Cigar Trophies 2008
The highest accolade in the cigar trade was awarded in Dortmund
Dortmund, September 21th, 2008. – The European Cigar Cult Journal awarded the Cigar Trophies in Dortmund (Germany). This was the eigth time the prizes, regarded as the highest accolade in the trade, had been awarded since 1998.
This time a total of 13 prize winners were selected in four categories.
The award for the “Best Brand” from their country of origin went to …
Cuba – Trinidad
Dominican Republic – Winston Churchill
Honduras – Flor de Copan
Nicaragua – La Meridiana Celebración 10 Años
In the country's "Best Cigar" category, the choice fell on …
Cuba – Cohiba Espléndidos
Dominican Republic – Fuente Fuente OpusX PerfecXion X
Honduras – Flor de Selva, Tempo
Nicaragua – Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Imperial
The award for the cigar with the best price-performance ratio (“Best Value”) was awarded to …
Costa Rica – Mythos Solitude
Dominican Republic – Cuesta-Rey
Honduras – Peterson
Nicaragua – Casa de Torres
The hotly awaited cigar industry “Lifetime Achievement” award went to José Orlando Padrón
The selection criteria
The choice of the country's Best Cigar is determined by the strict taste assessment by the international Tasting Panel of the European Cigar Cult Journal.
The Best Brand and the Best Value are also based on the decisions of the international Tasting Panel, supplemented by reader assessments. In addition, this category also includes criteria such as innovation, market presence, fame and, of course, price/performance ratio.
The Lifetime Achievement accolade for a lifetime in the service of smoking culture is only awarded to those great personalities whose excellent achievements have in the opinion of the readers of the European Cigar Cult Journal earned them a place of honour in the world of cigars.
Highest award in the cigar trade
The Cigar Trophies are valuable metal statuettes in a shape recalling an oversized cigar cutter. They were awarded by the founder of the European Cigar Cult Journal, Dr. Helmut Romé and its editor in chief Reinhold C. Widmayer in the setting of Inter-tabac, the most important trade fair for the smoking culture in Europe.
The Cigar Trophies have been awarded seven times since 1998 (see attachment, History_Winners). They are regarded in the international cigar trade as a special appreciation of the hard work that lies behind every premium cigar.
Dr. Helmut Romé: "Every Cigar Trophy is homage to the knowledge, hard work and constant striving for quality of all who work in the cigar business – the tobacco farmers, the master blenders, the torcedores and thousands of other people. We also see the honour as a rock standing up against the tide of undifferentiated smoker persecution. We want to create an awareness for the differentiation between enjoyment and addiction, in the same way as a difference is (rightly) made between the wine connoisseur and the drinker."
CIGAR TROPHY – HISTORY
1. Cigar Trophy 1998 (Hamburg) Cuba – Cohiba Esplendido Churchill
Dominican Republic – Davidoff Special ‘T’ Torpedo
Honduras – Flor de Selva Double Corona
Jamaica – Macanudo Prince of Wales Double Corona
Nicaragua – Dannemann Artist Line Robusto
2. Cigar Trophy 1999 (Vienna) Canary Islands – Wallstreet Double Corona
Costa Rica – Bahia Gold Churchill
Cuba – Trinidad Fundadores
Dominican Republic – Avo XO Maestoso
Honduras – Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Double Corona
Nicaragua – Perdomo Reserve La Tradicion Torpedo
Personality of the Year – George Hamilton
3. Cigar Trophy 2000 (Düsseldorf)Brazil – Dannemann Mata Fina Double Corona
Canary Islands – S.T. Dupont Robusto
Cuba – Vegas Robaina Don Alejandro Double Corona
Dominican Republic – Ashton Cabinet Selection No. 2 Figurado
Honduras – Vegafina Piramide
Nicaragua – Cumpay Churchill
Personality of the Year – Joseph Vilsmaier (German Film Director)
4. Cigar Trophy 2002 (Vienna)Cuba – Juan Lopez No. 2 Cabinet Robusto
Dominican Republic – Davidoff Millennium Blend Churchill
Honduras – Puros Indios Maxima Reserva Robusto
Mexico – Te Amo Anniversario 1999 Toro
Nicaragua – Padrón Anniversary 1964 Torpedo
Manager of the Year – Heinz Schiendl (former CEO Austria Tabak)
Personality of the Year – Heino Ferch (German Actor)
5. Cigar Trophy 2005 (New Orleans + Dortmund) BEST BRAND
Brazil – Dannemann
Cuba - Partagás
Dominican Republic – Davidoff
Honduras – Toraño
Mexico – Santa Clara
Nicaragua – Perdomo
BEST CIGAR
Cuba – Cohiba Siglo VI
Dominican Republic – La Aurora Preferidos Sapphire
Nicaragua – CAO Criollo Mancha
Honduras – Flor de Selva El Galán
Mexico – Te Amo Milenaria
BEST VALUE
Dominican Republic – Macanudo
Honduras – Puros Indios
Mexico – Puros Irene
Nicaragua – Joya de Nicaragua
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Carlos Fuente Sr.
Avo Uvezian
6. Cigar Trophy 2006 (Dortmund) BEST BRAND
Cuba – Cohiba
Dominican Republic – El Credito
Nicaragua – Padrón
BEST CIGAR
Dominican Republic – Davidoff Diademas Finas
Honduras – La Libertad
Nicaragua – Dannemann Artist Line HBPR Double Corona
BEST VALUE
Honduras – Cuba/Tobacco Aliados
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Stanford J. Newman
7. Cigar Trophy 2007 (Dortmund) BEST BRAND
Cuba – Bolívar
Dominican Republic – A. Fuente Opus X
Honduras – Excalibur
Nicaragua – Oliva Serie O
BEST CIGAR
Cuba – Montecristo Edmundo
Dominican Republic – Zino Platinum Crown Series Chubby Especial
Honduras – Carlos Toraño Exodus 1959 Torpedo
Nicaragua – La Meridiana Viajante
Panama – Balboa Torpedo
BEST VALUE
Dominican Republic – El Credito
Honduras – Flor de Copan
Nicaragua – Cumpay
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Dr. Ernst Schneider, Oettinger Davidoff Group
