Cigar Aficionado Top 25 for 2011

[njstone]

I'm wondering if the Boli Corona Extra winds up in their top 25 for the year. They rated it very highly in the last issue. I really wish HSA would un-delete this cigar!

That would be great. They typically have 3 Cubans in the Top 25, this year I'd pick

BCE
PSD4
Sir Winston maybe?

 

[njstone]

Based on past years you will almost certainly see:

3 Cubans (one in the Top 5)
1 Padron in the Top 5
1 LFD in the Top 10
1 My Father in the Top 10
1 Fuente on the list (probably in the Top 10)
1 Alec Bradley on the list
1 Pete Johnson stick on the list
1 Dion stick on the list
1 Manuel Quesada stick on the list
1 CAO on the list
1 General Cigar on the list
1 Altadis cigar on the list
1 Rocky Patel on the list
A total of 3 Pepin-made cigars on the list
A total of 3 Raices Cubanas factory cigars on the list (probably a Casa Fernandez as one of them)
No more than 1 LE cigar on the list
A total of ZERO Liga Privadas because CA are a bunch of fools

Prediction time!
Now, I think that this year could be slightly different, specifically I think there will be FEWER brands represented, with multiple sticks from several brands:

I think we might see more than the typical 3 Cubans
I'm betting on 2 LFD/LG cigars
I'm guessing 2 Fuentes as well
We might see 2 Illusiones (a maduro and the Epernay)
We might see 2-3 of Pete's sticks as well (Cabaiguan Guapos, La Verite, maybe even the Black PL ... I'm really hoping for a Top 10 spot for the La Verite!!)
I'd guess 4 Raices Cubanas factory cigars, to include a Casa Fernandez, 2 Illusiones, and probably a Casa Magna
We should see an EPC cigar on the list, honestly we should see 2-3 of them but hopefully at least one

Also, I think there might be some notable snubs this year, namely:
Rocky Patel (this would be a first in I don't know how long)
Liga Privada (no surprise)
Viaje
General Cigar (other than the CAO)

Remember, CA will only put cigars on "The List" if they were REVIEWED THIS YEAR by a certain date--not sure what the date is, I'm guessing Thanksgiving if not earlier.

 

[smokemifugotem]

Dont forget we just had these new opus come out also I think they might have a shot as well.

Also DAGA and GOF Maddy too

 

[vivalanation734]

That would be great. They typically have 3 Cubans in the Top 25, this year I'd pick

BCE
PSD4
Sir Winston maybe?

BPC should/could make that list as well.



EDIT: just saw that 3 Altadis sticks made the top 25 last year. SERIOUSLY!?!?

 

[Docbp87]

Dont forget we just had these new opus come out also I think they might have a shot as well.

Nah. The tasting and stuff for the top 25 is done, and has been. There's no way the new Forbiddens made it in time. I wouldn't be surprised to see new Fuente stuff on next year's list.

 

[Skitalets]

EDIT: just saw that 3 Altadis sticks made the top 25 last year. SERIOUSLY!?!?

Not that surprising, CA's list has a "something for everyone" quality that I'm sure has a lot to do with their subscriber base. Everyone wants to feel like something they smoke is "top 25" quality, even people who smoke NC Upmanns and Montes.

 

[dowjr1]

You know personally I think it is total crap for them to put ANY CC on the list bc most of us don't have access to them. So it is kind of a thing like "hey this is really good but no one will get it so..." why bother putting them on there. Perhaps they should do a separate list for the CC's. Similar would be for car reviews...oh the Ferrari blah blah was our number 3 car for the year retailing at 380k so almost no one will get it. The idea for me anyway is if I see a cigar they think so highly of I want to at least try it.

 

[orangedog]

Dont forget we just had these new opus come out also I think they might have a shot as well.

Have they rated these? Maybe on Cigar Insider?

 

[orangedog]

You know personally I think it is total crap for them to put ANY CC on the list bc most of us don't have access to them. So it is kind of a thing like "hey this is really good but no one will get it so..." why bother putting them on there. Perhaps they should do a separate list for the CC's. Similar would be for car reviews...oh the Ferrari blah blah was our number 3 car for the year retailing at 380k so almost no one will get it. The idea for me anyway is if I see a cigar they think so highly of I want to at least try it.

depends... what % of their subscriber base is outside the US?

 

[njstone]

You know personally I think it is total crap for them to put ANY CC on the list bc most of us don't have access to them. So it is kind of a thing like "hey this is really good but no one will get it so..." why bother putting them on there. Perhaps they should do a separate list for the CC's. Similar would be for car reviews...oh the Ferrari blah blah was our number 3 car for the year retailing at 380k so almost no one will get it. The idea for me anyway is if I see a cigar they think so highly of I want to at least try it.

I see what you're saying, but you're looking at it from an American-only point of view. They're only illegal in the US. CA's team is 1/2 US and 1/2 UK, I think. Their readership is much broader than just the US.

Besides, the way to sell magazines is to talk about what people are interested in. A lot of Americans are interested in Cuban cigars, even if they don't smoke them. The same reason car magazines talk about Ferraris even though 99.99% of the readers will never be able to own one. People want what they can't have, especially Americans.

 

[Clint]

You know personally I think it is total crap for them to put ANY CC on the list bc most of us don't have access to them. So it is kind of a thing like "hey this is really good but no one will get it so..." why bother putting them on there. Perhaps they should do a separate list for the CC's. Similar would be for car reviews...oh the Ferrari blah blah was our number 3 car for the year retailing at 380k so almost no one will get it. The idea for me anyway is if I see a cigar they think so highly of I want to at least try it.

All of us have easy access to CC's...Not sure what you mean.

 

[Skitalets]

Besides, the way to sell magazines is to talk about what people are interested in. A lot of Americans are interested in Cuban cigars, even if they don't smoke them. The same reason car magazines talk about Ferraris even though 99.99% of the readers will never be able to own one. People want what they can't have, especially Americans.

+1 to this. Also, it's aspirational. Before I smoked CCs, obviously I wanted to smoke them but hadn't yet. I enjoyed reading about Habanos and learned a bit about them from CA's coverage. And Habanos turned out to be much more attainable than a Ferrari! So now that I do smoke them, I appreciate CA's coverage even more.

 

[ciggy]

I was wondering if the Jaime Garcia LE would possibly be in the top 25...

I agree totally!
I think the Single Conni you got in a box was one of the best cigars I've ever had. I don't usually smoke conni's but that stick was awsome!!

Not that surprising, CA's list has a "something for everyone" quality that I'm sure has a lot to do with their subscriber base. Everyone wants to feel like something they smoke is "top 25" quality, even people who smoke NC Upmanns and Montes.

Yea...I feel the magazine trends towards it's advertisers more so than quality and depth of the cigar. This however could be justified by saying that not everyone enjoys the same strength, wrapper, and origin. All have there arguments.

I can think of 7 that "should" make the list...
Tat Taa
Tat Avion
Liga Undercrown
Liga FFP
Padron 85
E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2011
Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011

 

[MU Mike]

Drum roll please.....

10. Casa Magna Colorado Diadema
9. Warlock Robusto
8. Punch Double Corona (cuban)

 

[TreeFrog Frank]

**Sorry, Mike posted while I was typing the list**

Are you f'ing kidding me with the Warlock??

 

[Skitalets]

I have 3 Punch dobles sitting in my humidor waiting for a nice day for a leisurely smoke.

Obviously I have awesome taste, ratified by CA's list here.

 

[CigarSaint]

Tat Pl and the AB Black Market would be nice to see.

 

[CigarSaint]

**Sorry, Mike posted while I was typing the list**

Are you f'ing kidding me with the Warlock??

Thought the same thing.... haven't even had it. Guess I need to get on it.

 

[javajunkie]

10 a casa magna
9 warlock
8 puncd CC double corona

WTF WARLOCK?????????

edit: to be fair, i keep trying altadis releases, i do. and i have a 90% dissapointment rate, with the other 10% being "could smoke, but there is other stuff". and ortez and turrent both, i just do not get along with, palate wise. this was one of their better ones, sort of...

 

[MU Mike]

I would say there's our wild card that always seems to make the top 10.