Cigar aficionado cigar of the year

[Wertman]

Wow the BBF cigar number 4.  Does anyone really think that it was the best cigar out of Cuba this year?  I thought they were good but not the best.  Also how about others on the list has anyone tried them?  

[PaulP]

Their criteria is that they are selecting the best cigars that they reviewed this year, not the best cigars out there.  

[SmokeySteve]

Wonder if the full page ads in the magazine have anything to do with the top 10?? 

[stinkhead]

1 hour ago, Wertman said:

Wow the BBF cigar number 4.  Does anyone really think that it was the best cigar out of Cuba this year?  I thought they were good but not the best.  Also how about others on the list has anyone tried them?  

They also typically only smoke about an inch of the cigar for reviews. So scores are based almost solely around how a cigar starts and not the entire experience beginning to end.

[SCgarman]

I personally don't place any credence in their ratings. Taste in cigars is a subjective thing, and I know what I like and stick with them. Besides, these editors of CA magazine are just a bunch of uppity NYC snobs. Screw 'em. I enjoy cigars with humble common folk.

[clutch5150]

2 minutes ago, stinkhead said:

They also typically only smoke about an inch of the cigar for reviews. So scores are based almost solely around how a cigar starts and not the entire experience beginning to end.

Really? Not being sarcastic, but I did not know that. How can anyone judge a smoke like this?

 

[SCgarman]

4 minutes ago, clutch5150 said:

Really? Not being sarcastic, but I did not know that. How can anyone judge a smoke like this?

 

You really can't. Many cigars are a transition, and you need more than one inch to experience it!

[Bsonwine]

“...and you need more than one inch to experience it!”

so true  ?

 

[agentdaffy007]

11 minutes ago, Bsonwine said:

“...and you need more than one inch to experience it!”

so true  ?

 

Best quote for 2017!! LoL

[Kitchen]

Well #1 has yet to be released, so we will see tomorrow if the BBF is beat out, maybe the new Behike's will.  Personally I really like the Bolivars though but if Behike's became available here I would have to buy a box. 

I've had 2 through 7 in the past year.  Although I prefer the 1964 most of the time, the Padron 1926 is really nice.  Ashton Symmetry is great too, and very unique; it's really great with Kirk & Sweeney Rum.  The Oliva Serie V is not my cup of tea, but I see the reason it is on the list. 

I've always though Alec Bradley's taste like dirt; I've tried two Tempuses and could not make it an inch.  The Judge I tried once and it was a big disappointment, especially since the Le Bijou 1922 was pretty good. 

[oliverdst]

I've been thinking about this for some time and now I did it 

 

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/topic/133317-the-looping-thread/

 

[Danimalia]

I believe the way they compile the top 25 is they take every cigar that scored 92 or higher during the year, and then re-sample them.So it's certainly possible for a cigar to score highly earlier in the year, but not impress as much when they're narrowing them down into their top 25. Last year, Punch DC scored a 95 during the "regular season" but didn't advance in the playoffs. As for the BBF being the top Cuban cigar, in previous years, they have noted their top Cuban cigar in its copy. They did not say the BBF was the top Cuban this year, so it may well be that the #1 cigar will also be Cuban. And while I wouldn't rule out there being some kind of politics in their ratings in terms of advertisers, Cuban cigars have won COTY several times. Off the top of my head, 2006 (Bolivar Royal Corona), 2010 (BHK) and 2013 (Monte2).

I hadn't had much experience with cigars 10-5, but I have a very difficult time arguing with 4-2. BBF, Oliva V and Padron 1926 are absolutely some of the best cigars n the world and I can absolutely see them at the top of any list. It is sad that both Gilberto Oliva and Jose Padron have passed this year, but nice to see some of their best getting their usual accolades.

[JohnS]

Going by previous years' lists, expect maybe 3 or 4 Cuban cigars in the list of 25 when it's revealed on the 22nd.

Honestly, I now take a lot more notice of Rob's annual Top 10 lists, as I'm sure many of us here on FoH do.

[Danimalia]

You can also sort of guess their ratings too, as there are certain cigars they gravitate towards with their ratings. Cuban cigars tend to be rated highly. Dark, full-strength, box-pressed cigars also tend to get rated highly. Speaking of which, there's no CT Broadleaf or San Andres wrapped, maduro or oscuro, box-pressed hellion in the top 10 yet.... One cigar left.

My guess is that it will be the My Father La Opulencia or a Cuban. I also strongly suspect that Drew Estate Undercrown Sungrown is on that list somewhere, but as much as I dig the cigar, #1 seems high.

[Stump89]

Probably some kind of Rocky Patel/AJ Fernandez/EP Carillo jaw breaker Texas lancero with 10 types of tobacco 7x70 or 8x80.  I hope I'm wrong, but I tend to have little faith in their reviews, especially when they have a review section dedicated to 60+ rg sticks.

[Monterey]

49 minutes ago, Danimalia said:

I believe the way they compile the top 25 is they take every cigar that scored 92 or higher during the year, and then re-sample them.So it's certainly possible for a cigar to score highly earlier in the year, but not impress as much when they're narrowing them down into their top 25. Last year, Punch DC scored a 95 during the "regular season" but didn't advance in the playoffs. As for the BBF being the top Cuban cigar, in previous years, they have noted their top Cuban cigar in its copy. They did not say the BBF was the top Cuban this year, so it may well be that the #1 cigar will also be Cuban. And while I wouldn't rule out there being some kind of politics in their ratings in terms of advertisers, Cuban cigars have won COTY several times. Off the top of my head, 2006 (Bolivar Royal Corona), 2010 (BHK) and 2013 (Monte2).

I hadn't had much experience with cigars 10-5, but I have a very difficult time arguing with 4-2. BBF, Oliva V and Padron 1926 are absolutely some of the best cigars n the world and I can absolutely see them at the top of any list. It is sad that both Gilberto Oliva and Jose Padron have passed this year, but nice to see some of their best getting their usual accolades.

The punch dc's most recent rating was quite poor.  The 95 you speak of is from 2014.  Got 3 cabs of the 2014 aging

[Danimalia]

Just now, Monterey said:

The punch dc's most recent rating was quite poor.  The 95 you speak of is from 2014.  Got 3 cabs of the 2014 aging

Well, it didn't make the list in '14 either, I don't think. But one good or poor rating I take with a grain of salt with Cuban cigars, because they're based off a single box, which we all know can vary.

 

19 minutes ago, Stump89 said:

Probably some kind of Rocky Patel/AJ Fernandez/EP Carillo jaw breaker Texas lancero with 10 types of tobacco 7x70 or 8x80.  I hope I'm wrong, but I tend to have little faith in their reviews, especially when they have a review section dedicated to 60+ rg sticks.

IMO, all three of those guys have released some excellent cigars, especially Fernandez and Carrillo. As for the sizes, well, that's the trend in the cigar world. The 60 RG has already come to Cuba, and it's only a matter of time before we see it on a regular production cigar. I prefer my cigars <54 myself, but CA rates the cigars that are being made. It wouold be hard for them to justify writing off a significant chunk of the market because the cigars are too thick. 

[Stump89]

53 minutes ago, Danimalia said:

Well, it didn't make the list in '14 either, I don't think. But one good or poor rating I take with a grain of salt with Cuban cigars, because they're based off a single box, which we all know can vary.

 

IMO, all three of those guys have released some excellent cigars, especially Fernandez and Carrillo. As for the sizes, well, that's the trend in the cigar world. The 60 RG has already come to Cuba, and it's only a matter of time before we see it on a regular production cigar. I prefer my cigars <54 myself, but CA rates the cigars that are being made. It wouold be hard for them to justify writing off a significant chunk of the market because the cigars are too thick. 

Agreed as I've also enjoyed cigars by these guys. Just a trend in the market that is here to stay whether we like it or not.  I still tend to question their final ratings for the top 25. Andalusian Bull? Even the RASS finished with a 96 rating recently which also surprised me.

[Sean3]

2 hours ago, JohnS said:

Going by previous years' lists, expect maybe 3 or 4 Cuban cigars in the list of 25 when it's revealed on the 22nd.

Honestly, I now take a lot more notice of Rob's annual Top 10 lists, as I'm sure many of us here on FoH do.

Agreed.

[Wertman]

Robs list was amazing.  Also I just got an email from James Sucklimg (not a real one like we're buds) but he also picked his top 10 and the Hupmann 50 was the cigar of the year 98 points.  I love this time of year when we can look back and find out favorites and share them with everyone else and compare and then plan as to which cigars I will be looking to get neck year

[feral]

When it comes to lists I only like their picks that I agree with. BBF is my favorite cigar so I'm fine with it unless it causes a price hike like their #1 ranking for MF le bijou a few years back. Smoked them often till they raised the price a few bucks per stick.

[westg]

Medio Siglo....has to win....surely

[earthson]

CA... CA... Hmmmm... I know that publication...

Ah, yes! They're the ones that named Brickhouse cigar of the year several years back. Then I tried one and realized that CA isn't the impartial magazine I thought it was.

To be fair, I bet their format did a lot better in the days before the Internet took over

[sasserjp]

Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark is the winner, which is not as egregious as past number ones. I've had a few of those recently and found them to be quite good, but not #1 of the year by a long shot. 

[Danimalia]

14 hours ago, Stump89 said:

Agreed as I've also enjoyed cigars by these guys. Just a trend in the market that is here to stay whether we like it or not.  I still tend to question their final ratings for the top 25. Andalusian Bull? Even the RASS finished with a 96 rating recently which also surprised me.

Oh yeah, I question their ratings, too. I sort of just figure at the end of the year, I have a list of 25 decent cigar suggestions, and try not to read much more into it than that. I also wish they rated more small cigars.