Before I dive into reviews, which I will be doing eventually, I wanted to cover some of my top and favorite cigars. Why? Well, for several reasons. First, it gives you a foundation to reference when you’re comparing your own preferences and tastes. Second, it shows you that I know my stuff and I don’t have a shit palate — I’m sorry a lot of people do have bad palates. Third, it helps you identify what I smoke regularly. You can always check out my X (Twitter) account to see what I smoke daily, as well.
With all of that out of the way, let’s get into it.
My top 10 favorite cigars
I have arranged this list in alphabetical order to appease my compulsions, but nothing more. So, don’t approach this list as if it’s best to worst or vice versa. All of these cigars are delicious and will provide you with an exceptional experience — that’s why I love them.
That doesn’t mean I won’t smoke anything else, in case it needs to be said. These are just my regulars.
I always say these cigars are like a dessert because they are. The Criollo 98 and 99 tobaccos add lots of sweetness, pepper, cinnamon, and beyond. You’ll also get baking spices, cocoa, leather, and a lot of incredibly creamy flavors. The Maduro version is very much the same, except with darker flavors like espresso, black cherry, black pepper, and dark chocolate. You can’t go wrong with either one. Hell, get them both if you can.
I first tried these towards the end of last year and as soon as I did I bought a ton. They’re priced well normally, but in a deal they’re incredible. They smell amazing, like pure chocolate when lit. You’ll also get flavors like chocolate, spice, pepper, and leather. I legitimately smoke one of these almost every day, that’s how good they are.
I know, I know. E.P. Carrillo is a fan-favorite brand and a lot of cigar enthusiasts love talking about it, but it’s for good reason. The entire Carrillo lineup is fantastic, but one I keep coming back to is the Pledge. It was named the #1 Cigar of the Year in 2020 with a thick, creamy experience that offers tons of dark flavors, pepper, and spice. If I’m feeling like a stronger cigar but I don’t want to burn my face off, I reach for this one. It pairs remarkably well with coffee or any warm beverage, even hot cocoa.
Sometimes, a cigar has a name that just goes so well with the experience. If there’s only one on the market that serves as an excellent example, let it be HVC’s Hot Cake. It tastes like a doughy, delicious hot cake. It’s also a flavor bomb with chocolate, cream, pepper, wood, earth, and sugary pastry notes.
The citrus flavors in this cigar are something to behold. Dried apricots or dried fruit with lots of sweetness permeates with every puff. But you’ll also taste cedar, hazelnut, baking spices, cream, and coffee. AJ Fernandez rarely blends a bad cigar, if at all, and this one is one of his greats.
This absolutely delicious and sweet cigar offers a mesh of graham-crackery and cocoa flavors. It is one of the best Dominican blends I’ve had in a long while. I tried it during a virtual tasting experience for the first time, guided by the brand’s Master Blender Manual Inoa. You’ll get cocoa, cinnamon, coffee, cream, and even a hint of fruit or citrus. It’s incredible. Every single cigar lover should try this one at least once. I mean it.
Now, I’ve had this cigar in several sizes, but I keep coming back to the big, Gordo with a large ring gauge. It smooths out the experience and makes it super pleasant, not that this cigar isn’t pleasant either way. Plasencia is the master of dark, leathery flavors and this one does not disappoint. You’ll get lots of dark chocolate, earth, vanilla, and spices.
The San Lotano Requiem has this incredible delicious, tropical-beachy flavor that I cannot get enough of. It kicks in about midway through — the flavor is also in the My Father Number 1 — but you’ll also pick up lots of wood, leather, spice, and a bit of pepper. The creamy afterfinish is also enjoyable.
While the flavors in the Kudzu are typical, with spice, cedar, chocolate, and earth, the experience is certainly unique. I haven’t been able to find a comparable cigar to this one, so I keep them stocked in my humidor at all times. It’s a solid medium to full-bodied experience, and the Habano Oscuro wrapper is nice and toasty. Pair it with something sweet and you’ll be in bliss.
One of the best things about this cigar is it’s remarkably close to an authentic Cuban, without being one. You’ll definitely pick up a hint of that Cuban twang if you’re paying attention. The La Colmena has so much complexity and so much flavor, it’s unreal. You’ll taste lots of honey, cream, vanilla, white pepper, and wood notes like cedar. The name “La Colmena” quite literally translates to “the beehive.”
Briley has over 16 years in the publishing and content marketing business. He's been writing about cigars for nearly half that in various forms. What makes him a tour de force is he also smokes them.
Source: Aganorsa
Source: Boneshaker
Source: E.P. Carrillo
Source: HVC
Source: H. Upmann
Source: La Aurora
Source: Plasencia
Source: AJ Fernandez
Source: Southern Draw
Source: Warped Cigars
Source: Boneshaker
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