Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

# 10:Casa Magna Colorado Diadema
MADE BY: Plascensia Cigars
FACTORY LOCATION: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Nicaragua
BINDER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Nicaragua
PRICE: $8.95
RING GAUGE: 54
LENGTH: 6 3/4"
RATING: 92

#9 : Warlock Robusto
MADE BY: Agros Tobacos Industriales
FACTORY LOCATION: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Ecuador
BINDER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep.
PRICE: $6.25
RING GAUGE: 54
LENGTH: 4 3/4"
RATING: 92

#8: Punch Double Corona (Havana)
MADE BY: Habanos S.A.
FACTORY LOCATION: Cuba
WRAPPER: Cuba
BINDER: Cuba
FILLER: Cuba
PRICE: £20.76
RING GAUGE: 49
LENGTH: 7 5/8"
RATING: 93

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Wow I didn't know the Warlock made the list. I have been sitting one one for a couple months, now I am excited about trying it.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

I wouldnt hold my breath. I'm not a big fan of Cigar Aficionado's rating system. Everything is rated on the first inch and then tossed, they don't look into how a cigar holds up throughout the smoke or with how it can start off rough but finish fantastic.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

While I know better than to listen to everything they say, every now and then they get one right and that is all the hope I need:r

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Interesting, I haven't had any of these..................yet, I am curious about the Warlock though.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Never had any of those and no real intention of trying any of them.
Hope the list gets better.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

How do you know if the list is better/worse if you've never tried any of them? I haven't heard of the 10 or 9 either but it is not like I would ignore them simply for being in the CA list.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

I would not ignore them by being on the CA list. But I would not be swayed one way or the other about trying them by that same merit either.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

I have had one Warlock. I did enjoy it, from what I remember. I have been thinking of ordering some more..

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

The Warlock is an Omar Ortez stick that is why I purchased it, but I am excited to see that somebody in the business has thought highly of it. Everybody has different tastes and preference but it sounded good and I will try it.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

I'm not running to buy the cigars that come up on cA's top 25, but I really like reading about them. I don't discount there findings but like Peter I don't hold them in any God-like regard either. IMO, the pros of cA are a high budget to do some cool reporting and maintain a decent website. But in some ways they may be a little elitist and don't support the timeless "Smoke what you like and like what you smoke." Nor do they really maintain a community aspect AFAIK.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

The description of the Punch makes it sound interesting. I generally don't smoke a cigar that big, but I would try it based on the review.

The others sound like just more of the same as what there is already enough of out there: big pepper bombs with lots of nicotine. Not for me.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

This was all I meant by my comment. I generally pay no heed to their ratings. That said, I have had a Warlock before, and while it was a good smoke, it was certainly not one of the top 25, let alone top 10, cigars I've had this year.

Mickey, if you're interested, we have a few of the Churchills and Robustos at work, I'd be happy to send some on your way if you'd like to give them a try.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

I read through 4-6 different cigar publications as often as I can find them. Even through their top lists are seldom close, they have helped me find great cigars. Many of my personal favorites came from reading those reviews and having my interest peaked.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

"The cigars that made this list have undergone a most thorough assessment"

:lr

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

I have a Casa Magna Colorado Diadema sitting in my humidor I need to try. The Casa Magna Domnus Magnus has also made a few top 10 lists and it is an excellent cigar. Just picked up a few more of these at my local B&M. I'll write a review for the next one I light up

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

:r:r:r I had a Warlock myself a while back - mid summer maybe - dont remember much about it so I am guessing it didnt impress me much but Shane, I hope it works out for ya :tu

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

I smoked a Warlock and thought it was alright, not worth another look IMO.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

CA lost a lot of credibility with me with the Casa Magna nomination. I look towards my usual suspects when it comes to new lines of cigar.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

There are some people whose reviews I trust on cigars, but that's based on past reviews that line up with my own findings on those particular cigars. I don't trust CA's (or really any publication that rates the products they sell ad space to) objectivity enough to put much of any stock in their findings.

This has nothing to do with CA, but I was reading a European cigar magazine that I don't remember the name of. They rated the Cain Daytona something like a 96. Absolutely blew me away.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

:tpd::tpd:

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

I tend to think Cigar Assianado's ratings and "top 10" lists are....


...ahem....



somewhat ad revenue dependent.

But then again, I am a bit cynical.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Where are you getting this information? As much distaste as I have for CA, I have a very hard time believing this.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Yep.

"We do have a lot of cigars to review...often in a short period of time. So it would be virtually impossible to smoke every one down to the nub. Just as would be impossible to smoke four or five examples of a cigar to come up with our final tally.

I've also spoken with knowledgeable folks in the cigar business to re-affirm one of my core beliefs--that a cigar reaches a "running" state about a quarter to one half inch into the cigar. That's when the tobacco has warmed up and a taster or smoker gets a nearly complete profile of the blend and how the cigar is going to smoke. For me that reality also undermines the contention that you have to smoke a cigar more than halfway before you get to the good part...there's not a consumer product on the market anywhere that's going to be successful if you have to suffer to get to the good part. I won't dispute that cigars change as they are smoked, but I still would argue that not many people, me included, are going to hang in there through a long stretch of bad smoking.

So, how much of a cigar do I smoke. I've come up with a different answer than I gave about six months ago, and it is based on consistent observations of my smoking patterns. I spend at least 20 minutes per cigar...sometimes that's only a quarter of a cigar, sometimes it is half a cigar. I never take one or two puffs and rate a cigar. Every cigar gets a chance to show its stuff before I give a final impression."

http://forums.cigaraficionado.com/ev...032#3017072032

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Check out my reply here:

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpo...3&postcount=42

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Interesting- and thanks for the pointers.

Sounds to me like he's saying something more along the lines of giving anything at least half-an-inch's chance (I know, not saying much) before discounting it, as opposed to how they might review the stuff they like enough to put in their 'best-of-the-year pile'. In the same way, if a movie reviewer acknowledged sometimes walking out early on a POS rom-com, I wouldn't be suspicious that the reviewer's year-end top 20 contained movies s/he had only seen the first 15 minutes of.

Am I defending Cigar Aficionado? :eek:


On an entirely OT note, I'm loving Halfwheel so far, Brooks! :tu

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

To think of the cigars they waste.... 700 cigars is less than 2 a day. Why can't they smoke the full cigar?

They don't need to resmoke the first inch of a bunch of cigars either.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

How do you get 700 hours + of cigars into 80 hours?

I'm not a fan of their testing methods either but I don't see how you could smoke full cigars with that kind of deadline. Which begs the question- why not give themselves a larger window? :D

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

I have a problem with anyone deciding anything definitive about a cigar after only smoking 20 minutes of it. How can it be a review of a "Cigar" if the whole cigar is not smoked?

There have been plenty of cigars I have reviewed that I wish I could put down after 20 mins, and there have been plenty of cigars that I was glad I did NOT put down after 20 mins.

I understand their deadlines (I really do), but not smoking the entire cigar is not acceptable review practice, IMHO, esp when the people who are taking your reviews as gospel ARE (supposedly) smoking the entire cigar.

Just my $.02.

~brooks

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Thanks dude, you have no idea how much work has gone into it in the last 6 months...But we think it is the best out there (at the moment) :)

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

... or more man-power. :sh

This makes me very curious just how unimpressive something has to be for them to pitch it in the first inch or so. I could understand if it was simply terrible and irredeemable, a la my rom-com analogy, above. However, I've experienced MANY a stick that simply did nothing to impress or differentiate themselves until well into the second third and then proceeded to really come alive. I don't know if anything with a mediocre first third could end up in a 'best of' running, but it certainly does call their entire review methodology and scores, 'best of' or otherwise, into question.

... further question, that is. :r

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

So they rate a Nub cigar by just toasting the foot? :r

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

I may not know the extent of it, but I can see it's at least a few metric tons. -(P

Early days yet (ie. I'm not putting it in the top 25 based on the first half-inch alone :r), but I'm leaning that way, myself.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

For their purposes in deciding the top 10-12 or whatever. If a cigar SUCKS for the first third....put it down. I dont care about that. But if its going good finish it and then score it.

I also believe they give high ratings way too easily. Everything to them is a classic :sl :sl

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Predraw

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

On the contrary- if their policy is applied evenhandedly, Nub is getting the fairest shake. :r

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Yeah, I dislike how their rating system makes it impossible for a cigar to get less than a 70(I personally haven't seen less than a 75, but I'm sure there were a few out there), and damn near impossible to get higher than a 95. If you're only going to rate something in a 25 point range, just make it a rating out of 25 instead of adding to each rating to make them seem higher.

Brooks basically states my opinion here, more or less, so I won't make you all suffer through another explanation of the same exact thing

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

#7 Cabaiguan Guapo
MADE BY: My Father Cigars S.A
FACTORY LOCATION: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Ecuador
BINDER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Nicaragua
PRICE: $11.00
RING GAUGE: 54
LENGTH: 5 5/8"
RATING: 93

#6 Rocky Patel Fifteenth Anniversary Torpedo
MADE BY: Tabacalera Villa Cuba (Tavicusa)
FACTORY LOCATION: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Nicaragua
BINDER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Ecuador
PRICE: $10.75
RING GAUGE: 52
LENGTH: 6 1/8"
RATING: 93

#5 Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Exclusivo Maduro
MADE BY: Tabacos Cubanica S.A.
FACTORY LOCATION: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Nicaragua
BINDER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Nicaragua
PRICE: $10.90
RING GAUGE: 50
LENGTH: 5 1/2"
RATING: 94

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Well-said. I dislike all numbered rating systems, but starting at 70 seems specious at best, and deceptive at worst.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

:r

Why did I just know that a RP would make the top 10?

Watch for a Puros Indios in the top 5.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

#4 Partagás Serie P No. 2
Box Code: March 2011

MADE BY: Habanos S.A.
FACTORY LOCATION: Cuba
WRAPPER: Cuba
BINDER: Cuba
FILLER: Cuba
PRICE: £18.06
RING GAUGE: 52
LENGTH: 6 1/8"
RATING: 94

#3 Illusione Epernay Le Taureau
MADE BY: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L.
FACTORY LOCATION: Honduras
WRAPPER: Nicaragua
BINDER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Nicaragua
PRICE: $11.25
RING GAUGE: 56
LENGTH: 5 1/2"
RATING: 94

#2 La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Belicoso
MADE BY: My Father Cigars S.A.
FACTORY LOCATION: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Mexico
BINDER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Nicaragua
PRICE: $7.75
RING GAUGE: 54
LENGTH: 5 1/2"
RATING: 95

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

If they are going to rank a cigar as the best of 2011, shouldn't it at least have a 2011 box code :sh

Punch Double Corona

Box Code: June 2010

MADE BY: Habanos S.A.
FACTORY LOCATION: Cuba
WRAPPER: Cuba
BINDER: Cuba
FILLER: Cuba
PRICE: £20.76
RING GAUGE: 49
LENGTH: 7 5/8"
RATING: 93

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

I think it just has to be a cigar they reviewed in 2011

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

:D

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Only 2 out of the 9 best cigars in the world are Cuban, according to them. The rest of the list reads like a list of their advertisers.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Don't forget that Altadis owns 50% of Habanos SA, so technically all of the top 10 are advertisers

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Might not have hit the retail chain until 2011. :sh

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

[quote=BigAsh;1520401]#7 Cabaiguan Guapo
MADE BY: My Father Cigars S.A
FACTORY LOCATION: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Ecuador
BINDER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Nicaragua
PRICE: $11.00
RING GAUGE: 54
LENGTH: 5 5/8"
RATING: 93

I had this stick in the corona size and it was fantastic but alas that was only one.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

Well, presumably, the 9 best would be #1 - 9. So far, we've seen #2 - 10. Maybe first place will go to a tie between 13 different Habanos vitolas. -(P

To be fair to them, it also reads a hell of a lot like a lot of other year-end top 10 lists I've seen on major blogs and review sites around the Web.

Re: Cigar aficianado best of 2011...
 

What a waste of letters, really. It's nice that Rocky is cranking out world class cigars, though.

I would FAR rather see Brook's top ten. By a longshot.