Cigar Aficionado releases their Top 25 cigars of 2011

Every year, as most cigar publications (online and offline) release their top lists, there’s one list that probably gets more attention than others. Cigar Aficionado, a major cigar magazine, knows how to create a lot of buzz for its controversial “best of”. What do I think about their list? For me, it’s just a list like any other bloggers’ lists out there, i.e. a totally subjective opinion that doesn’t pretend to be the ultimate truth and shouldn’t be considered as such.

Cigar smokers may ask themselves how come the Alec Bradley Prensado, a definitely good smoke but rarely qualified as exceptional, can earn the #1 spot, but I say why not (congrats, guys!)? For instance, Cigarfan, a highly-respected BOTL, ranked it as his #2. By the way, his #1 is Cigar Aficionado’s #2. We may also wonder why the CA’s list only has two four Cuban cigars, with the Partagas Serie P No. 2 taking up the 4th spot, is this the right proportion? Not really, at least for me. But everybody is free to determine his/her own proportions and favorites, so like every year I’ll scan the list, add a couple of smokes to my “gotta try it” basket, and move on.