The 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is now in the annals of history, so it’s time for our post-game report. With the Countdown completed, it is time to look at two things:

A breakdown of the cigars on the Countdown by vitola, country of origin, factory, company, price, limited editions, which cigars were sponsored, and for which cigars on the Countdown samples were received.
Feedback that we received regarding the process of the Countdown.

The following is our list of the Top 30 Cigars for 2024:

2024 Cigar of the Year

The 2024 Cigar of the Year Post-Game Report

The following is a breakdown of the Top 30 Cigars in various categories. It is beneficial in many ways as a self-check on our progress.

Scoring

90 Point Scores – 22
91 Point Scores – 4
92 Point Scores – 4

The average score for a cigar on the Cigar Coop Countdown was 90.40 in 2024. This is slightly up from 90.37 in 2023. The scoring range spanned between 90 and 92 points. Fractional data is used behind the scenes but truncated for scoring purposes. We will have an average score review for the entire set of cigars reviewed in a later report.

Editor’s Comments

Over the past few years, Cigar Coop—The Magazine’s scoring criteria have remained the same, but the goal was to execute in a way that ensures a 90-point score is a “Standard of Excellence.” I believe we have reached that goal. However, I also think the cigar set reviewed in 2023 wasn’t as strong as in previous years. Ultimately, this led to a drop in scoring for cigars in the top ten.

The difference between average scores of 90.37 and 90.40 over the past year is a statistical tie.

Vitolas

Toro 7
Toro Grande 7
Robusto Grande 4
Corona 2
Corona Gorda 2
Lancero 2
Robusto 2
Firecracker 1
Gordo 1
Perfecto 1
Short Churchill 1

Notes: Toro and Robusto sizes are listed between 50 and 52 ring gauges, but Toro Grande and Robusto Grande are Toro and Robusto cigars with a 54 – 56 ring gauge. Box-pressed offerings were combined with parejo offerings.

Editor’s Comments

As expected, the Toro/Toro Grande and Robusto/Robusto Grande offerings dominated the Countdown, with 20 slots secured. This reflects the sizes most reviewed on Cigar Coop. For whatever reason, the traditional Robusto size was down.

No torpedo or belicoso vitolas landed on the Countdown for the second year in a row.

The two lanceros that landed in the Countdown were in the top three.

Country of Origin

Nicaragua – 16
Dominican Republic – 8
Honduras – 5
United States – 1

Editor’s Comments

Nicaragua’s total dominance of the Countdown has been well documented. However, Nicaragua is not as dominant as it was in the past. In 2022, Nicaragua had 20 cigars on the Countdown. In 2023, it was 17. Now it’s down to 16.

Factory

The following factories had multiple entries on the Countdown:

Three

Fábrica de Tabacos Aladino, SA
Tabacalera Perdomo

Two

Casa Carrillo
My Father Cigars SA
San Lotano
Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia

Editor’s Comments

In 2024, 21 different factories landed on the Countdown. Two factories, Fábrica de Tabacos Aladino, SA, and Tabacalera Perdomo, each produced three cigars. In both cases, they produced cigars for their brand/company, JRE Tobacco Co and Perdomo, respectively.

Companies

The following companies had multiple entries on the Countdown:

Three

JRE Tobacco Co.
Perdomo Cigars

Two

Altadis USA
Arturo Fuente
Espinosa Cigars

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Editor’s Comments

Twenty-three companies landed cigars on the Cigar Coop Countdown (down from 24 last year). JRE Tobacco Co. and Perdomo Cigars led the way, which was consistent with the factory’s performance.

Samples

Samples Received = 8
No Samples Received = 22

Editor’s Comments

One important note: Every cigar on the Countdown was repurchased even if we received a sample. We are still disclosing those cigars for which a review was conducted using samples.

Our goal continues to be to rely less on samples and reduce our dependence on them. This year, eight cigars received samples for an initial review, down from 13 last year. Eight of our top ten cigars did not receive samples from companies.

Only six cigars on the Countdown were samples provided by sponsors.

Price

The average price of a cigar on the Countdown was $21.67. This is an increase from $19.31 from last year’s Countdown. Here is the breakdown of cigars on the 2024 Countdown by price range.

$6.00 – $7.99 – 1
$8.00 – $9.99 – 2
$10.00 – $11.99 – 3
$12.00 – $13.99 – 9
$14.00 – $15.99 – 2
$16.00 – $17.99 – 4
$18.00 – $19.99 – 3
$20.00 – $24.99 – 2
$25.00 – $34.99 – 1
$35.00 – $59.99 – 0
Over $60.00 – 3

Editor’s Comments

Last year, the Countdown featured nine cigars priced over $20. This year, that number was reduced to six. Among them, three cigars were priced over $60, including the $100 Conviction by Rocky Patel Cigars. Conversely, last year’s countdown showcased nine cigars priced under $12, but that number has also been reduced to six this time.

Limited Editions

A limited edition refers to a product whose re-release date is uncertain. Annual limited editions featuring the identical cigar (same blend and size) do not qualify as limited editions; however, annual limited editions that vary in blend or size do.

Once again, 15 regular production cigars landed on the Countdown for the second year in a row.

Limited Editions – 8
Limited Production – 7
Regular/Ongoing Production – 15

Editor’s Comments

This year, a distinction was made between Limited Edition and Limited Production. Limited Editions were defined as true one-and-done releases (at least that we know about). Limited productions are produced less frequently. Regular productions are cigars that are primarily available for order by retailers.

2024 Cigar of the Year Post-Game Report FAQ

1-Most of the cigars on the Coop List are not 2024 releases

We have two key deadlines. A cigar must have been released before the 2023 Trade Show and must have been reviewed before October 31st. The idea is for “Johnny Come Lately” releases to NOT make the 2023 list. Generally, this system ensures that any cigar on the Countdown has been in the market for at least 100 days. This guarantees we have a minimum level of consistency regarding how long the cigar has been in the market.

I’ve heard the argument that Academy Awards do not go to old movies, but this is an argument one cannot apply to cigars. Cigars change over time due to aging, vintages change, and even, at times, factories change. All of these things affect a cigar.

2- Will you have a sampler consisting of some of your top cigars offered by a retailer?

This author and curator WILL NEVER do or endorse a retailer sampler for the Countdown list.

Although I understand that some media colleagues engage in this practice, I have chosen not to. We aim to avoid creating any impression that a cigar is included on our list solely because a retailer has it, as that would undermine the list’s integrity. This is a personal choice and not a criticism of other media organizations that may do this.

If you want to purchase the cigars on this list, check with several retailers. Most of them are attainable, and we can help you if you have any problems.

3- Why wasn’t Cigar XYZ or Company ABC on your list?

Easily the most common question we get from manufacturers and consumers every year. The answer is simple – the cigar didn’t meet the criteria or wasn’t good enough. If it met the requirements, then it wasn’t good enough.

This sounds like a cold response, but I think many cigar reviewers get hung up on explaining this. A lot of work is put into the Cigar Coop list. Everyone is not going to be happy. Everyone is not going to get a trophy. Some will want a bigger trophy. It’s reality. The day a cigar reviewer tries to make everyone happy is the day the reviewer should hang it up.

4-Why don’t you include Shop Exclusives on the Cigar of the Year Countdown?

There was a time when shop exclusives (only available at a single retailer) were included in the Countdown. This ended after the 2014 Countdown. I’ve never reconsidered for three reasons:

First, our readership shows minimal interest in single-store releases. They only made up 0.2% of our traffic for 2024. We don’t review or report on many news stories about them. There are a few exceptions, but generally, this isn’t an area we spend time on.
Second, manufacturers and some retailers have shown little commitment to providing information to cigar media on this. Many manufacturers prefer not to waste their marketing efforts on limited-distribution releases, and many retailers are not focused on press releases. Without timely and accurate information, we will not invest resources in it.
Finally, and most importantly, the “home shop” or “preferred shop” advantage exists. In many cases, reviewers frequent local shops and/or have retailers they regularly purchase from. Often, shop exclusive cigars come from those retailers a reviewer interacts with. This author has the same type of relationship. That could create an unfair advantage for local or preferred shops, and since it’s challenging to cover every retailer, we’ve chosen not to include shop exclusives on the Countdown.

5-This cigar was on the list because it was sponsored or a sample was received

Cigar Coop discloses and publishes this data. Sponsorship and samples are a part of being in cigar media. We need sponsorship to keep the lights on. We have been very transparent and worked to keep things fair. As the audience, you will be the ultimate judge if you feel the cigar was worthy to be on the list or in a particular spot. Look at our data above, then make your own assessment on this topic.

We will also publish a complete list in the next few days, including sponsors and sample data for all cigars reviewed over the past year.