When the various annual lists of top cigars of the year are released, it’s always a contentious issue. Everyone’s palate and preferences are different, with some people loving certain cigars that others hated, and vice versa. More than any other, the list that usually elicits the most debate and controversy is the top 25 published by the leading cigar “lifestyle” magazine. For better or worse, there are often more than a few surprises contained in that particular list, but at least it stimulates a healthy discussion (ha!) about the relative merits of each selection.

As we’ve done for the past couple of years here at the Stogie Review, we’d like to share our thoughts on the cigars highlighted in said top 25 list, before you head to your local cigar shop with a print-out in hand. As always, your mileage may vary, but it never hurts to get a second opinion before you plunk down you hard-earned cash for a potentially overrated dud.

Alec Bradley Prensado

La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor

Illusione Epernay (additional review)

Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro

Rocky Patel Fifteenth Anniversary

Cabaiguan Guapos

Warlock Robusto

Casa Magna Colorado (additional reviews)

As you can see, we’ve got the entire top 10 covered, except for those forbidden sticks which originate from a certain island south of Miami. Some of our reviews focused on vitolas other than the ones selected for the aforementioned Top 25 list however, but at least we can provide you with a second opinion about what we thought of the blend itself, even if we evaluated a different format.

Additionally, we’ve got most of the rest of their Top 25 covered (between full reviews, first impressions, and brief notes in The Week in Smoke posts):

Arturo Fuente Rosado Sungrown Magnum (additional review)

Casa Fernandez Miami (Brian’s The Week In Smoke, Issue 9,
Week in Smoke – TGT Edition 14)

Ashton Estate Sun Grown (Week in Smoke – Cigarfest 2011 Edition)

E.P. Carrillo Core Natural Line (Week in Smoke – TGT Edition 3)

Winston Churchill (additional review)

La Reloba Selección Sumatra (Jerry recently reviewed it)

Oliva Serie V Liga Especial (additional review)

La Flor Dominicana Air Bender (additional review)

Camacho Corojo (additional review)

Diamond Crown Julius Caeser

Not to be outdone by the “big boys,” each of us at the Stogie Review has compiled our own personal list of the Top Cigars of 2011, where we get to be the sole judge of which cigars really “wowed” us over the past year. Be sure to take a minute to peruse our lists where you’ll find recommendations for even more great sticks. We’re confident that you’ll want to rush right out to your favorite brick & mortar retail cigar shop (or to the web for online exclusives) to pick some up.

Top 10 Cigars – TGT Edition (2011)

Walt’s Favorite Cigars from 2011

The Box-Worthies: Brian’s Top 10 Cigars of 2011

Mike’s Top Cigars of 2011

Charlie’s Top 10 Cigars of 2011 (plus giveaway)

Also, don’t forget to enter my contest where I’m giving away a Stogie Review travel humidor filled with my Top 10 Cigars of 2011. Entering is easy, and there are three different ways to do it, so be sure to take advantage of all three entry methods. Contest ends January 17, 2012 — don’t wait!

And while you’re at it, you should also enter to win Walt’s great giveaway prize: a Black Label Viceroy table torch lighter, courtesy of Lighters Direct.

So what do you think? In the comments section below, tell us which of these cigars you think don’t deserve to appear in the top 10 or 25, as well as what you’d choose to replace them.

About Charlie:
Charlie has been enjoying cigars since 2000 and generally prefers a medium-bodied, full-flavored smoke. A USAF vet, he is currently pursuing a PhD in computer science, focusing on artificial intelligence and computational linguistics. Originally from Connecticut and now residing in Delaware, Charlie is also a fan of football, science fiction, political philosophy, and single malt scotch. You can contact Charlie on Twitter @greenbacker

Last week we gave away a Back Label Table Torch to one lucky Facebook user. This week we are going to be doing something very similar for our Twitter friends. The prize is a Black Label Viceroy Torch, courtesy of Lighters Direct. Entering is simple, all you have to do is click on the little ‘Tweet’ button down below to share this post on Twitter. Once you do that, be sure to follow @StogieReview.

That is it all we are asking you to do. We will select a winner at random on Monday, January 16th, 2012. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

In the event that you don’t win the contest but would still like to own one of these snazzy lighters, you can purchase them from our good friends over at Lighters Direct.

10.) J. Fuego Origen Originals (aka “The Soft Pack”)
These little paper-wrapped cheroots deserve a spot in my top ten for the role they’ve taken as my defacto driving smoke. I almost always have a pack of these in my pocket when I leave the house. The Origen blend really shines in this format, and it surprises me that I prefer it to the Grand Reserva Corojo Originals blend.

9.) Davidoff Colorado Claro Double R
The Colorado Claro Double R has been my favorite special occasion smoke for some time. Despite the intimidating price tag, I’ve put together a small stash of these lengthy rich and decadent gems. Burning one is bittersweet, they’re usually hard to find and expensive to replace. Which is probably the reason I try to talk myself out of smoking them, generally without much success.

8.) La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro
The Colorado Oscuro is a cigar that’s beautiful both to look at and to taste. The deal is made even sweeter by the comfortable price tag. I couldn’t stop smoking them when they first appeared at my local shop.

7.) J. Fuego Sangre De Toro
Jesus Fuego’s latest offering is a winner, and worth tracking down online if your local shop doesn’t carry them. Its intriguing sweet, spicy and faintly herbal wood profile has me making box purchases.

6.) El Primer Mundo Rosado Oscuro Figurado (aka “The Black Label Perfecto”)
The Rosado Oscuro Figurado is a cigar I’ve been a fan of for years. But in 2011 it really made a comeback in my smoking rotation. In fact, there aren’t many cigars I’ve smoked more in the past year than this tasty perfecto.

5.) Illusione 88
The 88 is still a go-to, a cigar that is far greater than it’s size, and also the one responsible my lack of familiarity with some of Dion’s other vitolas. It’s hard to try another Illusione when you know this one is exactly what you want.

4.) Tatuaje 7th Reserva
This is one place where I’m in complete agreement with Jerry, the 7th Reserva is delicious. After I smoked my first, I went back and bought what remained of the box, smoked those, and returned many more times.

3.) J. Fuego Grand Reserva Corojo No. 1
This one won’t surprise anyone, the Grand Reserva Corojo has been a top 10 selection of mine for several year. Still an incredible cigar, one that always fits the bill. (In fact, I was smoking one as I made this list.)

2.) My Father Le Bijou 1922 Corona Gorda (B&M Exclusive Blend)
This special edition was made exclusively for shop here in Atlanta and is packed with what seems like and impossible amount of flavor and healthy dose of power and it just gets better with time. Unfortunately, it was a one time deal, though I’ve heard unconfirmed rumors about a second batch (or perhaps a secret stash). I really hope there’s some truth to it, my stockpile won’t last forever.

1.) Liga Privada T52
I don’t know how it happened, but more than any other cigar I’ve smoked in the past year, the stick I most want to find looking back at me from the top tray of my humidor is Drew Estate’s Liga Privada T52. I love the rich, earthy and smoky flavor, and how it seems to taste great with just about any beverage, or after any meal, any time of the day. Heck, it’s the cigar that smokes itself, that alone is pretty impressive.

Bonus List: Brian’s Favorite New Cigars of 2011
The problem with my annual top 10 is that I focus on my favorite cigars, not just the hot new smokes. So it doesn’t answer the question that’s frequently asked, what were your favorite new cigars this year? It turns out it wasn’t hard to come up with a list. It was harder to pare it down to just 10 smokes, so I didn’t. I went with 15.

15.) Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve
A beauty of a smoke. It’ll be a shame when these are gone.

14.) Room 101 Namakubi Papi Chulo
I may busted some balls in my review of this cigar, but I Matt Booth has my attention. It’s a great little smoke, and a hint of good things to come from Room 101.

13.) Drew Estate Undercrown
It’s hard not to like the Undercrown if you enjoy the Liga Privada T52.

12.) EP Carillo Edicion Limitada 2011 “Dark Rituals”
Big dark and decadent, what’s not to love.

11.) Casa Magna Domus Magnus Limitada
I wasn’t a fan of the Casa Magna, but I loved this limitada.

10.) El Primer Mundo Epifania
Sean Williams keeps delivering the goods with the Epifania. It was so hard not include this stick in my top 10.

9.) San Lotano Oval
Another great smoke from AJ Fernandez.

8.) Tatuaje Black Petite Lancero
I smoked a lot of these in the past year, and it was definitely in the running for my top 10.

7.) EP Carillo New Wave Connecticut
The New Wave is such a great, and unique Connecticut.

6.) Casa Fernandez Miami
As is well established by now, I’m a fan of the cigars produced by Casa Fernandez and the new Miami was really good. Who needs cubans when you can smoke one of these?

5.) Illusione 88 Maduro
I was really impressed by this maduro interpretation of the 88, and regretted not buying more the one opportunity I had. I wasn’t alone in my enjoyment, the box was long gone when I returned for more.

4.) La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro
Also made #8 in my top 10. See my comments above.

3.) J. Fuego Sangre De Toro
Also made #7 in my top 10. See my comments above.

2.) Tatuaje 7th Reserva
Also made #4 in my top 10. See my comments above.

1.) My Father Le Bijou 1922 Corona Gorda (B&M Exclusive Blend)
Also made #2 in my top 10. See my comments above.

1. Discover some gems you might have missed
2. See which review source most closely aligns with your smoking palate
3. Compare the rankings to see if there’s a cigar or two which consistently appears near the top of almost everybody’s list — a sort of AP National Champion of the cigar world

Ever since I started contributing to StogieReview.com, I’ve been excited about adding my two cents and publishing just such an annual ranking of my own. I was originally only going to do an unordered top 5 list, but then I decided to expand things a bit to talk about some of the other great cigars I smoked over the past year. Other than dividing the list into two groups (5–10 and the top 5), these cigars are presented in no particular order. Be sure to read all the way down to the bottom of this post in order to get in on a really cool giveaway.

Without further ado, and in my entirely subjective & flawed opinion, here are my Top 10 most enjoyed cigars of 2011. First up, we have the bottom half of the list. These cigars were definitely good enough to make it into my Top 10 list, but weren’t quite as outstanding as the top five.

*** The Top Ten ***

EP Carrillo Edición Limitada 2011 “Dark Rituals”

The first couple of these that I had weren’t anything to write home about, but all the sticks afterwards have been fantastic. Deep, rich flavors with a perfect construction and burn, plus some serious aging potential — this limited edition cigar is truly something special.

Perdomo Reserve Limited Cameroon Edition Petit Corona

Brian’s glowing review, coupled with the fact that I’m a sucker for a nice Cameroon wrapper, convinced me to pick up a box of these. A nice, quick, enjoyable medium-bodied smoke, and a great deal at $49 for a box of 10.

Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ “Little Robusto”

A great cigar for a great cause. Typical outstanding burn and construction that we’ve come to expect from Pepin, with tons of twang in the flavor profile (something I really enjoy). Go out and grab a box — you’ll have some terrific cigars to smoke & share, plus you’ll be doing some good at the same time.

Undercrown by Drew Estate

Other than Liga Privada, I don’t smoke many cigars produced by Drew Estate. And as much as I like them, their price & availability keep Liga Privada from being an everyday smoke for me. Incorporating different primings from the same tobacco crops used in the LP blends, the Undercrown is a Drew Estate offering that I’d smoke everyday.

Crowned Heads Four Kicks

Another cigar manufactured by EP Carrillo, this is the highly-anticipated first release from the former CAO employees who founded Crowned Heads. I really enjoyed the sweet, meaty, twangy flavors, and the construction & burn were first-rate. My only real complaint is their relatively limited availability — hopefully that’ll change with a wider release in 2012.

You might ask, what’s the difference between the cigars in the top five versus the rest of my list? While the aforementioned smokes were truly great, they just didn’t have that “wow” factor I’m always searching for. The following cigars all had that “je ne sais quoi” — they made me sit back in my smoking chair and quietly exclaim “WOW!” to myself, motivating me to go out and track down some more. If you haven’t tried all five of these yet, as soon as you finish reading this post, go out and find some!

*** The Top Five ***

CroMagnon Knuckle Dragger

I usually shy away from full strength cigars as they just aren’t my cup of tea. When I smoke a cigar, I’m looking for big, robust flavors — I don’t want to feel woozy from the nicotine. However, the CroMagnon has completely changed my perspective about what a full strength cigar can (and should) be. I definitely felt the power, but it never tipped into the nausea-inducing zone, and was absolutely packed with an incredible peppery meat taste. The CroMagnon is a perfect example of how lots of power can be balanced with lots of flavor in the same great package. (Currently available exclusively online via Hava Cigar Shop.)

Casa Magna Domus Magnus Limitada

“Oodles & oodles, and gobbles & gobbles of flavor…” I like to tease Jerry about his description of the Domus Magnus, but he really hit the nail on the head with his review. Sporting an absolutely perfect construction, it starts slow but ends with an unbelievably good finish. With a deeply satisfying nutty, creamy, café con leche flavor and a hint of spice… I’ll go out on a limb here and say that the Domus Magnus is the first cigar I’ve smoked which reminded of the Behike BHK.

Emilio AF2

I’ll admit, this one took me completely by surprise. I had noticed the boxes of Emilio cigars on the shelves of my local tobacconist, but really hadn’t even considered picking any up. It took several visits before brand developer and B&M manager Gary Griffith talked me into trying his line. I was completely blown away! I also enjoyed the AF1 and Grimalkin, but the AF2 really stood out for me. It’s exceptionally well-balanced and silky smooth, with a rich flavor and perfect draw. The AF2 was one of the first cigars I covered for StogieReview.com back when I was doing written reviews only, but if I had recorded a video review instead, you’d better understand how much I enjoy this cigar from my overly enthusiastic expressions.

San Lotano Oval by A.J. Fernandez

No question about it: this was a “WOW!” cigar for me. Awesome flavors that always kept me smoking it down to the nub, and the oval-shaped format really works great. A.J. Fernandez must be doing something right, as two of his cigars have earned a spot amongst my top five of the year. It’s safe to say he can add the San Lotano Oval to his impressive list of home runs in his relatively short career thus far.

La Casita Criolla

As a native son of Connecticut and a fan of broadleaf tobacco, I was definitely intrigued when I heard Pete Johnson was developing a 100% Connecticut broadleaf cigar. It almost seems like La Casita Criolla was designed with all of my personal preferences in mind: medium bodied… deep, rich earthy flavors… and three ring gauges ranging from 42 to 48. After trying one, I rushed right back to the shop the next day to pick up a whole box — and just in the nick of time it would seem, as I grabbed the last full box they had in stock!

A final disclaimer: I certainly didn’t try every new release that came out this year, so I may have overlooked some other fantastic cigars. There were also several others for which I only smoked a sample or two, and wouldn’t feel comfortable including on a year-end list like this one without more experience. I’m sure some folks will be ticked off, and others will think I’m crazy, but that’s just what happens when you share your opinions publicly.

2011 was a great year, both for cigars and for me, personally. There were lots of big developments, with even more to look forward to in the year ahead. I want to sincerely thank Jerry, Walt, Brian, and Mike for giving me this opportunity to share my smoking experiences with all of you, and for allowing me to spread my handsome face all over the Internet where it belongs. I also want to thank all of the manufacturers, reps, and retailers who provided me with samples — even the dog rockets — which helped me to broaden my horizons and try some cigars I might not have had the opportunity to explore otherwise. Finally, I’d like to raise a glass to toast all the great brothers & sisters of the leaf whom I’ve met and enjoyed a cigar or two with in the past year.

*** BONUS GIVEAWAY ***

In honor of the late Steve Jobs (1955–2011), I’ve got one last thing that I think you all will like. As a special treat for our great readers here at StogieReview.com and as a huge “THANK YOU” for all the great feedback you’ve given me thus far, I’ve decided to put together a really nice prize pack for one lucky contestant. I’m giving away a 10-count travel humidor emblazoned with the StogieReview.com logo. It’s just like the humidor that Mike recently gave away, except for one small difference: this humidor will be shipped to the winner pre-filled with one each of my top ten cigars of 2011. That’s right, you’ll get the travel humidor plus 10 truly awesome cigars!

There are three different ways you can enter for the giveaway:

1. Leave a comment below telling me what was your favorite cigar in 2011
2. Log into Facebook and “like” the Stogie Review page (people who already “like” us will be automatically entered)
3. Log into Twitter and RT this tweet (you must use the built-in retweet feature, otherwise your entry can’t be counted)

Be sure to take advantage of all three entry methods in order to maximize your chances of winning (one entry per method for a max of three entries per person). I’ll select one winner at random from the properly-submitted entries on January 17, 2012. Residents of the US & Canada only; must be 19 or older.

Good luck and Happy New Year!

Updated: Jan 20, 2012 12:40AM
Congratulations to Fuzzy, whose entry was randomly selected as the winner of this giveaway. Please check your email for instructions on how to claim your prize, and thanks to everyone for entering.

About Charlie:
Charlie has been enjoying cigars since 2000 and generally prefers a medium-bodied, full-flavored smoke. A USAF vet, he is currently pursuing a PhD in computer science, focusing on artificial intelligence and computational linguistics. Originally from Connecticut and now residing in Delaware, Charlie is also a fan of football, science fiction, political philosophy, and single malt scotch. You can contact Charlie on Twitter @greenbacker

In years past I would open up the Cigar Review Index and take in all the cigars we’ve reviewed throughout the year. Most times the index wasn’t necessary as there were several cigars that stood out in my mind as being a fantastic smoke. This year, there are three.

It isn’t that releases this year were sub par, it is simply that my variety has been sub par. Due to finances and my work situation at the time, I had to pass on attending the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas. To make matters even worse, Kensington Tobacconist, my local cigar shop, went out of business earlier this year. Getting the odd sample, a chance run in with area cigar reps, gone.

Don’t take this as a ‘woe is me’ post. I have hundreds of cigars stashed away in coolers that I’ve collected over the years. The problem is, I have very little ‘new’ product and have fallen into a rut. When it is time to buy cigars, I pick up the phone and order what I know I like. I can’t afford to take a chance on a five-pack these days, and I mean that in the literal sense. Dropping cash on cigars these days is hard enough, I can’t chance spending $35+ on a five pack that I may not like.

So where does that leave us? To be honest, if I knew where this article was heading I would have gotten to the point already.

I suppose it would be best if I talked a bit about what cigars I have enjoyed this year. I can promise you that most of my list will not be new and exciting, but these cigars have put a smile on my face throughout the year.

Nestor Mirando Special Selection – Buckhead Cigar Edition

To make a long story short, I’m not a fan of the Nestor Miranda Special Selection lineup. Back when they were regular sellers at my local shop, I tried on several occasions to like them. The Oscuro and Rosado simply weren’t for me. Not only did I not like them, I thought they were expensive for what they were (easy to say if you have already determined that the line isn’t for you, I suppose).

Shortly after my daughter was born, I met Shing999 for a cigar. He handed me a Nestor Miranda Special Selection Oscuro with an additional band. At the time I was well aware of Buckhead Cigar Club. Not only had I met Mike at an IPCPR Trade Show and talked with him on Twitter, Buckhead is Brian’s local shop. I thanked Paul for the cigar and slipped it into my shirt pocket.

A few days later I thought I’d give the Nestor Miranda Special Selection one last try before giving up hope. The story was that the Buckhead variety had an extra ligero leaf in the blend. I didn’t think it would make much of a difference in how the cigar tasted. I was wrong.

The very next day I climbed into my car and drove back to Kensington Tobacconist. I walked into the humidor and picked up a Nestor Miranda Special Selection Coffee Break, feeling like a junkie trying to get his fix. Not only was that cigar a disappointment, I recall pitching it before the half-way point and lighting up something else.

It didn’t take me long to order a five-pack from Buckhead. I’m not sure how many I’ve smoked this year (I’m looking at two empty boxes right now) but when it comes to my smoking the Nestor Miranda Special Selection, it is either the Buckhead blend or nothing.

EP Carrillo New Wave – El Decano

A few months back I received a Direct Message, on Twitter, from Ernesto Perez Carrillo. Ernesto asked if I would be interested in trying a new size of the EP Carrillo New Wave and giving him some feedback. I can’t express how much I appreciate being asked to give feedback on a line. Being asked to review a line is nice but being asked to give feedback back to the manufacturer is a completely different animal.

I told Ernesto that I’d be happy to smoke a few samples and let him know what I thought. A few days passed by and some mammoth sized cigars arrived for me to smoke. I later learned that these cigars were the upcoming EP Carrillo New Wave El Decano.

I’ve never been a big fan of sixty ring gauge cigars. I think they taste watered down and not nearly as enjoyable as the smaller vitolas. I began smoking the monsters and think of them as gentle giants. They were mild to medium in body and oh-so-creamy.

It was as if this blend was made specifically to be paired with a piping hot cup of black coffee. The El Decano won me over and is one of the few sixty ring gauge cigars that I’ll actually go and seek out.

Since being introduced to the El Decano, I’ve easily smoked 20+ cigars. I’m convinced that it is the ultimate “Lazy Sunday Morning Cigar”.

Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2011

The Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2011 surprised me. I’ll be honest, before lighting up I didn’t have high hopes for it. Disappointment is an understatement of how I felt about the 2010 release. Not to get all theatrical on you, but last years release had no soul. It was like Oliva stole one of my favorite lines away from me.

When I was handed my very first Serie V Maduro 2011, I was skeptical. I thought, “hey, at least it isn’t a torpedo, I should at least get a decent draw out of this one”. I opened up the cigar and set flame to foot. That cigar genuinely surprised me. It smoked and tasted great.

Since that first one, I’ve smoked about a box. It was a sad moment taking the last cigar out of that 10 count box. I wish I’d have gotten more. At this point I just hope that Oliva stays away from the torpedo shape next year.

Thats all your giving us?

Yeah, thats all you’re getting out of me this year. Adding any more cigars at this point would only water things down. I’ve had the pleasure of trying a couple of the more recent cigars, some of which rank high on other peoples Top 10 Lists, but that was just it, there was a cigar here and a cigar there.

If you’re eager to read about other cigars to try, check out Jerry’s Top 10 Cigars of 2011. If that isn’t enough, I’m sure Brian, Mike, and Charlie have their own lists in the works, to be published in the near future.

A few weeks ago our good friend Steven, from Lighters Direct, asked me to review a lighter, the Black Label El Presidente. Along with that lighter, Steven sent along two others for us to give away.

The first of those lighters is a Black Label “Bombay” Table Torch (Model LBLT100). Entering is very simple, all we ask you to do is “Like” Stogie Review on Facebook. You can do so with the widget down below. If you already Like us on Facebook, then congratulations, you are already entered.

A Stogie Review Fan will be selected at random to become the proud new owner of the Black abel Table Torch pictured at the head of this post. A winner will be randomly selected on Monday, January 2, 2011. As usual, you must be at least 18 years of age to enter. Good luck.

Like Stogie Review on Facebook

10. CAO OSA Sol Lot 50 – When I started paring down the list of cigars I wasn’t sure if the CAO OSA Sol would make the cut. During my unscientific process it kept hanging around as others dropped off. The OSA Sol received mixed reviews in the blogosphere mainly due to the size they shipped to bloggers as samples. The Robusto (Lot 50) is stellar in my opinion. The OSA Sol really shines with a unique bright tasting wrapper that sets the OSA Sol a part from other things on the shelf. Looking ahead with two box pressed size extensions in 2012 I really see the OSA Sol making even more waves.

09. Tortuga Edicion Limitada 2011 – I doubt you will see this cigar on many other Top Lists mainly because its not widely known…yet. Its hard for me to think of a cigar that has surprised me this year as much as the Tortuga Edicion Limitada 2011 (aka the Tortuga 215) has. The more and more I smoke the 215, the more and more I discover something new about it. I discover a flavor, a note, a nuance and subtle bit of something that just impresses me more. Don’t let the unknown name and the almost double digit price tag keep you from enjoying this gem.

08. CroMagnon Knuckle Dragger – I’m bias here and I wonder if my bromance with Skip Martin prevented me from ranking the CroMagnon higher? I don’t know. The CroMagnon Knuckle Dragger is one of the few cigars that I bought multiple bundles of this year and kept mostly all to myself. Despite what Skip would say, I think the Knuckle Dragger is the best of all the sizes. Skip will say that the EMH or Cranium are the most popular sizes but when it comes to balance, complexity and really understanding what CroMagnon is all about (flavor first), the Knuckle Dragger is it.

07. Grimalkin by Emilio Cigars – The Grimalkin was my first introduction to Emilio Cigars and I haven’t looked back since. You could easily interchange the AF1 or AF2 on this list with the Grimalkin. While the band still creeps me out, the flavors don’t. The versatility of the Grimalkin is what really sets it a part from the AF Series. Nothing can start your day or end your day like a Grimalkin. Solid medium-full in flavor with a unique twist and texture that makes those creepy eyes standout even more. Morning coffee and oatmeal…after dinner drink and dessert or secretly smoking one during a minor league baseball game…Grimalkin is a great anytime of day cigar.

06. Four Kicks by Crowned Heads – I don’t think anyone else could release a cigar with less than two months left in the calendar year and still make a splash in numerous Top Lists except for the people behind Four Kicks. In my review I gave a lot of credit to Jon Huber, Mike Conder and Ernesto Perez Carrillo. While that credit is deserved, there are more people behind Four Kicks than those three names. What a splash they made on all fronts! Easily the argument can be made that I’m short changing Four Kicks; that they should be ranked higher and I wouldn’t have much of a counter argument. Congrats to everyone involved in Four Kicks. Bring the right people together and magic can happen. You took your time and did things right and it shows in Four Kicks.

05. San Lotano Oval by AJ Fernandez – Its no secret what a fan of AJ Fernandez I am. Whether its the Man O’War Ruination or Puro Authentico, AJ Fernandez has a way of blending cigars that connect with my palate. Its definitely nice to see AJ step out of the “catalog only” mold and develop his own brand. The San Lotano Oval is all about simple flavors that still find a way to challenge and excite your palate. He has the pulse of what cigar smokers are looking for in a cigar and the Oval is it.

04. Zino Platnium Z-Class – Typically I’m not a Davidoff or Zino kind of guy. It takes a special cigar from one of those brands to really impress me and most of the time, to justify the cost. I’m pretty sure I’m not the demographic that they are courting but the Zino Platinum Z Class is one of those special cigars that made me wake up and take notice. A savory, penetrating nutty spiciness is what draws you to the Z Class. Consistent, balanced, satisfying and a steal at $10.

03. EP Carrillo New Wave Connecticut – When you think about cigars that are in the Top 3 positions of any Top List you have to factor in how much of game changer the cigar is. The EPC New Wave Connecticut redefined Connecticut Shade and it shows with other manufacturers following Ernesto’s lead. This isn’t some mild, lack luster, stale Connecticut Shade cigar that you’ve grown accustomed to. Medium in body, full flavored and a dynamic complexity. The New Wave hits the ground running from the very first puff. Ernesto proves once again that he continues to be a trendsetter in the industry.

02. La Casita Criolla – The La Casita Criolla was either going to be a homerun or a strikeout for Pete Johnson. Many cigar smokers say they love *insert any kind of tobacco* but when a cigar is made 100% or mostly of that tobacco (like straight ligero) the cigar doesn’t live up to the hype. So that was my concern when the all broadleaf tobacco La Casita Criolla was announced. Would it be too much of a good thing? I think Pete took a risk but his risk paid off as he hit this one out of the park! Its unlike anything else in Pete’s arsenal of brands. Solid medium in strength but possesses a rich palate penetrating flavor profile. Slight peppery flavor creates a thin film on your palate giving a nice sensation. The La Casita Criolla is chock full of nuttiness, cedar and a dark, almost molasses flavor profile. Simple flavors that are delivered in a fresh way.

01. Casa Magna Domus Magnus Limitada – The Casa Magna Domus Magnus Limitada wasn’t on my radar after IPCPR. In my relatively short smoking career there have been few cigars where I’m at a lost for words to describe. One that comes to mind is the Davidoff Colorado Claro (my top cigar in 2009) and now the Casa Magna Domus Magnus Limitada joins the Colorado Claro in the category of close to perfection. The Domus Magnus is artfully constructed, well balanced, copious assortment of smooth flavors and not to mention its ingenious and engaging complexity.