JC Newman

December 18, 2016

Top cigars of 2016





Video review HERE.


2016 had some very good cigars hit the market. I reviewed a total of 78 cigars this year, primarily new releases, with 22 of them scoring 93 or above. Today I am highlighting those cigars scoring 93 or above in my top 10. All the cigars I reviewed this year are shown below with links to the top 22, which scored a 93 or above. Without further adieu here are my top cigars of 2016.



Size: 6 x 52 
Score: 96
Date reviewed: 11/12/16





Size: 5 1/4 x 48 
Score: 95
Date reviewed: 10/1/16





Size: 7 1/4 x 40
Score: 94 
Date reviewed: 1/9/16




Size: 6 3/4 x 52 
Score: 94
Date reviewed: 1/30/16





Size: 5 3/4 x 48 
Score: 94
Date reviewed: 11/5/16





Size: 5 x 50 
Score: 94
Date reviewed: 3/25/16





Size: 4 1/2 x 50
Score: 94 
Date reviewed: 9/4/16





Size: 5 x 40 
Score: 94
Date reviewed: 3/13/16





Size: 6 x 50
Score: 93
Date reviewed: 2/28/16





Size: 6 x 52 
Score: 93
Date reviewed: 4/16/16




There were other cigars that scored a 93 which are shown below with their ranking. A link to each of these cigars is provided. (format; name/size/date reviewed)

Score: 93
11. Joya Black Double Robusto (5 x 56) 9/5/16
12. Avo Syncro Nicaragua Fogota Short Torpedo (4 1/2 x 52) 7/16/16
13. Foundry Tobacco Co. Time Flies 550 (5 x 50) 9/25/16
14. Henry Clay Stalk Cut Toro (6 x 54) 2/13/16
15. El Oso Belicoso by Warped Cigars (6 x 48) 5/15/16
16. Warped Cigars Corto X46 (4 1/2 x 46) 7/31/16
17. MoyaRuiz Dim Mak (5 x 54) 8/28/16
18. Laranja DeSocio (5 5/8 x 54 Perfecto) 4/2/16
20. Viaje Farmer Bill Hatchet (4 1/2 x 52) 11/26/16
21. La Aurora 1962 Corojo Robusto (5 x 50) 7/3/16
22. Sobremesa Short Churchill (4 3/4 x 48) 12/4/16


The remaining cigars reviewed with scores, sizes, and date reviewed are shown below.

Score: 92
Viaje Holiday Blend 2015 (5 x 54) 1/1/16
L’Atelier SEC (6 x 50) 1/16/16
Perdomo Factory Tour Blend Sun Grown Toro (6 x 52) 1/17/16
Asylum Lobotomy Toro (6 x 50) 2/20/16
King's Cigars El Duque (4 x 50 Figurado) 3/6/16
PRE-RELEASE REVIEW: Hoyo Robusto (5 x 54) 3/26/16
Espinosa Especial No. 4 (5 x 52) 4/10/16
Black Works Studio NBK (6 x 46) 4/23/16
Black Works Studio Killer Bee (4 1/2 x 46) 4/24/16
La Hacienda Gran Robusto by Warped Cigars (5 1/2 x 52) 5/14/16
Flor de Gonzalez Spectral Aton (5 1/2 x 44) 5/22/16
Caldwell Cigar Co. Long Live the King Lock Stock (5 x 52) 5/29/16
Campesino Toro (6 x 52) 6/4/16
Fratello Toro (6 1/4 x 54) 6/12/16
Viaje Cigars TNT 2016 (6 1/4 x 54) 7/9/16
Ezra Zion Brass Knuckles XL (6 x 54) 7/30/16
Anastasia Opera by Caldwell Cigars (6 x 52) 8/13/16
Caldwell Savages Toro (6 x 54) 8/27/16
Caldwell Cigars The Last Tsar Toro (6 x 50) 9/3/16
Crowned Heads Las Mareas Olas (6 1/8 x 46) 9/13/16
Stack Cigars Lancaster Toro (6 x 50) 9/24/16
Cohiba Macassar Toro Grande (6 x 52) 10/8/16
Partagas RyR Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) 10/15/16
Dunhill Aged Maduro Short Robusto (4 x 54) 10/23/16
Crux Guild Toro Extra Marblehead BP (6 1/2 x 52) 11/19/16
A. J. Fernandez Bellas Artes Gordo (6 1/2 x 58) 11/25/16
Lucious Lyon Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) 11/27/16
Mi Querida Fino Largo (6 x 48) 12/3/16


Score: 91
Avo Syncro Nicaragua Robusto (5 x 50) 12/27/15
CAO Wicked Winter (6 1/2 x 52) 1/2/15
Davidoff Escurio Robusto Tubo (4 1/2 x 54) 1/3/15
Crowned Heads La Imperiosa Magicos (4 1/2 x 52) 1/10/16
Drew Estate Undercrown Shade Robusto (5 x 54) 1/24/16
Espinosa Habano No. 4 (5 1/2 x 50) 3/22/16
Murcielago Nocturne (5 1/2 x 56) 4/3/16
Warped Cigars Futuro Selección 109 (6 x 52) 4/30/16
Last Call by A. J. Fernandez (4 1/2 x 48) 6/5/16
L’Atelier Côte d’Or (7 x 47) 6/11/16
La Aurora 1987 Connecticut Robusto (5 x 50) 7/10/16
Flor de D’Crossier Selection No. 512 Corona Gorda (5 1/2 x 46) 7/23/16
Caldwell Cigars Eastern Standard Midnight Express Pyramid (6 x 50) 8/14/16
Macanudo Mao No. 10 (5 x 50) 10/16/16
CAO Consigliere Associate (5 x 52) 10/30/16
Warped Cigars Villa Sombra Mecedora (5 1/2 x 50) 11/20/16


Score: 90
Bloodline OPA Habano Stemma (6 1/2 x 44) 3/19/16
Villiger San'Doro Claro Toro (6 x 50) 6/25/16
Ezra Zion All My Ex's Toro (6 x 52) 7/2/16
Torano Exodus Robusto (5 x 54) 11/13/16


Score: 89
Renzulli Cuz by Espinosa Cigars (6 x 54) 5/21/16
Fratello Bianco II (6 x 50) 6/18/16
Camacho Powerband Toro (6 x 50) 6/26/16
The Hurdler from Hurdler Cigars (6 x 58) 10/22/16


Score: 88
CAO Stingy Scrooge (6 1/2 x 52) 12/26/15
Vudu Priest No. 3 (4 3/4 x 50) 2/14/16
Hammer + Sickle Berlin Wall Robusto (5 x 50) 7/17/16


Score: 87
CAO Honor Toro (6 1/2 x 52) 3/5/16


There are still many cigars that I will be reviewing from this year's IPCPR. There are also some Cuban cigars that I picked up at the Cancun LCDH that will be included in the 2017 reviews. Since I try to review primarily new cigars from this year's IPCPR the end of a calendar year is only halfway through the process since the new cigars come out in July or thereabouts. So, even though this is my year end review it is not the end of the reviews of new cigars that came out this year. 2017 will begin with more new releases so stay tuned for more reviews! Thank you for viewing my blog this year and I hope you return for more in 2017.



3 comments:

Webster said...

Thanks for the list, this always gives me some ideas for different things to try. I still haven't tried the CAO Amazon Basin yet. I know you said on of your shops had them, but none of mine did. I event went to Myrtle Beach on Saturday and checked out a couple of shops and they were out. Merry Christmas to you and yours, look forward to seeing you in the New Year!!!

Unknown said...

Thank you Tim for taking the time to review these wonderful Cigars and give them all a review as well as sharing this list for us Cigar aficionados. Blessings. Iliana Graibe, The Hurdler Cigar. :).

Arless said...


Tim I have been watching your reviews for several years now and just wanted you to know I find them to be top notch and very professional. Your top 10 is one of the best I have seen. Happy New Year to you and keep doing what you are doing because it is appreciated.