Cigar Journal’s Top 25 Cigars Of 2020 #13 To #8

Today we are revealing the six cigars ranking from positions 13 to 8.

#13 | Vega Fina & Great Wall Fusion Edition

Released in mid-2020, the Vega Fina & Great Wall Fusion Edition Piramide was a collaboration between Tabacalera S.L.U. and China’s Great Wall Cigars. The cigar’s name clearly hints at the combined efforts of Vega Fina and Great Wall brands. Great Wall Cigars recently hosted the 6th Chinese Cigar Festival in their hometown of Shifang, China and many more collaborations with international cigar brands are expected from Great Wall Cigars in the future.

 Tasting notes:

This Figurado is densely rolled, its wrapper is extremely smooth. Alongside a sepia-like sweetness that lasts throughout, it offers nuances of exotic fruit, cedar aromas, fine, tart nutty aromas, and subtle acidity. It has a razor-sharp burn.

Owner: Tabacalera S.L.U and China Tobaco Sichuan
Factory: The Great Wall Cigar Factory (Shifang,China)
Origin: China
Wrapper: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Dom. Rep., Brazil, Indonesia
Strength: 6 (of 10)
Size: 152 x 20.6 | 6 x 52
Released: 2020

#12 | Casa Turrent Origin Series San Andres Robusto Extra

In late 2019, Casa Turrent finally released the Origin Series after an initial launch at InterTabac 2018 and 2019 IPCPR trade show. It is a series that also comes in three other different blends: Cuba, Miami, Nicaragua. Each blend is presented in the same sized vitola in 12 count boxes, with the Miami blend also available in a 24 count box.

Tasting notes:

This cigar is a spicy-sweet bomb. The sweetness of the Maduro wrapper and the multifaceted notes of spice keep the palate on its toes: between tangy peppery, fruity acidic to roasted and tart, this cigar plays through all the variations.

Owner: A. Turrent Cigars
Factory: Nueva Matacapan de Tabacos S.A. de C.V.
Origin: Mexico
Wrapper: Mexico Negro San Andrés
Binder: Mexico Negro San Andrés
Filler: Mexico, Nicaragua
Strength: 8 (of 10)
Size: 140 x 21.4 | 5 1/2 x 54
Released: 2019

#11 | Días de Gloria by A.J. Fernandez Gordo

The Nicaraguan puro from Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez which hints at the glory days of Cuban cigars, was initially launched at the 2019 IPCPR trade show and features seven years aged tobaccos from four of A.J.’s oldest farms in Nicaragua: Finca los Cedros, La Providencia 1, La Lilia and La Soledad. All of them located in Estelí. The cigar is also available in a Toro, Short Churchill, and Robusto.

Tasting notes:

A tangy cigar with dark, earthy, coffee and wood aromas. In very creamy smoke there is also slightly sweet bitter chocolate as well as a little pepper and salt. Towards the end, the coffee and pepper notes become more intense.

Owner: A.J. Fernandez Cigars
Factory: Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: 8 (of 10)
Size: 152 x 23 | 6 x 58
Released: 2019

#10 | Juan López ER 2018 Francia Punto 55 (Rerelease 2020)

The Edición Regionales from Habanos have become popular cigars for passionados and collectors. Apart from that, they are proof for how much more international the world market for cigars is becoming. This cigar debuted in late 2018 and was reissued in 2020 for the 50th anniversary of Coprova, the Habanos importer in France.

Tasting notes:

This cigar offers spicy wood, earthy and nut aromas with the subtle sweetness of dried fruit and later caramel. Flavor-wise, it spreads a pleasant, creamy feeling on the palate with a gentle chili spice and, at the end, with crème brûlée.

Owner: Empresa Cubana del Tabaco (Cubatabaco)
Factory: El Habanero Factory
Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba
Strength: 5 (of 10)
Size: 130 x 21.8 | 5 1/8 x 55
Released: 2018 & 2020

#9 | Rocky Patel CSWC Mareva        

At the 2019 Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC) final in Split, Croatia, event founder Marko Bilić announced that the new competition cigar in 2020 would be created by Rocky Patel. In January 2020, Rocky Patel released the CSWC Mareva, and two other vitolas in the line, the Robusto and Toro. All are made at Patel’s Tavicusa. Sadly, due to Covid-19, only a handful of live CSWC events took place around the world, however the dynamic Bilić introduced the Stay Strong 2020 season which attracted entrants for live online competitions throughout the year.

Tasting notes:

Along with the intense aromas of roasted coffee beans, almonds and earth, as well as a noticeable cacao sweetness, this cigar offers a broad spectrum. Later, perceptible acidic and bitter notes are added. It has a razor-sharp burn.

Owner: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars
Factory: Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A. (Tavicusa)
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexico
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
Strength: 5 (of 10)
Size: 130 x 16.7 | 5 1/8 x 42
Released: 2020

#8 | Tatuaje ME II Churchill

Pete Johnson’s brand Tatuaje is mainly characterized by the striving of its creator to look and be different, which is also manifested in this Churchill. It is wrapped in a Mexico San Andrés Oscuro wrapper; the binder and filler come from Nicaragua. The cigar follows in the footsteps of the Tatuaje Limited Series Mexican experiment from 2012. However, the edition back then was only very limited and the new one is already an integral part of the brand portfolio.

Tasting notes:

A box-pressed Churchill in a sandy Oscuro wrapper with voluptuous spice and a fine mocha aftertaste. It also offers a subtle sweetness, hints of fruity notes, but, above all, a whole garden of herbal aromas.

Owner: Tatuaje Cigars, Inc.
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexico
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: 7 (of 10)
Size: 165 x 19.0 | 6 ½ x 48
Released: 2019