Cigar Aficionado
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Cigar Aficionado is an American lifestyle magazine that is dedicated to enjoying the “good life” and the world of cigars. It is a publication of M. Shanken Communications, which also publishes Wine Spectator, Whisky Advocate, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily and IMPACT Newsletter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The magazine reaches a total brand footprint of over 2.7 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Launched in 1992, the magazine is known for its profiles on celebrities, including Michael Jordan,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jack Nicholson,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> The Rock,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Demi Moore,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Robert De Niro,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Arnold Schwarzenegger,<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Usher,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nick Jonas,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tom Selleck,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hugh Jackman,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wayne Gretzky,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Charles Barkley,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mark Wahlberg,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Michael Strahan,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Steve Harvey;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> for its cigar ratings and reviews; and the latest coverage on cigars, Cuba, gambling, golf, beer, spirits, and more.
David Savona is executive editor.
Origins and history
Cigar Aficionado magazine debuted in the fall of 1992, launched in New York City by Marvin R. Shanken, longtime publisher of Wine Spectator magazine. Prior to launching the publication, Shanken engaged in extensive market research, collecting more than 1,300 four-page surveys of cigar smokers which detailed their occupation, income, net worth, travel tendencies, as well as their drinking and smoking habits.<ref name="Welcome">"Welcome to the Cigar Aficionado Club," Cigar Aficionado, vol. 1, no. 1 (Autumn 1992), pg. 11.</ref> Survey results revealed a well-heeled and dedicated male demographic, with survey respondents professing an average household income of $194,000 and a net worth of $1.54 million and claiming to smoke on average ten cigars per week.<ref name="Welcome" /> Shanken launched a large-format glossy magazine aimed at corralling these readers and advertisers of products targeted to this audience.
Cigar Aficionado began as a lifestyle magazine, including coverage of wine, spirits, travel, gambling, and antiques, in addition to interviews with leading personalities in the cigar industry and feature articles relating to the cigarmaking industry. From the beginning the magazine emphasized celebrity profiles, including cover stories on Rush Limbaugh, Jack Nicholson,<ref name=":0" /> and Arnold Schwarzenegger.<ref name=":1" /> The new magazine's successful blending of lifestyle reports and celebrity glitz has been credited with contributing to the 1990s cigar boom.<ref name="Rothman">Lew Rothman, "Are You Kiddin' Me? Just How Dumb Does Everyone Think We Are?' Cigar Magazine, vol. 3, no. 4 (Winter 2006-07), pp. 138-140.</ref>
The publication scored its first great journalistic coup on February 4, 1994, when editor and publisher Shanken met Fidel Castro in Havana for a two-hour interview.<ref name="Castro">Marvin R Shanken, "A Conversation with Fidel," Cigar Aficionado, vol. 2, no. 4 (Summer 1994), pp. 46-59.</ref> During this interview Castro recounted the story behind the establishment of the Cohiba brand, told stories of the importance of cigars to his life as a revolutionary in the mountains of Cuba, and explained his decision to give up cigar smoking in August 1986 as part of a national campaign against tobacco use.<ref name="Castro" /> In addition to these topics of special interest to cigar smokers, the interview touched upon bilateral relations between the United States and Cuba, during the course of which Castro accused the United States of repeatedly "moving the goalposts back" for ending the Cuban economic embargo and said that "no other country has as unblemished behavior about human rights" as Cuba.<ref name="Castro" />
Events
Cigar Aficionado hosts the annual Big Smoke Las Vegas, which has drawn cigar-loving visitors from around the world since the early 90s, when Marvin R. Shanken held the first Big Smoke event, which took place in New York City. Big Smoke attendees enjoy premium cigars, spirits and food, and participate in cigar and tasting seminars.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cigar Aficionado and sister publication Whisky Advocate together co-host Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest, an annual event held in Hollywood, Florida since 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Ratings
From its inception, Cigar Aficionado has made use of blind taste testing of cigars, comparing the merits of one brand to another, expressed on the basis of a 100-point scale similar to the one used in sister publication Wine Spectator.<ref>See, for example, "Robusto Blind Tasting," Cigar Aficionado, vol. 1, no. 1 (Autumn 1992), pp. 30-35.</ref>
The publication annually releases its Top 25 list, where editors select the best cigars of the year. The full list and rankings are a product of a year-long journey and hundreds of reviewed cigars. The Top 25 includes the Cigar of the Year honor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cigar of the Year
| Year | Cigar | Rating | Factory Location | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | My Father the Judge Grand Robusto | 98 | Nicaragua | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2023 | Fuente Fuente OpusX Reserva d'Chateau | 97 | Dominican Republic | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2022 | H. Upmann No. 2 | 98 | Cuba | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2021 | Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Torpedo | 97 | Nicaragua | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2020 | E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel | 98 | Dominican Republic | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2019 | Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro | 96 | Nicaragua | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2018 | E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic | 96 | Dominican Republic | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2017 | Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark | 97 | Dominican Republic | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2016 | La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull | 96 | Dominican Republic | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2015 | My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo Box Pressed | 97 | Nicaragua | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2014 | Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado | 96 | Nicaragua | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2013 | Montecristo No. 2 | 96 | Cuba | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2012 | Flor de las Antillas Toro | 96 | Nicaragua | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2011 | Alec Bradley Prensado Churchill | 96 | Honduras | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2010 | Cohiba Behike BHK 52 | 97 | Cuba | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2009 | Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro | 95 | Nicaragua | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2008 | Casa Magna Colorado Robusto | 93 | Nicaragua | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2007 | Padrón Serie 1926 No. 9 | 97 | Nicaragua | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2006 | Bolivar Royal Corona | 94 | Cuba | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2005 | Fuente Fuente OpusX Double Corona | 95 | Dominican Republic | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2004 | Padrón Serie 1926 40th Anniversary | 93 | Nicaragua | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |