Robbed at the Cup? The Blueberry Muffin That Deserved More

There’s judging a cannabis cup…
…and then there’s surviving one.

Back in the fall rolling into early this year, I had the honor (and at times, the emotional endurance test) of serving as a judge at the Empire State Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam, New York, hosted by Robert Tambasco. Roughly 30 of us took on the responsibility of evaluating the best flower growers had to offer across New York State.

I judged both indoor and outdoor categories.

Let me tell you right now—those were two very different experiences.

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Indoor vs. Outdoor: A Tale of Two Realities

The indoor competition?
Smooth. Enjoyable. Competitive in the way you want it to be. Quality across the board. Judges smiling, nodding, probably texting their friends like, “Yeah, I’m working real hard right now 😎.”

The outdoor competition?
Let’s just say… it built character.

Out of 37 outdoor entries, a solid 75% were, and I’m choosing my words carefully here… rough. We’re talking leafy, under-trimmed, harsh-smoking, “did this plant offend you personally?” type flower. Some entries felt like first grows—and honestly, they probably were.

And look, this isn’t me being disrespectful. Everybody starts somewhere. But when you’re judging a cannabis cup, you expect a certain level of polish. Instead, a lot of us judges were out here fighting for our lungs like it was a championship bout.

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The Bright Spots (Yes, There Were Some)

Now before you think it was all doom and despair—there were standouts.

The clear and rightful winner?
Banana Melt by Curtis Kling. No debate. No controversy. That strain earned its crown, and I had it locked in at #1 on my personal scorecard too. Respect where it’s due.

Other memorable entries included:
    •    GG1
    •    Permanent Marker
    •    Purple Ghost Candy

All solid. All respectable. All shining brighter when surrounded by… well… the rest of the lineup.

But one strain stood out to me in a way that stuck long after the judging ended.

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The One That Got Away: Blueberry Muffin

Let’s talk about Blueberry Muffin from 4 Acres Farms, grown by Joshua.

This strain wasn’t just good—it was memorable. And in a category where a lot of entries were forgettable for the wrong reasons, that matters.

On my personal scorecard?

👉 #2.

Not #10.
Not “somewhere in the middle.”
Number. Two.

So What Happened?

Official results came in…

Blueberry Muffin placed #11.

Yeah. Eleven.

And that didn’t sit right with me then—and it definitely doesn’t sit right with me now.

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Let’s Break It Down (Because I Actually Took Notes)

This wasn’t a sympathy pick. I didn’t just throw it a high score because it didn’t hurt me to smoke it.

I ran every strain through the same process. No shortcuts. No “eh, close enough.” If it crossed my table, it got evaluated properly.

And Blueberry Muffin delivered:
    •    Aroma: Sweet, fruity, unmistakable blueberry notes
    •    Flavor: Smooth, flavorful, dessert-like inhale that actually translated from the nose
    •    Appearance: Frosty, trichome-rich, visually appealing
    •    Effects: Immediate. Potent. Two hits in and it was, “Woohoo—yeah, I’m home.”

We’re talking:
    •    Uplifting
    •    Mood-boosting
    •    Relaxing
    •    Pain-relieving

This wasn’t mid-tier. This wasn’t average.

This was top-three caliber flower.

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My Theory (And Yeah, I’m Saying It Out Loud)

Here’s what I believe happened:

There were so many rough entries in the outdoor category that some judges—whether they realize it or not—started rushing. Skimming. Mentally checking out just to get through the pile.

And in doing that?

They overlooked a gem.

Because when you go from smoking something that feels like it was trimmed with a lawnmower… to something actually dialed in… your perception can get warped if you’re not staying sharp.

I stayed sharp.

And that’s why I stand on this:

👉 4 Acres Farms deserved second place.
👉 Blueberry Muffin should have placed.

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To Be Clear…

Placing #11 out of 37 is not a failure. That’s above average. That’s respectable.

But this isn’t about “respectable.”

This is about what was deserved.

And in my professional opinion as a judge who actually gave every entry a fair run—

This strain got overlooked.

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So I Took It a Step Further

I didn’t just sit on this take.

I made a full video review of the Blueberry Muffin from 4 Acres Farms—breaking it down, showing the flower, and backing up everything I’m saying right here with real evidence.

Because talk is cheap.

Proof isn’t.

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Now I’m Putting It On You

I want you to decide.

👇 Watch the video below.
👇 Look at the photos.
👇 Hear the breakdown.

Then head to YouTube and leave a comment:
    •    Do you agree with me that Blueberry Muffin should’ve taken second place?
OR
    •    Do you side with the official results placing it at #11?

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Final Hit

Cups come and go. Winners get trophies.

But sometimes?

The real story is about the one that should’ve been standing next to them.

And this time…

That story smells a whole lot like blueberries.