I've got every issue of Cigar Aficionado from the beginning. It's lots of fun to look back at the prices and ratings of cigars. Sure, some of the snobbery wants to make me puke. (Private jets, custom shoes, etc. that they redo every few years.)
They do "The Hottest Cigars in America" every year. They sent questionnaires to over 2000 retailers. They published the results from a return of only 60 some odd retailers. I sent them an e-mail about how crappy that sampling was, but I never heard from them.
I had sent them another e-mail about a story on their website. Two of the editors where having dinner next to an elderly couple. The editor was miffed that the couple complained over their extensive use of the "F-word". I wrote and told them gentlemen don't use that word in a family dining establishment. Again, no response.
I find that every issue has one good piece about the industry. The rest is crap.
I also get Cigar Magazine. I love the articles about people in the business.
The reviews are useless. I really don't care to know that a Belinda
almost beat a Casa Blanca in a review.
I gave up on Smoke a long time ago. Useless reviews of cigars from their advertisers is not what I want.
Cigar Cult is a fine magazine, but I don't often get it because it makes me want too much of what I can't have. I do get a big kick about the NC's that are selling like hotcakes in Europe. Vegas Fina? Mmmm, not.
Having something solid in your hands to read is great. (Get a bunch of catalogs every month.+
IMHO the best resource of information is Rich Perelman's Cigarcyclopedia.
Fresh news almost every day with the latest
cigar business news. New cigar releases, sales, trends, business profiles, all the good stuff is there.
Free on-line for the taking and it's like getting a magazine every day.
It is fun to read a magazine, but you're gonna learn lot more at the Asylum before it comes out in print. This site is a true testament to the wisdom of all here.
