So far I am thinking Brooks top 10 list and honorable mentions is a more accurate reflection of what was really great this year in cigars.
CA- Top 25
- Thread starter BSBONO
- Start date
orangedog
Navin R Johnson
Not to be a nit-pick, but for the notes of the Opus X: "The finish has that essential sweetness found in the best of strong cigars, along with an intriguing note of Scotch whiskey on the finish."
A little vague on the notes - a finish of "Scotch whiskey". First, let's ignore (or not really) that Scotch whisky isn't whiskey. The "e" has significance. Second, what type of whisky? Islay? Speyside? One of the Highland regions? Campbeltown? Lowlands?
Does Bettridge even read this stuff? They say he's involved in the tastings. They've joined forces with Malt Advocate so they have access to John. I'm only bitter because this is the continuation of a rather botched article on Scotch a couple of issues ago.
This is another reason why the top 25 is relegated to a discussion piece as opposed to being an actual guide - if their tasters are such pros, there shouldn't be descriptions of "Scotch whiskey" or "spice" - it should be notes of a "speyside whisky with pronounced, or accompanied by, notes of oak" or "nutmeg, cinnamon, cayenne" etc. Any cigar review can pick out spice. What spices? Which Scotch "whiskey". And the "e"! Aren't there editors at the magazine? I know there are people with the title but is anyone editing? (OK, that was below the belt - everyone makes mistakes... I've had my share.)
Whatever... I'm still keeping my subscription...
end rant.
A little vague on the notes - a finish of "Scotch whiskey". First, let's ignore (or not really) that Scotch whisky isn't whiskey. The "e" has significance. Second, what type of whisky? Islay? Speyside? One of the Highland regions? Campbeltown? Lowlands?
Does Bettridge even read this stuff? They say he's involved in the tastings. They've joined forces with Malt Advocate so they have access to John. I'm only bitter because this is the continuation of a rather botched article on Scotch a couple of issues ago.
This is another reason why the top 25 is relegated to a discussion piece as opposed to being an actual guide - if their tasters are such pros, there shouldn't be descriptions of "Scotch whiskey" or "spice" - it should be notes of a "speyside whisky with pronounced, or accompanied by, notes of oak" or "nutmeg, cinnamon, cayenne" etc. Any cigar review can pick out spice. What spices? Which Scotch "whiskey". And the "e"! Aren't there editors at the magazine? I know there are people with the title but is anyone editing? (OK, that was below the belt - everyone makes mistakes... I've had my share.)
Whatever... I'm still keeping my subscription...
end rant.
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IIRC, the only candidates for the top 25 are those cigars that they reviewed that year and scored 90 or better. So, if they didn't happen to review a T-52 during past year, it wouldn't be in a position to even be considered. I think they also do new ratings of those that are in that qualifying list, so if a Boli PC rated highest all year at say, 95, but in end of year re-test only gets a 90, it could rate low on the top 25 list (or fall off altogether.) Not scientific, in the least.
gibbleguts
BoM april 09
Well so far this is a first for me. I have smoked every cigar on the list so far minus the Comacho, prolly will never try it as I have tried the Corojo diploma's and didn't like them. Interested to see #1. Really hoping it is not an AB as again another brand I have never enjoyed.
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Maybe on BOTL, but not in the general population of cigars smokers. If I had to guess, cigar whores likes us would make up about 5% of the overall cigar smoker demographic. We're such a small group compared to the whole.
And to be sure, the general population of cigar smokers haven't heard of a single cigar on Brooks' list, and most of CA's list as well.
BrooksW
BoM June '09
This is true...just like I will probably never smoke a Camacho that they have as their #5, they apparently have never smoked half (or more) cigars on MY list...
And therein lies the biggest fallacy with "Top Cigar" lists...You can only rate what you smoke, and NO ONE can smoke every cigar that is released.
Our list is a list of the best cigars WE (steve and I) have smoked all year, nothing more and nothing less.
Do I think that CA should be smoking more of the LEs that are put out every year? Yes, because I think they (the LEs) are some of the best cigars released...But, we each have our market **Shrug**
~brooks
Very well said, brooks!
And that's all you can do (and you do it well).
Jfire
BoM 9/9' 9/11' 8/12'
A Viaje that high on the list. Give me a frickin break. I've had a few of his samplings and there really good cigars BUT no where near that title. Forget Tatuaje or even Fuente this year how about the Padron 44 or half the great 08,09 or even 10 stock of CCs. Although I would have to say how about the Tatuaje PCRs. That was a great dynamite of a stick that every one was raving about.
danthebugman
BoM Nov '10
Ah, see I thought they were from that year's releases. Hadn't really looked that closely at some of them.
Guess they didn't spend enough in advertising :laugh:.
Dan
I don't know much about Viaje, but I know how quickly the Skull 'N Bones were snatched up. Do any BOTL's know if the listed Viaje is out and can be purchased? Seems CA was able to use their jedi ways on my weak mind this time.
AlohaStyle
BoM Sept '12 & Aug '13
I think they are dead on... BOTLs on cigar forums know about Viaje, but we are just a fraction of the cigar smoking population. I totally agree with that statement.
BrandonP
Cigar King Scottsdale
I will also agree with the above. We make up a small portion of the cigar population. This is evident in the fact that Mac and RyJ NC are the best selling cigars in the world. We just don't make up a large enough portion of the mass market.
I have to agree. The majority of the casual smokers that I wait on at the B&M (and even some of the regulars) only know RyJ, Montecristo, Macanudo or Rocky. Recommend to them an Illusione, Tatuaje or LFD, they have no clue what you're talking about. I'm sure they're bitching that Macanudo never seems to make the list and wonder why.
gibbleguts
BoM april 09
The Oro Reserva was a limited run of 200 boxes. Bad part about it is for most people reading the magazine they will never be able to find them. They were a standard limited run Viaje sold out I'm a couple of weeks if I remember correctly.
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whodeeni
the Cigar "Gangsta" ;0(
You got that right! *lol* I looked at the catalog this morning and they were really pushing theirs/ci brands over the top! any decent cigars were ranked as
bronze... no way you can tell me that those "bronze" cigars are sub par to CI Brands!
True but if anyone needs some PM me.
njstone
BoM January 2010
I could not agree more! But Brooks included LEs, whereas CA usually doesn't (I was surprised to even see the EPC 2010 on there).
#1 will be the BHK 52 I'm sure, unless they do the Cohiba Reserva, but I think that came out last year and is gone (they did give it 100 points, though).
Also on the list will be:
El Triunfador
J. Fuego Origen
CAO La Traviata
Rocky Patel 15th
AF Magnum Rosado
Giermo Loen
My Father LB 1922
something Cuban
Alec Bradley FB
Alec Bradley Tempus Maduro
But CA is still dead to me for two main reasons:
1) They refuse to review Liga Privada
2) They only smoke one inch of a cigar ... that's like giving the final report of the Superbowl after the first quarter.