Submit a List for The Consensus 2023

On Jan. 22, 2024, The Consensus 2023 will be published.

For those unfamiliar, The Consensus combines the Top 25/best cigar lists from various cigar blogs, magazines, podcast and YouTubers into one single list. As I’ve said for so long, it’s not the end-all-be-all of Top 25 lists; rather, it’s a composite list that tries to find out what the best cigars of the year were according to all of cigar media.

To do this, I place the results from each individual Top Cigars list into an Excel spreadsheet. In order to make some sense of the different results, a cigar that finishes #1 on a list is awarded 25 points for that list, a cigar that places #2 is awarded 24 points, etc. Once all of the lists are added, the results are tabulated and cigars are ranked. The end result is known as The Consensus.

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Not every Top 25/best cigar list is eligible for The Consensus. However, this year, I’ve decided to soften the rules about conflict of interest to allow for more lists to make The Consensus.

In order for a list to be used, it must meet the following qualifications.

1. You Have to Review Cigars — Or at least a cigar. The list must come from someone/a publication that actually reviewed a cigar during 2023. It doesn’t matter if you score the cigar, it doesn’t matter really how you did it, but if you don’t review cigars you probably shouldn’t be included alongside cigar reviewers.
2. You Can’t Own a Cigar Company or Store — I will call this the David Jones Rule. If you work at a cigar store, but do not own it, and have an established media outlet, I plan on including the list. Previously, these were excluded but I want to try to get The Consensus to be a more accurate representation of cigar media. That said, retailers that put out their own list are going to be excluded as those still seem like a bridge too far.
3. It Can’t be a User-Driven List — For the same reasons above, these lists aren’t what I am looking for.
4. Lists must be published by Jan. 19, 2024 11:59 p.m. — The Consensus gets published that Monday, any list that comes out after Friday night cannot be included for logistical reasons.
5. It Must be Posted Somewhere Outside of Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok — For a number of reasons, lists from these social media accounts aren’t currently considered. If the list is also posted to a YouTube channel, blog, etc.—great. However, if it’s only on the Gram, it won’t be included in The Consensus.

You can see an up-to-date list of what’s already been included in The Consensus 2023 by clicking here. Lists only get added once they are completely finished.

Please note, I will check the previous two years’ worth of lists, meaning I intend on including the following publications so long as they publish a list:

• André Dias 95
• Ash Quarterly
• Blind Man’s Puff
• Bob The Cigar Guy
• Casas Fumando
• Cigar Aficionado
• Cigar Artistry
• Cigar Coop
• Cigar Dojo
• Cigar Hound Dog
• Cigar Journal
• Cigar Lover
• Cigar Prop
• Cigar Show Tim
• Cigar Snob
• Cigar Talk
• Cigar Vixen
• CigarHeadz
• Cigars & Spirits
• Comedy Cigars Music
• D Love & Wife
• Developing Palates
• El Oso Fumar
• Fine Tobacco NYC
• halfwheel
• Have a Premium Cigar
• Hot Ticket Podcast
• How Bout That Cigar
• Jonose Cigars
• Kaplowitz
• Katman
• Kohned
• Leaf Enthusiast
• LeeMack912
• Martin Amaya Cigar Reviews
• Master Your Ash
• Pick Jimi Cigar Reviews
• SeanTheCigarGuy
• Should I Smoke This?
• Smoke n’ Lead
• Smokers Spot
• SmokinTabacco
• Stogie Press
• The -Cigar -Cabin
• The Average Joe’s
• The Cold Draw
• The Vintage Cigar
• The World According to Stew
• Tiny Tim
• Tuesday Night Cigar Club

If you know of a magazine/blog/podcast/YouTube channel that publishes a Top Cigars of 2023 list that you don’t see above, please comment with the name or link below so I can take a look at it. If you would prefer to send me an email, you can do that as well.

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To view previous versions of The Consensus:

• The Consensus 2011
• The Consensus 2012
• The Consensus 2013
• The Consensus 2014
• The Consensus 2015
• The Consensus 2016
• The Consensus 2017
• The Consensus 2018
• The Consensus 2019
• The Consensus 2020
• The Consensus 2021

The Consensus 2023 will be unveiled on Jan. 22, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CST.