The Performance Rankings were introduced in 2012 as a statistical analysis based on the average numerical score of all cigars assessed on Cigar Coop. Today we slice this data by vitola size and shape. This is not meant to be necessarily an award, but a look at how scoring went, and what can we learn from it.
For 2017, a total of 205 (down from 243 in 2016) cigars were considered for this analysis. The average score for these cigars was 90.84. (Statistically, this was almost equivalent to 2016, when the average was 90.80)
- The cigar must have its score published during the 2017 Cigar Coop Cigar Year that ran from November 25, 2016, to November 23, 2017.
- All cigars scored were eligible regardless of release date. The goal here is to see how a vitola performed during the Cigar Coop Cigar Year.
- For this analysis, sampling data was broken up into three sets: Small (5 Cigars or Less), Medium (6 to 20 Cigars), and Large (Greater than 20 Cigars).
- Robusto Grande and Toro Grande were split apart from Robusto and Toro respectively- with the Grande size having a 54 to 56 greater ring gauge.
- Gordos had 58 and 60 ring gauge.
- Regardless of ring gauge or length, all sizes of Torpedo, Perfecto, and Gordo were each put into a single category.
- Box Pressed cigars were not separated out and were included with the rounded vitolas.
For each of the sample sets below, the number of cigars in the set is listed in parentheses.
Large Sample Sets (> 20 Cigars Reviewed)
.
| Rank |
Brand |
Score |
| 1 | Toro Grande (23) | 91.04 |
| 2 | Robusto (44) | 91.00 |
| 3 | Toro (48) | 90.71 |
Medium Sample Sets (6 to 20 Cigars Reviewed)
.
| Rank |
Brand |
Score |
| 1 | Rothschild (8) | 91.38 |
| 2 | Churchill (6) | 91.00 |
| 3 | Robusto Grande (7) | 90.57 |
| 4 | Torpedo (16) | 90.56 |
| 5 | Perfecto (9) | 90.44 |
| 6 | Gordo (14) | 90.14 |
Small Sample Sets (<=5 Cigars Reviewed)
.
| Rank |
Brand |
Score |
| 1 | Short Churchill (3) | 93.00 |
| 2 | 109 (2) | 92.00 |
| Short Panatela (1) | 92.00 | |
| 4 | Lancero (3) | 91.87 |
| 5 | Corona Gorda(5) | 91.60 |
| 6 | Misc Figurado (4) | 91.25 |
| 7 | Ninfa (1) | 91.00 |
| 8 | Petite Corona (4) | 90.75 |
| 9 | A (1) | 90.00 |
| Corona (2) | 90.00 | |
| Petite Robusto (2) | 90.00 | |
| 12 | Lonsdale (2) | 89.50 |
| 13 | Culebra (1) | 89 |
Assessing the Results
- In terms of the large sampling sets, basically Toro Grande and Robusto were in pretty much a statistical tie, but Toro Grande had the actual edge 91.04 to 91.00. This is the second year that Toro Grande led the large results category, but it was down slightly from 91.34.
- Only three lanceros were reviewed in 2017 as opposed to 15 in 2016. Most of the Cigar Coop focus is on newer cigars, and in the post-regulation months, we can infer there was a downturn in lancero releases. There was only one lancero on the 2017 Countdown compared to five in 2016.
- Last year we assessed nine cigars as “Super Gordo” (62 ring gauge and above). This year, we assessed none. Like lanceros, we’re inferring a decrease in these size releases as well.
- For whatever reason, Rothschild cigars were on the upswing. This year, we assessed eight as opposed to three. The average score was 91.38 – leading all cigars in the medium category. Rothschilds were helped by several having two in the top ten of the Countdown this year.
- Churchill also had a stronger year than previous years – up 0.8 points from 2016 in the medium category.
- The Smaller Sampling Set was included mostly for reference. The sample set is too small to make any significant trend conclusions.
