Cigar Aficionado..top 10 of 2010... [Archive]

TheRiddick

01-03-2011, 02:54 PM

there big advertisers, Cant wait to see the RP 15 aniv as #1. LOL

Yeah, especially Epernay. Between the rest, how do you propose they place them if, according to you, they all spend big? Through lottery system for the big spenders? This horse has been beaten to death by now and has no basis in reality, I am speaking from personal experience. Please share your own personal experience with Shanken Empire mythical "ad dollars".

From where I stand the list above doesn't have a dud in the bunch. Air Bender is the only LfD I'd spend my money on and has decent complexity, the rest are all one note wonders to me. Epernay should place higher, but that's my palate preference. The rest seem OK.

:sh

Ogre

01-03-2011, 03:02 PM

The cigars they have listed are good, but. I could see the placement by how much is scheduled to be spent in 2011. LOL. Gotta love the power of the dollar.

Bill86

01-03-2011, 03:30 PM

Never had many on that list, I had an Air bender not sure which one but it sucked.

swh127

01-03-2011, 03:43 PM

I personally enjoy the Air Benders, very complex smoke. Have not tried the rest though so can't comment on them. Also, I smoke mostly full bodied smokes so my list will be very different than the average cigar smoker.

Brad

01-03-2011, 03:53 PM

Never had many on that list, I had an Air bender not sure which one but it sucked.

I'm not a fan of Air Benders either, I like the regular LFD line much better.

fricky

01-03-2011, 03:57 PM

I enjoy reading cigar reviews and top 10 ratings; however, I realize that it is all based on someone's opinion and our taste preferences vary. I use the ratings as a guide. Before buying a box of a highly-rated cigar, I will buy 1 and conduct my own evaluation. Fortunately, I live close to a number of internet dealers (Famous, CI, and Holt's to name a few) and can usually find the ones I want to try.

Drez

01-03-2011, 04:04 PM

ive been wanting to try the air bender. i keep hearing alot of great things about it. im gonna have to try and find one at the b&m

BSB

01-03-2011, 04:08 PM

I like the Upmann #2, haven't tried any of the rest. I like La Flor, would try an Airbender.

Cohiba007

01-03-2011, 04:14 PM

Think a Behike will make top 3?

Tredegar

01-03-2011, 04:51 PM

The only cigar I tried on this list was the Air Bender and I did enjoy it.

Bill86

01-03-2011, 04:54 PM

Think a Behike will make top 3?

Not the 54. I heard the 52 was good, so I guess it has a chance.

Adriftpanda

01-03-2011, 05:01 PM

Let me sum it up for all you guys.

10-6, not worthy.

TheRiddick

01-03-2011, 05:08 PM

Let me sum it up for all you guys.

10-6, not worthy.

Says the man who brought a box of Air Benders to a herf...

Adriftpanda

01-03-2011, 05:25 PM

Hahah I brought it for yours guys enjoyment!

Not a bad cigar, just not Top 10 worthy.

lyle23

01-03-2011, 05:25 PM

quantim0

01-03-2011, 06:04 PM

^ I agree

If you took 25 peoples Top 10 lists, they would all be different. Any list of top 10 anything will have controversy.

I look at their list as a "things I should try". I don't take their list as the gospel, or even with the thought that I will like the cigars they put on it. I have had most of the cigars up already minus the EP Carillo and H Upmann and I will agree that they are good cigars and worthy of being on the top 25 list somewhere.

thebiglebowski

01-03-2011, 06:35 PM

well, the upmanns are certainly good...

TheRiddick

01-03-2011, 07:12 PM

Me personally, I dont look at their top 25 and say 'oh these are the best cigars out there' but, i do look at it as a buying guide, soo to speak. If there is a stick on there that I havent had yet I will try to get 1. My personal feeling is if it makes somebody's top whatever, it may be worth giving a shot. :2

Agree on all counts. Anything that says "consumer reviews" should be treated as a guide and not much else. Funny how people get bent of shape when their favorites don't make it on someone's list. As far as I can see it, it should be a "benefit" since whatever you like in such a case will be more readily available and probably stay underpriced. Applies to cigars and anything else...

Also, what many seem to miss is that cigars, unlike say, wine/beer/alcohol, are made of solids and vary from leaf to leaf no matter how well anyone ferments and treats them. They will be extremely close in best case scenarios, but nowhere near as homogenous as wine, for example. All barrels in a particular lot are blended together before bottling making each and every bottle taste the same right after bottling (cork and storage will affect each bottle with time, as the saying goes, There are no great wines, only great bottles). Great cigars are as even in stick to stick profile, but never the same (different number and size of veins in each leaf, a tiny bit more of sun exposure and subsequent fermentation here and there, etc.). Bottom line: there will be differences from bale to bale as well as leaf to leaf.

So, a cigar one tastes from a Left Coast retailer has a great probability of tasting slightly different than the one tasted from a lot shipped to NY. There is no mystery there.

BigAsh

01-04-2011, 09:24 AM

Here's #'s 5 thru 2....
5. Camacho Corojo Churchill
4. Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 (Natural)
3. Fuente Fuente OpusX XXX Belicoso
2. Viaje Oro Reserva VOR No. 5

Viaje @ #2....I bet they don't advertise much in CA....Interesting picks

NorcalMark

01-04-2011, 09:51 AM

The La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amore, is an outstanding cigar.

Camacho Corojo at #5 is a joke.

icehog3

01-04-2011, 09:55 AM

Different strokes for different folks. Lists are subjective.

HK3-

01-04-2011, 09:58 AM

I've always wondered about these ratings or whatever you want to call them. Do they state what year cigars they are smoking for this top 25?

CigarNut

01-04-2011, 10:05 AM

These kinds of lists have little meaning for me. These cigars may be great for others but if they do not fit my flavor profile I would not enjoy them.

I know what I like, and I continue to sample other marcas/votolas in order to find new cigars that I like, but these kinds of lists have little influence on that process.

DennisP

01-04-2011, 10:06 AM

I've always wondered about these ratings or whatever you want to call them. Do they state what year cigars they are smoking for this top 25?

I know in the regular reviews Cubans have the Month/Year.

wayner123

01-04-2011, 11:04 AM

Remember as well this is only the first third of the cigar. The reviewers don't smoke the entire cigar.

justonemorestick

01-04-2011, 11:06 AM

At least I have had a few of the ones on the list. Not like most of the lists of ones I either cant get or cant afford.

Kreth

01-04-2011, 11:10 AM

Remember as well this is only the first third of the cigar. The reviewers don't smoke the entire cigar.
Seriously? How can you properly review a cigar like that? :confused:
Posted via Mobile Device

mike

01-04-2011, 11:10 AM

It was leaked to me that Cohibo robusto was #1 spot this year.

wayner123

01-04-2011, 11:14 AM

Seriously? How can you properly review a cigar like that? :confused:
Posted via Mobile Device

Yes, that is serious.

But that's how they do it. A person could make the case for a wide varieties of factors that might influence a review (what they had to drink, what they had to eat, what they pair it with, etc, etc) so I don't say what's proper and what's not. Just pointing out that this is the method they use.

TheRiddick

01-04-2011, 11:24 AM

Seriously? How can you properly review a cigar like that? :confused:
Posted via Mobile Device

Same way they evaluate wines and alcohol, they simply hold a tiny sip in their mouth, swish it around and spit it out. Now tell me they can actually evaluate a finish on wine/alc, proper astringency, etc. Better yet, or is it worse yet?, they spend a few minutes with the product instead of seeing how it evolves over some time.

Main reason lists are nothing more than lists.

akumushi

01-04-2011, 11:30 AM

Same way they evaluate wines and alcohol, they simply hold a tiny sip in their mouth, swish it around and spit it out. Now tell me they can actually evaluate a finish on wine/alc, proper astringency, etc. Better yet, or is it worse yet?, they spend a few minutes with the product instead of seeing how it evolves over some time.

Main reason lists are nothing more than lists.
:tpd:
That's why I trust recommendations from friends whom I know have similar tastes over any magazine reviews. I think it's fun to see if cigars you liked make it into the cA top 10, but that's about it: fun. I don't take much of what that magazine puts out very seriously, for the primary reasons that the reviewers only smoke a portion of the cigar and I've seen too many cigars that I think are awful get high scores. I don't believe in any of the "buying ratings" conspiracy theories, I just think it's the nature of the way they taste their cigars that it will always be an incomplete and very subjective picture.

DennisP

01-04-2011, 11:31 AM

Remember as well this is only the first third of the cigar. The reviewers don't smoke the entire cigar.

I've heard this a few times, but have they published this anywhere?

CRIMPS

01-04-2011, 11:44 AM

Everybody loves a good list...

Kreth

01-04-2011, 11:45 AM

Yes, that is serious.

But that's how they do it. A person could make the case for a wide varieties of factors that might influence a review (what they had to drink, what they had to eat, what they pair it with, etc, etc) so I don't say what's proper and what's not. Just pointing out that this is the method they use.
Seems like reviewing a movie based on the first half hour.
Same way they evaluate wines and alcohol, they simply hold a tiny sip in their mouth, swish it around and spit it out. Now tell me they can actually evaluate a finish on wine/alc, proper astringency, etc. Better yet, or is it worse yet?, they spend a few minutes with the product instead of seeing how it evolves over some time.

Main reason lists are nothing more than lists.
True, but as you pointed out in an earlier post, wines are much more homogenous (sp?). I agree, either these lists are based on stats (ie. #1 in sales for handmade cigars) or they're wholly subjective. Either way, not worth much more than a list of smokes to try. Personally, I put more stock in recommendations from the BoTLs here who share my tastes in types of cigars.
Posted via Mobile Device

wayner123

01-04-2011, 11:48 AM

I've heard this a few times, but have they published this anywhere?

It was "published" by Gordon Mott (one of the reviewers) on cigarfamily. Here is the link:

http://lounge.cigarfamily.com/showthread.php?t=205414#post3000538

I can't say for certain that someone didn't make up an account and post that info, but suffice to say it would be a pretty big scam if they did.

Here is the quote from Mott:

1) I have said openly that we smoke between half an inch to an inch of each cigar. I've had manufacturers rake me over the coals for that fact, and for the fact that we don't "smoke a whole box" to get the true nature of their product. I remind them that they are a consumer product manufacturer. If you say to me that you have to smoke half of a cigar to "get to the good part," I have a problem with that. If you light up a cigar, and it tastes like ****, not only for the first five minutes but for a good 30 minutes before you get half way down, the majority of people will simply put it out, and never come back. And if they smoke a whole box, and don't like half of the cigars in it, they won't be buying that brand again. We didn't just arbitrarily chose the half-inch to an inch limit, although Andy is right; there is a simple logistical imperative that comes into play. But after many hours of talking with cigar people, and I hope mastering some of the intricacies of what makes a handrolled cigar function, nearly everyone talks about a point where a cigar gets "running." It's usually after that first-half inch. By then, you will in 99 percent of the cases, know the true nature of the cigar; you certainly will a perfect idea of draw and burn, most flavor components, and whether or not you like it.

So I was being liberal in saying that they smoke the first 1/3. The first half or inch of a cigar is not much imo.

staminator

01-04-2011, 11:53 AM

I'm not a fan of Air Benders either, I like the regular LFD line much better.

I like the Air Bender more than the rest of the LFD line. To each his own!

JJG

01-04-2011, 11:58 AM

Camacho Corojo at #5 is a joke.

gotta agree with you there. I mean, you may not like every cigar on the list, but that one sticks out like a sore thumb among the other 3 cigars listed.

DennisP

01-04-2011, 12:04 PM

It was "published" by Gordon Mott (one of the reviewers) on cigarfamily. Here is the link:

http://lounge.cigarfamily.com/showthread.php?t=205414#post3000538

I can't say for certain that someone didn't make up an account and post that info, but suffice to say it would be a pretty big scam if they did.

Here is the quote from Mott:

So I was being liberal in saying that they smoke the first 1/3. The first half or inch of a cigar is not much imo.
Thanks for the link. Some interesting reading there.

TheRiddick

01-04-2011, 12:32 PM

Seems like reviewing a movie based on the first half hour.

True, but as you pointed out in an earlier post, wines are much more homogenous (sp?). I agree, either these lists are based on stats (ie. #1 in sales for handmade cigars) or they're wholly subjective. Either way, not worth much more than a list of smokes to try. Personally, I put more stock in recommendations from the BoTLs here who share my tastes in types of cigars.
Posted via Mobile Device

Well, all I can tell you is that they do play "favorites", as all of us do in real life. Some people make plonk, expensive plonk at that, and still get great reviews only because they are "media darlings" and it is considered uncouth to give them low scores. If you are a relative unknown there is absolutely no way in hell you will get a high score unless a reviewer decides to make you his "darling", as in "I discovered this winery FIRST!!!", this crazy "competition" has been going on between Spectator and Advocate for some years now and is both stupid and hilrious at the same time (one goves high 90s scores and the other comes out and scores same wine in high 80s)...

And in case of cigars, a number of them cannot be tasted "blind" since their shape and distinct wrapper color give them away, so "favorites" does come into play (and visa versa).

I am also aware of some wineries submitting "special" bottles for reviews, in other words not the regular release bottles, but specifically filled from the barrel by hand, a CHOSEN barrel (read best in the bunch). Given that, I would not put it past cigar manufacturers to do the same, "special" blend to be submitted to reviewers. After all, how can one tell if size and band are the same as what's sitting on the shelf? So, don't blame the messenger...

I read plenty of wine reviews, for sure, to see what the competition is up to, but also taste a good number of wines (barrels and bottles to see how a barrel eventually evolves into final product) to know that scores I see in magazines do not reflect my own take on same wines. At one of my tastings one of the better known names in wine reviews and wine blogs could not keep track of the 4 glasses in front of him, he made quiet an impression on the rest of us (~50 serious wine geeks and wine makers), that day pretty much "sealed" my faith in reviews... So, "professional" means he or she is only human, as rest of us are...

DennisP

01-04-2011, 12:46 PM

I am also aware of some wineries submitting "special" bottles for reviews, in other words not the regular release bottles, but specifically filled from the barrel by hand, a CHOSEN barrel (read best in the bunch). Given that, I would not put it past cigar manufacturers to do the same, "special" blend to be submitted to reviewers. After all, how can one tell if size and band are the same as what's sitting on the shelf? So, don't blame the messenger...

I don't disagree with most of what you said, but if you read the link wayner provided about how CA does their tastings they buy the cigars from local B&Ms, not from the manufacturer.

MiamiE

01-04-2011, 01:01 PM

#1 is going to be the Cohiba Behike 52!

DennisP

01-04-2011, 01:05 PM

#1 is going to be the Cohiba Behike 52!

Agreed.

guitar4001

01-04-2011, 01:12 PM

i always find it interesting to see a cheap cigar in the top 25. every year they have 1 or 2 sub-$7 sticks.

TheRiddick

01-04-2011, 02:04 PM

I don't disagree with most of what you said, but if you read the link wayner provided about how CA does their tastings they buy the cigars from local B&Ms, not from the manufacturer.

Sure, same thing Spectator claims :D

Yet, I am not aware of ANY wine they actually buy save in some extreme cases (and to be honest can't think of one right now). I am also not aware of ANY wine not submitted and getting a review, basically if someone doesn't want to be reviewed they simply don't provide wine, Spectator does not go out and buy that wine (same for Advocate, BTW, no matter what Parker claims, personal experience as well). Spectator sends their tasting schedule out at the end of the year for next year's dates, to ensure wineries send the wines in on time.

I am 99.9% sure this is how Aficionado operates as well, the model has been established by Spectator for them.

newlifetaxidermy

01-04-2011, 06:54 PM

I have smoked a majority of the top 10 (except HU#2, & Camacho) and from my perspective, they have some great sticks on the list. Personally, I would rather see a TOP 25 list with no rankings...just a list of the 25 best of the year. If I had to pick a cigar of the year, I'd go with the Tatuaje 7th Reserva.

Perfecto Lounge

01-04-2011, 08:53 PM

La Aroma de Cuba...bringing back a legendary cigar that was one of the favorites of non other than Winston Churchill. NICE!

I've smoked the Mi Amor as well as the Robusto and personally prefer the Robusto. Very nice medium bodied smoke with flavors of nutmeg and drawn butter...great smoke.

weak_link

01-04-2011, 09:04 PM

I actually enjoy many of the cigars on the list, including the Camacho Corojo which is kinda funny because I'm not really into full bodied smokes.

RevSmoke

01-04-2011, 09:08 PM

Never had many on that list, I had an Air bender not sure which one but it sucked.

I personally enjoy the Air Benders, very complex smoke. Have not tried the rest though so can't comment on them. Also, I smoke mostly full bodied smokes so my list will be very different than the average cigar smoker.

I'm not a fan of Air Benders either, I like the regular LFD line much better.

Funny how palates and therefore opinions, differ. I like the Air Benders and think their regular line is sub-standard. I don't know if it is the 10th best of the year, but it is one of those I'd choose near the top

Peace of the Lrod be with you.

jsd

01-04-2011, 11:00 PM

The Padron 45th is fantastic. Upmann's are great. The Le Matin is very good but not sure it makes my top 10. Same with the Opus.

Are they saying that the 45th got worse or others got better? They should have just left the 45th out of the running.

I actually heard #1 was a toss up between Hammer & Sickle and Warlock.

Adriftpanda

01-05-2011, 02:13 AM

If the number #1 cigar is Hammer and Sickle... I don't know, but that might be the worst cigar I've had, no joke.

Dunkel

01-05-2011, 02:16 AM

I actually heard #1 was a toss up between Hammer & Sickle and Warlock.

While I have not had a Hammer & Sickle, I have had a Warlock. It was decent but not worthy of a top 25 even. Surely you jest.

Shemp Howard

01-05-2011, 03:45 AM

Swisher Sweets and Backwoods might make it.

HK3-

01-05-2011, 06:57 AM

Swisher Sweets and Backwoods might make it.

:hy

Ogre

01-05-2011, 07:45 AM

If the number #1 cigar is Hammer and Sickle... I don't know, but that might be the worst cigar I've had, no joke.

Big ad spender, does not surprise me!!

lyle23

01-05-2011, 08:40 AM

rizzle

01-05-2011, 08:41 AM

Remember as well this is only the first third of the cigar. The reviewers don't smoke the entire cigar.

Seriously? Where did you find this info Wayne?

wayner123

01-05-2011, 08:43 AM

Seriously? Where did you find this info Wayne?

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1118783&postcount=42

rizzle

01-05-2011, 08:47 AM

Seriously? Where did you find this info Wayne?

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1118783&postcount=42

Yeah, my bad. Should have kept reading. Thanks for the info, I had no idea that's how they did it. And you know, I can have a good feeling if I'm going to like a cigar a half inch into it, but I couldn't tell you how many cigars I'll never buy again because of the way they tasted over the second half of the cigar after starting out pretty damn good.

Whatever, I'm not knocking them nor relying on them for the info. It is what it is. :tu

CasaDooley

01-05-2011, 09:15 AM

The 25 Best Cigars of the Year 2010
Cohiba Behike BHK 52
1 In 2010, which will likely go down as the year of the Cuban cigar, we smoked many fine Havana-made smokes, from majestic double coronas to bracing robustos, and found the quality of Cuban cigars to be at its best since the mid-1990s. And no cigar from Cuba—or from anywhere else for that matter—impressed our tasting panel as much as the Cohiba Behike BHK 52. This is a classic cigar. The shortish, fat smoke, made with an artful pigtail and clad in gorgeous Colorado wrapper of reddish brown, is a phenomenally rich, delicious smoke that more than lives up to the reputation of cigars with the name Cohiba. It is the finest cigar to come out of Cuba in a long time, and Cigar Aficionado’s top cigar of 2010.

A new cigar that was unveiled in February 2010 at the Habanos Festival in Cuba, the Behike BHK 52 has made its way to markets around the world since its launch in London in May. It is the thinnest in a trio of new sizes, all of which have tidy little pigtail caps and names that include their ring gauges. The Behike BHK 52 is a petit robusto, a size known as a Laguito No. 4 in Cuban cigar factories, and it wowed our tasting panel from the get-go. In a vertical brand tasting in the June 8 Cigar Insider the BHK 52 scored 94 points, the best of a trio that includes the BHK 54 and the very fat BHK 56. The 52 has remained delicious ever since, performing admirably in taste test after taste test as Behikes have sold out in world markets.

Cohiba has long been a marquee name in Cuban cigars. This new smoke has done what no special release Cohiba has done before: win critical acclaim as well as commercial success. The original Cohiba Behike from 2006 was unavailable to nearly all smokers—only 4,000 cigars were released at a price of $400 or more per cigar. The Cohiba Siglo VI Grand Reserva debuted in 2009 at a price of about £85 ($130), with only 75,000 cigars produced. The Behike BHK 52 combines the excitement of those rare Cohibas with a much larger production goal—150,000 in 2011. The Cuban cigar industry will continue to make batches of it every year in the stately El Laguito factory.

Cohiba Behike BHK cigars are made with a portion of filler tobacco known as medio tiempo, a type of sun-grown tobacco leaf that grows at the top of some, but not all tobacco plants. The cigars show great balance even in youth, with a medium to full body, creamy coffee flavors and some earthiness. They show elements of Cuban cigars of old, and should get even better with age—if you can be patient.

CigarNut

01-05-2011, 10:14 AM

I heard that the Behike 52 was a good stick by some but many others have panned it. I wonder how such a stick can become #1...

icehog3

01-05-2011, 11:31 AM

I heard that the Behike 52 was a good stick by some but many others have panned it. I wonder how such a stick can become #1...

The same way that some of the other crap in the Top 25 gets there, Michael....taste is subjective. :)

(I am not saying the Behike 52 is crap, I haven't had one...I am just saying that I am sure every other cigar on the list is praised by some and panned by others).

staminator

01-05-2011, 11:42 AM

I have smoked quite a few cigars that weren't any good untill the final third. They should rename the list to the top 25 best portions of a cigar. This is like writing a review on a cars handling and performance after driving it in a parking lot. Sounds good but its just incomplete work.

But if your car can't handle in a parking lot, then why would you buy it? Similarly, I'm not interesting in buying a cigar that has a lousy beginning.

Matt-N-Ga

01-05-2011, 11:52 AM

Is anyone really surprised ? BHK 52 at number 1. I think most figured that out about 2 minutes after hearing/reading Cigar Afficianado cream themselves over just the announcement of the release of the cigar.

the nub

01-05-2011, 11:56 AM

I smoked a Behike and it was top 3 for cigars I smoked the last two years. The others were a VR Farmie double robusto and a personal blend from Don Alejandro.

kelmac07

01-05-2011, 06:38 PM

One maduro in the top ten?? Come on man!!!

BigAsh

01-05-2011, 06:39 PM

Was waiting for you to notice Mac....

kelmac07

01-05-2011, 06:41 PM

:bs :bs :bs :bs

DennisP

01-05-2011, 06:43 PM

One maduro in the top ten?? Come on man!!!

No kidding. One too many. ;)

kelmac07

01-05-2011, 06:46 PM

No kidding. One too many. ;)

Watch your mouth!! :D

neoflex

01-05-2011, 06:48 PM

Was very surprised to see the Viaje take the number 2 spot. I heard rumors today that the Oro line was being discontinued. Anyone know if this is in fact truth?

kelmac07

01-05-2011, 06:51 PM

Was very surprised to see the Viaje take the number 2 spot. I heard rumors today that the Oro line was being discontinued. Anyone know if this is in fact truth?

I hope not...I really LOVE the Reserva. Most "slept on" stick of 2010 IMHO.

warren G.

01-05-2011, 07:03 PM

Did you guys look at the Top 25 list at your b&m? I was in a hurry, so I didn't take a good look at it.

neoflex

01-05-2011, 07:06 PM

Its up on the CA website.

warren G.

01-05-2011, 07:16 PM

awesome..good to see Viaje on that list.

Tank

01-06-2011, 12:55 AM

Ive tried all but #6, and they all were great! Also I never put any stock into CAs top 10s because they are not I. To quote another fine member here on Cigar Asylum. "Smoke what you like, and enjoy it."

I don't put stock into it either but the La Aroma Mi Amor is fabulous.

Noodles

01-06-2011, 08:38 AM

One maduro in the top ten?? Come on man!!!

Personal preference. :D

Noodles

01-06-2011, 08:42 AM

Sure, same thing Spectator claims :D

Yet, I am not aware of ANY wine they actually buy save in some extreme cases (and to be honest can't think of one right now). I am also not aware of ANY wine not submitted and getting a review, basically if someone doesn't want to be reviewed they simply don't provide wine, Spectator does not go out and buy that wine (same for Advocate, BTW, no matter what Parker claims, personal experience as well). Spectator sends their tasting schedule out at the end of the year for next year's dates, to ensure wineries send the wines in on time.

I am 99.9% sure this is how Aficionado operates as well, the model has been established by Spectator for them.

WayneR provided a link where one of the reviewers in, Mott Gordon, might be the head of the panel, took offense to all the accusations about them being influenced by big dollar advertisements. You should take a look. He explained in details how they buy the cigars themselves, smoke unbanded, and in the same environment as much as possible.

Volusianator

01-06-2011, 10:11 AM

I heard that the Behike 52 was a good stick by some but many others have panned it. I wonder how such a stick can become #1...

Did you wonder the same about Casa Magna?

scoot

01-06-2011, 10:54 AM

Its odd that Aficionado proclaimed 2010 as the "Year of the Cuban Cigar," but only three cigars from Cuba mad it onto the top 25.

Nathan King

01-06-2011, 11:36 AM

Its odd that Aficionado proclaimed 2010 as the "Year of the Cuban Cigar," but only three cigars from Cuba mad it onto the top 25.

They claimed that because the cigars that did make the list had a touch of the wonderful Cuban taste of the '90's. Apparently things are looking up for Cuba.

TheRiddick

01-06-2011, 12:02 PM

WayneR provided a link where one of the reviewers in, Mott Gordon, might be the head of the panel, took offense to all the accusations about them being influenced by big dollar advertisements. You should take a look. He explained in details how they buy the cigars themselves, smoke unbanded, and in the same environment as much as possible.

They MAY be buying some cigars since price wise it may allow them the luxury to do so IF THEY BUY SINGLES. Wine wise, there is no way in hell they can purchase 2 bottles of each (their minimum requirement) and stay in business. No one can. Parker and his similar claims included...

I can check, but I am sure that cigar manufacturers send them boxes of cigars instead of singles for easier and safer shipping (damage wise). Look at their back pages' "old stock" reviews. Do you really think they buy singles? It would create a nightmare for them just to store singles and keep track of and if they store boxes (as I bet they do to keep the whole thing sane, alpha system of storage, easier handling with no damage to cigars when they re-stock/buy new cigars, etc.), then same as with wine they cannot afford to buy cigars they test.

No, I do not produce cigars and no, I have no proof of their cigar review process, but based on my PERSONAL experience with their wine side (which cigars' side is based upon), I can assure you that their claims are questionable, at best, no matter what they say in public.

For example, their claim of "unbanded" cigars. As I already pointed out somewhere above, there is a good number of cigars that don't need a band to be easily recognized (Padron anyone?, some perfectos, there are other shapes and wrappers that easily give out the cigar), so their claims are half valid to begin with even for unbanded cigars. Cigars are not like wine, when they pour some in glass and place it in front of you, and you only see the color of wine and that's it (and vintage as well, which is usually given up front). For someone looking at cigars daily as a job, band is not much needed to recognize a stick in many cases.

I've observed their main wine guy in a blind tasting. Not impressed at all and his TRUE blind scores (since I controlled the tasting set up and made really blind with each and every wine decanted into same shape/size bottle prior) were pretty much opposite to what was printed in the magazine for same wines and producers. He later admitted to that in his wine blog, kudos to him for coming clean, that took guts.

Noodles

01-06-2011, 01:58 PM

[about comparing wine and cigars blind tasting]

You seem to know a lot about wine tasting process and very convinced about it's similarity with cigar tasting process. I have no experience with both (blind tasting) so I won't debate you about it. However, I have no reason to disprove of what Mott Gordon said either besides the "they give high marks to advertisers" theory.

bigswol2

01-06-2011, 02:12 PM

I think they got it right this time.... well at least close.

BryanB

01-06-2011, 02:14 PM

Never going to please everyone. I agree with some but not others. I was pleased to see Viaje finally getting some attention. I don't think any Camacho belongs in the top 50. :2

scoot

01-06-2011, 02:52 PM

I don't think any Camacho belongs in the top 50. :2

I really don't get all the Camacho hate. Its fine if they're not to your tastes, but they're certainly very high quality cigars. I get that Honduran tobacco isn't everyone's favorite, but to those that enjoy it the Camacho Corojo is a great cigar(imo).

BryanB

01-06-2011, 03:00 PM

I really don't get all the Camacho hate. Its fine if they're not to your tastes, but they're certainly very high quality cigars. I get that Honduran tobacco isn't everyone's favorite, but to those that enjoy it the Camacho Corojo is a great cigar(imo).

I use to love Camachos. Not sure what happen. It's probably my taste buds but they taste flat now. Maybe I should revisit the corojo.

RyanCuad

01-06-2011, 03:30 PM

their top 10 isn't bad, but their 11-25 is horrendous

icehog3

01-06-2011, 07:25 PM

50 different people would have 50 different lists.

Smoke what you like, like what you smoke....who gives a rat's ass about CA's list anyway? :r

wayner123

01-07-2011, 07:16 AM

50 different people would have 50 different lists.

Smoke what you like, like what you smoke....who gives a rat's ass about CA's list anyway? :r

Is that said tongue in cheek? I'm not sure with the ROFL smilie and all.

The majority of people who would smoke a cigar would care about the CA list. Vendors, B&M's and the manufacturer's themselves care greatly about it.

Noodles

01-07-2011, 08:10 AM

Is that said tongue in cheek? I'm not sure with the ROFL smilie and all.

The majority of people who would smoke a cigar would care about the CA list. Vendors, B&M's and the manufacturer's themselves care greatly about it.

Not sure who the majority is. But at least in my circle of cigar friends, very rarely someone is influenced by what is on the CA list. They are set on what they like to smoke. They might try another cigar once in a while, but most of the time, they will smoke their regular cigar.

The cigar shop I hang out will see a few new comers asking for the cigars from the CA list. Being a small shop, the owner will rarely deviate from his best seller and go out stock boxes of what's in the CA Top 25 list.

Parshooter

01-07-2011, 08:13 AM

The majority of people who would smoke a cigar would care about the CA list. Vendors, B&M's and the manufacturer's themselves care greatly about it.

I used to, when I first started smoking and was trying everything. Now I see it and laugh most of the time.

icehog3

01-07-2011, 09:13 AM

Is that said tongue in cheek? I'm not sure with the ROFL smilie and all.

The majority of people who would smoke a cigar would care about the CA list. Vendors, B&M's and the manufacturer's themselves care greatly about it.

I can understand why vendors, B&Ms and the manufacturer's themselves would care greatly about it, Wayne.

Cigar smokers? Not so much.

wayner123

01-07-2011, 09:13 AM

Not sure who the majority is. But at least in my circle of cigar friends, very rarely someone is influenced by what is on the CA list. They are set on what they like to smoke. They might try another cigar once in a while, but most of the time, they will smoke their regular cigar.

The cigar shop I hang out will see a few new comers asking for the cigars from the CA list. Being a small shop, the owner will rarely deviate from his best seller and go out stock boxes of what's in the CA Top 25 list.

While I agree that some and most who participate on forums will care less, we are in the minority as far as the overall cigar market is concerned. Furthermore, most B&M's that I have been to will display ratings from cigar mag or CA on the box itself.

captain53

01-07-2011, 09:24 AM

Read it for what it is worth - just the opinion of some people you don't know and nothing more. :sh

I read the list mostly to see if there are any that agree with me and later when looking for something new to try I might purchase 1 or 2 off the list just to compare.

I agree with Icehog's posts - not sure why people make such a big deal because it does not agree with their favorites. Jeez you don't even have to buy the magazine to get the list. :2

TheRiddick

01-07-2011, 11:02 AM

While I agree that some and most who participate on forums will care less, we are in the minority as far as the overall cigar market is concerned. Furthermore, most B&M's that I have been to will display ratings from cigar mag or CA on the box itself.

MOST of cigar market, as you correctly pointed out, smokes the big corporate sticks: HdM, R&J, Punch, etc. Strange that you get that point, but miss the boat entirely. Most cigar smokers really don't care about Illusione, Liga and some such, given the quantities produced most of the market doesn't even see them. As you pointed out. High score or not...