Seems odd how CAO Visons rated "middle of the road" (88 avg rating in CI, 90 for the Prana) earlier in the year, and now somehow jump into the top 10..... did CAO send CA some special sticks just for the Top 25?

quote:

Originally posted by Smartman:
Seems odd how CAO Visons rated "middle of the road" (88 avg rating in CI, 90 for the Prana) earlier in the year, and now somehow jump into the top 10..... did CAO send CA some special sticks just for the Top 25?

I have no reason to doubt that CA buys their cigars at retail, as claimed.

However, I would be interested in knowing whether the photo of the CAO Vision was taken by them, or is a publicity photo supplied by CAO.

Because that CAO Vision looks nothing like the ones I saw from RTDA.

The cigars were bought at retail.

Good question about the photos--those are taken by us, as with all of the photos you see in any tasting section of the magazine.

quote:

Originally posted by did64:
Have never had one of these gaudy visions, so won't comment

I just find it funny the number of Montecristo and Cohiba CCs on the top 25 lists to the exclusion of almost every other cuban marca. (The Bolivar RC last year is the obvious exception).

I think it can be reductive to have so few people tasting the cigars as they quite clearly have very defined preferences for certain flavour profiles. What about Ramon Allones? SCdlH? I could go on.

IMHO Extensioncord's poll for the best smoke of 2007, by its very nature, has more authority.

I was going to be a b!tchy but I won't. The magazine is comprised of a few editors who run the tests. That is what it is about. There will always be disagreements.

I like that I disagree with some of their Top 25. It makes me try new things.

I never participated in Cord's Top List. But I can't imagine how a Padron didn't make it.
That is my rant for this thread.

Can't wait til Friday!

Sure that's how it's done. And to be fair I don't doubt that Savona, Suckling et al know more about cigars than I ever will. I just find it dull that the same brands make it on year after year.

And I like the democratizing of fine cigars that ECord's poll brought. And when I try new cigars I'm more likely to go with the opinions of the many rather than the opinion of the few.

I don't know whether this post will make it on to the forum as every single one of my posts are apparently now being scrupulously censored by the powers that be. What's that about David?

I always wanted to try a Vision for kicks and giggles after reading EC's ongoing missive about how bad they sucked. Its just hard justify trying one out when I can get a VSG or Padron instead.

Wow, something to look foreword to in 2008. So many cigars, so little time! CA you're such a tease...

I have to agree with a lot of you unfortunately, the list does not seem realistic thusfar. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the Padron 80 will be at the top, though I personally feel that the Anniversaries are overrated and overpriced when compared to some other very good cigars. I'm sure CA will infuse the token 5 cubans that they usually place in the top 25 however I cannot believe that the CAO Vision is in the top 10, not realistic to me at all, someone made money on that one. I can't say a whole lot for the others but I don't hear much talk about the Dunhill or the Dominican HDM...

quote:

Originally posted by David Savona:
Tasting with the bands on (non-blind) makes a huge difference. It's very hard to be critical of a cigar that you have heard great things about, or may have smoked before and enjoyed. Also, it's very hard to heap praise on a cigar that you have heard is bad, or something with a name you've never heard of, etc.

David, I do agree... but you'd have to do it with your eyes closed and have someone hold it to your mouth to do it legitimately blind - I mean, all (certainly most) of the cigars are obvious (make and model) even without their bands.

How can you be doing it blind if you know what it is you are really smoking? Subconsciously, this has to affect your impression because you'd know what you're smoking.

quote:

Originally posted by signalhill323:
I always wanted to try a Vision for kicks and giggles after reading EC's ongoing missive about how bad they sucked. Its just hard justify trying one out when I can get a VSG or Padron instead.

Who knows? Maybe the cigar has improved. I'm with you -- never would I pay that.

I'd hate to be the editors at CA. They had to know they'd take abuse for picking the Vision in the Top 25...let alone the Top 10! On the other hand, in a blind tasting, the winners are whatever they turn out to be.

Here's a thought for next years Top 25. Do a side -by-side comparison, Editors Top 25 vs Consumers Top 25! I'd think CA could select a group of 5-10 well respected cigar consumers from the forums to receive un-banded cigars for rating. Results tabulated by a neutral 3rd party of course.

It would be very interesting to see the selections from consumers compared to the CA editors.

C'mon guys, why so much fuss for just one cigar? OK, many of you think it has no place in top ten, but the whole thread is about that and nothing else?
Nobody seems to pay any attention or comment the other picks. I personally have tried only the Cohiba Maduro and think it deserves to be there (where is Sheep with his "manuro" joke?). I want to hear from you about the other stogies. Except No. 9 - heard enough already...

quote:

Originally posted by V.O.:
C'mon guys, why so much fuss for just one cigar?

Apparently you've never smoked one. If you had, you might understand why to some of us, this borders on outrage.

quote:

Who knows? Maybe the cigar has improved. I'm with you -- never would I pay that.

I'd hate to be the editors at CA. They had to know they'd take abuse for picking the Vision in the Top 25...let alone the Top 10! On the other hand, in a blind tasting, the winners are whatever they turn out to be.

This is a good point. They must've known this choice would be slated on these boards, after what people have said about it in the last year, and after what happenedon the forums last year (did Suckling ever apologise?). But as Ecord says, in a blind tasting the winners are what they turn out to be.

quote:

Originally posted by Extensioncord:
Apparently you've never smoked one. If you had, you might understand why to some of us, this borders on outrage.

No, I haven't, you're right. As I mentioned I smoked only the one that scored #6. I did see the lighted "laptop" under a glass display during a cigar event - it looked cool, but I passed 'cause the price wasn't for me and they were not offering it for free. And I'm pretty sure very few people here tried it.
So my point is - can we please talk also a little a bit about ##10, 8, 7, and even 6.