Looking Back: Cigar Journal’s Best Buy Cigars of 2015

We combed through our blind tastings from the year 2015 again to find out which cigars received particularly good evaluations during the course of the year but are offered for a much lower price compared to others of the same rating. We characterize such ratings in our magazine with the stamp “Best Buy.”

The basis for our decision is the price per gram of tobacco. The cigars whose price per gram lies significantly below those of competing products receive the attribute Best Buy. Note, however, that because we disclose to our international readers prices in US dollars, Euros and Swiss francs, where possible, it may happen that a certain cigar is particularly favorable in US dollars, but in other currencies, on the other hand, has average prices. So, as you are reading, please take into account the various pricings in the three currencies.

Best Buys with 89 points | 3 stars

With a rating of 89 (3 stars), eight products were awarded the Best Buy distinction in 2015. Two of these originate from the Dominican Republic; six others from Nicaragua.

CAO Pilón Churchill | USD 7.25 (Nicaragua)
Carlos Toraño Nicaragua Selection Churchill | EUR 6,25 | CHF 9,00 (Nicaragua)
Casa de Nicaragua Churchill | EUR 2,-00 (Nicaragua)
Don Tomás Nicaragua Rothschild | EUR 4,20 (Nicaragua)
Doña Nieves Minga | USD 6.08 (Nicaragua)
Kristoff Sumatra Matador | USD 9.50 (Dom. Rep.)
Toraño The Brick Churchill | USD 4.96 (Nicaragua)
Villiger 1492 Robusto | EUR 5,00 | CHF 7,00 (Dom. Rep.)

Best Buys with 90 points | 3 stars

With an evaluation of 90 points (3 stars), a total of 18 cigars were partly significantly below the average, price-wise, and were designated with the Best Buy criteria for their price-performance value. One of these is rolled in Costa Rica, two in Honduras, four in the Dominican Republic, and 11 in Nicaragua.

1502 Emerald Conquistador | USD 8.40 (Nicaragua)
Aging Room Bin No. 1 B Minor | USD 11.45 | EUR 9,80 | CHF 12,90 (Dom. Rep.)
Casa de Torres Edición Especial 2015 Gran Perfecto Colorado | EUR 7,80 (Nicaragua)
Don Tomás Nicaragua Robusto | EUR 4,50 (Nicaragua)
El Credito (US: La Gloria Cubana) Serie R Estelí No Fifty-Four | USD 6.49 (Nicaragua)
Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 Robusto Grande | USD 7.71 | 5,20 | CHF 7,90 (Nicaragua)
Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta Serie No. 7 | USD 6.70 | CHF 6,50 (Nicaragua)
Joya de Nicaragua Clásico Selección B | USD 4.50 | EUR 4,00 | CHF 4,10 (Nicaragua)
La Aroma del Caribe (US: de Cuba) Monarch | USD 6.00 | EUR 6,30 (Nicaragua)
La Aurora 1495 Series Belicoso | USD 8.82 | EUR 8,70 (Dom. Rep.)
La Capitana No. 1 Toro | USD 5.88 | EUR 7,50 | CHF 9,10 (Nicaragua)
La Flor Dominicana Capitulo II Chisel Maduro | USD 10.70 | EUR 10,50 (Dom. Rep.)
Maria Mancini The Vintage Collection Toro | EUR 7,80 (Honduras)
Perdomo Small Batch 2005 Toro Sun Grown | USD 6.99 | EUR 10,00 (Nicaragua)
Punch Rare Corojo El Diablo | USD 8.25 (Honduras)
VegaFina Nicaragua Gran Toro | 6.25 | EUR 7,00 | CHF 9,00 (Nicaragua)
VegaFina Sumum Edición Especial 2014 | EUR 6,00 (Dom. Rep.)
Vegas de Santiago Puros Edición Especial Torpedo | USD 4.00 | EUR 4,00 (Costa Rica)

Best Buys with 91 points | 3.5 stars

Twelve cigars received 91 points (3.5 stars) in our tastings and are, comparatively, still extremely cost-efficient. One of these cigars comes from Mexico as the manufacturing country; three, respectively, from Honduras and the Dominican Republic; and five products from Nicaragua.

Balmoral Añejo XO Petit Robusto Flagtail | USD 8.50 | EUR 7,00 (Dom. Rep.)
Casa Turrent Maduro Torpedo | USD 8.50 | EUR 7,00 | CHF 7,75 (Mexico)
CLE Corojo Robusto | USD 6.46 | EUR 7,00 (Honduras)
Flor de Selva Doble Corona | USD 14.00 | EUR 8,70 | CHF 14,80 (Honduras)
Gurkha Royal Challenge Maduro Toro | USD 9.46 | EUR 10,40 (Nicaragua)
Kuuts Nicaraguan Blend Toro | USD 6.10 (Honduras)
León Jimenes Doble Maduro Gigante | EUR 8,20 (Dom. Rep.)
Macanudo Inspirado Piramide | EUR 9,00 (Dom. Rep.)
Paradiso (US: San Cristóbal) Revelation Prophet | USD 7.95 | EUR 7,20 | CHF 10,00 (Nicaragua)
Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Epicure Maduro | USD 10.50 | EUR 12,90 | CHF 14,00 (Nicaragua)
Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Noir Epicure | USD 7.25 | EUR 9,60 (Nicaragua)
Sublimes Robusto | USD 5.90 (Nicaragua)

Best Buys with 92 points | 4 stars

The two “bargain” cigars that received the highest evaluation (92 points/4 stars) come from Nicaragua and Honduras.

Don Pepín García Black Edition 1979 Robusto | USD 7.30 | EUR 6,50 | CHF 11,50 (Nicaragua)
Dunhill Heritage Gigante | USD 12,95 | EUR 10,20 (Honduras)