If you enjoy the Cigar Aficionado Top 25 guessing game

[Cigar Surgeon]

I've never posted this before, but Will Cooper of Cigar-Coop does a prediction show every year where they analyze the reviews CA has done for the year and then each of the panelists predicts brands, cigars and their position on the Top 25 list.

It's not for everyone, but if you follow the CA list every year it's a pretty interesting and very often quite accurate prognostication.

The show initially airs live on Facebook and then is uploaded on YouTube. I'll post the link here to the Facebook page (the live link isn't posted yet), and then update it later when the YT link is available.

https://www.facebook.com/CigarCoop1

Direct link to live show video (Facebook): https://fb.watch/akKW0r5hLf/

Show goes live tonight at 9:15 pm EST, 8:15 pm CST. 

Here's a link to the YouTube:

 

[NSXCIGAR]

Predictions:

NC will get the top spot

One CC in the top 15

Two CCs in the top 25

Repeat every year.

 

[JohnS]

25 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Predictions:

NC will get the top spot

One CC in the top 15

Two CCs in the top 25

Repeat every year.

Yeah, you read my mind! 😉 👍

[Bagman]

So often people seem to get mad if their favorite cigar isn't on the list.  I pray that my favorites don't make it!  2 of my favorite non-cubans are contenders.  I so hope they don't make the top 10.  Else I can kiss that cigar goodbye. 

CA gave a bad score to the HUSW because they got a plugged example.  Thank god. Now it is unavailable for the top 26 (only cigars with a 91+ in the past year are eligible for the list).  Already impossible to get.  If it got #1, I would never see it again.

So here's to CA and I'm sending you my vibes to not put any cubans on the top 25 and leave my 2 non-cubans contenders alone.  They suck and they don't belong on the top 25. Let the cigars I don't care for be massed purchased by people who think the top 10 means anything!

[Chas.Alpha]

Full page ad: Top 5

Half page ad: Top 15

Throw a Cuban in there to keep it “honest.”

Top 20: Gurkha.

[Cayman17]

2 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Predictions:

NC will get the top spot

One CC in the top 15

Two CCs in the top 25

Repeat every year.

 

I’m going to a little further and say:

1. My Father or Padron will be number 1 this year 

2.  Tatuaje will have a cigar in the top ten (usually number 7 or 8) 

3. I am guessing one CC will be top 5 this year, possibly 3 in the entire list  

 

[Cigar Surgeon]

Show is live for those who are tuning in.

[MrBirdman]

Were members’ predictions on the mark?

[nKostyan]

It is enough to estimate the volume of advertising in CA magazines for 2021 to understand which cigars will be in the top

[Cigar Surgeon]

7 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

Were members’ predictions on the mark?

The only thing that's close is the Padron. Most of the panel has My Father missing this year. Gurkha is a miss. 

Hector, who tends to be eerily accurate, the top 3 at Padron 1964 Anniversary Torpedo, Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill and PSD4. The only consistent pick is the Padron 1964 Anniversary Torpedo as CoTY.  Erron has the Montecristo 1935 Churchill for CoTY. 

I'll double check the panelist lists but there's a minimum of 3 CCs that are stone cold locks to make it.

[MrBirdman]

Refreshing to see how frank they are about CA’s “formula” for the Top 25. 

[coug28]

Siglo VI - coming in hot at CAs #8 cigar of the year.

 

Good luck finding em now!! Oh wait…

[Puros Y Vino]

Why guess?  Apparently the final #'s have leaked.  The #1 cigar has confirmed that these are the end times..... 😐

[Cigar Surgeon]

2 minutes ago, Puros Y Vino said:

Why guess?  Apparently the final #'s have leaked.  The #1 cigar has confirmed that these are the end times..... 😐

I hadn't heard that, is that tongue in cheek or do you have a list?

[Puros Y Vino]

14 minutes ago, Cigar Surgeon said:

I hadn't heard that, is that tongue in cheek or do you have a list?

Better yet. I have the screenshot.  Posting it here is not appropriate. 

[coug28]

25 minutes ago, Puros Y Vino said:

Better yet. I have the screenshot.  Posting it here is not appropriate. 

Interesting…but I suppose not all that surprising in todays day & age of anything and everything can get hacked. The CA top 25 doesn’t exactly strike me as having a Fort Knox type of security defense. 
 

 

[Cigar Surgeon]

4 minutes ago, coug28 said:

Interesting…but I suppose not all that surprising in todays day & age of anything and everything can get hacked. The CA top 25 doesn’t exactly strike me as having a Fort Knox type of security defense. 
 

 

It doesn't. We were able to pull 5,6,7 this morning before the list was published.

The current speculated top 4 is:

• #4 - PSD #4
• #3 - San Cristobal Quintessence
• #2 - Montecristo 1935 Anniversary
• #1 - Padron 1964 Anniversary Torpedo

[Puros Y Vino]

6 minutes ago, coug28 said:

Interesting…but I suppose not all that surprising in todays day & age of anything and everything can get hacked. The CA top 25 doesn’t exactly strike me as having a Fort Knox type of security defense.

My guess is that the reveal pages are already posted to a content management system ahead of time and scheduled for publication. Anyone in the chain who has access to that content can leak it.  Most leaks are internal from people with access vs brute force attacks.  It could be the screenshot I have is a fake too.  Once the reveal is posted officially, I'll post what I received here. 

[Cigar Surgeon]

2 minutes ago, Puros Y Vino said:

My guess is that the reveal pages are already posted to a content management system ahead of time and scheduled for publication. Anyone in the chain who has access to that content can leak it.  Most leaks are internal from people with access vs brute force attacks.  It could be the screenshot I have is a fake too.  Once the reveal is posted officially, I'll post what I received here. 

This happened several years ago as well when they had the pages staged and all that was required was changing the URL. 

[Tstew75]

The fact Sig 6 made the list...of all cigars 🤣

[Kaptain Karl]

32 minutes ago, Tstew75 said:

The fact Sig 6 made the list...of all cigars 🤣

And not #1. An average 6 is tastier than any NC on the market, by a long long mile. 

[Puros Y Vino]

Looks like the leaked screenshot I received was a hoax.  CA released #'s, 2,3,4 today.

Since the "leak" was bogus. Here it is for posterity.

[coug28]

Noooooo…..keep the new PSD4 fan boys away from our FOH stash!! 😱
 

At least it seems CA got that one right. #4 being debatable, but a helluva cigar this year certainly.  

[Cayman17]

On 1/4/2022 at 8:25 PM, Cayman17 said:

I’m going to a little further and say:

1. My Father or Padron will be number 1 this year 

2.  Tatuaje will have a cigar in the top ten (usually number 7 or 8) 

3. I am guessing one CC will be top 5 this year, possibly 3 in the entire list  

 

1.  Looks like a solid prediction 

2. oops, sorry Pete. I forgot about Illusione. 
 

3. check ✔️
 

 

[HawkI84]

On 1/11/2022 at 1:38 PM, Cigar Surgeon said:

It doesn't. We were able to pull 5,6,7 this morning before the list was published.

The current speculated top 4 is:

• #4 - PSD #4
• #3 - San Cristobal Quintessence
• #2 - Montecristo 1935 Anniversary
• #1 - Padron 1964 Anniversary Torpedo

4, 3, and 2 are no longer speculation.