The Top Rated New Cigars
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The reviews for 2018 are in the books. I must say, this was a very good year for new cigars. As you know, I mainly review the new releases each year and this is my year end recap of the best of the best. In total I reviewed 86 cigars this year. Now, I did not get to every cigar released this year but I put a pretty good dent in them.
Don't forget that since most new cigars come out at the IPCPR in July I an still working my way through all the new releases.
Since I expanded my rating scores I had cigars all over the scale. My Top 25 cigars come from scores of 93 or above.
In this post I will show all 86 cigars reviewed with their scores and date reviewed. I am highlighting the top 10 newly released cigars. Links to the Top 10 are provided. A simple search based on the cigar name can be performed to see any review you choose. A link to the Youtube review is shown in each review.
When I look at the list of cigars I am blown away at the number of great cigars I reviewed this year. The list below of my top 25 is solid. I stand behind each rating. In fact, I have purchased boxes of many of my top 25 and will continue to buy them.
Be sure to subscribe to my Youtube channel and you'll get the latest video review as soon as it posts.
As a rule I place year end ratings in numerical order. However this year I had one particular cigar that performed one way during the review and entirely different in later samplings. For this fact it is placed out of numerical order in order to take into account the burn issues I encountered when having numerous other cigars after the review. You will see the note about this below.
I'm not like some reviewers. I won't make you wait to see my number 1 cigar of the year. I will reveal the Top 10 in order, from 1-10. So without further ado here are my Top Rated New Cigars of 2018.
(6 x 54)
Reviewed 12/2/18
Score: 96
Candy-like baby aspirin orange citrus and the apricot preserves are extremely rich and buttery. There are also tons of brown sugar and cinnamon...nutmeg, caramel, and light clean leather. The lower level flavors of black coffee and black pepper are also very nice. The cigar flows from the sweeter notes to the dark notes in a smooth transition.
(6 3/4 x 43)
Reviewed 7/21/18
Score: 95
Sweet, pink grapefruit which changes to an orange citrus and then to a sweet cedar, ample amounts of cinnamon and brown sugar, white chocolate, and a nice, mild black coffee base.
(6 x 48)
Reviewed 1/20/18
Score: 95
(debuted in mid to late 2017)
Candy-like orange citrus, cream, cinnamon, brown sugar, honey, heavy leather, and a black coffee base. There was a massive amount of black pepper rated at an 8 1/2. Full bodied.
4
(7 1/4 x 57 Salomon)
Reviewed 11/3/18
Score: 95
Candy-like orange citrus with a lot of brown sugar and cinnamon attached. Those three mix well and are in about the same percentage. There is a touch of nutmeg bridging over to a modest amount of black coffee. At the first third (28 minutes) there are a lot of caramel notes giving the cigar even more sweetness. The second third (1 hour 10 minutes) had light leather notes combining with the nutmeg.
5
(6 1/4 x 52)
Reviewed 10/28/18
Score: 94
Aganorsa Leaf is the formerly named Casa Fernandez. Spiced apple, caramel, nutmeg, brown sugar, cinnamon, and black coffee. There was a nice amount of black pepper which I rated at an 8. The cigar lasted a whopping 2 hours 7 minutes!
6
(7 1/4 x 48)
Reviewed 11/10/18
Score: 94
Pays homage to the classic horror film character, The Bride of Frankenstein. Tangy, sweet orange citrus, lots of brown sugar, a little cinnamon, caramel, nutmeg bridging over to light chocolate fudge and an earthy black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2.
7
(5 1/2 x 52)
Reviewed 8/18/18
Score: 94
Sweet chocolate, brown sugar, tangy citrus, black coffee, and nutmeg. There was nice black pepper which I rated at a 7.
8
(6 x 52)
Reviewed 12/8/18
Score: 94
Citrus/papaya combination, quite a bit of cinnamon, some brown sugar, molasses, nutmeg, quite a bit of dark roasted black coffee and semi-sweet dark chocolate. There was a nice amount of black pepper which I rated at an 8.
9
(7 1/2 x 38)
Reviewed 8/4/18
Score: 94
Tangy, sweet orange citrus. It almost tastes like a literal orange! There was also a lot of white chocolate, along with brown sugar and cinnamon, nutmeg. There was a light black coffee base.
10
Warped Cigars Black Honey Youtube review
(5 x 48 Belicoso)
Reviewed 5/26/18
Score: 94
(Re-entered the market in late 2017)
Although this cigar did not come out this year it is new enough to be included.
Honey (rather appropriate), cedar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. A very light black coffee base which could almost be mistaken for a deep, dark brown sugar flavor. The honey is extremely sweet but it is somewhat contained by the nutmeg notes. The cinnamon notes accentuate the honey and the cedar rounds it out.
No. 11 - 25:
11.
Debonaire Maduro Sagita (short lancero) 5 1/2 x 38) 7/8/18
Score: 94
12.
Espinosa Las 6 Provincias LHB (6 x 54) 9/1/18
Score: 93
13.
Espinosa 20th Anniversary (6 x 46 Corona Larga) 11/4/1814.
Crowned Heads Court Reserve XVIII Sublime (6 x 54) 11/17/18
Score: 93
15.
Serie Gran Reserva 1988 by Warped Cigars (5 1/4 x 50) 10/7/18
Score: 93
16.
Todos Las Dias Double Wide Belicoso (4 3/4 x 50) 1/7/18
Score: 93
17.
My Father Cigars La Gran Oferta Lancero (7 1/2 x 38) 10/14/18
Score: 93
18.
Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary Limited Edition 2018 Toro (6 1/2 x 52) 6/16/18
Score: 93
19.
Protocol Probable Cause Corona Gorda (5 5/8 x 46) 8/11/18
Score: 93
20.
Grimalkin Toro (2018) (6 x 50) 6/23/18 ***
Score: 94
21.
Romeo San Andres Toro (6 x 54) 3/31/18
Score: 93
22.
Sindustry (2018) Lancero (7 x 38) 7/15/18
Score: 93
23.
Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick Limited Edition 2018 (5 7/8 x 52) 5/13/18
Score: 93
24.
Mi Querida Gordita (4 x 48) 1/14/18
Score: 93
25.
H. Upmann Connecticut Grupo de Maestros Toro (6 x 50) 10/20/18
Score: 93
*** You may notice that the number 20 cigar has a rating of 94. When I reviewed it the cigar burned perfectly. In subsequent samplings the cigar fails to burn properly. Although it draws well it does not stay lit. I have smoked several since the initial review and all have burned badly. They are properly humidified but perhaps they need a long rest to burn properly. For this reason I have dropped their placement in the year end ratings. Although the flavors are amazing the burn issues must be taken into consideration.
Other 93 rated cigars:
Viaje Jalapeno 2018 (4 7/8 x 50) 1/30/18
Macanudo Inspirado Red Robusto (5 x 50) 4/7/18
Perdomo Edicion de Silvio Sun Grown Torpedo (No. 2) (6.1 x 54) 7/28/18
92 rated:
Villiger Cigars La Vencedora Toro (6 x 50) 2/18/18
Archetype Initiation Toro (6 x 52) 3/17/18
Viaje Carolina Reaper (4 7/8 x 50) 4/14/18
CAO Zocalo (6 x 60) 5/19/18
Florida Sun Grown Belicoso (6 1/2 x 54) 6/30/18
Ramon Allones Habano Oscuro Toro (6 x 52) 7/8/18
Protocol Official Misconduct (6 x 50) 8/5/18
Cornelius & Anthony The Mistress Corona Gorda (5 1/2 x 46) Quick Review 8/31/18
Hoyo La Amistad Black Toro (6 1/2 x 52) 11/24/18
91 rated:
Fratello Novetta Atlantis (Boxer) 6 1/4 x 52 3/24/18
David P. Ehrlich Tremont Robusto (5 x 52) 4/15/18
Debonaire Daybreak Toro (6 x 50) 4/28/18
Debonaire Habano Belicoso (6 x 54) 6/9/18
Diesel Whiskey Row Robusto (5 1/2 x 52) 6/24/18
Las Calaveras EL 2018 LC54 (6 x 54) 7/7/18
Illusione OneOff Corona (5 1/2 x 42) 7/29/18
Punch Diablo Diabolus (5 1/4 x 54) 8/12/18
Cornelius & Anthony The Gent Toro (6 x 50) 8/25/18
Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut Gran Toro (6 x 52) 10/6/18
Montecristo Nicaragua Series No. 2 (6 1/8 x 52) 10/13/18
90 rated:
Fin de Los Mundos Toro by Nomad Cigar Company (6 x 50) 1/6/18
La Flor Dominicana Factory Press 2017 (6 1/2 x 58) 2/10/18
Patina Habano Bronze (Toro 6 x 52) 3/9/18
One Off Piramides by Illusione Cigars (6 1/8 x 52) 7/14/16
Hiram & Solomon Veiled Prophet Monarch (6 x 54) 9/3/18
Joya Silver Toro (6 x 52) 9/29/18
My Father Cigars La Gran Oferta Toro (6 x 50) 9/30/18
Black Label Trading Co. 2018 Morphine lancero (7 ¼ x 42) 9/29/18
Felix Assouline II Saints Perfecto (5 x 52) 11/18/18
Romeo y Julieta 1875 Nicaragua Churchill (7 x 50) 12/1/18
89 rated:
Black Label Trading Co. Deliverance Nocturne Perfecto (5 x 56) 1/28/18
La Madrina Robusto (5 1/4 x 54) 3/30/18
Perez-Carrillo Encore Majestic (5 3/8 x 52) 6/3/18
Black Label Trading Co. 2018 Morphine Robusto (4 1/2 x 50) 9/2/18
La Gloria Cubana Esteli Robusto (4 1/2 x 52) 9/10/18
88 rated:
La Flor Dominicana La Volcada (7 x 48) 1/27/18
Warfighter Cigars Garrison 7.62 Toro (6 x 52) 5/5/18
Joya de Nicaragua Clasico Torpedo (6 x 52) 7/22/18
Cornelius & Anthony The Mistress Toro (6 x 50) 8/26/18
CAO Nicaragua Granada (6 x 50) 9/23/18
Balmoral Anejo XO Gran Toro (6 x 52) 10/21/18
87 rated:
Viaje Holiday Blend Christmas Tree (4 x 60) 1/1/18
Warped Cigars Lirio Rojo 2018 (5 1/2 x 44) 2/4/18
Santa Muerte Short Robusto by Black Label Trading Co. (4 3/4 x 52) 3/25/18
Nomad Signature Toro (6 x 50) 9/22/18
Felix Assouline Havana Sunrise Reserve Prelude (4 3/4 x 52) 11/25/18
86 rated:
Montecristo Epic Craft Cured (6 x 52) 1/13/18
Gilberto Oliva Reserva Robusto (5 x 50) 1/21/18
Leon Jimenes Prestige Churchill (7 x 47) 2/24/18
Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Toro (6 x 52) 3/4/18
Archetype Axis Mundi Robusto (5 x 54) 3/18/18
85 rated:
Gurkha Blendmaster's Cask Toro (6 x 52) 2/3/18
Crux Epicure Toro Extra (6 1/4 x 52) 2/11/18
La Aurora Preferidos Ruby Toro (5 1/2 x 54) 5/6/18
Villiger Cigars San'Doro Maduro toro (6 x 50) 6/10/18
Cohiba Spectre (7 1/4 x 54) 11/23/18
84 rated:
Southern Draw Kudzu Toro (6 x 52) 3/3/18
82 rated:
Warfighter Field 7.62 Robusto (5 x 52) 4/22/18
So there you have it. An impressive list if I do say so myself. Is your favorite on the list? Do you agree with my top cigars listed? Feel free to comment. I am one opinion in a sea of reviewers but I stand firmly on my decisions. I hope you have enjoyed this year's reviews. Be sure to watch any of them on Youtube also. As we slide into a new year I am already looking forward to reviewing a bunch of new cigars that are just waiting to be reviewed. Please come back and join me for brand new reviews starting in early 2019.
1 comment:
This is a great list! Great work. I'm glad I bought a box of the limited Joya diademas.
BTW, what is the song that is playing in the 11-25 list part of the video? Great tune!
Keep up the great work, great channel.
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