We've all had our doubts about the cigar ratings in Cigar Aficionado, right? At some point in time everybody I talk to in the industry, weather openly or under their breathe always say "yes we know Marvin and all of his well suited cronies give high ratings to full page sponsors in the magazine."
Let's take for example the Top 25 issue dated December 2009, first of all this is his (Marvin R. Shanken, Editor & Publisher) Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Edition, who does he choose for the cover? Hugh Grant, are you kidding me, Hugh Grant! He doesn't even have a cigar in the photo, because we know he doesn’t smoke cigars.
Oh wait it gets a whole lot better, if you turn to page 172 for the cigar ratings; first category "Churchill’s" No. 1. Wrong, a 91 rating for J.C. Newman’s, Brickhouse, only to be followed by that well known full page advertiser: Xikar, with their flop the HC Habano Colorado. But what really clued me in on the whole thing was they had the best and most underrated cigars of last year: Frank Llaneza's 1961 and receiving an 88 rating these guys are idiots!
Does it always sound like I'm a hater? I always pick on the bigger guys I sometimes worry that it sounds like I am jealous? But once again just trying to get you the end user the best information
