RASS scores #2 in Cigar Aficionado cigar of the year!

[TheLiquidGator]

My Father #4 is a goodie.

[UnofficialGhost]

IIRC, the RASS they smoked were from 2013.

Also of importance, their criteria is to only smoke the first third of the cigar. Something about the key flavor components being within that first 1/3rd. Also, if the first 1/3rd is crap, then why would they smoke the remainder.

Reminds me that I have 1/2 a box of RASS from 2013 that I haven't dipped into in a while.

[UnofficialGhost]

https://www.reddit.com/r/cigars/comments/3wt19a/ama_david_savona_executive_editor_of_cigar/cxywdlv

Link regarding how much of the cigar they smoke.

"The cigars we originally smoked and rated earlier in the year were from a box stamped with a 2013 production date. The Specially Selected cigars we revisited for the Top 25 test were from 2014and they were quite magnificent.

Combination of 2013 and 2014 went into the decision, it seems. No 2015s mentioned though (Which I'm personally a fan of)."

[helix]

Is what it is the CA top 25 . I do love a good RASS .

[danny]

It's funny but in the article, it list the 2013 box being rated first with a 2014 box rated for the Top 25, but in the video David Savona says 2015 and 2014 were the boxes (unless I heard incorrectly). Either way, a very good smoke and an all-time favorite. But I do agree other cigars were much more deserving and list like these are always subjective (especially w/ marketing dollars involved)

[PapaDisco]

That's like Playboy only publishing pictures of ugly chicks. Somewhat defeats the whole purpose.

Yes, well, Playboy's not even going to do that anymore! http://www.businessinsider.com/playboy-magazine-will-no-longer-feature-nude-women-in-its-print-edition-2015-10

[laficion]

RASS scores #2 in Cigar Aficionado cigar of the year!

Tells us exactly what?

Hi all,

CA Is one thing but CIGAR JOURNAL Is an other. Well; they came out with their list.

No. - 19 GURKHA ??

No. - 20 Vegas Robaina ???

Now how do you want us to take them seriously ?????????

Guy

[Professor Twain]

I'm a big fan of RA and I'm glad that it came out high on the CA ratings this year. It's shocking that it hasn't made it in the past.

Every year I look at the CA Top 25 and usually try to sample the top 5-10 rated cigars if I haven't tried them. Some of them are awful but I have found some great cigars I wouldn't have known about. The 2014 #1, Oliva Melanio V, is really a tasty cigar. I bought several singles and liked them so much that I got a box.

Cigar Aficionado is where most Americans will get their take on Cuban cigars. It's where American cigar smokers who aren't into Habanos will get their clues about where to start. Their current stance is that Habanos has some great cigars but they don't necessarily stand out among the full panoply of cigars.

I get a free subscription every year from unused frequent flyer miles. I'll keep doing that. And I hope that a few of the top rated cigars from this year turn out to be winners.

[LeafLover]

It's a business. Good for them if they still have subscribers and manufacturers to buy ad space.

Their top 25 is fine by me. That's how they called it. And if I'm ever in a B&M I just might try one on their list to see what the fuss is. I see their lists/rankings as more of a "Hmmmmm...I wonder what that tastes like." Rather than a "Oh hell no, that doesn't belong on that list!"

[danny]

I'm baffled by the remainder of the Top 25. I'm sure they're good smokes but to not have any of the gems that came out of Cuba this year is amazing to me. I guess I can't say that I'm surprised but still. RASS and BBF.... and that's all. Wow.

[forgop]

It's a business. Good for them if they still have subscribers and manufacturers to buy ad space.

Their top 25 is fine by me. That's how they called it. And if I'm ever in a B&M I just might try one on their list to see what the fuss is. I see their lists/rankings as more of a "Hmmmmm...I wonder what that tastes like." Rather than a "Oh hell no, that doesn't belong on that list!"

And by doing this, you're doing exactly what their marketing dollars buying a spot in the top 25 is meant to do for you and a million other cigar smokers.

[Fugu]

I'm baffled by the remainder of the Top 25. I'm sure they're good smokes but to not have any of the gems that came out of Cuba this year is amazing to me. I guess I can't say that I'm surprised but still. RASS and BBF.... and that's all. Wow.

They simply haven't smoked them.

[RijkdeGooier]

https://www.reddit.com/r/cigars/comments/3wt19a/ama_david_savona_executive_editor_of_cigar/cxywdlv

Link regarding how much of the cigar they smoke.

"The cigars we originally smoked and rated earlier in the year were from a box stamped with a 2013 production date. The Specially Selected cigars we revisited for the Top 25 test were from 2014and they were quite magnificent.

Combination of 2013 and 2014 went into the decision, it seems. No 2015s mentioned though (Which I'm personally a fan of)."

And here I sit still not opening my 2011 until after 2015 ends ???

[garbandz]

And then,towards the back of each issue,they rub your face in it by smoking and rating cuban cigars you will never even SEE ,up to 100 points.

And I bet you they smoke the WHOLE CIGAR,not just 1/3...

[perkinke]

It's always funny the number of guys who say they hate the ratings but can't quit talking about them year after year. If you read the reddit link where they explain the methodology then I think we can quit with the "all about advertising" excuse. It's like England fans whining about bad luck in penalty kicks when the team just wasn't good enough to start with. The "flaw" in their methodology that short changes Cubans is to only place the single best cigar from each brand. While many NC manufacturers have multiple brands (drew estate was mentioned) the CC marcas do not. If they changed that portion of their methodology we might see a few more, but maybe not. Think of the number of cigars rob has told us have been wildly inconsistent over the last couple years.

[shlomo]

A magazine telling us their top cigars of the year, is no different than a member of this forum or even Rob telling us his cigars of the year....one, or a few peoples opinions. Take it for what it is. Enjoy it, or dont. No reason to bash it. Better yet, stop being sheeple and form your own opinions based on your own experiences. No reason not to try everything and see for yourself.....

[luv2fly]

I take it with a grain or two of salt and formulate my own opinion.

[Fugu]

A magazine telling us their top cigars of the year, is no different than a member of this forum or even Rob telling us his cigars of the year....one, or a few peoples opinions. Take it for what it is. Enjoy it, or dont. No reason to bash it. Better yet, stop being sheeple and form your own opinions based on your own experiences. No reason not to try everything and see for yourself.....

Absolutely not the same for me.

Checking up my post in the first page of this thread (#21), you might understand what I mean (in a nutshell: averaging rating of a “jury board” versus personal assessment).

And one cannot smoke and test everything, so some, I’d call it inspiration rather than guidance from people with a similar taste like your own comes in handy at times. That's what I take for me from this forum or personal blogs. But a mag rating is plain useless to me.

With Rob’s 25 it is yet another take, since – to my understanding – Rob rates not only taste but in particular also what he found to be the best in terms of quality/consistency for a given production year (“consistency of quality and of course flavour” R.A.). And this from cigars across a whole year or more, from several boxes and not just two or three piffling singles.

And again, you always know who’s talking….

[shlomo]

Absolutely not the same for me.

Checking up my post in the first page of this thread (#21), you might understand what I mean (in a nutshell: averaging rating of a “jury board” versus personal assessment).

And one cannot smoke and test everything, so some, I’d call it inspiration rather than guidance from people with a similar taste like your own comes in handy at times. That's what I take for me from this forum or personal blogs. But a mag rating is plain useless to me.

With Rob’s 25 it is yet another take, since – to my understanding – Rob rates not only taste but in particular also what he found to be the best in terms of quality/consistency for a given production year (“consistency of quality and of course flavour” R.A.). And this from cigars across a whole year or more, from several boxes and not just two or three piffling singles.

And again, you always know who’s talking….

Its all good man. Follow who/what you want to follow.

[SCgarman]

A magazine telling us their top cigars of the year, is no different than a member of this forum or even Rob telling us his cigars of the year....one, or a few peoples opinions. Take it for what it is. Enjoy it, or dont. No reason to bash it. Better yet, stop being sheeple and form your own opinions based on your own experiences. No reason not to try everything and see for yourself.....

RASS is one of my favorites and has been pretty darn consistent since my first TEB 08 box 7 years ago.

And you are right, CA ratings are merely an opinion as taste is subjective. No need to bash them, as they have a pretty darn good living, getting paid big bucks to smoke cigars and write articles.

[earthson]

CA and I finally see eye-to-eye (somewhat)! RASS is my number 2 cigar over all, so I thought this list wasn't so bad this year... maybe even a turnaround for CA in the eyes of true cigar aficionados. Until I saw CAO, Alec Bradley and Rocky Patel Edge made the list. Then it all made sense again. Same old CA. Their tastes and mine do not match up.

[aushy]

Has anybody actually tried the top cigar, the MY FATHER LE BIJOU 1922 TORPEDO BOX PRESSED? I haven't, but I did try a My Father No. 1 Robusto a couple months ago and was impressed.

It's always funny the number of guys who say they hate the ratings but can't quit talking about them year after year. If you read the reddit link where they explain the methodology then I think we can quit with the "all about advertising" excuse. It's like England fans whining about bad luck in penalty kicks when the team just wasn't good enough to start with. The "flaw" in their methodology that short changes Cubans is to only place the single best cigar from each brand. While many NC manufacturers have multiple brands (drew estate was mentioned) the CC marcas do not. If they changed that portion of their methodology we might see a few more, but maybe not. Think of the number of cigars rob has told us have been wildly inconsistent over the last couple years.

Do you have a link? If I understand you correctly, all that means is that NC brands have the potential to make the list multiple times whereas CC brands can only be on their once. But I don't see why that matters, a good cigar is a good cigar.

[perkinke]

Has anybody actually tried the top cigar, the MY FATHER LE BIJOU 1922 TORPEDO BOX PRESSED? I haven't, but I did try a My Father No. 1 Robusto a couple months ago and was impressed.

Do you have a link? If I understand you correctly, all that means is that NC brands have the potential to make the list multiple times whereas CC brands can only be on their once. But I don't see why that matters, a good cigar is a good cigar.

It's in the Reddit AMA that is linked above. And NC BRANDS cannot make multiple appearances, but MANUFACTURERS could. For instance, drew estate could have a liga privada 9 and the norteno, but could NOT have the liga privada t52 and the no. 9 in the same list. Similarly Habanos SA could have the the RASS and Cohiba robusto but not the RASS and the gigantes.