Top 25 Cigars. Top Cigar Brand Review25. Grass Medium
Yeah this cigar is from Lars Tetens, sure it is a bit expensive, and I know it is infused with things I cannot even pronounce. Still, if you ever want to try a good and funky flavored cigar, this is the best of the bunch. One of the early creations in the “infused” cigar craze, this is just straight forward funky…and I think that is good…isn’t it?
24. Maria Guerrero Toro
An often overlooked Altadis brand, Mario Guerrero is a solid medium bodied Cameroon wrapped cigar. This Toro releases clouds of smoke, and proves to be darn well constructed. You can get them at a decent price most everywhere.
23. Hoyo de Monterrey Dark Sumatra Ebano
This is a full bodied Hoyo with a nice dark Ecuadorian grown Sumatra seed wrapper. The Ebano is the smallest ring gauge in the family, and seems to get the most out of the wrapper.
22. Trilogy Corojo Churchill
Introduced in 2002 by Alec Bradley, the triangular shaped Trilogy was written of as a shape gimmick early on. The Corojo Churchill is a good cigar, and the triangular shape went round in 2005. Even thought the shaped changed, the cigar didn't, and it's still good. I have to admit though, a triangular shaped cigar was pretty cool.
21. Reo Torpedo
Costa Rican wrapped and made perfectly like just about anything from United Tobacco, The Reo Torpedo flies under the radar better than most. Full bodied, and a great example of Costa Rican wrapped cigars.
20. Sancti Spiritus Robusto
One of the earlier cigars from Jose “Pepin” Garcia, and made for the retailer Cigar King. This Nicaraguan puro gives the smoker a medium bodied example of Pepin’s work. I wish there was a petite corona in this line. BTW...anything from Pepin comes close to violating the "hype" requirement above...but it is so dang good.
19. Sabor Cubano Great Pyramid
A stronger line from Luis Sanchez at La Tradicion, these may be the best Mexican wrapped cigars ever. You can pick any from the line to enjoy, but if you’re a real man you’ll at least give the 8 ½ x 52 Great Pyramid a few rounds of battle. You have to wonder what Luis was thinking when he created a cigar that practically needs a bale of tobacco to create. Long live the "Mad Scientist".
18. Butera Royal Vintage Dorado 652
Okay, you do need to find them first. I don't see these around much, but if you find them, you'll enjoy one of the creamiest mild cigars around. The Dorado 652 is a nice thick Toro that will provide loads of smoke and a nice relaxing flavor.
17. Oliva Serie "O" Torpedo
Originally called the Oliva "O" Classic until it was renamed in 2006, you also might remember the nice red fabric bands and impeccable box. Inside all that dressing was a great Nicaraguan Puro. That same cigar exists today, although in much more non-descript packaging. Oliva does almost everything right in the cigar business, and this is no exception.
16. Havana Sunrise Havanas
Introduced in 2004, and for all I know gone in 2007. The Havana Sunrise Havanas is a 7 x 48 Ecuadorian grown Connecticut shade wrapped Churchill. Likely the definition of "flying under the radar", this cigar produced consistent good construction and great flavor for an extremely value priced cigar.
15. Gran Habano Corojo Blend Robusto
This is an amazingly constructed cigar. Created from Nicaraguan and Costa Rican tobacco, the spiciness of this cigar is something to behold. Gran Habano makes many good smokes, I think this is the cream of their crop.
14. Illusione 88
This all Nicaraguan robusto was made with the goal of recreating Nicaraguan cigar flavor profiles from years past. I can't say if they have accomplished that, but they have made a darn good cigar.
13. Cuesta Rey Centro Fino Sungrown Robusto No. 7
In theory a heavier bodied cigar, I have never found it that way. I have though found it to be quite enjoyable. Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper and Dominican filler and binder combine to provide a consistent medium bodied spicy cigar. Also a candidate for worlds longest cigar name.
12. Nicarao Series 2006 Piramide
I had the chance to meet Didier Houvenagel of Nicarao at the 2007 RTDA. Didier was sharing the Nicarao story from the Rocky Patel booth, so he's hanging in in good company. His cigars seem to be as well. A very creamy all Nicaraguan smoke, the Nicarao Piramide is as good as Didier's enthusiasm for his product...and that's saying a lot.
11. H. Upmann Signature Magnum 50 Maduro
Virtually unknown and lost among the myriad of H. Upmann brands, the signature series is the blending creation of Michael Argenti. The maduros have a Mexican wrap, and are stronger than the milder Nicaraguan wrapped natural line. Both are good, and virtually unheard of. The H. Upmann Signature line is an example of how important skilled blending is.
10. Don Lino Africa Duma
A full bodied smoke that uses aged tobacco. You could have picked any of this line for inclusion in our list. The Duma is a Robusto sized cigar. As a side note, the artwork on the boxes of the Don Lino Africa line is amazing.
9. Montecristo Petit Edmundo
When the Montecristo Petit Edmundo first came out it was slightly overshadowed by the less than spectacular results from the introduction of its big brother the Edmundo. It’s nice to see the Edmundo has improved, while the Petit Edmundo never needed to. Spectacular in its flavor profile for such a short cigar, this is the personification of a quick enjoyable smoking experience. Hard to call a Cuban overlooked, but you really should not miss this cigar.
8. Leon Jimenes 2001 No. 300 Robusto
The first Leon Jimenes to use a Cameroon wrapper in a decade. Maybe it's the extra 300 days of ageing that the cigar derives it's name from, or perhaps the extra attention of a commemorative cigar, either way, this is the best Leon Jimenes smoke out there. A toasty, balanced smoke that will deliver an abundance of flavor without being obnoxious.
7. Punch Rare Corojo Pita
This little box pressed cigar packs a wallop. Wrapped in a spicy Ecuadorian tobacco blanket, this is a cigar you can taste. A secret smoke even those Cuban cigar advocates sneak from time to time.
6. Excalibur by Hoyo de Monterrey No. 1 Maduro
I questioned putting this in here, as it's still fairly popular. I still can’t help but think underrated when I see this cigar. The Excalibur is not nearly as popular as it used to be, primarily due to the publics shift to stronger flavor profile cigars. Wrapped in traditional Connecticut Shade, these guys should be staples in many humidors.
5. Punch Gran Puro Sierra
This all Honduran puro is a great example of a stunning medium bodied cigar. Some may claim it is on the stronger side of medium, but I think it is lighter, either way you’ll enjoy it. Fantastic construction with a perfect white/grey ash makes this beautiful to smoke as well.
4. Juan Lopez Selection No. 2
This grassy Cuban never gets the adulation reserved for the “big time” Cuban robustos. Often overlooked, the reasonably priced Selection No. 2 contains a rich collection of tobaccos from the Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba. Quiet and unassuming in its bandless state, the Juan Lopez Selection No. 2 is not to be overlooked.
3. El Rey Del Mundo Robusto Larga
You could almost put this whole series in here, but there is something special about the larger ring gauge smokes in the line. Ecuadorian wrapped with Honduran filler and binder, these spicy devils give you a sense of how cigars tasted long ago.
2. Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Real No. 2
Throw out every other Romeo y Julieta line from Altadis as far as I am concerned. This is the cream of the RyJ crop. With a flawless Ecuadorian wrapper, this light colored cigar delivers an abundance of medium bodied flavor with near perfect burn and construction. From a mass production standpoint, this cigar continues to amaze me with it's consistency.
1. La Tradicion Cubana Churchill
From the hands of the “The Mad Scientist” at La Tradicion, Luis Sanchez, comes our #1 underrated cigar. This cigar may fly under the radar due to its relatively small production, but wow what a solid smoke. Time after time this cigar is lauded by the smoker. If you glance at the public’s rankings in the Review Database at Top25Cigar, you’ll see the respect this cigar garners.
So there you have it. Best case scenario you find a couple new cigars to try out of the above list. Worst case, well, there really isn't a worse case scenario when it comes to cigars is there.
Source: http://www.top25cigar.com/
Okay, you do need to find them first. I don't see these around much, but if you find them, you'll enjoy one of the creamiest mild cigars around. The Dorado 652 is a nice thick Toro that will provide loads of smoke and a nice relaxing flavor.
17. Oliva Serie "O" Torpedo
Originally called the Oliva "O" Classic until it was renamed in 2006, you also might remember the nice red fabric bands and impeccable box. Inside all that dressing was a great Nicaraguan Puro. That same cigar exists today, although in much more non-descript packaging. Oliva does almost everything right in the cigar business, and this is no exception.
16. Havana Sunrise Havanas
Introduced in 2004, and for all I know gone in 2007. The Havana Sunrise Havanas is a 7 x 48 Ecuadorian grown Connecticut shade wrapped Churchill. Likely the definition of "flying under the radar", this cigar produced consistent good construction and great flavor for an extremely value priced cigar.
15. Gran Habano Corojo Blend Robusto
This is an amazingly constructed cigar. Created from Nicaraguan and Costa Rican tobacco, the spiciness of this cigar is something to behold. Gran Habano makes many good smokes, I think this is the cream of their crop.
14. Illusione 88
This all Nicaraguan robusto was made with the goal of recreating Nicaraguan cigar flavor profiles from years past. I can't say if they have accomplished that, but they have made a darn good cigar.
13. Cuesta Rey Centro Fino Sungrown Robusto No. 7
In theory a heavier bodied cigar, I have never found it that way. I have though found it to be quite enjoyable. Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper and Dominican filler and binder combine to provide a consistent medium bodied spicy cigar. Also a candidate for worlds longest cigar name.
12. Nicarao Series 2006 Piramide
I had the chance to meet Didier Houvenagel of Nicarao at the 2007 RTDA. Didier was sharing the Nicarao story from the Rocky Patel booth, so he's hanging in in good company. His cigars seem to be as well. A very creamy all Nicaraguan smoke, the Nicarao Piramide is as good as Didier's enthusiasm for his product...and that's saying a lot.
11. H. Upmann Signature Magnum 50 Maduro
Virtually unknown and lost among the myriad of H. Upmann brands, the signature series is the blending creation of Michael Argenti. The maduros have a Mexican wrap, and are stronger than the milder Nicaraguan wrapped natural line. Both are good, and virtually unheard of. The H. Upmann Signature line is an example of how important skilled blending is.
10. Don Lino Africa Duma
A full bodied smoke that uses aged tobacco. You could have picked any of this line for inclusion in our list. The Duma is a Robusto sized cigar. As a side note, the artwork on the boxes of the Don Lino Africa line is amazing.
9. Montecristo Petit Edmundo
When the Montecristo Petit Edmundo first came out it was slightly overshadowed by the less than spectacular results from the introduction of its big brother the Edmundo. It’s nice to see the Edmundo has improved, while the Petit Edmundo never needed to. Spectacular in its flavor profile for such a short cigar, this is the personification of a quick enjoyable smoking experience. Hard to call a Cuban overlooked, but you really should not miss this cigar.
8. Leon Jimenes 2001 No. 300 Robusto
The first Leon Jimenes to use a Cameroon wrapper in a decade. Maybe it's the extra 300 days of ageing that the cigar derives it's name from, or perhaps the extra attention of a commemorative cigar, either way, this is the best Leon Jimenes smoke out there. A toasty, balanced smoke that will deliver an abundance of flavor without being obnoxious.
7. Punch Rare Corojo Pita
This little box pressed cigar packs a wallop. Wrapped in a spicy Ecuadorian tobacco blanket, this is a cigar you can taste. A secret smoke even those Cuban cigar advocates sneak from time to time.
6. Excalibur by Hoyo de Monterrey No. 1 Maduro
I questioned putting this in here, as it's still fairly popular. I still can’t help but think underrated when I see this cigar. The Excalibur is not nearly as popular as it used to be, primarily due to the publics shift to stronger flavor profile cigars. Wrapped in traditional Connecticut Shade, these guys should be staples in many humidors.
5. Punch Gran Puro Sierra
This all Honduran puro is a great example of a stunning medium bodied cigar. Some may claim it is on the stronger side of medium, but I think it is lighter, either way you’ll enjoy it. Fantastic construction with a perfect white/grey ash makes this beautiful to smoke as well.
4. Juan Lopez Selection No. 2
This grassy Cuban never gets the adulation reserved for the “big time” Cuban robustos. Often overlooked, the reasonably priced Selection No. 2 contains a rich collection of tobaccos from the Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba. Quiet and unassuming in its bandless state, the Juan Lopez Selection No. 2 is not to be overlooked.
3. El Rey Del Mundo Robusto Larga
You could almost put this whole series in here, but there is something special about the larger ring gauge smokes in the line. Ecuadorian wrapped with Honduran filler and binder, these spicy devils give you a sense of how cigars tasted long ago.
2. Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Real No. 2
Throw out every other Romeo y Julieta line from Altadis as far as I am concerned. This is the cream of the RyJ crop. With a flawless Ecuadorian wrapper, this light colored cigar delivers an abundance of medium bodied flavor with near perfect burn and construction. From a mass production standpoint, this cigar continues to amaze me with it's consistency.
1. La Tradicion Cubana Churchill
From the hands of the “The Mad Scientist” at La Tradicion, Luis Sanchez, comes our #1 underrated cigar. This cigar may fly under the radar due to its relatively small production, but wow what a solid smoke. Time after time this cigar is lauded by the smoker. If you glance at the public’s rankings in the Review Database at Top25Cigar, you’ll see the respect this cigar garners.
So there you have it. Best case scenario you find a couple new cigars to try out of the above list. Worst case, well, there really isn't a worse case scenario when it comes to cigars is there.
Source: http://www.top25cigar.com/
