It's that time again: Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 Cigars starts December 16

[SonicStag]

Well can honestly say I don’t see that one coming in at No1! Yet another cigar that can’t be found in the UK. Doesn’t say much for Trinidad though & all the money spent on hyping the brand.

[zeedubbya]

3 hours ago, Cigar Surgeon said:

Kind words but at the point I made the guess it's a bit of a fish in a barrel situation.  As Aaron points out in his PowerPoint, we can nail 15/25 brands consistently every year, another 5 pretty accurately and then it's just a matter of dialing in the releases that likely float to the top.

Once 2-10 brands were identified MF just became the highest probability of remaining brands.

Still, it’s an amazing showing, the width and breadth of your (guys) knowledge is astounding. I thought My Father or Drew Estate. Drew Estate was the one left out of the top 10 which surprised me-have they made CA mad or something 🤣 ? I had personally ruled out Cuban due to 2 being already in top 10, and they don’t seem to do 3 CCs in the top ten ever. Magicos in top ten is really out of left field. Unless they’ve improved that cigar dramatically, it’s probably my least enjoyed Cohiba. Once again, 👏 

[SCgarman]

2 hours ago, SonicStag said:

Well can honestly say I don’t see that one coming in at No1! Yet another cigar that can’t be found in the UK. Doesn’t say much for Trinidad though & all the money spent on hyping the brand

Are you inferring to the Cuban Trinidad and Habanos "hyping" it up? How does any of that correlate to Cigar Aficionado (a NYC based publication)? You do realize Habanos are not officially "legal" cigars in the USA and they are not sold by any USA B&M cigar stores? Not quite sure how your rationale adds up here?

[MrFolgers]

1 hour ago, SonicStag said:

Well can honestly say I don’t see that one coming in at No1! Yet another cigar that can’t be found in the UK. Doesn’t say much for Trinidad though & all the money spent on hyping the brand

For this reason alone I thought it would have been sold chosen as #1. I've never seen a cigar pushed so hard like HSA has done to Trinidad the past year. 

[SonicStag]

2 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Are you inferring to the Cuban Trinidad and Habanos "hyping" it up? How does any of that correlate to Cigar Aficionado (a NYC based publication) ? You do realize Habanos are not officially "legal" cigars in the USA and they are not sold by any USA B&M cigar stores? Not quite sure how your rationale adds up here?

Do you not read CA? Have you not seen that Cuban cigars are regularly reviewed in it & CA were invited to Habanos Festival this year. In fact Upmann 2, a Cuban cigars won the No.1 spot a few years ago. I think the vast majority of people would agree that Trinidad was a highly anticipated winner 🏆 

[MrBirdman]

1 hour ago, MrFolgers said:

I've never seen a cigar pushed so hard like HSA has done to Trinidad the past year. 

Also CA seems to have rekindled its questionable relationship with Habanos, but I agree going Cuban two years in a row would have alienated readership. After all, this is ultimately a marketing exercise for the brands and the magazine itself. 

[Cigar Surgeon]

• #11 - La Aroma de Cuba Pasión Box-Pressed Torpedo
  • I had the Noblesse Viceroy at 17. So got the brand.
• #12 - Aksum Claro Robusto
  • This was almost a stone cold lock for me.  I had the Aksum Claro Corona Gorda at #11.
• #13 - Viva La Vida Jester
  • Stone cold lock of the century, of the week.  Viva La Vida Jester at #21 for me.
• #14 - Casa Magna Colorado XV Anniversary 6 X 54
  • Complete miss for me, I should have known better.
• #15 - Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill
  • Had Romeo y Julieta at #7 with the Cazadores.
• #16 - Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown Epicure
  • Stone cold lock of the century, of the week. I had this at #14.
• #17 - Plasencia Cosecha 151 La Musica
  • Swing and a miss for me. I second guessed Plasencia making it, which was a mistake.
• #18 - 601 La Bomba Warhead X
  • Stone cold lock of the century of the week. Had this at #13, and already placed an order for a box before the list published.
• #19 - Herrera Esteli Norteño Lonsdale
  • Stone cold lock of the century, of the week. I had this at #20, sadly Drew Estate just announced it's being discontinued.
• #20 - Cohiba Riviera Robusto
  • Complete miss I had the Sancho Panza. So General at least because they're one of the "15"
• #21 - La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chiselito Maduro
  • I should have stuck to my gut. I had the Double Ligero Chiselito Maduro originally and then I second guessed it because of the 30th. LFD 30th was at #6 for me.
• #22 - OneOff Black & Tan Robusto
  • Stone cold lock of the century, of the week. I had this at #24.
• #23 - Warped Corto X52
  • I had Illusione on which should have meant Warped was off. Complete miss.
• #24 - Ferio Tego Summa Corona Gorda
  • Complete miss.  Ferio Tego wasn't even in contention in my mind, this will adjust for next year as they are now in the 'new favorites' for boutique companies making it multiple years running.
• #25 - Tatuaje Reserva A Uno
  • Well I had the brand right at #25, but I think this might mark the first time an A size has made the Top 25.

Hector's usually top at this, he got The Judge, Encore Celestial, Melanio Maduro Torp, Aroma Pasion BP Torp, Aksum, Perdomo 30,La Musica, Warhead x, Tat A.

[VeguerosMAN]

The Judge already won Cigar of the year on Cigar Journal a couple of years back.