rare fantastic flower. Top shelf would be the more common strains but grown to perfection. AK grown at any level is not connoisseur, can't be, IMHO. Obviously the other levels are just attempts at producing the connoisseur and top shelf.
When one category is low, a bullshit dispensary will cheat and fill hole with anything and then they are just grading on a curve. lol.

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thats what i think to, connossieur being a rare but overall quality strain, something u dont normally find in dispensaries...ive smoked ak a few times in the past and its good but far from being connossiuer on any level
and i dont know why dispensaries will charge some strains cheap and other dispensaries expensive, depending of course if its outdoor or indoor, usually its the latter but for instance, blue dream is one of my favs, and at medmar right now, they charge 305 for a zip (15 g), whereas other places will charge close too, if not 400...i cant imagine its grown badly otherwise no dispensary would take it, or maybe im wrong

A connoisseur strain is a strain that has quality's over another strain,normally looks/taste,now certain phenos of certain strains will be nicer,so you could get a particularly nice bit of AK that would be a connoisseur strain,just as you could get some crap OG as mids,connoisseur to me is any strain that has been done to the best of its standards and has a quality that makes it stand out,the name means absolutely nothing as its about the quality not the name,I have some THSeeds purps that looks like crap,at most just like standard as I would call it,but the taste/smell makes it connoisseur as its the most dank sour grape smelling skunk going.

What's the difference between "top shelf" and "connoisseur? This is largely a question of semantics.

In practice, it depends mostly on who is trying to sell it to you!

Strictly speaking, "top shelf" (like top shelf liquor) simply refers to the more expensive stuff. Costing more doesn't necessarily mean its "better" than less expensive types, though most often it actually is. I'd expect any stuff in a dispensary called "top shelf" to be a perfectly-cured, well-trimmed representation of an excellent strain.

By definition, a "connoisseur" is someone with well-developed taste, and specialized knowledge, based on extensive experience.

So applying the definition, I'd say "connoisseur" quality herb is stuff that a discriminating experienced smoker who has tried dozens or hundreds of strains over the years might want to choose to smoke.

Its probably rare, and its probably expensive (ie "top shelf"), but it doesn't necessarily have to be either one.

And one more thing, if someone is telling you something is "connoisseur quality", not only are they almost certainly trying to sell you something, but they're probably also trying to prey on your ignorance.

A "real" connoisseur doesn't want or need someone else to tell them what's good and what's not!

I agree with most of this,apart from top shelf bourbon is normally makers mark which is also the nicest bourbon going,and I have a whiskey shelf with 22 bottles on so I know ,call me a connoisseur,I normally have a few different jars of herb too ,.
But I will agree price doesnt always reflect quality .

Jogro said:

What's the difference between "top shelf" and "connoisseur? This is largely a question of semantics.

In practice, it depends mostly on who is trying to sell it to you!

Strictly speaking, "top shelf" (like top shelf liquor) simply refers to the more expensive stuff. Costing more doesn't necessarily mean its "better" than less expensive types, though most often it actually is. I'd expect any stuff in a dispensary called "top shelf" to be a perfectly-cured, well-trimmed representation of an excellent strain.

By definition, a "connoisseur" is someone with well-developed taste, and specialized knowledge, based on extensive experience.

So applying the definition, I'd say "connoisseur" quality herb is stuff that a discriminating experienced smoker who has tried dozens or hundreds of strains over the years might want to choose to smoke.

Its probably rare, and its probably expensive (ie "top shelf"), but it doesn't necessarily have to be either one.

And one more thing, if someone is telling you something is "connoisseur quality", not only are they almost certainly trying to sell you something, but they're probably also trying to prey on your ignorance.

A "real" connoisseur doesn't want or need someone else to tell them what's good and what's not!

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Jogro said:

What's the difference between "top shelf" and "connoisseur? This is largely a question of semantics.

In practice, it depends mostly on who is trying to sell it to you!

Strictly speaking, "top shelf" (like top shelf liquor) simply refers to the more expensive stuff. Costing more doesn't necessarily mean its "better" than less expensive types, though most often it actually is. I'd expect any stuff in a dispensary called "top shelf" to be a perfectly-cured, well-trimmed representation of an excellent strain.

By definition, a "connoisseur" is someone with well-developed taste, and specialized knowledge, based on extensive experience.

So applying the definition, I'd say "connoisseur" quality herb is stuff that a discriminating experienced smoker who has tried dozens or hundreds of strains over the years might want to choose to smoke.

Its probably rare, and its probably expensive (ie "top shelf"), but it doesn't necessarily have to be either one.

And one more thing, if someone is telling you something is "connoisseur quality", not only are they almost certainly trying to sell you something, but they're probably also trying to prey on your ignorance.

A "real" connoisseur doesn't want or need someone else to tell them what's good and what's not!

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i didnt really need u to tell me all that, as i know what connossiuer is...my question was what in detail it meant to everybody else, and the difference between that and top shelf when clearly some strains dont belong in a class of connossier, because when i said theyre selling ak, i dont consider that connossisuer...but thanks for trying to sound stuck up about it lol

its horses for courses mate,alot of uk/europeans all love lemon flavored herb,I personally don't mind it,but would rather something more unique like soem cheese/green crack/casey jones etc,we all have very different tastes and chemical make ups so will always have slightly different opinions on even the same bit of herb

bAyArEaSpLiFfBlOwEr said:

i didnt really need u to tell me all that, as i know what connossiuer is...my question was what in detail it meant to everybody else, and the difference between that and top shelf when clearly some strains dont belong in a class of connossier, because when i said theyre selling ak, i dont consider that connossisuer...but thanks for trying to sound stuck up about it lol

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dankerous said:

I have some THSeeds purps that looks like crap,at most just like standard as I would call it,but the taste/smell makes it connoisseur as its the most dank sour grape smelling skunk going.

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How is THSEEDS PURPS??? I grow BCBUD DEPOT PURPS and its the dankest, prettiest herb on the planet.

I still do not think AK can possibly be connoisseur. I do not think Budweiser could ever be a connoisseur beer. It could be the King of Beers, most popular, and even top shelf - never connoisseur. Connoisseur would be a top-shelf micro brew. Mid-grade would be Busch, and low grade - 40oz of Malt liquor.

well let me put it this way, I have smoked a fair amount of Og and diesel etc,some grown here some from in dispensaries in the states,and to be fair most of the Og I tried was pretty unimpressive, standard spicey indica with maybe a hint of lemons or fuel,so I would pick some well grown AK47 over that,as I have had AK47 where a single nugget stinks out my house,completely,like a real skunk should,as I say its all down to opinion,I like buds that stink,as that is a sign of the high to come,terpines have an effect on high,hence why stinky bud is normally better,as I say I would much rather be smoking some casey jones/chemmy jones cheese,or cheese crosses,green crack or generally more interesting smoke

gladstoned said:

I still do not think AK can possibly be connoisseur. I do not think Budweiser could ever be a connoisseur beer. It could be the King of Beers, most popular, and even top shelf - never connoisseur. Connoisseur would be a top-shelf micro brew. Mid-grade would be Busch, and low grade - 40oz of Malt liquor.

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There is 4 phenos I can get,all look pretty similar,one is more frosty and is nicer,basically as I say a musky grape smelling skunk,very orange hairs,pretty much identical to your pic,if it had no purpling really,all purps is from the same stock either as the clone or crossed with an afghan like thseeds did, the stuff I have was unfortunately grown in a warm room so hasnt gone purple,but it is a very nice smoke ,

ImAgIaNtInDaGrOwWoRlD said:

How is THSEEDS PURPS??? I grow BCBUD DEPOT PURPS and its the dankest, prettiest herb on the planet.

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dankerous said:

I agree with most of this,apart from top shelf bourbon is normally makers mark which is also the nicest bourbon going,and I have a whiskey shelf with 22 bottles on so I know

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Only 22?

Which product is considered "top shelf" depends highly on which establishment you're talking about.

Maker's Mark is "top shelf" in some bars, but not in any private Kentucky establishment or club that caters to whiskies. There are plenty of premium Bourbons out there that cost 50-100% more than Maker's Mark. Again, that doesn't necessarily make them "better", though it does place them on a "higher" shelf!

As to "the best", that's entirely subjective, but I'll just say I've had Bourbons I've liked better (eg Booker's).

One thing I'll add is that with Bourbons in particular, if you do a truly blinded taste test, you may well find out that your favorite isn't nearly the most expensive. I did this one time years ago with eight or nine bourbons. I can't remember all of them, but the list included Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, and a few others, and I was pretty surprised to find out that the cheap Jim Beam actually beat out a few brands that cost over twice as much!

gladstoned said:

I still do not think AK can possibly be connoisseur. I do not think Budweiser could ever be a connoisseur beer. It could be the King of Beers, most popular, and even top shelf - never connoisseur. Connoisseur would be a top-shelf micro brew. Mid-grade would be Busch, and low grade - 40oz of Malt liquor.

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Jogro said:

Only 22?

Which product is considered "top shelf" depends highly on which establishment you're talking about.

Maker's Mark is "top shelf" in some bars, but not in any private Kentucky establishment or club that caters to whiskies. There are plenty of premium Bourbons out there that cost 50-100% more than Maker's Mark. Again, that doesn't necessarily make them "better", though it does place them on a "higher" shelf!

As to "the best", that's entirely subjective, but I'll just say I've had Bourbons I've liked better (eg Booker's).

One thing I'll add is that with Bourbons in particular, if you do a truly blinded taste test, you may well find out that your favorite isn't nearly the most expensive. I did this one time years ago with eight or nine bourbons. I can't remember all of them, but the list included Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, and a few others, and I was pretty surprised to find out that the cheap Jim Beam actually beat out a few brands that cost over twice as much!

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OK if someone covers Scotch, this thread will be jammin some motherfucking George Thorogood!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISmgOrhELXs

bAyArEaSpLiFfBlOwEr said:

i didnt really need u to tell me all that, as i know what connossiuer is...my question was what in detail it meant to everybody else, and the difference between that and top shelf when clearly some strains dont belong in a class of connossier, because when i said theyre selling ak, i dont consider that connossisuer...but thanks for trying to sound stuck up about it lol

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It's "connoisseur", though your ability to spell the word three different ways within one paragraph is fairly impressive in its own right.

If knowing what the term actually means makes me sound "stuck up", then so be it. If you knew what it meant, why did you ask the question?

To answer your other questions, I'll simply state my opinions:

A connoisseur is a person, not a bud.

What constitutes "connoisseur quality" bud depends entirely on who is making that claim. Instead of asking this BOARD what the difference is between some bud your dispensary calls "top shelf" and some bud it calls "connoisseur", why don't you ask THEM what they mean by the term? Then you can ask them why they've included strains YOU think shouldn't make the cut!

A cannabis connoisseur is going to be interested in appearance ("bag appeal"), quality of cure/texture, smell/flavor, potency, and quality of high. Note that these five things are entirely independent. Also note that they engage all the senses (well, except hearing).

I'd add that a proper cure is pretty much assumed, and while "connoisseur" quality weed certainly doesn't have to be the most potent stuff out there, it can't be "weak". Skill of the grower is going to be reflected in these qualities.

As to which exact strains make the cut, that's entirely subjective, and its going to depend on the "connoisseur" in question and what criteria they are looking for. You can expect some difference of opinion here, just as you would between wine experts, movie critics, etc. But any strain can FAIL to make the cut, due to early/late harvest, bud or mold, bad cure, etc.

I don't think a strain necessarily has to be "exotic" to be something a connoisseur would be interested in. In my estimation, being rare is neither necessary nor sufficient for that.

Lastly, Jack Herer most definitely is a "connoisseur capable" strain. As to whether or not any given bud of that strain makes the cut. . .see above.

gladstoned said:

I still do not think AK can possibly be connoisseur.

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Why not?

For what its worth, AK47 is a multiple time High Times Cannabis cup award winning strain, and for quite a few years that strain was pretty much "state of the art" for potent indoor growing.

Whether or not its FLAVOR ranks among the best is subjective, though I think most smokers (including "connoiseurs") would agree it doesn't.

But that said, I can definitely see why a "connoisseur" would choose that strain to grow or even to smoke. Not everyone has the luxury of walking into what amounts to a marijuana superstore and picking at luxury from 30 different types of bud at their leisure!

I do not think Budweiser could ever be a connoisseur beer.

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Again, people can be connoisseurs; beers can not.

A beer connoisseur would probably tell you that Budweiser is a classic example of the American light lager style. When judged in that light, its actually probably one of the best examples of the style. Even if an American beer "snob" (/connoisseur) wouldn't choose it over a thousand other brands doesn't make it bad on its own merits.

In China, which is actually the biggest beer market on the planet right now, Budweiser actually is considered a premium beer.

http://blog.btrax.com/en/2010/07/24/an-average-us-brand-in-the-china-market-the-budweiser-story/

Just the fact that its an American brand makes it seem "exotic" in China!