We all know that you should never judge a book by its cover, but rather by its contents. The Oscar cigars are enveloped in a candela sleeve and come eleven to a pack, bundled in an old cigar mold instead of in a box.
Perdomo Small Batch 2005 Toro Especial Maduro is #10 of Top 25 of 2016
What’s special about Perdomo’s Small Batch series? Ten-year aged tobaccos, for starters. Small Batch cigars are available with three different wrappers: a Sungrown from Nicaragua, a Connecticut from Ecuador and – our favorite – a Maduro from Nicaragua.
Davidoff Escurio Corona Gorda is #11 of Top 25 of 2016
After the successful launch of Davidoff Nicaragua, the company has dared another innovation, introducing a cigar line primarily composed of Brazilian tobaccos. We found the twist of fruity sweetness and subtle spice noteworthy and very successful!
#12 of Top 25 Cigars of 2016: VegaFina Edición Limitada Conde PigTail
VegaFina launched its limited-edition Conde Pig Tail in spring 2016. The cigar’s head features a tightly twisted “pigtail” of wrapper leaf that lends the series its distinctive name.
Kristoff San Andrés Robusto Named #13 of Cigar Journal’s Top 25 of 2016
Kristoff has been a successful cigar brand since 2004, and this recently released line developed by Kristoff CEO Glenn Case sets itself apart with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper. This complex and harmonious cigar is also a very good value.
CLE Chele 646 is #14 of Cigar Journal’s Top 25 of 2016
Christian Eiroa usually produces his cigars in Honduras, but the Chele is one of the first CLE cigars to be rolled in Nicaragua. Chele means “pale” or “blond” in Latin America and refers to the Connecticut wrapper that gives the cigar its light hue.
Doña Nieves Sentimiento Ternura Named No. 15 of Top 25 of 2016
Felix Mesa’s newly launched El Galan brand Doña Nieves Sentimiento made it to Cigar Journal’s list of the best cigars of the previous year: The Top 25 of 2016. The Ternura, a Torpedo, excited us at year’s end with its aromatic complexity and harmony.
1502 XO Toro Named #16 of Cigar Journal’s Top 25 Cigars of 2016
Enrique Sánchez first introduced his XO line at IPCPR 2015, and began distribution in spring 2016. The first XO is a box-pressed Toro – but Sanchez let it slip that every additional, annual XO will be released in a different vitola.
Cohiba Medio Siglo is #19 of Cigar Journal’s Top 25 of 2016
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Cuba’s best-known cigar brand, Cohiba, released three cigars: the Cohiba 50 Aniversario, the Cohiba Majestuosos 1966, and the Cohiba Medio Siglo. The latter is the first new vitola to join the Siglo series since 2002 – a very successful new release indeed!
Gurkha Heritage Toro is #20 of Cigar Journal’s Top 25 of 2016
The man responsible for the blend of Gurkha Cigars’ Heritage line, which debuted at IPCPR 2015, is none other than the company’s sales director, Juan Lopez. The Heritage line’s intriguing blend hooked us right away, and in 2016 the cigars finally made their way to Europe.
Tabaquero by Hamlet Paredes Toro Named No.23 of Cigar Journal’s Top 25 of 2016
As the name suggests, Hamlet Paredes was responsible for Rocky Patel’s Tabaquero by Hamlet Paredes line, which debuted in the US in mid-2015. The line is rolled at Rocky Patel’s TAVICUSA factory in Nicaragua and has been available in Europe since early 2016.
Villiger San’Doro Colorado Robusto is #24 of Cigar Journal’s Top 25 of 2016
In fall 2015, three Villiger San’Doro variations were introduced in Toro formats. In 2016, the blends became available in Robusto and Churchill formats. The San’Doro Colorado Robusto our tasting panel smoked for the winter issue of Cigar Journal has lingered on our minds.
