Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

I think the "regular" LADC Mi Amor is tastier than the Mi Amor Reserva, but it's still a tasty, complex cigar. But like you said, at that price you can't go wrong.

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

7. Padrón Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro
6. Fuente Fuente OpusX PerfecXion X
5. Rocky Patel Royale Toro

Hmmmm....I guess all the sticks from that other island are in top 4? :sh

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

Never had those, either. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard of RP Royale. Is that because of the metric system?

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

A royale with cheese!

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

Just had a Padron Londres maduro. AWesome smoke.

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

I just found a potato that looks exactly like Marvin Shanken's profile.
Should I smoke it now or age it?
If I age it, cello or not?

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

Let it rest, as you found it, roots down, skin on, nose to the right.

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

4. Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial (Tubo)
MADE BY: N/A

FACTORY LOCATION: CUBA

WRAPPER: CUBA

BINDER: CUBA

FILLER: CUBA

DIMENSIONS: 5 1/2" BY 50 RING

PRICE: £21.26

RATING: 94

3. Illusione Fume d’Amour Clementes
MADE BY: TABSA

FACTORY LOCATION: NICARAGUA

WRAPPER: NICARAGUA

BINDER: NICARAGUA

FILLER: NICARAGUA

DIMENSIONS: 6 1/2" BY 48 RING

PRICE: $9.50

RATING: 95

2. E.P. Carrillo La Historia E-III
MADE BY: TABACALERA LA ALIANZA S.A.

FACTORY LOCATION: DOM. REP.

WRAPPER: MEXICO

BINDER: ECUADOR

FILLER: NICARAGUA

DIMENSIONS: 6 7/8" BY 54 RING

PRICE: $8.75

RATING: 95

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

These ratings are a joke. A review of their magazines through their first four issues last year showed the following:

a) 3 cigars rated 94-All Cuban: Punch Serie D'Oro #2, Hoyo Epi Especial and RyJ Churchill
b) 4 cigars rated 93- 2 Cuban (Upmann #2 and Party Lusi Gran reserva)
c) 14 ciigars rated 92- 5 Cuban

So out of the top 7 rated cigars 5 were CC's and out of the top 21 10 were CC's yet only ONE (maybe 2) make the top ten? Advertising $$$ baby...

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

You may have a point. You may also be arguing in circles. If you contend that these Top Ten ratings are a joke, you undermine your position that the previous ratings are valid. Who is to say which rating was the right one?

Not me, certainly. :r

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

I like turtles.

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

I get your point. There is no reason whatsoever to inflate the scores of CC's since there are no advertising $$ to be gained from their sale. The last five years Cuba has produced, by cA's own rating system, 54% of all cigars rated 91, 65% of all cigars rated 92 and 85% of all cigars rated 93 or above yet in not one of those years has cA given Cuba more than three spots in their top 25 ratings for the year. Statistics don't lie. There can be no logical reason why CC's CONSTANTLY score higher in the bi-monthly reviews yet seem to "tank" when it comes to the top25 other than the fact that the Top25 issue is cA's top selling issue due to people in the US wanting tobuy the year's best stuff. Thus advertising $$$ are rewarded.

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

Of course there is.
You rate the cc's way up there and then compare a Rocky Patel dogrocket in the same breath, and it conveys the idea that Rocky Patel is capable of making a cigar that is worthy of your money, because it's as good or better than some arbitrary cc.
Rocky buys more ads because you made him a ton of money, and everyone is happy.

The fact that a Rocky Patel anything is anywhere near a top 10 best list of is reason enough to validate that the ratings are manufactured.
This is a guy who takes pride in dragging his tobacco through dye and molasses.
I rest my face. :)

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

I am extremely pleased with the #1 cigar of 2014. Solid cigar!
Oliva Serie V

BOOOM!

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14
 

Re: Cigar Aficionado's top 10 for '14