The top 25 from CA

[ashauler]

What do you guys think about the rankings this year?
http://www.cigaraficionado.com/top25/show

I'm surprised that the Camacho was #5, not to say it's not a good cigar and one I smoke fairly often, but 5th best of the year? The Airbender should have been higher imo. Power Ranger at #3 is kinda odd to me as well.

Haven't had the #1 - 2 - 8 - 9 cigars yet. Need to get smokin', though I don't think I'll ever get the Behike.

[badwhale]

It's easier for me to say which ones I have had, and if I go by the specific vitola, it gets even thinner.

Torano 50th is pretty damn good, however I didn't have the box press. Opus xXx? #3? Meh. I didn't have the Padron 45th natural, but the maduro was a dissapointment to me.

I wasn't overly impressed with the Air Bender everyone raves about.

Casa magna should have been higher, but again, I've not had that vitola.

Prensado's pretty good.

I don't know, I just don't put much stock in CA's ratings, plus to rate something like the VSG Eclipse, just because it's a new vitola for this year, seems lame to me. VSG line, great cigar, stop rating it year after year.

Will

[heftysmokes]

...plus to rate something like the VSG Eclipse, just because it's a new vitola for this year, seems lame to me. VSG line, great cigar, stop rating it year after year.

Will

Would the list be better, do you think, if it was the top 25 new cigars?

[Paddy]

Not that I am an expert in anything...But I don't put much weight into CA rankings.
The seem to give high numbers to advertisers. Don't get me wrong. I do smoke a
Te-Amo from time to time. But they cosistently rank Turrent cigars 90+.
I have had a few Triple Plays. They are not a top 25 cigar of the year.

[badwhale]

Would the list be better, do you think, if it was the top 25 new cigars?

Bastard!!!! Feel my wrath!!!!!

Yeah, I guess it is a new cigar....I kinda agree with Paddy, that I sense they cater to the advertisers.

Will

[heftysmokes]

Bastard!!!! Feel my wrath!!!!!

Yeah, I guess it is a new cigar....I kinda agree with Paddy, that I sense they cater to the advertisers.

Will

I agree with you and the advertising bent.

[badwhale]

So....4 people on a cigar board have an opinion on CA's list? WTF.

Will

[Eville]

I'm not sure I even smoked 25 cigars in 2010, so all I can say is that the couple of them that I had on that list were good. Exactly how good they were in relation to the others, I can't really comment on that.

[Alcibiates]

Talked about the list with my cigar guy for a while the other day. Ended up buying a box of the Opus because I had a 3 year aged XXX, courtesy of funkycold, and it was amazing. Figured it would be a worthwhile investment. The #1 is a cuban, sadly, but none of us had ever heard of or seen the #2... leaving the Opus as the heir to the #1 spot in my mind, so I went for it.

Also picked up the Camacho, Epernay, and the Air bender.

The Camacho would be one of my favorite smokes if it wasn't quite so long--It took me a solid two hours to finish it off.

The Epernay was a solid, good smoke, but it just didn't have the qualities I would expect from a top 10 cigar, especially one so expensive--although, to be fair, I'm not a fan of Nicaragua tobacco, in general.

I've yet to get to the air bender, but I'm quite excited about it.

Has anyone tried the punch grand cru (#13)? It sounds exciting, but at the price point ($11 msrp) I feel there are better cigars to be had.

[badwhale]

snip
The Epernay was a solid, good smoke, but it just didn't have the qualities I would expect from a top 10 cigar, especially one so expensive--although, to be fair, I'm not a fan of Nicaragua tobacco, in general.

Has anyone tried the punch grand cru (#13)? It sounds exciting, but at the price point ($11 msrp) I feel there are better cigars to be had.

For me, any of the Illusiones are not typical of Nicaraguan tobacco. Maybe it's just me.

I've not had the punch, however I did find myself staring at it while looking through the list. Hmmmm

Will

[nhcigarfan]

Tried a viaje, it was good, strong. Never tried the #1 and the green back needs to make some headway against the Euro before I ever do.

[Devil Doc]

I don't pay much attention. I've been smoking cigars since 1971 and I know what I like and that's what I smoke. My days of chasing the latest and greatest ended with a bad taste in my mouth during the cigar boom and I've never forgiven CA for that. Their methodology is flawed and you can't trust anyone who accepts advertising dollars.

Doc

[WinstonSpencer]

So....4 people on a cigar board have an opinion on CA's list? WTF.

Will

I think the lack of response speaks volumes about the members here. Personally, I can't really take CA seriously. I feel the same way about Wine Spectator too. Even down to the oversized issues. I am guilty of reading the occasional issue in B&N but I'll never (ok, very rarely) pay for an issue.

As far as my opinions on the cigars, I can't say too much. I'd been slacking in the cigar department in 2010.

My chances of coming across a Behike are slim.

I'm a sucker for Opus X. I've only ever had a couple but theres just something about them. It's not surprising at all to see one in CA. It doesn't even really matter which vitola it is. But xXx is pretty catchy; shit load of nick-names, cult status, blah blah blah.

I heard quite a few positive comments about Illusione from the members here in 2010 so it seems appropriate they make an appearance in the top 25.

I really enjoyed the CT 50 yr. Haven't smoked a box-press though.

I also heard quite a bit about Oliva Vs last year and managed to enjoy a hand full of lanceros myself.

I think Casa Magna deserved the mention as well.

Specific ranking doesn't mean shit. Except for maybe #1.