This week, we unveil the winners of the Cigar Coop Coalition’s Prime Time Awards for 2023. This is the tenth consecutive year we are presenting them.
In the past week, you have seen performance data based on the reviews done. For the most part, that is a look at how I personally scored cigars. The Prime Time Awards go deeper. The awards involve Cigar Coop Coalition Team members and allow intangibles to also be factored in. Much to the chagrin of many, this is a subjective exercise.
In terms of the process, we use a two-stage voting process. In the first stage, each voting panelist can submit up to three nominations in the five Prime Time Award categories. The nominations are consolidated into a list of finalists. In the second stage, each host submits a weighted ballot of up to five candidates from the list of finalists. The weighted vote gave five points for first place, four points for second place, three points for third place, two for fourth place, and one for fifth place. The votes were tallied up, and the candidate with the most votes was declared the winner. In the event of a tie (there were none in 2023), the panel would go through a tie-breaker vote.
The panel votes on five categories. The “Company” and “Factory” are divided between “Small/Medium” and “Large” designations. The categorization of these sizes is done in advance of the nominations and is revisited on a yearly basis. While not an exact science, we look very closely at many parameters about the company or factory. The panel also votes for a “Person of the Year.” Voting is considered on a calendar year basis. In this case, January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
One unique thing to Cigar Coop compared to some media entities is that no adjustments are made following the vote. Every voting member’s vote is counted, and I believe we are the only media site that has full disclosure on how the final voting went.
The winner of the weighted vote wins the Prime Time Award. Plaques will go to the Prime Time Award winner, the top three cigars from the 2023 Countdown, and the Best Cigar Value Award.
The following are the five categories of the Prime Time Awards, with the date each winner will be announced:
- 1/23/2024: Small/Medium Factory of the Year
- 1/24/2024: Large Factory of the Year
- 1/25/2024: Small/Medium Company of the Year
- 1/26/2024: Large Company of the Year
- 1/29/2024: Person of the Year
