Note quite Cigar Coop’s Cigar of the Year countdown, but Cigar Aficionado’s list is still pretty much the industry’s barameter for Cigar of the Year. I’ve had my issues with this list because:
- I don’t think you can rate Cuban Cigars when the majority of your readership has no legal access to these sticks. Cigar Aficionado does this.
- I don’t think rating a new Vitola for an existing blend is something that should be done. I will be doing a separate “New Vitola of the Year”
- My perception of the list is that the Indie Cigars have not been given due justice when the cigars have been made
Nonetheless, I am predicting that the original La Traviata (released 2009) by CAO Cigars willl top the list. This was my #2 Cigar for 2009. This stick missed the deadline by Cigar Aficionado to qualify for their 2009 list, but I do believe they will top the list for 2010.
While I have my issues with the list, this is still newsworthy and I’ll be monitoring this in January.
The schedule is:
- Monday, Jan. 3: Cigars No. 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6
- Tuesday, Jan. 4: Cigars No. 5, 4, 3 and 2
- Wednesday, Jan. 5: Cigar No. 1
- Thursday, Jan. 6: Remainder of the Top 25
- Friday Jan 7: Best Bargain Cigars of 2010
