Cigar Aficionado Top 25, 2022 guesses

[Islandboy]

I’ve paid varying amounts of attention to their top 25 since 2016, and this is the first time 2 things have come to fruition for me:

1) I actually have a few boxes of the #1 cigar, and;

2) I actually agree that the #1 pick is better tasting than all the others on the list

[Stoyan]

2 hours ago, CrownN7eveN said:

This aged well, right on the money with a Cuban being #1 and 50-50 on the padron and fuente selections, lol!

I can't believe they left both padron and fuente out of the Top 5. I think this might be the first time ever.
once I saw that davidoff nicaragua is N3 I new that Cuban will be N1. Last time Davidoff Nicaragua was in the top 5 was 2013 when Monte N2 was cigar of the year, Davidoff Nicaragua was N3 and there was one more cuban in the top 5. 

[SCgarman]

31 minutes ago, westg said:

LUB MAY 14 from Upmann probably one of the best box codes ever 

Yes, seemed all Upmann from LUB were off the charts good. And the box of Upmann2's cost me.....Are you ready? $199usd.  Those were the good 'ol days!

[Bagman]

1 hour ago, Carrie Nation said:

Unless you can find some evidence that "they flat out tell you they only take a few puffs," then no, Monterey, you can't "confirm" anything. You're just repeating internet chatter. I don't know about you, but I'll go by what they actually said in the AMA in their own words, as opposed to these shaky, questionable accounts of what some people think they might have said, but have nothing to support it. 

Rest assured, my life will move forward knowing that I was unable to convince you.  It will be a rough few weeks though.

[westg]

33 minutes ago, SCgarman said:

Yes, seemed all Upmann from LUB were off the charts good. And the box of Upmann2's cost me.....Are you ready? $199usd.  Those were the good 'ol days!

Ha well from memory mine were 750 Australian notes from Roberto which is around half of what they are today. That particular box code pumped out some of the best petit coronas you will ever see as well from Upmann 

[SCgarman]

1 hour ago, Islandboy said:

I’ve paid varying amounts of attention to their top 25 since 2016, and this is the first time 2 things have come to fruition for me:

1) I actually have a few boxes of the #1 cigar, and;

2) I actually agree that the #1 pick is better tasting than all the others on the list

#8 is not too shabby either and I am receiving a box as a Christmas present. Padron 1964 Principe

[KCCubano]

51 minutes ago, SCgarman said:

Yes, seemed all Upmann from LUB were off the charts good. And the box of Upmann2's cost me.....Are you ready? $199usd.  Those were the good 'ol days!

Never picked up the LUB'S as had 4 boxes of USE 08's. They were superb as well. Think my private club group buy got them for 160 a box. 

[Bagman]

Here is what I find odd about the #1 choice.

They smoked the cigar originally this year with a box date of July 2018.  They noted at the time which was a cigar with 4 years of age:

". . .combination of nutmeg and cinnamon that becomes more intense with each puff. Its hearty salted peanut flavor and a slight floral quality add superb balance"

They smoked the same cigar with the same box date a few months prior and gave this as a review

"The floral, grassy start of this tawny-colored torpedo gains rich dimension with heady notes of leather, nuts and chocolate. A bold woodiness comes through as well, segueing into the graham cracker finish. The draw and burn are consistently even."

So it is a totally different tasting note for the same box date.  It happens and it makes sense.Cigars taste different, even in the same box.

But then they smoke the cigar again.  This time it has no age and is a 2022 cigar.  Here are there notes:

" layers of nutmeg, cinnamon and salted peanut flavor, all of which intensify, while, at the same time, showing a delicate floral quality that adds superb balance"

It is almost word for word the exact description they gave the 4 year old cigar, yet the other cigar from the same box date had a totally different review.   It's almost like they just decided that this cigar would be #1 and never bothered re-reviewing this.   How could 2 cigars, with no age and one with 4 years of age, have the EXACT same tasting notes.

Something odd going on here . . .

[Chas.Alpha]

I am ready to trade everything I own for 6 of these Holy Grail cigars!!!

Offers pending...

[NSXCIGAR]

8 hours ago, Monterey said:

I have also seen this in the past.  So I can confirm they have mentioned their limited puffs per review. 

I've also heard this for years but I would like to actually find a source for it. I looked and it's not going to be easy to trace. The earliest reference here I can find is a post from @El Presidente in 2009. Do you recall where you heard this, Rob?  Is it just reliable insider knowledge or has CA actually admitted it? I honestly can't recall. 

 

 

[Fugu]

Groundhog Day yet again?! 😅

And, as usual .... I couldn't care less. 

 

16 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I've also heard this for years but I would like to actually find a source for it. I looked and it's not going to be easy to trace.

Yup, took me a while, too (FOH search ....)

According to Greg Mottola (in an AMA through Reddit with Savona/Mottola) they smoke 1/3 to half of a cigar. But indeed, if the start is not appealing, a cigar might be skipped after just a few draws already. There’s more to be said about their procedure... Check out the below thread from a few years back (link to said AMA/interview to be found in that thread). I also remember that you could once find their procedure being detailed in the CA mag. But didn’t bother to check now.

 

[Carrie Nation]

21 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Why don't you give it a break already mate? I have been into cigars over 30 years and will concur with Monterey that the reviewers in the past have stated they only smoke the first inch or two of a cigar for a review. So more than one of us has read that coming straight from CA magazine. Have they maybe changed up their methods? Anything is possible. 

So I'm guessing that with your 30 years of smoking, you can't provide any evidence either. Funny how some people are more willing to accept internet chatter even after CA has already gone on the record to specifically address this issue on an open forum. If they said otherwise, then bring something concrete to this conversation rather than trying to shut down someone who actually has. The OP stated "they flat out tell you they only take a few puffs." I'm still waiting for evidence that they ever said this. So far, nothing. Just people who cross their arms, shake their heads and insist on clinging to an internet rumor.

5 hours ago, Fugu said:

Yup, took me a while, too (FOH search ....)

According to Greg Mottola (in an AMA through Reddit with Savona/Mottola) they smoke 1/3 to half of a cigar. But indeed, if the start is not appealing, a cigar might be skipped after just a few draws already. There’s more to be said about their procedure... Check out the below thread from a few years back (link to said AMA/interview to be found in that thread). I also remember that you could once find their procedure being detailed in the CA mag. But didn’t bother to check now.

I've already linked this AMA and cut/pasted the quote. What they said in this AMA runs contrary to a previous post that claimed "They flat out tell you they only take a few puffs of each cigar." I'm looking for evidence where CA flat out says they only take a few puffs of each cigar. Everybody swears they said it, but so far, nobody has been able to come up with anything. 

[Silverstix]

Wow this is still going on?? Lmao how about we all tell you that you “won” and then we can just go on living our lives.

How about that HU2 though huh?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Carrie Nation]

2 hours ago, Silverstix said:

Wow this is still going on?? Lmao how about we all tell you that you “won” and then we can just go on living our lives.

How about that HU2 though huh?

Have only smoked two from 2022...one stick when I bought the boxes and then again after CA announced it was No. 1. They're coming along nicely but I won't really touch them again until 2027. 

 

[SCgarman]

18 hours ago, Monterey said:

Here is what I find odd about the #1 choice.

They smoked the cigar originally this year with a box date of July 2018.  They noted at the time which was a cigar with 4 years of age:

". . .combination of nutmeg and cinnamon that becomes more intense with each puff. Its hearty salted peanut flavor and a slight floral quality add superb balance"

They smoked the same cigar with the same box date a few months prior and gave this as a review

"The floral, grassy start of this tawny-colored torpedo gains rich dimension with heady notes of leather, nuts and chocolate. A bold woodiness comes through as well, segueing into the graham cracker finish. The draw and burn are consistently even."

So it is a totally different tasting note for the same box date.  It happens and it makes sense.Cigars taste different, even in the same box.

But then they smoke the cigar again.  This time it has no age and is a 2022 cigar.  Here are there notes:

" layers of nutmeg, cinnamon and salted peanut flavor, all of which intensify, while, at the same time, showing a delicate floral quality that adds superb balance"

It is almost word for word the exact description they gave the 4 year old cigar, yet the other cigar from the same box date had a totally different review.   It's almost like they just decided that this cigar would be #1 and never bothered re-reviewing this.   How could 2 cigars, with no age and one with 4 years of age, have the EXACT same tasting notes.

Something odd going on here . . .

It is odd. Normally when they rate Cubans for the "best 25 of the year " list the cigars are current box codes and certainly not 4 year aged ones.

[Hammer Smokin']

i have my own theories as to why they chose a CC as the winner...but I HIGHLY suspect it has something to do with the recent price gauging from HSA. 

gotta try and help prop up sales...even if they are from Cuba. 

[jakebarnes]

I hear that CA doesn't even smoke the cigars, they just take a bite out of the cigar and judge from there.

[DikkeSigaar]

That's curious, a normally very reliable source told me that at CA they carefully fondle the wrapper, stroke their sticks and instantly come to their conclusion. 

Sounded premature at the time.

[BeerPimp]

Might have to smoke one of the BRE 2018 tomorrow.

[Ford2112]

Nobody remembers the cigar colon test? Only for maduros though.

 

 

[Fugu]

18 hours ago, Carrie Nation said:

"They flat out tell you they only take a few puffs of each cigar." I'm looking for evidence where CA flat out says they only take a few puffs of each cigar. Everybody

Now, mate, seriously, what’s the point? I for one take @Corylax18 comment meant more figuratively rather than literally. And he’s right of course. (And I remember Gordon Mott being on record of earlier statements that they would usually be smoking between half an inch and an inch only.)

You cannot seriously judge, let alone “rate”, a cigar by only smoking a (first) third or even less of it. The overall quality and evolution of a cigar is an indispensable factor (for me at least) in the enjoyment of a smoke. And if these guys really know a thing or two about Cuban cigars they will surely also know about the blending, the particular anatomy and arrangement of leaves in the bunch of a Habano....

With that same brazen decidedness with which they (CA) reason why they are tossing a cigar by an inch in when it’s not a pleaser from the get go, they are telling us, that if the whole second half of a cigar would go quickly downhill they wouldn’t bother. What’s more, two thirds could be utter crap - or the most outstanding experience, and they wouldn’t even care to know about...

Now certainly, year upon year, Cigar Aficionado’s COTY-ratings are always good for generating some nice chatter in the community. That’s basically it. 🙄😂

[SCgarman]

LUB AGO14  

8 years of age have smoothed out any rough edges. It is a decent stick. Not sure about COTY though 

[ha_banos]

11 hours ago, Fugu said:

Now, mate, seriously, what’s the point? I for one take @Corylax18 comment meant more figuratively rather than literally. And he’s right of course. (And I remember Gordon Mott being on record of earlier statements that they would usually be smoking between half an inch and an inch only.)

You cannot seriously judge, let alone “rate”, a cigar by only smoking a (first) third or even less of it. The overall quality and evolution of a cigar is an indispensable factor (for me at least) in the enjoyment of a smoke. And if these guys really know a thing or two about Cuban cigars they will surely also know about the blending, the particular anatomy and arrangement of leaves in the bunch of a Habano....

With that same brazen decidedness with which they (CA) reason why they are tossing a cigar by an inch in when it’s not a pleaser from the get go, they are telling us, that if the whole second half of a cigar would go quickly downhill they wouldn’t bother. What’s more, two thirds could be utter crap - or the most outstanding experience, and they wouldn’t even care to know about...

Now certainly, year upon year, Cigar Aficionado’s COTY-ratings are always good for generating some nice chatter in the community. That’s basically it. 🙄😂

They [CA] love it. It's all marketing. They must read the posts each year. While they suckling (J) on wine or whisky. Finding the most amusing comments and chortling. Tossing their barely smoked cigars. Tucking into another box of Cubans...

 

 

[Carrie Nation]

13 hours ago, Fugu said:

Now, mate, seriously, what’s the point? I for one take @Corylax18 comment meant more figuratively rather than literally. And he’s right of course. (And I remember Gordon Mott being on record of earlier statements that they would usually be smoking between half an inch and an inch only.)

You cannot seriously judge, let alone “rate”, a cigar by only smoking a (first) third or even less of it. The overall quality and evolution of a cigar is an indispensable factor (for me at least) in the enjoyment of a smoke. And if these guys really know a thing or two about Cuban cigars they will surely also know about the blending, the particular anatomy and arrangement of leaves in the bunch of a Habano....

With that same brazen decidedness with which they (CA) reason why they are tossing a cigar by an inch in when it’s not a pleaser from the get go, they are telling us, that if the whole second half of a cigar would go quickly downhill they wouldn’t bother. What’s more, two thirds could be utter crap - or the most outstanding experience, and they wouldn’t even care to know about...

Now certainly, year upon year, Cigar Aficionado’s COTY-ratings are always good for generating some nice chatter in the community. That’s basically it. 🙄😂

Let's not change the argument now. Corylax18 said ""They flat out tell you they only take a few puffs of each cigar" when it seems they did no such thing. There is a world of difference between taking a few puffs and smoking 1/3 to 1/2 the cigar. Even if 1/2 the cigar isn't enough, that isn't the point. They never flat out told anyone "they only take a few puffs of each cigar" so let's not misrepresent CA with exaggerations or repeat internet rumors that no one can seem to substantiate. There are plenty of ways to criticize CA without introducing nonsense into the argument.

[Namisgr11]

I'm thinking that everybody's partly right about how much of the testing cigars CA actually smokes.  Some of the mag's reviews describe the tasting notes midway or on the finish.  So some probably get smoked beyond the first half.  But others provide characteristics without specifying when during the smoke they were derived, or discussing any flavor transitions that could have occurred.  Perhaps many of these have been smoked only through the first third or first half, or even the first inch.

What difference does it make, anyway?  Cigar reviews are always subjective opinions of the people giving them, and for those of us wishing to learn more about particular brands and vitolas we may want to either try or stay away from the challenge is to find reviewer(s) whose tastes seem to match your own enough to provide value to their reviews.  El Presidente has often made this point during video reviews.