Dear Editors,

Ive noticed during most tasting notes you will specify if it is a natural or maduro wrapper (the 1964 Padron Ani for example)

However in the top 25 list, the 1926 line is not specified as natural or maduro - nor is it done in the video.

I was just curious if we are to assume something is a natural wrapper unless otherwise specified - since the picture of the 1926 serie box appeared to be "naturals".

I wondered the same thing. I did read somewhere on this site where it was the natural wrapper. That info may have been from an insider article.

I purchased a full box of naturals as its my annual habit to purchase a box of the #1 CA of the year. They were very expensive so I hope I purchased the correct wrapper. I have yet to try a #9, but last years Bolivar RC was well worth the investment.

The cigar has a natural wrapper. If a cigar is available in more than one wrapper variety, and we don't specify a wrapper in a tasting note, we're talking about the natural wrapper. If it were maduro, we would have added the word "maduro." Hope this helps.

Bamawrx, I like your tradition of buying a box of our cigar of the year each year. Are you aging the cigars?

quote:

I purchased a full box of naturals as its my annual habit to purchase a box of the #1 CA of the year. They were very expensive so I hope I purchased the correct wrapper. I have yet to try a #9, but last years Bolivar RC was well worth the investment.

Did you get a box of the 1926 40th Anniversary too? 40 Cigars for $1000 retail. Those were pretty rare with the hand-painted humidors, only 200 made, I think.

quote:

Originally posted by David Savona:
The cigar has a natural wrapper. If a cigar is available in more than one wrapper variety, and we don't specify a wrapper in a tasting note, we're talking about the natural wrapper. If it were maduro, we would have added the word "maduro." Hope this helps.

Bamawrx, I like your tradition of buying a box of our cigar of the year each year. Are you aging the cigars?

David,

Yes, I am aging the cigars. I do sample them to establish a baseline, but I have not sampled the #9 yet. I just can't break the cello! In a couple years I hope to have a nice collection of #1's by the box.

I am working past years, but that may be a challenge. Do you have any advice on buying past winners with current production or should I attempt to purchase the correct years stock?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: David Savona,

quote:

Originally posted by Boknows:

quote:

I purchased a full box of naturals as its my annual habit to purchase a box of the #1 CA of the year. They were very expensive so I hope I purchased the correct wrapper. I have yet to try a #9, but last years Bolivar RC was well worth the investment.

Did you get a box of the 1926 40th Anniversary too? 40 Cigars for $1000 retail. Those were pretty rare with the hand-painted humidors, only 200 made, I think.

No I did not get the 40th's. I popped in a cigar store for the first time on a whim that a little bird told me had a nice selection of Padrons. I noticed a couple boxes up in the storage section of the humidor, and I had to request a step ladder to inspect. Much to my surprise I found the box of #9's. The lady at the cashier was none the wiser, and did not attempt to enforce a per customer limit. I also got a 10% full box discount! Ha!

Dear Editors,
I love the Cigar Aficionado Top 25 and look forward to it every year. Despite some backlash, I find it a great, informative in-depth look at some of the years best cigars. Especially with the website content. You guys really got it RIGHT with the Padron #9 Natural - that is my FAVORITE cigar!! (although I don't get the Camacho Select?) Give us more cigar material in each issue, especially of this type.
Respect to the guy that buys a box of the #1 every year...
Why was the Padron 80th left off? too much of a good thing?
Great work on the website, it really is updated well with a lot of content!!

All the best guys.

quote:

Originally posted by bamawrx:

quote:

Originally posted by David Savona:
The cigar has a natural wrapper. If a cigar is available in more than one wrapper variety, and we don't specify a wrapper in a tasting note, we're talking about the natural wrapper. If it were maduro, we would have added the word "maduro." Hope this helps.

Bamawrx, I like your tradition of buying a box of our cigar of the year each year. Are you aging the cigars?

David,

Yes, I am aging the cigars. I do sample them to establish a baseline, but I have not sampled the #9 yet. I just can't break the cello! In a couple years I hope to have a nice collection of #1's by the box.

I am working past years, but that may be a challenge. Do you have any advice on buying past winners with current production or should I attempt to purchase the correct years stock?

What a wonderful project. Good luck to you.

Our ratings reflect the stock at the time of the test, but you shouldn't see too much fluctuation with the caliber of our winners. Going back in my head, Padrón cigars are remarkably consistent, so I wouldn't fret about buying a 40th anniversary made today rather than one made two years ago (although the older one would have the obvious benefits of age), I think the winner from two years ago, the Fuente Fuente OpusX Double Corona, is still smoking wonderfully today, so no worries there. The one dark horse is the Bolivar Royal Corona, as Cuban cigars tend to have, in my opinion, much greater swings in quality than those made by Padron or Fuente.

(I hit the wrong button, and these comments originally appeared within your post, that's why it shows that your post was edited by me.)

quote:

Originally posted by TomHagen:
Dear Editors,
I love the Cigar Aficionado Top 25 and look forward to it every year. Despite some backlash, I find it a great, informative in-depth look at some of the years best cigars. Especially with the website content. You guys really got it RIGHT with the Padron #9 Natural - that is my FAVORITE cigar!! (although I don't get the Camacho Select?) Give us more cigar material in each issue, especially of this type.
Respect to the guy that buys a box of the #1 every year...
Why was the Padron 80th left off? too much of a good thing?
Great work on the website, it really is updated well with a lot of content!!

All the best guys.

Thank you Tom, and I'm glad you have enjoyed the Padrón, the rest of our Top 25 and the website.

The Padrón 80 was left off because of its release date. It didn't hit the market until November 22. Our superb tasting coordinator, Gregory Mottola, was able to buy some and get them into the December 4 issue of Cigar Insider, where they rated 95 points. But by that time we had already concluded the Top 25 project, which involved several rounds of smoking. It was simply too late to get it into this year's ranking.

It will be eligible for the 2008 Top 25 listing, however.