Top 20Cigars

TOP 20 CIGARS

As usual, the ratings were all done by our Rating Panel, which has a combined 100 years of cigar smok-ing experience. A blind tasting of each cigar is done so that each is given a fair review. The descriptionsof each cigar provide the basic blend information, strength profile, as well as a few observed tastingnotes and additional relevant information. Given that every person and palate is different, you mayfind that you notice different aspects than what has been pointed out, and that’s a good thing. There’sa pretty good chance you may also find some of the aspects very similar to your experience.

In order to keep the cigar samples in top notch condition and maintain their quality, we proudly usehumidification products from Cigar Oasis. It is very important that the Rating Panel sample cigarsas they are meant to be smoked, ensuring that they are not too try or too moist. We’ve found thatthe self-regulating humidifiers from Cigar Oasis require the least amount of effort to maintain con-sistent and perfect RH levels. Make sure that when smoking cigars to compare to the ratings, the ci-gars are in good condition.

Though we do take pride in our ratings, the most important rating any cigar has is the one that yougive it while you’re smoking it. This can often vary as there are many factors that enter into the ex-perience of enjoying a cigar. What you’re doing at the time you’re smoking, who you’re with, whereyou are, and any number of factors can affect your enjoyment of a cigar.

We hope that this list of our Top 20 cigars ignites your own discussions as to which cigars you enjoythe most, and how your own personal list compares to ours. This is also a great reference list if you’relooking for some excellent premium cigars to try. So. . .let’s get on with it!

This is the annual Cigar & Spirits Magazine Top 20 Cigars issue! We are happy to bringyou what our Rating Panel has ranked as the top 20 cigars from the hundreds of brandsthat they have sampled in the past year. Some of the ranked cigars have only beenout on the market for a year or so, whereas some of the more well-known, tried andtrue cigars made it onto the list.

After compiling a list of all of the cigars that have been sampled by the Rating Panel, and lookingback to any that were ranked 90 and above, including some they felt deserved a second chance,these made it into the selection pool of cigars. Each member of the Panel then weighs each of thosecigars relative to one another, to come up with a projected ranking. The rankings are then compiled,with the cigars being smoked again and given a final rating and rank based on a group consensus.

COLLECTOR’S ISSUE 1007 41 CIGAR & SPIRITS MAGAZINE

Gurkha – Cellar Reserve 5 x 58

This release from Gurkha is blended using an oily Criollo 1998 wrapper, aged Do-

minican Olor binder, and 15-year old Dominican filler. This vintage made cigar

comes in figurado and classic shapes and is incredibly smooth. The nice draw pro-

duces plenty of smoke, and combines both sweet and savory notes on the palate.

The taste of toasted oak merges with a hint of molasses, into a medium to full bodied

meaty smoke.

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96

Arturo Fuente – Fuente Fuente Opus X

Perfecxion No. 2 6 3/8 x 52

A puro blended with wrapper, binder and filler from the Dominican Republic, the

Opus X has a unique Cuban-seed Rosado wrapper and tobacco cured in rum barrels

prior to being rolled. The unique combination of Fuente tobaccos is bold yet

smooth, and produces a slightly sweet and full flavor. Notes of cocoa and raisin

intermingle with some pepper. This is a nicely balanced medium to full-bodied

cigar with firm construction and a nice draw.

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TOP 20 CIGARS

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96

JC Newman/Diamond Crown –

Julius Caesar Pyramid 6 1/2 x 52

Julius Caesar was the line created to honor J.C. Newman Cigar Company founder Julius Caesar

Newman. Rolled at Tabacalera A. Fuente in the Dominican Republic, an Ecuadorian Havana-

seed wrapper is used for the blend that also contains 5 year-old Dominican tobacco. Bold and

rich, this medium-bodied cigar has coffee and woody flavors that are both spicy and sweet.

La Palina – Goldie Laguito No. 2 6 x 38

This unique cigar is limited in production to 1,000 boxes of 10. A long, thin cigar,

the construction is superb with a great draw and even burn. Notes of wood and

nuts with a hint of cinnamon are present on the palate. Made with an Ecuadorian

Habano wrapper, Ecuadorian binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic and

Nicaragua, this medium bodied cigar is worth a try if you can find one.

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95

95

TOP 20 CIGARS

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Ashton – VSG Series Torpedo 6 ! x 55

This mostly medium-bodied cigar produces a rich and complex flavor.

The nice draw provides creamy smoke with some chocolate and cedar

flavor on the palate, along with a hint of spice. The Virgin Sun Grown

is blended exclusively for Ashton by Carlos Fuente Jr. using 4 to 5 year-

old aged Dominican binder and filler tobacco. The wrapper is grown

on a private estate in Ecuador owned by the Oliva family.

Rocky Patel – Decade Torpedo 6 ! x 52

Featuring a dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and binder and filler from

Nicaragua, the Decade is Rocky Patel’s 10th Anniversary cigar. It is a su-

perb cigar with a smooth, rich, and complex flavor including creamy notes

of espresso and nuts. This medium to full-bodied cigar is very well balanced

with a perfect draw and nice burn.

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95

94

TOP 20 CIGARS

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AJ Fernandez – San Lotano Oval 5 x 52

This release from AJ Fernandez is a uniquely shaped cigar that is extremely boxed

pressed, but with round edges, making it into an oval. The shape lends itself to a truly

effortless draw providing volumes of billowing smoke. Blended using a Habano 2000

wrapper that’s aged for at least 4 years, a Nicaraguan binder, and proprietary fillers from

Nicaragua and Honduras, this is a very smooth medium-bodied cigar that’s full of flavor.

A hint of spice is present, along with black tea and cedar.

Padron – 1926 Serie No. 6 Maduro 4 3/4 x 50

Released in 2002 to commemorate the 75th birthday of Jose O. Padron, this box-

pressed Maduro is made with refined tobacco that is aged 5 years. This Nicaraguan

Puro packs a punch and is among the most exclusive of the Padron lines. The 1926

Serie has an exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, and full-bodied flavor, with

a great draw and burn.

94

94

TOP 20 CIGARS

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Graycliff – Chateau Grand Cru Pirate 6 x 52

This Graycliff is a combination of wrapper tobacco from Costa Rica, binder leaf from

Ecuador, and three different filler tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

Cedar notes are most pronounced, with flavors of cocoa, nuts, and some spice also evident.

Overall the cigar exudes great balance and superb flavor with a medium body. Uniquely

made with a shaggy foot, the construction and draw help make this flavorful cigar top notch.

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Montecristo – Epic Premium Selection Vintage 2007 6 x 52

Blended with a select Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder and a

special selection of vintage filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic,

this is a very smooth medium to full-bodied cigar. The excellent construction

allows for a perfect draw and great burn. Rich flavors of coffee and chocolate

mix for a slightly sweet and savory cigar with a nice aroma.

94

94

TOP 20 CIGARS

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10

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Nat Sherman – Timeless Collection No. 2 6 ! x 52

A beautiful deep reddish brown torpedo that is blended with wrapper from Honduras,

binder from the Dominican Republican and filler tobacco from the Dominican Republic

and Nicaragua. Firmly constructed with a nice draw, notes of chocolate and cocoa pre-

dominate with hints of espresso and cinnamon. This is a medium-bodied and well balanced

cigar with an alluring aroma.

La Aurora – Cien Anos Belicoso 6 ! x 52

This limited edition Puro is blended with a Dominican Corojo wrapper, along with a

Dominican binder and Dominican filler. Medium to full-bodied, the primary notes on

the palate are cedar, leather, caramel and molasses. Previously released in 2003 to much

popularity, limited quantities of the cigar were re-released in 2012 by popular demand.

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93

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Toraño – Vault A-008 6 x 50

This blend from the year 2000 was rediscovered in the special blend book held in

the Toraño family bank vault. The Vault A-008 is made using a shade grown

Nicaraguan Colorado wrapper, two binders from Ometepe, Nicaragua and Jamas-

tran, Honduras, and filler from both Estelí and Condega, Nicaragua. This cigar pro-

duces volumes of full bodied smoke with the effortless draw, and complex flavors

from spice and wood, to cocoa and dark chocolate.

Aging Room – M356 Forte 5 7/8 x 40-56-40

This preferido shaped Dominican Puro is blended with Habano wrapper and

100% Dominican tobaccos from the Aging Room line. A rich brown color

shines from this unique cigar. This is a meaty and very savory cigar that has

some notes of spice. The construction is great, with an easy draw that produces

plumes of smoke. Overall this is a great medium to full bodied cigar that pro-

vides a pleasurable smoking experience.

93

93

TOP 20 CIGARS

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COLLECTOR’S ISSUE 1007 50 CIGAR & SPIRITS MAGAZINE

Davidoff – Colorado Claro Special ‘R’ 4 7/8 x 50

This limited edition cigar features a sun-grown Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, also

known as a Claro, as well as binder and filler from the Dominican Republic. The reddish-

brown wrapper has a nice appearance and firm construction. The great draw and burn

provide a good amount of smoke, consisting of rich notes of wood, with slight sweetness

and earthiness. This is a complex medium to full-bodied smoke.

Don Pepin Garcia – Original 6 x 50

Don Pepin Garcia blended this original Puro line using a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper,

with a binder leaf and fillers from Nicaragua. This cigar is a very well balanced and full-

bodied smoke. The excellent draw imparts full flavors of cinnamon, spice and coffee

with subtle notes of leather and cedar intermingling on the palate.

92

93

TOP 20 CIGARS

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16

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Kristoff – GC Signature Series 5 ! x 54

Blended with a dark and oily Brazilian Maduro wrapper, Cuban seed Honduran

binder, and Cuban seed Honduran and Dominican fillers, this is a strong full bodied

cigar. Recommended for the more seasoned cigar smoker, this powerhouse is loaded

with rich notes of espresso and dark chocolate with a spicy finish. The nice draw

easily produces plenty of smoke with a sweet tobacco aroma.

92

TOP 20 CIGARS

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18Oliva – Serie V Melanio Churchill 7 x 50

A nicely box-pressed Churchill, this cigar is blended with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper,

with carefully aged binder and filler from the Jalapa growing region of Nicaragua. Rolled

using ligero fillers, this is a rich and robust medium to full-bodied cigar. Very well balanced

with flavors of nuts, cinnamon and spice, with a hint of sweetness, this cigar draws and

burns nicely.

92

CAO – Concert Solo 5 ! x 54

With an Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper, a Connecticut Broadleaf binder

and four different filler tobaccos including Honduran and Nicaraguan ligero,

this unique blend produces a very nice aroma. This cigar starts off with some

noticeable pepper then develops into a sweeter and creamier smoke with some

herbal qualities. The firm construction provides for an excellent draw and nice

burn rounding out this medium to full-bodied cigar.

92

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Alec Bradley – Black Market Toro 6 x 50

This medium-bodied cigar is full of flavor. Blended with a nice reddish-brown Nicaraguan

wrapper, binder from Sumatra and filler tobacco from Panama and Honduras, this unique

blend is savory and subtly sweet. Flavors of toasted oak, raisin and gingerbread are somewhat

apparent. The construction provides a nice draw and burn making this an enjoyable cigar.

92

TOP 20 CIGARS

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