I'm moving this post over from the CCs forum. (Never took much note of this one before; doh!) Anyhoo, I've commented before that what box dates are provided for the mag ratings section often are much older than I commonly see from my suppliers. In the current issue there are a few 2006 examples, but there is also a rating on a Partagas 8-9-8 (unvarnished) of January 2000. That seems pretty vintage. Does anybody know who supplies the cigars used in ratings tests? And where are they smoked -- here or abroad or both?

OK, no doubt it's poor form of me to double post instead of just quietly going away. But ... is there a reason the eds. are unable or unwilling to reply in any fashion to this post? Even a "no comment" would be better than dead air. Thanks ...

quote:

Does anybody know who supplies the cigars used in ratings tests?

They don't want to tell you their source.

It's also possible that CA has been holding on to this box for a few years.

quote:

Originally posted by kwijibo:
It's also possible that CA has been holding on to this box for a few years.

That was always my assumption. I wish that CA would leave the older box dates to the connoisseur's corner. I'd like to see the standard reviews left to currently available production.

I imagine they get most of their cigars from Havana House in Canada.

I find most of their less popular cigars share similar dates with what we have on shelf at La Casa Toronto.

The recent El Morro review for example. Same box date. Mmmm, pencil lead. *cough*