Top 25 cigars from Cigar Aficionado

[monkey66]

IMHO this list means nothing (beyond curiosity) to the vast majority of aficionados.

...it is just a list, not the list.

[Simon-JG-hr]

The blind tasting is supposed to prevent undue prejudice between brands in the tasting (nothing to do with Cuban vs Non-Cuban). I believe this to be the case. However, it's notable, from the year I subscribed that the scores from the Top 25 of the Year (non-blind) rarely bore much relation to the scores from the blind tastings... Which would suggest there is something to it.

[Maxsi]

I'm sorry but blind tasting has to be myth.
Surely these guys know the diff between most Cubans and NC's without the little label around its neck.

Its all about 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' advertising and appeasing the consumer.
That's what sells !!!!!

[searsa1]

Lol by value, do they mean advertising revenue to the publication?

Is it a US magazine? Assuming it is how are they reviewing Cuban produce? Or is it run by a senator who brings back "items of cultural relevance" from their "diplomatic" trips.

There is a category of people who fall under a general license for travel to and from Cuba. Journalists fall into this. Assuming they are doing work for CA individuals would be free to visit. That does not mean they can bring cigars (or much else for that matter) back to the US. In practice they are free to sample and write about all the Cuban cigars they want as long as said cigars to not enter the borders of the USA. The days of bring back boxes of cigars after going on a "legal" trip went away with the last Bush administration. Most of the hard core cigar people I know take the CA list with a grain of salt because the list seems to sway with some of the folks that advertise with them heavily. The RyJ at #25 this year is an abomination. Altadis was pushing the Romeo line hard this year in the States.

[butternutsquashpie]

Lol by value, do they mean advertising revenue to the publication?
Or is it run by a senator who brings back "items of cultural relevance" from their "diplomatic" trips.

naaaaah, a mate of mine saw them down at el laguito or partagas or rio a while back. apparently americans can get special visas to visit cuba.

why you have to be in America to understand this I think we know who there market is,the question is how can the number one from last year drop out of the op 25 of this year

aaaaaah, i misunderstood your question. i suppose anyone from god's green earth can know this can understand it then.......

well then, call me a martian

[peanutpete]

everyone always asks this. and you'd have to be in america to truly understand the sentiments.
whilst true that almost every good cigar they've smoked (private words from the Big Smoke in NY a couple back) are Cuban, they have to represent. they simply can't put everything down as cuban because they are, after all, an American company!!

if year after year of top 25s are appexed with cuban cigars, how do you expect the american public to keep swallowing the showboating of the forbidden fruit? in other words, they're gonna have mostly NCs on that list. and the public will like it.. because the public is mainly american in their eyes. so they must represent.

why you have to be in America to understand this I think we know who there market is,the question is how can the number one from last year drop out of the op 25 of this year

[ValeTudoGuy]

Lol by value, do they mean advertising revenue to the publication?

Is it a US magazine? Assuming it is how are they reviewing Cuban produce? Or is it run by a senator who brings back "items of cultural relevance" from their "diplomatic" trips.

[butternutsquashpie]

If I recall correctly (I will double check my sources when I've finished cooking), they usually review blind. However... They don't choose their top 25 in the same manner... Ostensibly so that they can take into account 'value' and other crucial information which cannot be garnered from a blind tasting... I'll let you read into that what you will.

blind tasting does have it's ups and downs Simon..
but the issue with that is it's pretty damn obvious when you smoke a cuban vs a non cuban. actually, even before you smoke it too. Montecristo petit no.2 or montecristo no.2 would have very distinct cold draws, shapes, and colour. i mean, when was the last time you saw a popular, round, NON cuban torpedo?
and when was the last time you saw one of those rectangular, olivia V melanio shaped CUBAN cigars?

come to think of it.. why is that?

[butternutsquashpie]

everyone always asks this. and you'd have to be in america to truly understand the sentiments.
whilst true that almost every good cigar they've smoked (private words from the Big Smoke in NY a couple back) are Cuban, they have to represent. they simply can't put everything down as cuban because they are, after all, an American company!!

if year after year of top 25s are appexed with cuban cigars, how do you expect the american public to keep swallowing the showboating of the forbidden fruit? in other words, they're gonna have mostly NCs on that list. and the public will like it.. because the public is mainly american in their eyes. so they must represent.

[Simon-JG-hr]

If I recall correctly (I will double check my sources when I've finished cooking), they usually review blind. However... They don't choose their top 25 in the same manner... Ostensibly so that they can take into account 'value' and other crucial information which cannot be garnered from a blind tasting... I'll let you read into that what you will.

[ValeTudoGuy]

Probably hit the nail On the head there, how is it voted for with that particular magazine?

[peanutpete]

C.A have posted there top 25 cigars of 2013 monte no.2 comes in at no.1 but only one other Cuban in the top 10 and I think only three in the top 25 but have not had to close a look the other point of interest is that the no1 from last year does not feature as far as I can tell a remarkable fall from grace (or maybe less advertising money this year?) or am I being cynical