Another fantastic year has come and passed.  As we enter the holiday season, it is a time for family, love, and reflection.  This is the time of year when we look back at those amazing moments from the last 12 months.  Included in these reflections, is a look at the amazing cigars that we were honored to enjoy in 2022.  Each year brings new challenges and new opportunities to the cigar industry, and this year saw this industry tackle those challenges and create some truly outstanding blends.

Secret Chris and Nick Libretti worked incredibly hard to determine which cigars we feel deserved to be appointed to the Top 25.  We don’t have an overly complicated rating system or do blind reviews. We simply recall our experiences and think of which cigars we constantly reach for.  We congratulate each company that made this list and praise them for their hard work, ingenuity, and creativity.

With that…we present our Top 25 Cigars for 2022. Enjoy!

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 50

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time – 95-100 Minutes

The Oliva Serie V Melanio is one of the most popular cigars on the market and has been a perennial star on many top-25 lists. To celebrate our 50^th anniversary, Oliva wanted to make a Melanio unlike anything else before. Every other size in the Oliva Melanio lineup is box pressed, but the Oliva Melanio JR 50^th Toro is the first and only rounded cigar to wear the iconic Melanio bands.

It might be a bit cliché to add something of our own to this list, but we are completely wowed by how well the Melanio JR 50^th expresses the Melanio blend. They are hand rolled in a 6×50 size with prime Nicaraguan long filler and binder leaf joined by a stunning Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, leading to a rich medium-full bodied profile of spices, leather, toast, earth, pepper, and wood.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Nicaragua

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 52

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time – 100 Minutes

JR was not the only company in the cigar industry to hit the fifty-year mark in recent years. Joya de Nicaragua, as many cigar brands do, celebrated the momentous occasion with one of the best cigars to bear the Joya de Nicaragua name. First introduced in 2018, the Cinco Decadas blend shows Joya’s talent for blending and cigar construction and has earned many top-rated reviews.

Enter the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas El Doctor. El Doctor is named after Dr. Alejandro Martinez Cuenca, who ushered the brand into the success it has today after he purchased the company in the early 1990s. To honor Dr. Cuenca, Joya dug deep into their proprietary vintage tobacco collection to make the Cinco Decadas El Doctor beyond elegant.

Cinco Decadas El Doctor delivers a rich yet incredibly smooth Cubanesque smoke with medium-full-bodied flavors of tobacco sweetness, earth, and peppery spice that coat the palate with every puff. If you want to know why Joya de Nicaragua has been around for over 50 years, spark up a Cinco Decadas El Doctor and find out!

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Nicaragua

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 6.75

Ring Gauge – 48

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time – 110 Minutes

Many cigar brands have elaborate backstories, but Illusione Cigars and brand owner Dion Giolito prefer to let the tobaccos speak for themselves. First introduced in 2007 after serving as a house blend at Dion Giolito’s Reno storefront, Illusione’s Original Documents line has been around for quite a while now, It’s a blend so good that we find ourselves consistently coming back to it.

This year, we were particularly taken by the Illusione Original Documents 888, which presents this timeless blend in a long and slim 6.75×48 size. They are made at the TABSA factory in Nicaragua by long-time manufacturing partner Aganorsa, which consistently has multiple entries on many top 25 lists.

The Original Documents 888 is a Nicaraguan puro that starts with a vintage Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 binder and long filler leaf surrounded by a gorgeous Nicaraguan wrapper. Perfect for the seasoned palate, the 888 provides a hearty and complex medium-full-bodied smoke laden with notes of leather, earth, creamy chocolate, dried fruit, floral tones, and rich spice.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 60

Strength – Medium

Smoke Time – 110 Minutes

Far and away the most affordable cigar to make our list of Top 25 Cigars of 2022, the Foundation Charter Oak Habano Grande pays homage to brand owner Nick Melillo’s home state of Connecticut. The brand is inspired by Connecticut’s legendary Charter Oak tree, where colonialists hid their royal charter, which allowed the colony some form of self-governance from the British way back in the late 1600s. The document today is displayed in a Connecticut museum, framed in wood from the same tree it was hidden in.

Depicting the famous tree on its band, the Charter Oak Habano Grande is a stocky 6×60 vitola made by the skilled hands over at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Nicaragua. It is made with a top-quality Ecuadorian Habano wrapper that covers a hearty core of Nicaraguan binder and long filler leaf, revealing a surprisingly smooth, medium-bodied medley of spice, pepper, leather, and creamy tobacco sweetness.

The Foundation Charter Oak Habano Grande proves that a cigar does not need to be pricey for it to be top-notch!

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Mexican San Andres

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 5.75

Ring Gauge – 50

Strength – Full

Smoke Time – 85-95 Minutes

2011 was the first time Tatuaje crafted a blend that featured a Mexican San Andres wrapper, appropriately dubbed the Mexican Experiment. It was minimal and silently released, yet word got around, and anybody who got their hands on it loved it and yearned for more.

In 2019 Tatuaje released the sequel, the Mexican Experiment II, to an eagerly awaiting audience as a regular production smoke made in small batches. The blend even made it onto our Top 25 list back in 2019 in the Churchill size.

This year, we found the Tatuaje MEII Toro to be downright delicious. Made at the My Father Cigars SA in Nicaragua into a 5.75×50, it wears a medium-brown Mexican San Andres wrapper over a center of finely aged Nicaraguan long filler and binder tobaccos.

The result is a full-bodied flood of flavors, including chocolate, pepper, cedar, coffee, and wood, making these smokes a dream for the seasoned palate. Needless to say, the experiment was a success!

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Nicaraguan Corojo 2012

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler – Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 & Corojo ‘99

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 44

Strength – Medium

Smoke Time – 95 Minutes

An extension of the popular Guardian of the Farm line that celebrated the dogs that protect Aganorsa’s Nicaraguan farms, Aganorsa Guardian of the Farm Cerberus cigars is named after the mythical three-headed hound that guards the gates of Hades. What makes the Guardian of the Farm Cerberus interesting is the use of a new wrapper varietal that Aganorsa has been working on — the Corojo 2012 wrapper.

We found the Lonsdale vitola, with its slim 6×44 size, provided the perfect balance between the Corojo 2012 wrapper and a filler blend of Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 tobaccos. This puts the delicious taste of the new Corojo wrapper on full display.

Offering a balanced, rich, and smooth medium-bodied profile, notes of cinnamon, earth, coffee, spice, and tobacco sweetness pour from the cap with every puff. Aganorsa is famous foremost for its tobacco-growing operations, and the Guardian of the Farm Cerberus Lonsdale is proof as to why.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Mexican San Andres

Binder – Honduras

Filler – Nicaragua/Undisclosed

Length – 5.5

Ring Gauge – 50

Strength – Full

Smoke Time – 

Rocky Patel Cigars is no stranger to celebratory releases for anniversaries and birthdays, but the Rocky Patel Quarter Century Robusto celebrates an occasion that few companies, let alone cigar companies reach. The company was founded in 1995 at the height of the cigar boom. Unlike many brands that came and went during that era, Rocky Patel stood the test of time through a dedication to learning all there is to know about tobacco.

Twenty-five years of learning, passion, and dedication to the craft are evident on the Quarter Century Robusto. They are made at Rocky’s TAVICUSA factory in the heart of Esteli in a popular 5.5×50 size.

The core blend of long filler and binder tobaccos from Nicaragua and Honduras has been extensively aged for close to 10 years prior to rolling, joined by a dusky Mexican San Andres wrapper. After rolling, the cigars were rested for an additional two years, so the tobaccos further married together.

Even with the considerable aging, the Quarter Century Robusto delivers a mouthful of full-bodied flavor with every puff, providing complex notes of pepper, earth, cocoa, leather, caramel, and a deep tobacco sweetness that evolves as the smoke progresses. With Rocky himself saying this is “the greatest cigar we’ve ever created,” we are certainly inclined to believe him!

Country of Origin – Dominican Republic

Wrapper – Undisclosed

Binder – Undisclosed

Filler – Undisclosed

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 52

Strength – Medium

Smoke Time – 95-100 Minutes

After scouring the world’s cigar factories and warehouses in search of hidden gems and lost treasures, Caldwell Cigars’ Lost & Found line pivoted to creating their own blends and aging them a minimum of 2 years after rolling. For the first release under this model, we thought the Caldwell Lost & Found 22 Minutes to Midnight Connecticut Toro knocked it out of the park.

These 6×52 gems are made at William Ventura’s El Maestro factory in the Dominican Republic and made in small quantities to ensure each cigar is top-notch. They use an undisclosed blend of tobaccos with a collective age of over 25 years covered by a silky golden-blonde Connecticut wrapper.

They have a complex and balanced medium-bodied profile with entrancing flavors of roasted nuts, cream, leather, and wood, delivering a luxurious yet fleeting experience. Although these smokes may be hard to find, the 22 Minutes to Midnight Connecticut Toro is well worth the space in any humidor.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Nicaraguan Corojo ‘99

Binder – Nicaraguan Criollo ‘98

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 5.62

Ring Gauge – 52

Strength – Full

Smoke Time – 90-95 Minutes

Like an eagle swooping in to catch its prey, the Warped Eagles Descent Toro Especial captured the favor of our palates to earn the #17 spot on our list. Eagles Descent was initially released only in Hawaii and proved so popular they needed a nationwide release, albeit with a limited nature. Crafted at Aganorsa’s TABSA factory in Jalapa, the 5.62×52 Eagles Descent is one of the strongest cigars from Warped Cigars and brand owner Kyle Gellis was rightfully swept away with praise.

Made entirely with vintage Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 Ligero and Viso tobaccos from Jalapa and Esteli with a gorgeous Corojo ’99 wrapper, these hearty sticks were blended for power. Bold, complex full-bodied notes of pepper, oak, coffee, earth, dried fruit, cinnamon, and hints of creaminess pour from the cap in an ever-evolving tapestry of flavor.

Country of Origin – Dominican Republic

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano

Binder – Mexican San Andres Negro

Filler – Dominican Republic/Nicaragua

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 54

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time –

Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour Toro cigars are arguably some of the best and boldest cigars in Davidoff’s expansive catalog of top-rated brands. By combining the perpetually popular Winston Churchill line with the scrumptious barrel-aging concept of the Camacho American Barrel-Aged, Davidoff created a blend that ranked #2 on Halfwheel’s Top-25 of 2017 list.

The blend centers around Nicaraguan fillers from Condega that are aged for six months in single-malt scotch barrels. These barrel-aged fillers are joined by Dominican Olor, Piloto, and San Vicente long-fillers, bunched with a thick Mexican San Andres negro binder and covered by a rich dark-brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.

Complex medium-full-bodied flavors of spice, leather, dark chocolate, coffee, oak, and an earthy sweetness imparted by the scotch barrels coat the palate, with a signature Davidoff smoothness that keeps us consistently reaching for these fine smokes.

Country of Origin – Honduras

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Connecticut

Binder – Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler – Honduras

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 50

Strength – Medium

Smoke Time – 90-100 Minutes

Since its initial release in 2019, the Henry Clay War Hawk Toro is a cigar we cannot resist. Cigars with Connecticut wrappers tend to be assumed to be on the mellower side, but the War Hawk Toro goes against the grain with a bold smoke that still captures the flavors one might expect from a Connecticut-style smoke.

Made at Altadis USA’s Flor de Copan factory in Honduras and presented in a 6×50 size, the War Hawk Toro starts with a base of Honduran long-fillers. In classic Henry Clay fashion, a thick Connecticut Broadleaf is used as the binder, all seamlessly dressed in an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.

With medium-bodied flavors of toasted almonds, chocolate, earth, baking spices, creamy tobacco sweetness, and a dose of pepper on the retrohale, the War Hawk Toro has a deceptive strength that can send even our heads spinning if not for a hearty lunch. Although Henry Clay is a classic Cuban heritage brand, the Henry Clay War Hawk Toro vaulted the brand into the modern era.

Country of Origin – Dominican Republic

Wrapper – Connecticut Habano

Binder – Ecuador

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 52

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time – 90 Minutes

Another size of the blend that won Cigar Aficionado’s “Cigar of the Year” award in 2020 with an astounding 98 rating, the Pledge by EP Carrillo Sojourn fulfills brand owner Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s pledge to “never stop working with the best tobaccos and bringing new and innovative blends.” Following other top-ranking releases, La Historia and Encore, the Pledge by EP Carrillo Sojourn is some of Carrillo’s best work yet.

Made at Carrillo’s Tabacalera La Alianza in the Dominican Republic into a classic 6×52 box-pressed shape, the Pledge Sojourn starts with a finely aged Nicaraguan core with a thick Ecuadorian binder. The finishing touch is a rarely used Habano Maduro leaf grown in the Connecticut River Valley’s loamy soils, presenting a highly unique smoking experience.

We found these box-pressed beauties provided a hearty medium-full-bodied smoke with a smattering of rich flavors of peppery spice on the outlet, followed by a dense and complex cascade of espresso, leather, dark chocolate, dried fruit, earth, and toast.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Nicaragua Jalapa

Binder – Nicaraguan Criollo ‘98

Filler – Nicaragua Criollo ‘98 & Corojo ‘99

Length – 5.25

Ring Gauge – 52

Strength – Medium

Smoke Time – 85-90 Minutes

Highlighting some of the finest tobaccos in Aganorsa’s expansive and deep tobacco library, Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve Robusto cigars showcase how Aganorsa has developed in the industry — through its leaf. Founded in 1998, Aganorsa is all about growing the best tobacco possible and has long been a source of tobacco for some of the industry’s biggest cigar makers.

The Rare Leaf Reserve Robusto focuses on Aganorsa’s famous Criollo ’98 tobaccos. Using the absolute best leaf at Aganorsa’s disposal, these 5.25×52 treats feature a filler blend consisting of Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98, joined by two Criollo ’98 binders hailing from different farms. Covering the Criollo Cuban-seed dominant core is a top-notch Nicaraguan Café wrapper grown in Jalapa.

The complexity and richness of Aganorsa’s Criollo leaf are exhibited with an inviting and balanced medium-bodied smoke loaded with notes of cinnamon, earth, leather, sweet spices, and cocoa.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Nicaragua

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 52

Strength – Medium

Smoke Time – 95-100 Minutes

A brand that needs no formal introduction, the Padron name is synonymous with quality. Over 12 years since its initial release in 2009 when it earned Cigar of the Year from Cigar Aficionado, the Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro is still one of our favorites. This iconic brand celebrates 45 successful years of Padron creating some of the finest top-shelf cigars on the market, and Padron’s excellence can be tasted in every puff.

It is made entirely with Nicaraguan tobacco that has been aged for over 10 years prior to rolling, all covered by a dark Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper. Incredibly complex and flavorful, the rich medium-bodied notes of nuts, spice, cedar, and floral tones from these 6×52 gems are the pinnacle of luxury.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Mexican San Andres

Binder – Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 44

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time – 95 Minutes

After the rollers at Fabrica Drew Estate were smoking too much Liga Privada, they came up with a comparable but far more affordable blend as a replacement. It came to be known as ‘under the crown’ of the famous Liga. After 10 years of unrelenting popularity in the market, the time came for Undercrown to become top-shelf in its own right.

Drew Estate pulled all the stops to make the 10^th anniversary of Undercrown special, and they succeeded in spectacular fashion with the Undercrown 10 Factory Floor Lonsdale. It features a core of Nicaraguan fillers bound by a thick Connecticut Broadleaf binder and covered by a dusky Mexican San Andres wrapper. The slim 6×44 format really highlights the wrapper’s flavors, accenting flavors from the core.

The Undercrown 10 Lonsdale delivers a decadent medium-full-bodied tapestry of dark chocolate, pepper, leather, dried fruit, cedar, and an alluring tobacco sweetness that makes it impossible to put down!

Country of Origin – Dominican Republic

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Sun-Grown Corojo

Binder – Dominican Republic

Filler – Dominican, Nicaraguan

Length – 5

Ring Gauge – 54

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time – 85-90 Minutes

The Quesada family belongs in the great halls of cigar family greats. Along with the Plasencias, the Fuentes, and the Padrons, the Quesadas are among the most respected cigar families in the industry.  Their knowledge of tobacco is second to none and one of the main reasons for the increased popularity and visibility of Dominican tobacco dating back to the 1970s. The Casa Magna line is their crown jewel, with the original being named the #1 Cigar of the Year for Cigar Aficionado back in 2008.

In the past few years, we have only seen the occasional seasonal release like the Oktoberfest. Thankfully, the year 2021 brought the family back into the limelight. While one of their cigars was named on several top 10 lists, which we will discuss later on (wink, wink), it also brought their most well-known brands back to the top of the industry.

The Casa Magna Liga F is an amazing combination of traditional Dominican flavors but in a modern, complex setting. Its blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler and binder tobacco lends itself to a nutty and slightly sweet interior. The star of the show is the Ecuadorian Sun grown Corojo wrapper. It has an oily and reddish hue offering tremendous notes of tobacco sweetness, leather, and a dash of spice.

The Liga F is the strongest Quesada offering in many years but has brought the long-respected line back to the forefront of the industry.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Corojo

Binder – Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 7

Ring Gauge – 48

Strength – Medium

Smoke Time – 120 Minutes

Last year, we were slightly apprehensive about adding one of our own lines to the Top 25.  However, this cigar was too good to leave out, and this year is no exception. For two years in a row, I have to say I have smoked more of the Mother Church than any other cigar. While it no longer bares our 50th-anniversary band, the Mother Church is still the same wonderful cigar that was rated 90+ on several different publications last year.

The consistency we see from Crowned Heads is remarkable. After the immense success of this cigar, the ability to construct the same stick almost a year and a half later is impressive. While the company might be mid-shift in terms of factory partners, this cigar is a shining example of what this company can do even without its own facility.

Taking its name from the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville (home of Crowned Heads), the Mother Church is rolled using a sweet Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper, a rich Broadleaf binder, and a triple Nicaraguan filler. Its tobacco sweetness, combined with a dash of chocolate and floral notes make it a perfect anytime cigar.

Country of Origin – Honduras

Wrapper – Honduran Habano

Binder – Honduras

Filler – Honduras, Nicaragua

Length – 5

Ring Gauge – 50

Strength – Medium

Smoke Time – 75-80 Minutes

I think this is a cigar we will see on this list for many years to come. Not only because it is an extraordinary cigar (which it is), but because of what it means for the Honduran cigar industry.

For the past few years, we’ve seen a revival in top-tier Honduran cigars. They are adding new layers of complexity and making the country a top contender along with Nicaragua and the Dominican, two countries it usually lags behind. With Alec and Bradley creating stunning blends like this, I think we can brace ourselves for an amazing era of new Honduran cigars.

The first thing that stands out in this blend is the unique flavor profile.  It is smooth, nutty, sweet, and a little zesty. In my experience, many Honduran cigars are heavier with notes of earth and leather. The Kintsugi is much more nuanced — its Honduran Habano wrapper is a thing of beauty with almost no blemishes and a great color.

What pushes this cigar past simply a great blend is its packaging and price. Its ornate box and band symbolize the need for unity in our industry and are one of my favorite designs of the past few years. Price-wise, this cigar should easily be in the $11 range, but even with inflation and increased costs, Alec & Bradley have made one of the best cigars on the market incredibly affordable.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Brazilian Mata Fina

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 5 ½

Ring Gauge – 44

Strength – Full

Smoke Time – 70-80 minutes

No brand has reinvented itself as well as H.Upmann. This is an iconic brand that, for several years, seemed to languish in the realm of stagnation, and its releases just never seemed to catch on. Enter Rafael Nodal. When he joined the AUSA team, he was instrumental in revitalizing this brand to one of the most sought-after and highest-rated of the last few years.

From the first H.Upmann by AJ, we knew this was something different and the brand was going in a new direction. That was followed by the legendary H.Upmann 175^th, which may still be one of the best cigars AUSA or AJ has ever put together. This year, the amazing success continues with a new, unique, and powerful entry into the H.Upmann lineup.

The H.Upmann Nicaragua AJ Heritage is a completely different blend than what we are used to from AUSA. Blended by both Rafael Nodal and AJ Fernandez, it takes a much darker, richer route than what we have seen before. It uses a jet-black Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper which adds heavy notes of dark chocolate, leather, and dark fruit. There is also a dark cherry hint on the exhale that I’m really drawn to.

The darker blue colors on the fantastic packaging are combined with a modern version of the traditional H.Upmann branding. This is the heaviest H.Upmann we have seen, but it lifts its heavier profile by sprinkling a touch of class.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano

Binder – Mexico Cultivo Tonto San Andrés Negro

Filler – Nicaragua, U.S.A

Length – 6 5/8^th

Ring Gauge – 48

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time – 85-90 Minutes

In just seven years, Steve Saka has impacted the cigar industry more than almost anyone else. He had already cemented his legacy during his time with Drew Estate, but his creation of Dunbarton Tobacco has contributed to some of the most desired and highly-rated cigars of the last decade. While his work with broadleaf has always been known and respected, his recent run has been more impressive than the 90s Bulls.

As many of you may remember, the Mi Querida Triqui Traca was our #1 cigar of the year in our first-ever Top 25 list.  His “budget” Umbagog line is almost impossible to find and his addition to our 50^th anniversary last year, the now-named SakaKhan, sold out in less than a day.  This shows the love customers have for each of his cigars and the anticipation and press they garner. The Muestra de Saka line is considered his finest, which makes them even more beloved and sought after.

This year saw the release of his latest Muestra de Saka line, the Bewitched. The name is taken from Saka saying he was spellbound by the blend when he finally finished it. After smoking several, we can see why. Handcrafted at the iconic Joya de Nicaragua factory, the Bewitched uses an exquisite and unique blend, utilizing tobaccos from four countries.

The Nicaraguan and American filler tobaccos unearth a great sweet and nutty core. A rich and chocolatey binder adds a little heft and smokiness, while the brilliant Ecuadorian wrapper offers up notes of spice, leather, and tobacco sweetness. This is one of the most complex and nuanced blends Steve has released yet, and it seems he is getting better each year.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano Maduro

Binder – Nicaraguan

Filler – Nicaraguan

Length – 6 ¾

Ring Gauge – 52

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time – 90-95 Minutes

The notion of limited editions and seasonal releases seems as old as time to the modern-day cigar smoker. While we still get excited about these limited drops, especially from certain manufacturers, it seems that every week a new one is announced. This, however, was not the case. In fact, the popularity of this style of cigar release can be attributed to one man and one company. That man is Pete Johnson and his legendary boutique cigar company, Tatuaje.

In 2008, Pete released the first of what would become the most anticipated seasonal cigar release, the Tatuaje Monster Series. Each cigar is themed after a famous movie monster, starting with the “Frank” and including other famed villains such as “Chuck”, “Tiff”, and the “Freddy” in recent years. It can be argued that the success of all limited and seasonal cigars can be attributed to this line.

Last year, Tatuaje began re-releasing some of these cigars, with slightly tweaked blends and new, custom boxes. The Frank Redux came out in 2021 to much fanfare and high ratings. This year, we saw the release of one of my favorite Monsters, the Drac.

This dark and sweet cigar is hand-rolled at the legendary My Father factory and packed with a similar but slightly different blend of the original release from 2009. It uses a double Nicaraguan filler and binder and is finished with a stunning Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper. Notes of raisin sweetness with an undertone of spice and leather combine to make this one of the most nuanced and complex of the monster releases and one of the best cigars of this year.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Nicaraguan Jalapa Habano

Binder – Nicaraguan Ometepe

Filler – Nicaraguan Ometepe and Jalapa

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 50

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time – 95-100 Minutes

I know many of you will roll your eyes when you see another one of our private labels crack the top 10 of this list. However, those of you who have had the pleasure of smoking this cigar will know that it belongs here. After two years of working on this project, our team was able to create a blend with not just a tremendous profile but a great back story.

Our CEO work with legendary blenders Rafael Nodal and Nestor Plasencia was to create a project using limited tobaccos from isolated areas. Their mission was to utilize tobacco from harsher environments, where the ability to grow tobacco is limited, and growers need to take special care for the crop to survive. The belief was that these harsher climates created a more unique, flavorful, and heartier tobacco. While JR Pure Origin will be an ongoing series, this first release is based on the volcanic island of Ometepe.

Ometepe is a small island in Lake Nicaragua with two active volcanoes. Due to volcanic activity, the soil is dark and rich in nutrients. Several companies have utilized Ometepe tobacco before. However, it has never been highlighted as beautifully as in this cigar.

The Gran Vulcano was crafted at the iconic Plasencia factory, with Nestor Plasencia and AUSA frontman Rafael Nodal blending the project together over several months. It uses Ometepe tobacco in the filler and binder, along with some Jalapa filler and an exquisite, reddish brown Nicaraguan Jalapa wrapper.

Jalapa is a region known for its red-hued soil and the sweet tobacco grown there. Combining this natural tobacco sweetness with the rich and flavorful Ometepe tobacco has made this one of the most complex and intriguing blends I’ve tried this year. The JR Pure Origin is the start of a new era for JR Cigars. One where we focus more on price, as well as producing our own high-quality cigars.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Mexican San Andres Claro

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler – Nicaragua

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 52

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time – 95-100 Minutes

When announcing a brand new cigar, few companies excite us as much as Foundation.  This is because they are not only are the always among the highest rated cigars, but Nick Melillo does not smother the market with five new cigars each year. In fact, Foundation hasn’t created an entirely new series since the Highclere Castle, which was a few years ago. When Nick comes out with a new line, it also comes with a story. That story seeps into every aspect of the cigar, from the blend to the packaging and how it’s marketed.

These stories have a deep and impactful meaning to Nick and his team. El Gueguense was his love letter to his adopted country of Nicaragua, where he made his name in the industry and has become a second home. The Charter Oak showcases his passion for his home state of Connecticut and the importance the state has played in the history of the cigar industry. He created his latest cigar to highlight the importance of Mexico and Mexican tobacco — not just to the modern industry but also to it’s little-known yet iconic relevance to the history of Mexico.

The Olmec takes its name from the ancient, Mesoamerican people who once inhabited the San Andres Valley, where most Mexican tobacco is grown. Giant stone heads that were sculpted with rolled tobacco leaves have been dated back to 900 B.C., making it one of the first cultural depictions of cigar tobacco. Nick combines his love of history with his incredible tobacco knowledge to tell the story of these people through a cigar.

There are two different versions of the Foundation Olmec, both utilizing a San Andres wrapper. While one uses a more traditional San Andres Maduro, the cigar that truly impressed us was the San Andres Claro. This claro wrapper shares some of the flavors one would expect, but with added spice and a more unique flavor progression.

The Claro is what San Andres tobacco was born to be before it is put through a Maduro fermentation process. Along with its Nicaraguan filler and binder, Nick has created one of the most unique and intriguing cigars of the year and continues to impress us with his talents, knowledge, and willingness to experiment.

Country of Origin – Dominican Republic

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Connecticut

Binder – Dominican Republic

Filler – Dominican Republic, Nicaragua

Length – 6

Ring Gauge – 50

Strength – Mellow-Medium

Smoke Time – 95 Minutes

One of the saddest moments of my career was when Nat Sherman announced they were closing its doors. This company had been a pillar of the cigar community for nearly 100 years and was instrumental in bringing a sense of class and luxury to the American cigar market. When the company announced it was closing, there was one major question on the minds of every person in the cigar industry: what would Michael Herklots do next?

Michael has been an industry icon for nearly two decades. He first reached prominence managing several of the Davidoff New York locations before beginning his work with Nat Sherman, where he was instrumental in revitalizing the brand and bringing it into the modern industry. His work on the Timeless and Panamericana lines received universal acclaim, and Michael was seen as the face of the next generation of cigar manufacturers.

Michael could have written his own ticket and worked as a consultant or in any executive position for countless companies. Instead, Michael decided to build his own brand, which is now known as Ferio Tego. Being the smart entrepreneur that he is, Michael decided to purchase some of the successful brands he had worked on with Nat Sherman from their parent company and re-release them under the Ferio Tego name. This gave many of his cigars automatic recognition and a solid fan base. However, in order to compete, Michael realized he had to release some brand-new, luxurious, and impactful smokes.

To do this, Michael turned to two of the most iconic names in the industry to build two different luxury cigar lines. For his bolder, more complex choice he went to Plasencia, where the Ferio Tego Generoso was born. However, Michael also understood the value of a smooth yet nuanced and flavorful mellow cigar, much in the vein of a traditional Davidoff. For this, he went to Manuel Quesada and his factory in the Dominican Republic. The result is one of, if not the best Connecticut-wrapped cigar in the world today.

The Ferio Tego Eleganica is as elegant as its name suggests. Its blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos gives a smooth, nutty yet flavorful core. Its Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut wrapper is flawless in appearance and adds notes of nutmeg, vanilla, cedar, and cream.

Burning perfectly from start to finish, it showcases tremendous balance, flavor transitions, and complexity. It’s packaging, which consists of its own ten-count humidor box, makes this cigar all the more enticing.

In his first year out on his own, Michael received several industry accolades including both new cigars receiving Top 3 positions with Cigar Dojo. The Ferio Tego Elegancia is one of the best cigars swirling around the industry, and it makes us all the more excited for what Michael has planned for the future.

Country of Origin – Nicaragua

Wrapper – Nicaraguan Corojo 99

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler –Nicaragua

Length – 5.75

Ring Gauge – 46

Strength – Medium-Full

Smoke Time – 85-90 Minutes

If the founding of the seasonal, limited release can be attributed to Pete Johnson, then we have to argue that Jon Huber perfected it. Jon and his team at Crowned Heads are masters of limited release. This can include something as simple as unique sizes of current lines, such as the Four Kicks Mule Kick, or regional-only cigars like the Tennessee Waltz or Yellow Rose of Texas. Jon has his hand on the pulse of each part of the industry and creates projects that satisfy every customer.

It is no secret that we are big fans of Crowned Heads, from their early work with Ernesto Perez Carillo to their most recent releases with the legendary Nicaraguan factory NACSA. Each cigar with the Crowned Heads’ name is built with passion, knowledge, and purpose. You would be hard-pressed to find a cigar bearing that name that is anything less than spectacular.

The Crowned jewel (no pun intended) of the Crowned Heads lineup has to be the Las Calaveras line.  Started in 2014 in collaboration with the My Father Factory, Jon created one of, if not the most highly anticipated seasonal releases of all time. Each year, media and customers alike wait with deep anticipation to see what the new year will bring with this fantastic line.

It was named in honor of the Mexican holiday, Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This holiday is celebrated each year when families come together to celebrate and honor those who have passed. The Calaveras is an ornate decoration that depicts the human skull in a beautiful and artistic way. This skull adorns each box and band of Las Calaveras.

Jon created this line to honor family and friends who have passed each year and will change the blend and packing colors each year to represent this. Each release has received wide critical acclaim and is constantly named on various Top 25 lists. We believe the 2022 version is his most complete work yet.

Handcrafted in Nicaragua with the iconic Don Pepin Garcia, this year’s Las Calaveras showcases a new Nicaraguan Corojo 99 wrapper. It holds no blemishes and has just the right amount of oil to create a wonderful bouquet of flavors. Notes of tobacco sweetness, cedar, and nuts are combined with a touch of black pepper spice and a hint of earth to create an ever-changing flavor profile. Each puff brings you something new and enticing, and all the flavors work beautifully well together.

While it may seem that each year, people believe this was the best version of the cigar yet, I genuinely believe the 2022 version has showcased something new from the brand. It shows a willingness to grow and evolve with the changing times and a more nuanced profile we aren’t used to seeing in the line.

Its construction is nearly flawless and its new color variants are subtle yet remarkably beautiful. For many years, the original version of the Las Calaveras was the standard that all others were held to. However, I think we have a new baseline for just how good this cigar can be.