With the year coming to an end, it’s that time of year again! Cigar lovers everywhere get excited for the big reveal of the year’s finest cigars. The world of cigars is steeped in rich tradition but here at JR Cigars, we aren’t afraid to shake things up.

In 2024 we’ve seen remarkable blends, expert craftsmanship and innovation, and extreme dedication and passion over the last year from some of our favorite companies.

These cigars deliver fresh experiences while paying tribute to the rich heritage that makes every puff something spectacular!

Whether you’re into bold, full-bodied flavors or prefer something a bit more subtle, we’ve got you covered with our list of the Top 25 Cigars of 2024! Let’s dive in!

Country of Origin: Honduras

Wrapper: Ecuador Habano

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6

Ring: 50

Strength: Medium-Full

Smoke Time: 65-80 Minutes

Our first cigar at Number 25 starts our Top 25 Cigars of 2024 with a little trip down Memory Lane. The Punch Dad’s Home Movies released earlier this year in celebration of Father’s Day.

Coming in a classic 6×50 toro, the Punch Dad’s Home Movies are crafted with a finely aged blend of zesty Nicaraguan tobaccos in the filler portion of the cigar. The Punch Dad’s Home Movies is completed with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan tobacco for the binder.

Flavor notes you may detect have a balanced medley of spices, coffee, earth, and roasted nuts over a peppery base.

What makes the Punch Dad’a Home Movies truly memorable cigar is not just their delicious flavors, but the unique packaging resembling a VHS. Reminisce the good times with your good ol’ dad by sharing some Punch Dad’s Home Movies!

Country of Origin: Honduras

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés

Binder: Honduras

Filler: Honduras/Nicaragua

Length: 5

Ring: 52

Strength: Medium

Smoke Time: 50-60 Minutes

When it comes to luxury, Cohiba is the first brand that comes to mind for many aficionados. So, for Number 24 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024, the Cohiba Riviera Box-Pressed Robusto takes that to all-new heights.

Drawing inspiration from the scenic Mexican Riviera, this medium-bodied beauty marks a multitude of firsts for the legendary Cohiba brand. Not only is it the first Cohiba to sport a zesty Mexican San Andres wrapper, but it is also the first Cohiba, Cuban or non-Cuban, to be offered in a box-pressed vitola. Alongside the Mexican San Andres wrapper, the Cohiba Riviera has tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua for the binder and filler.

The culmination of these rich and delicious tobaccos that make up the Cohiba Riviera provides a delicious and flavorful smoking experience. Notes you may detect while smoking the Cohiba Riviera are a medley of leather, white pepper, coffee, chocolate, and earth.

With these notes coming together as one, the Cohiba Riviera provides a lasting sweetness that lingers on the palate for all novices and aficionados to enjoy.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6.25

Ring: 52

Strength: Medium

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

At number 23 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024, the Crux Epicure Habano Toro showcases its complexity and beauty before you even light it up! Crafting a top-rated boutique cigar without being born into a famous tobacco family is no easy feat, and that’s exactly what Minnesota cigar shop owners Joel Rogers and Jeff Haugen accomplished with the Crux Epicure Habano Toro.

A balanced Nicaraguan puro sourced from the legendary Plasencia family, the Crux Epicure Habano features a gorgeous Nicaraguan Habano wrapper. With a vast flavor profile, this medium-bodied smoke with flavors of cinnamon, leather, coffee, earth, and cedar is certain to please your palate from the first puff to the last! The Crux Epicure Habano Toro is a cigar you do not want to miss and we are so proud to have it on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024 list!

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 5

Ring: 52

Strength: Medium

Smoke Time: 65-70 Minutes

Erik Espinosa and his talents for cigar blending are no strangers to our Top 25 list. For our 22nd cigar on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024, we’re happy to announce that the Espinosa Sumatra Robusto has made our list this year. Not too many cigars from Espinosa have featured a Sumatra wrapper in the past, but for this tasty 5 x 52 Robusto, Espinosa uses it to its fullest potential.

Cloaked in an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, the Espinosa Sumatra Robusto features scrumptious Nicaraguan tobacco for the binder and filler. The nutty and spicey Sumatra is a medium-bodied cigar that is full of complex flavor notes. Some flavors you may detect when smoking the Espinosa Sumatra Robusto are roasted nuts, baking spices, cream, and dark chocolate.

If you are a fan of other Espinosa releases like the Knuckle Sandwich or Laranja Reserva, then the Espinosa Sumatra Robusto will be right at home in your humidor.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut

Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6

Ring: 52

Strength: Full

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

The sequel to the Blackend M81 from Drew Estate James Hetfield and Blackend Whiskey lands at number 21 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024. The Blackened S84 Toro is an encore that hits all the right notes and won the hearts of cigar aficionados across the country.

The Blackened S84’s complexity and richness don’t overwhelm the palate although its culmination of strong tobacco and full-bodied profile. Cloaked in a gorgeous Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, the Blackened S84 has a Connecticut Broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan fillers.

Flavors you may detect in the Blackened S84 Toro are cinnamon, cream, baking spices, leather, and delectable dark chocolate. Your palate will enjoy the complexity that plays a symphony of flavors on the palate that will keep you engaged and enthralled with every note.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaragua

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 7

Ring: 50

Strength: Medium-Full

Smoke Time: 80 Minutes

The 20th cigar to land on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024 list is the newest cigar from the legendary H. Upmann brand. With the brand turning 180 years old this year, folks over at H. Upmann decided to commemorate this incredible milestone by creating a cigar to match this special moment.

The H. Upmann 180th Anniversary Limited Edition Churchill packs 180 years of history into a lengthy 7 x 50 parejo. Another key note to mention is that the H. Upmann 180th is crafted by the dynamic duo of AJ Fernandez and Rafael Nodal with a blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos that have been aging for years.

A touch of Medio Tempo from the top portions of the plant offers a bold, flavorful, and complex medium to full-bodied smoking experience. Decadent flavors of peppery spices, oak, leather, and tobacco sweetness are certain to please the seasoned connoisseur.

Make sure to add the scrumptious premium cigar that is the H. Upmann 180th Anniversary to your collection today!

Country of Origin: Honduras

Wrapper: Honduras

Binder: Honduras

Filler: Honduras/Dominican Republic

Length: 6

Ring: 60

Strength: Medium-Full

Smoke Time: 80-90 Minutes

The modern world of premium cigars is filled with experimentation and blends with unique, rare tobaccos.  One of the first cigars to come to mind when discussing modern gems is the Camacho Broadleaf Gordo which lands at number 19 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024.

As the name suggests, this stocky 6 x 60 cigar from the Camacho factory in Honduras features a dark and thick Honduran Broadleaf wrapper. Most cigar smokers equate Broadleaf wrappers to Connecticut, however, the folks over at Camacho wanted to create a Honduran puro that nobody has tried before!

Maintaining that chocolatey sweetness of Broadleaf with a touch of earth and cinnamon from the Honduran binder and filler, the Camacho Broadleaf Gordo is a hopeful sign for the future of premium cigars in the market today!

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaragua

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6.25

Ring: 54

Strength: Mellow

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

Landing at Number 18 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024, we have the Kristoff Tres Compadres Toro. The Tres Compadres line from Kristoff pays homage to two of brand owner Glen Case’s closest friends, Chuck Finch and Rolando Villamil. Finch had been Case’s friend since high school, and Case and Villamil worked together for years at the Charles Fairmorn factory where Kristoff cigars are made.

With their passing over the last few years, Kristoff Cigars celebrated their legacies by creating the delicious Kristoff Tres Compadres Toro. This Nicaraguan puro delivers a more subdued and complex smoking experience which may be rare in other Nicaraguan puros on the market today.

The Kristoff Tres Compadres is unusually mellow for an all-Nicaraguan blend. Some flavor notes you may detect while smoking the Tres Compadres are cream, toasted sourdough, wood, roasted nuts, and hints of pepper that play off each other and become more than the sum of their parts.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador Sun Grown Habano

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua (Jalapa Valley Ligero)

Length: 5

Ring: 54

Strength: Medium-Full

Smoke Time: 65-70 Minutes

No stranger to end-of-year Top Cigar lists, we have the illustrious Oliva Serie V in the Double Robusto Box Pressed 5 x 54 coming in at number 17 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024. Hailing from Nicaragua, The Oliva Serie V is cloaked in an Ecuadorian Sun Grown Habano wrapper, while featuring Jalapa Valley Ligero tobaccos for the binder and filler.

While smoking the Oliva Serie V, you may detect subtle flavor notes of black pepper, earth, coffee, and leather until the very end.

Available in a plethora of different sizes, the Oliva Serie V comes in packs of 5 or boxes of 24. Whichever option you end up going with, having Oliva Serie V in your collection is the right decision to make!

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6

Ring: 54

Strength: Medium

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

Placing number 16 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024 list is the League of Fat Bastards Serie L in the 6 x 54 Toro. One common theme within the industry is companies branding and marketing their cigar lines with a theme or message. The meaningful mission behind League of Fat Bastards was curated by owner Adam Levine to shed a positive light on men’s mental health struggles.

When smoking this Nicaraguan puro, you’ll detect delicious and flavorful notes of earth, cream, coffee, and natural sweetness provided in the Serie L Toro.

The sixteenth cigar on our Top 25 list takes it a step further and donates 40% of its sales to mental health charities across the globe. By purchasing a box of 20 in one of their three sizes, it’ll be going to a cause worth supporting beyond the holiday season.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaragua

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 5.62

Ring: 46

Strength: Medium-Full

Smoke Time: 60-65 Minutes

If you’re familiar with our Top 25 lists, then it’s no surprise a cigar from Foundation Cigars finds a place on here. This year on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024,  we’re featuring the El Gugeguense at number 15!

This medium to full-bodied 5.62 x 46 Nicaraguan puro has delicious flavor notes of wood, cedar, cinnamon, and toffee throughout the entire smoking experience.

Being one of Foundation Cigars’ first brands under their portfolio, the El Gueguense has stood the test of time and has remained one of the go-to cigars not just for Foundation cigars, but for novice and aficionado cigar smokers alike.

With the El Gueguense line being discontinued and being re-branded as “The Wise Man”, as well as changing factories of production for the new re-brand, then adding one of these classics from Foundation Cigars to your collection is a must before its too late!

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaragua

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 5

Ring: 54

Strength: Medium-Full

Smoke Time: 65-70 Minutes

Landing at number 14 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024, we have the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edicion Diamante in the 5 x 54 Robusto size. Sequels following the original have a tough act to follow. In this case, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edicion Diamante got the job done.

Honoring the brand’s 135 years in the industry, Montecristo turned to the best of the best to create such a magnetic sequel. AJ Fernandez has a fondness for the Cuban heritage of the Montecristo brand and pulled out all the stops to create this gorgeous Nicaraguan puro.

The delicious blend this medium to full-bodied 5 x 54 Robusto possesses, you’ll detect flavor notes of cocoa, roasted nuts, spice, and oak on the backend. Other than the Robusto, the Edicion Diamante from Montecristo comes in five additional sizes and is available in boxes of 10 for you to add to your collection for the new year.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf

Binder: Sumatra Hybrid

Filler: Dominican Republic/Nicaragua

Length: 6

Ring: 54

Strength: Full

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

At number 13 is the delicious RoMa Craft CroMagnon PA Broadleaf and we couldn’t be more excited. Over the past decade, the CroMagnon line stood the test of time and has become a staple for full-bodied cigar lovers across the industry.

Featuring a Pennsylvania Broadleaf for the wrapper, the CroMagnon PA Broadleaf showcases a Sumatra hybrid blend for the binder and utilizes tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic for the filler.

The combination of these rich and complex tobaccos within the CroMagnon PA Broadleaf by Roma Craft leaves your palate with a treat. With a sweet, yet zesty flavor profile, this 6 x 54 gem is one of many different sizes available that come in boxes of 24.

So, add this trailblazing brand and cigar to your collection today!

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Jalapa

Binder: Nicaraguan Criollo

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 5.25

Ring: 54

Strength: Medium

Smoke Time: 60-70 Minutes

A cigar that’s no stranger to end-of-year lists, the Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve Robusto clocks in at number twelve on our Top 25 list.

This Nicaraguan puro is comprised of tobaccos that were all grown on the famed Aganorsa farms, the Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve displays a complexity of flavors throughout. Inviting flavor notes you may detect while smoking this 5.25 x 52 Robusto are earth, cinnamon, cocoa, and leather.

With five other sizes and maduro options available, you can grab a box of 15 and see for yourself why the Rare Leaf Reserve by Aganorsa remains one of the sought-after cigars on the market today!

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder: Ecuador Habano

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6

Ring: 54

Strength: Medium

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

Before we enter our Top Ten, we’re featuring a cigar from a brand we’ve collaborated with numerous times and respect for their innovation. Coming off the heels of their 2020 Mil Dias release, Jon Huber of Crowned Heads followed up in a major way by creating the Mil Dias Maduro. We’re excited to announce that the Crowned Heads Mil Dias Maduro Exclusive Box Pressed Robusto lands at number 11 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024.

Hailing from the TacaNicsa factory in Nicaragua, the Mil Dias Maduro is cloaked in a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, while featuring Nicaraguan tobacco in the filler and Ecuadorian Habano leaves in the binder. This Cuban-style 6 x 54 Boxed Press Robusto has flavor notes of cocoa, roasted nuts, and leather on the retro hale.

Available in four different sizes that come in boxes of 20, the Crowned Heads Mil Dias Maduro is on our website today for you to enjoy!

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6

Ring: 54

Strength: Mellow-Medium

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

While the company has been around for a few years, HVC remains one of our favorite rising stars in the industry. That’s why we’re excited to have the HVC Hot Cake Golden Line Connecticut Laguito No. 5 at the number 10 spot for our Top 25 Cigars of 2024.

Reinier Lorenzo can blend a traditional Cuban style effortlessly but with a modern twist that makes his cigars a favorite among those looking for a Cubanesqe smoke. His blending style always gives you a complex cigar with a nice clean finish, while his branding uses the old-fashioned Cuban aesthetic, with a modern boutique flair.

The Hot Cakes Golden line features an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper while featuring rich Nicaraguan tobaccos for the binder and filler. This mellow to medium-bodied smoke has subtle nods to more traditional Connecticut cigars with hints of nuts and a creamy finish but with a bit more strength and a great number of flavor transitions.

As he continues to build out his factory and expand, I think we can expect HVC to continue to rise through the rankings.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador

Binder: Ecuador Connecticut

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6

Ring: 52

Strength: Full

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

Coming in at Number 9 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024 is a very limited and rare cigar that blew the doors off this year was their new, toro version of their event-only Blood Medicine. Crowned has become increasingly known for its amazing array of limited editions. From their seasonal releases such as Las Calaveras to their fan-favorite Mule Kick, their ability to make a consistent and high-quality LE is unmatched in the industry.

What makes our number 9 cigar so delicious is where this medium-bodied cigar was created. Crafted at the TacaNicasa factory, the Blood Medicine in the 6 x 52 toro size elevated the blend profile of this cigar to new heights. Cloaked in an Ecuador wrapper, the Blood Medicine has Nicaraguan fillers and an Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf that makes up the binder.

Its nostalgic, Americana branding makes it a perfect addition to the Crowned Heads family. From a blending perspective, it is right in that sweet spot in terms of flavor and strength.  Its combination of solid flavors, such as tobacco sweetness, leather, and cedar, and its solid construction made this a limited that I hope becomes regular production.

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés

Binder: Honduras

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 5

Ring: 50

Strength: Medium

Smoke Time: 60-65 Minutes

Over the last 10 years, Ernesto Perez Carrillo has become a mainstay on Top 25 lists. During that time, he has received numerous accolades including two No.1 Cigar of the Year awards from Cigar Aficionado.  The focus during this period has been primarily on his three big family lines, notably La Historia, Encore, and Allegiance.

While he had a limited edition in the Encore line this year, the cigar that caught our attention was his new core line, E.P. Carrillo Essence, which lands at number 8 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024 list.

Recently added to E.P.’s portfolio, the Essence was created to highlight six different wrapper varieties. The two released so far this year were the Sumatra and the Maduro. The Maduro, which is handmade at the Casa Carrillo factory, features a stunning Mexican San Andres wrapper and while we have seen a slew of San Andres releases in recent years, this one brings something new to the table.

With Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco that make up the binder and filler, the Essence has delicious flavor notes of earth, chocolate, espresso, and black pepper on the backend. With transitions from rich and smokey to smooth and creamy, the E.P. Carrillo Essence not only gives you a top-shelf Carrillo experience but at a much more everyday price.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaragua

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6.50

Ring: 52

Strength: Medium-Full

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

Coming in at Number 7 on our Top 25 cigars of 2024 is the Tatuaje Conoju 2012 Broadleaf. We have seen a fair amount of broadleaf releases over the past few years, with names like Dunbarton, Foundation, and Crowned Heads gaining a lion’s share of the attention.

I have said for years, that when done right, no one can do broadleaf better than Pete Johnson.  From the original Pork Tenderloin to the TAA releases and some of the Monsters, a Tatuaje Broadleaf can consistently rank as one of the best cigars of the year.

With new packaging quantities and two new variants, the Tatuaje Cojonu Broadleaf once again rose above the others to be one of our favorite cigars of the year.

Its rich profile, with notes of dark cocoa and leather, builds up slowly throughout the cigar reaching a tremendous and bold crescendo in the final third. If you are looking for the perfect example of a modern-day Broadleaf, the Tatuaje Conoju 2012 Broadleaf is the one for you.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6

Ring: 52

Strength: Medium-Full

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

The newly crafted and branded Wise Man Maduro from Foundation Cigars comes in at number 6 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024 list! Just like many fans of Foundation, we were devastated upon hearing that the El Gueguense and original Wise Man Maduro were ending their legendary run. They were among my most beloved cigars not just from Nick Melillo but among the entire industry. Hearing that production was moving to My Father, however, gave me hope that he would be able to replicate that greatness with this legendary factory.

Nick Melillo didn’t replicate the Wise Man Maduro, he gave us an even more elevated version of it. While it has the same foundation as the original (no pun intended), everything about this cigar seems to exceed its predecessor. It is more complex, yet a bit more subtle in certain aspects.

It has the same great flavors, but each one is more pronounced. With Nicaraguan tobaccos that make up the binder and filler, the Wise Man Maduro sports an eye-catching Mexican San Andres leaf for the wrapper on this 6 x 52 gem.

The transitioning of flavors with every puff delivers something new.  The burn is phenomenal, with a solid white ash from start to finish. Flavor notes you’ll detect while enjoying the Wise Man Maduro are cocoa, earth, white pepper, and leather.

While I will always have a special place in my heart for the humble beginnings of the Wise Man Maduro, I think I have a new favorite cigar from Foundation Cigars.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Connecticut Corojo

Binder: Mexican San Andres

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6

Ring: 52

Strength: Full

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

We have now entered our Top 5 of our Top 25 Cigars of 2024! Coming in at number 5 is the Liga Privada H99 6 x 52 Toro. Liga Privada is a Mount Rushmore cigar brand and will always be considered a must-have for any cigar enthusiast.

From the original No.9, which aided in the trend towards bolder Broadleafs, to the T52 and of course the legion of special Unico series, Liga Privada is a name synonymous with quality, style, and branding. In 2018, after almost 10 years since a new Liga core line was introduced, Drew Estate unveiled the newest addition to this storied brand and what I believe might be the best of them all.

The Liga Privada H99 has many of the elements you will find in other Liga entries. It uses a darker Connecticut Corojo wrapper that sports a Mexican San Andres binder and is blended with Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers that are immensely flavorful.

However, what sets this apart is that this is a Liga that can be smoked any time of day. It is much more nuanced than its predecessors and shows the evolution of the Drew Estate team.

Its Corojo wrapper offers a tremendous sweetness while its filler and binders help balance the blend, making it the most approachable Liga I’ve had yet.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés

Binder: Ecuador

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 5

Ring: 54

Strength: Full

Smoke Time: 60 Minutes

Our number 4 cigar on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024 list is the incomparable Sin Compromiso Seleccion No. 4 Parejo from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. While the true connoisseurs might disagree, I have felt in recent years that Sin Comprimiso might be the most underrated cigar in the Dunbarton portfolio.

Being a fan favorite, the Sin Compromiso seems to not get as much media buzz as the various Mi Querida lines or Sobremesa blue. That being said, Sin Comprimiso might been one of Steve Saka’s most complex and interesting projects to date.

Since the blend first launched in 2019, it had been lacking a Robusto size, with Steve saying he was dissatisfied with how the viola was working out. After 5 years of work, he was finally able to release this vitola “without compromise”.

The cigar is hand-rolled with an exquisite Mexican San Andres wrapper, that is cultivated using an ancient Japanese technique of continuing to prune substandard leaves so all of the nutrients go to only a few of them.

This explains not only the higher price tag but also the immense flavor, complexity, and unique profile of the Sin Comprimiso.  Not only does the No.4 succeed as a robusto vitola, but it may also have become the new favorite of the entire line.

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Ecuador Habano

Binder: Mexico/Ecuador

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 4

Ring: 38

Strength: Medium-Full

Smoke Time: 30-40 Minutes

An unconventional cigar at our number 3 spot on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024 list is the Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour Petit Panetela. The Winston Churchill Late Hour was first released back in 2017 as the fuller-bodied brother to the medium Winston Churchill line.

It instantly became a favorite amongst Davidoff smokers, as it was probably the strongest and most intense Davidoff to date. It even utilized tobacco that was aged in Scotch barrels, which made it even more unique and continued that connection to the former Prime Minister.

With the Petite Panatela, Davidoff took a significant departure from their normal releases and blended this as a mixed filler cigar. This means it uses premium long filler tobacco for the wrapper and binder, yet its three-country filler is made up of the short filler remnants from the bigger sizes.

Its Ecuadorian Habano oscuro wrapper offers a rich and bold profile up front, while its Dominican, Sumatran, and Nicaraguan short fillers help balance out the blend with hits of spice, chocolate, and a little sweetness.

Whether it’s because of its smaller size, its price point, or the blend, this has become the Davidoff of choice for our office for the last several months and will continue to be a regular part of our rotation.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 6

Ring: 48

Strength: Medium-Full

Smoke Time: 70-80 Minutes

While it might seem like a gimmick to name our brand at number 2 on our Top 25 Cigars of 2024 list, this is the first year where we put a large team together as opposed to just having Chris and Nick curate our list like years past. The Crafted by JR Aganorsa Toro cigar ranked in the Top 5 for every member of the review team, which made it just too much to ignore.

Aganorsa continues its relentless march to be at the pinnacle of every aspect of this industry. While the company has always grown and sold some of the highest quality tobacco in the business, it is only in recent years that we have seen their incredible expansion, under the watchful eye of Terence Reilly.

A company that was once more known for its factory and fields, is now one of the fastest-growing brands in the world.  When it came time for us to choose our next collaborator for the Crafted by JR series, working with Aganorsa was a clear choice.

The Crafted by JR: Aganorsa Leaf has become one of our hottest and most talked about brands, and it has only been on the market for three months. It is a combination of our favorite characteristics from top Aganorsa cigars.

It has the rich Mexican San Andres wrapper you’d find on the Rare Leaf Maduro while having the subtle sweetness and approachable profile of the Supreme Leaf. It does this while being under $10 a cigar, which in these times is as rare as the Rare Leaves.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 5

Ring: 48

Strength: Medium-Full

Smoke Time: 60-65 Minutes

As stated in the previous entry, this year marks the first time that an entire team was in charge of putting together our Top 25 list. There were 8 members of the team, all of the most experienced cigar smokers in our company.  The process took several weeks to coordinate, with each person given the chance to submit their list and then work it from there until we had a consensus Top 25.  Out of those 8 people, 7 of them had the Dunbarton Umbagog Bronzeback as their #1 Cigar of the Year…the 8^th person had it in their Top 5.

From the moment our team returned from the PCA show in March 2024, this was the cigar they couldn’t stop raving about. From its construction to the flavor changes and its unique aroma, it seems as though the Umbagog Bronzeback was etched in our minds before it even arrived in our warehouse.

It is a variation of the original Umbagog blend, utilizing a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper along with Nicaraguan filler and binders.  However, by picking wrapper leaves slightly down the stalk, known as “2LS”, Steve was able to blend a cigar that is in many ways markedly different from its predecessor.

The Bronzeback still is a rich cigar, but instead of the heavy rich sweetness of the original, you are met with a more balanced and in some instances, spicy profile. The additional pepper notes do not overpower the blend but balance out the overarching richness to bring you a more complex and nuanced cigar.

Each puff offers you this dueling piano profile, shooting back and forth from creamy chocolate to white pepper, and then to a clean leathery finish.  We chose this cigar not only because it was our predominant favorite, but because it is a testament to Steve Saka’s ability to make the slightest changes, yet still create something unique and memorable.