J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Celebrates Record-Breaking 15,000 Visitors to its El Reloj Cigar Factory in 2023!

Message from Drew Newman

This year, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. set a new record by welcoming more than 15,000 visitors to its 113-year-old El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa’s Ybor City historic cigar district. In 2023 alone, J.C. Newman led 850 guided cigar factory tours, hosted 80 weddings and other private events, and taught cigar enthusiasts how to roll more than 4,000 cigars. El Reloj has now become the premier destination for cigar tourism.

 “Because El Reloj is the last traditional cigar factory still operating in the United States, my family and I feel a responsibility to keep America’s historic cigar-making tradition alive and share it with future generations,” said fourth-generation owner Drew Newman. “It is a privilege for us to be ambassadors for Ybor City, the City of Tampa, and the premium cigar industry. We love welcoming visitors from around the world to El Reloj and introducing them to the history, craft, and culture of premium cigars.”

In celebration of its 125 anniversary in 2020, J.C. Newman restored its iconic El Reloj cigar factory. It built a three-level cigar museum and began offering guided factory tours and cigar-rolling classes. Due to visitor demand, J.C. Newman is expanding beyond the walls of El Reloj and is developing the El Reloj District around the factory.

 “Next month, we will open the new Cigar Workers Park,” said Newman. “We are also in the process of restoring the 113-year-old Sanchez y Haya Real Estate Company building across the street with an inn, café, and cigar lounge. We are working to relocate a historic cigar tobacco barn and begin growing cigar tobacco so that we can teach visitors about the entire cigar-making progress from seed to smoke.”

 The Newman family expresses its sincere gratitude to Visit Tampa Bay and historic preservation officials in the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, State of Florida, and National Parks Service for their steadfast support of the restoration of its El Reloj cigar factory and the El Reloj District.

Book a tour or experience.

Best Cigars of 2023 (New releases)

freepik.com

Video review HERE.

As 2023 comes to a close I am listing the best 30 cigars of 2023. I concentrate on new releases. It does not matter if it's a new vitola in an existing cigar. As long as it was a new release it's eligible. Some of these were released late in 2022 so I carried them over to this year. All these cigars were reviewed in 2023. In total I reviewed 131 cigars.

The list is comprised of cigars with scores of 94 or above. Not every cigar that scored a 94 made the list. If they didn't they barely missed it but they are still worthy of a 94 score.

The complete list of every cigar reviewed this year follows the Top 30 list with scores shown in thirds along with the date reviewed.

Now, without further ado, here are the Top 30 for 2023.

No. 30

Bricktoberfest 2023 (6 x 52)

(94-94-95)

No. 29

Villiger de Nicaragua Edición Limitada 2022 (6 x 52 Box-Pressed Torpedo)

(95-93-94)

No. 28

Todos Las Días Thick Lonsdale “Mas Fuerte” (6 x 46 Lonsdale)

(94-94-94)

No. 27

Bishops Blend Novemdiales Toro (6 x 48)

(95-94-93)

No. 26

Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Maduro Toro (6 x 54)

(94-94-94)

No. 25

Poison Dart by Black Works Studio (5 1/2 x 46 Corona Gorda)

(93-95-95)

No. 24

Foundation Metapa Claro Robusto (5 x 50)

(95-93-94)

No. 23

Rosewood 1923 (6 x 48 Corona)

(94-94-94)

No. 22

Red Meat Lovers Club Beef Stick (6 x 48)

(94-94-94)

No. 21

West Tampa Tobacco Co. Attic (6 x 54 Toro Gordo)

(94-94-95)

No. 20

Perez-Carrillo Pledge Lonsdale Limitada (6 1/2 x 43)

(94-95-94)

No. 19

LCA Reserva Vintage 2022 (6 x 44 Lonsdale)

(94-95-95)

No. 18

Warped Sky Moon (5 1/2 x 42 Corona)

(94-95-95)

No. 17

Foundation Metapa Maduro Robusto (5 x 50)

(95-94-94)

No. 16

Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich 55 (5 1/2 x 55)

(95-94-94)

No. 15

Rojas Breakfast Tacos Mexican San Andrés (4 1/2 x 46 petit salomon)

(95-94-95)

No. 14

Warped Cigars Devil's Hands (6 x 44 Lonsdale)

(95-94-95)

No. 13

EP Carrillo Pledge Firecracker (3 1/2 x 50)

(95-94-95)

No. 12

Aladino Classic Elegante (7 x 38 Lancero)

(95-95-94)

No. 11

Casa Cuevas Sangre Nueva Toro (6 x 52)

(95-95-95)

freepik.com

No. 10

Diamond Crown Black Diamond Emerald (6 x 52)

(95-94-95)

No. 9

CAO Amazon Basin Extra Añejo (6 x 52)

(96-95-04)

No. 8

Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Maduro Epicure (6 x 54)

(95-94-95)

No. 7

La Madonna Negra Corona Gorda Box Press (5 1/2 x 50)

(95-96-95)

No. 6

Caldwell Long Live the Queen; Queen's Sword (7 x 38)

(95-94-95)

freepik.com

No. 5

PapaSaka by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (5 5/8 x 48 Corona)

(95-95-95)

No. 4

Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Toro (6 x 52)

(96-94-94)

No. 3

Partagas de Bronce Corona Gorda (6.25” x 46)

(95-94-96)

No. 2

El Pulpo Robusto Grande (5 x 56)

(95-94-95)

freepik.com

Best Cigar of the Year

No. 1

Muestra de Saka Krakatoa (6 x 48 corona gorda)

(95-94-95)

That's the list! I feel this is an amazing list of cigars. Any are box worthy. Let me know your thoughts. I'll be back in January with a batch of new reviews. I've enjoyed this years reviews.

Below is the entire list of all cigars reviewed this year.

95.33 

La Madonna Negra Corona Gorda Box Press (5 1/2 x 50) (95-96-95) 7/4 

 

95 

Partagas de Bronce Corona Gorda (6.25” x 46) (95-94-96) 8/27 

PapaSaka by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (5 5/8 x 48 Corona) (95-95-95) 11/18 

CAO Amazon Basin Extra Añejo (6 x 52) (96-95-94) 1/22 

Casa Cuevas Sangre Nueva Toro (6 x 52) (95-95-95) 1/1 

 

94.67 

El Pulpo Robusto Grande (5 x 56) (95-94-95) 6/14/23 

Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Toro (6 x 52) (96-94-94) 2/26 

Muestra de Saka Krakatoa (6 x 48 corona gorda) (95-94-95) 10/28 

Diamond Crown Black Diamond Emerald (6 x 52) (95-94-95) 1/21 

Aladino Classic Elegante (7 x 38 Lancero) (95-95-94) 8/12 

EP Carrillo Pledge Firecracker (3 1/2 x 50) (95-94-95) 7/11 

Caldwell Long Live the Queen; Queen's Sword (7 x 38) (95-94-95) 1/24 

Rojas Breakfast Tacos Mexican San Andrés (4 1/2 x 46 petit salomon) (95-94-95) 4/22 

LCA Reserva Vintage 2022 (6 x 44 Lonsdale) (94-95-95) 12/25 

Warped Cigars Devil's Hands (6 x 44 Lonsdale) (95-94-95) 1/31 

Bricktoberfest 2023 (6 x 52) (94-95-95) 10/17 

Warped Sky Moon (5 1/2 x 42 Corona) (94-95-95) 8/1 

Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Maduro Epicure (6 x 54) (95-94-95) 12/16 

 

94.33 

Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich 55 (5 1/2 x 55) (95-94-94) 3/5 

Fosforo Toro (6 x 50) (95-94-94) 5/13 

West Tampa Tobacco Co. Attic (6 x 54 Toro Gordo) (94-94-95) 1/14 

Perez-Carrillo Pledge Lonsdale Limitada (6 1/2 x 43) (94-95-94) 4/7 

HVC La Rosa 520 Rare of Rare (6 x 52 Belicoso) (95-94-94) 2/4 

Poison Dart by Black Works Studio (5 1/2 x 46 Corona Gorda) (93-95-95) 7/25 

Foundation Metapa Maduro Robusto (95-94-94) (5 x 50) 

 

94 

Todos Las Días Thick Lonsdale “Mas Fuerte” (6 x 46 Lonsdale) (94-94-94) 3/11 

Villiger de Nicaragua Edición Limitada 2022 (6 x 52 Box-Pressed Torpedo) (95-93-94) 2/25 

Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Maduro Toro (6 x 54) (94-94-94) 6/10 

HVC Selección No. 1 Natural Poderosos (6 x 54) (94-94-94) 4/1 

Red Meat Lovers Club Beef Stick (6 x 48) (94-94-94) 11/4 

Rosewood 1923 (6 x 48 Corona) (94-94-94) 9/23 

Bishops Blend Novemdiales Toro (6 x 48) (95-94-93) 10/14 

Foundation Metapa Claro Robusto (5 x 50) (95-93-94) 12/12 

Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Connecticut Epicure (95-94-93) (6 x 54) 12/22

93.67 

Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Sun Grown Epicure (6 x 54) (94-93-94) 12/17 

La Flor Dominicana Solis (6 1/2 x 50 Toro Extra) (94-93-94) 12/31 

Dissident Home 2023 (6 x 52 Box Pressed) (94-94-93) 5/6 

Warped Black Honey 2023 (5 x 48 Belicoso) (93-94-94) 11/21 

AUDIOPHILE Robusto 2023 (5 x 52) (94-93-94) 8/22 

Rojas Breakfast Tacos Ecuadorian Sumatra (4 1/2 x 46 petit salomon) (94-94-93) 4/18 

Tatuaje The Face Redux 3 (6 3/8 x 56 toro gordo) (94-94-93) 10/21 

Room101 Daruma 2023 (6 x 50 Toro) (93-94-94) 6/25 

West Tampa Tobacco Company Red Toro (6 x 52) (Pre-Release review) (93-94-94) 4/8 

Stolen Throne Phantom Queen (5 x 54 Petit Belicoso) (95-92-94) 1/17 

Foundation Cigar Co. Highclere Castle Senetjer (6 3/4 x 52 perfecto) (93-94-94) 1/28 

Drew Estate Freestyle Live (H99 Papa Fritas)-June 2023 (4 x 46+/-) (93-94-94) 6/6 

 

93.33 

Rorschach Sumatra by Black Works Studio (4 1/2 x 48) (95-93-92) 8/15 

Fosforo Connecticut (5 3/4 x 46 Corona Gorda) (94-94-92) 5/21 

Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Toro (6 x 52) (94-93-93) 11/11 

Foreign Affair Toro Extra (6 1/2 x 52) (94-92-94) 7/1 

United Cigars Firecracker (3 1/2 x 50 Short Robusto) (93-93-94) 4/4 

 

93 

Casa 1910 Teniente Angela Toro (6 x 52) (94-92-93) 3/26 

Los Statos Deluxe Robusto (5 x 50) (94-93-92) 2/7 

Black Works Studio S&R 2023 Corona Larga (6x46) (93-94-92) 4/15 

Room101 14th Anniversary (6 x 52 Toro) (94-92-93) 9/30 

Eiroa PCA Exclusive 2023 50X5 (5 x 50) (94-93-92) 11/7 

La Gloria Cubana Serie S Maduro Robusto Gordo (5.5” x 56) (94-93-92) 10/7 

Angel Cuesta Doble Toro (6 1/4 x 52) (93-94-92) 5/14 

Fortis Gran Reserva (6 x 56 Toro Gordo) (93-94-92) 6/17 

J. London Blue Telephone Booth (5 x 50) (94-91-94) 1/10 

 

92.67 

Macanudo Gold Label Golden Nugget (4 1/2 x 60) (94-92-92) 6/20 

Casa 1910 Sampetrina (5 x 50) (93-92-93) 3/28 

United Cigars Maduro Robusto (5 x 54) (93-93-92) 5/16 

Diesel Vintage Series Robusto Gordo (5” x 56) (93-92-93) 9/12 

Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2023 LC52 (6 x 52) (93-92-93) 8/6 

Perla del Mar Corojo Double Toro (6″ x 60) (93-92-93) 9/24 

E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2023 Robusto (5 x 50) (93-92-93) 9/19 

Viaje Flashing Thunder (6 1/2 x 52 Toro Extra) (92-93-93) 7/29 

Dapper HolySmoke Genesis (6 1/2 x 52 box-pressed figurado) (92-93-93) 7/23 

Viaje Honey & Hand Grenades The Katana Maduro (7 x 48) (92-93-93) 1/7 

 

92.33 

Warped Bits of Havana Seleccion de Capital (6 x 52 Box Pressed Toro) (93-93-91) 7/22 

HVC Black Friday 2023 (4 1/2 x 56 Petit Gordo) (93-93-91) 11/14 

Perez-Carrillo Allegiance Confidant (6 x 52) (94-91-92) 1/15 

Grimalkin Seasonal Edition 2023 (5 x 50) (93-92-92) 10/24 

Casa 1910 Cuchillo Parado (5 x 50) (92-93-92) 3/21 

El Rey del Mundo Shade Grown Robusto (5.5 x 50) (93-91-93) 9/27 

 

92 

Punch Dad Bod (4.5” x 60) (93-93-90) 5/23 

JC Newman El Baton Belicoso (5 x 56) (93-92-91) 2/14 

ATL Cigar Co. Wise Blood Robusto Extra (6 x 50) (93-92-91) 7/2 

Mr. Fahrenheit by Black Star Line Cigars (6 x 46 corona gorda) (93-91-92) 10/1 

Loaisiga Infiel Sun Grown Toro (6 x 54) (93-92-91) 11/24 

Punch Golden Era Robusto (5” x 50) (93-90-93) 10/10 

Ultimate Cigars Club Liga 56 (6 x 54 Box Pressed) (93-92-91) 2/5 

Fosforo Limitada 2023 (5 1/2 x 54 Robusto Extra) (92-94-90) 8/13 

 

91.67 

Cohiba Riviera Robusto (5” x 52) (93-92-90) 10/3 

Viaje Craft Series: New Beginnings (6 x 52) (92-91-92) 3/4 

Brick House Crystal Churchill (7 1/4 x 50) (92-90-93) 6/18 

Viaje Exclusivo Leaded Double Edged Sword (5 x 52 Perfecto) (92-92-91) 8/20 

 

91.33 

Espinosa Las 6 Provincias CMW (6 x 50) (93-91-90) 1/29 

Kristoff Nicaragua Toro (6 1/4 x 54) (92-92-90) 11/5 

 

91 

Tatuaje Lomo de Cerdo (5 1/8 x 52 robusto) (93-88-92) 4/23 

Cuesta-Rey Centenario No. 60 Natural (6″ x 50) (93-88-92) 10/22 

Valacari MK 19 Black Iris (6 x 46) (93-91-89) 3/18 

Viaje Birthday Blend 2023 (6 x 52 Torpedo) (92-90-91) 7/16 

Villiger Miami 2023 (5 7/8 x 53 Cañonazo) (93-91-89) 8/5 

Loaisiga Infiel Connecticut Robusto (5 x 54) (93-91-89) 11/25 

La Gloria Cubana Serie S Robusto Gordo (5.5” x 56) (93-90-90) 2/11 

 

90.67 

United Cigars Natural Robusto (5 x 54) (92-90-90) 5/9 

Aladino Limited Edition (6 x 52 Toro) (93-91-88) 9/10 

Partagas Valle Verde Toro (6” x52) (91-89-92) 8/26 

 

90.33 

La Gloria Cubana Corojo de Oro (6 x 50 Toro) (92-90-89) 6/11 

Rojas Breakfast Tacos Ecuadorian Connecticut (4 1/2 x 46 petit salomon) (92-90-89) 4/16 

 

90 

Valacari Axios (6 x 52 Toro) (92-88-90) 9/17 

Villiger 1888 Nicaragua Toro (6 x 50) (91-88-91) 7/30 

Viaje Holiday Blend Christmas Tree 2022 (4 x 60) (91-89-90) 1/3 

Lampert 1675 Edición Morado Toro (6 x 52) (90-92-88) 4/2 

 

89.33 

Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Toro H (6 x 54) (93-90-85) 2/19 

Venture 1492 Gran Corona (5 1/2 x 48) (93-89-86) 3/7 

Crux Epicure Habano Toro (6 1/4 x 52) (93-89-86) 10/8 

Punch Spring Roll (4.5” x 50) (90-89-89) 2/21 

 

89 

Casa 1910 La Coronela Majestuosos 1966 (5 1/2 x 58) (91-89-87) 3/25 

Macanudo Vintage Maduro 2013 Robusto (5 x 50) (92-87-88) 10/20 

Viaje Exclusivo Double Edged Sword (5 x 52 Perfecto) (91-87-89) 8/19 

 

88.67 

Pi Synesthesia Red (6 x 52 toro) (90-87-89) 11/12 

 

88.33 

Diesel Atonement Toro (6” x 52) (91-87-87) 2/18 

La Unica No. 100 (8 1/2 x 52) (91-88-86) 6/24 

 

88 

Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) (91-88-85) 12/27 

Illusione Singularé ‘Origen’ Robusto (5 x 52) (92-88-84) 2/28 

Espinosa 601 Yellow (6 x 52 Toro) (88-90-86) 4/30 

Macanudo Inspirado Tercio Aged Toro (6 x 54) (88-86-90) 5/20 

Bongani 658 (6 x 58) (88-89-87) 7/15 

 

87.33 

Warped Moon Garden Especial (5 5/8 x 52 toro) (92-88-82) 11/19 

 

87 

Viaje Honey & Hand Grenades The Katana (7 x 48) (89-86-86) 1/8 

Warped Cigars Selección Domain 4546 (4 1/2 x 48 Rothschild) (88-85-88) 4/11 

Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata Vibrato (6 x 54) (91-87-83) 7/9 

 

86.67 

Shady Moose Toro (6 x 52) (87-88-85) 5/7 

 

86 

Viaje Full Moon 2023 (5 x 58) (92-86-80) 11/26 

Room101 Big Payback 70 (7 x 70) (90-86-82) 10/29 

 

85 

La Gloria Cubana Society Toro (6.25” x 54) (90-85-80) 2/12 

Viaje WLP Mofongo (6 x 52 Toro) (89-84-82) 3/19 

 

84.67 

Espinosa 601 Orange (6 x 52 Toro) (89-85-80) 4/29 

 

84 

Romeo y Julieta Envy Amulet (6 x 55 Toro Extra) (88-84-80) 3/12 

HVC Hot Cake Golden Line Corona Gorda (5 5/8 x 46) (88-84-80) 9/16 

Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Connecticut Epicure (6 x 54)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Halfwheel.com website)

Perdomo has begun shipping its trio of 30th Anniversary cigars to a select group of retailers, debuting the lines with about 75 retailers across the country before likely expanding it to more stores in the future. A company representative told halfwheel that the cigars are set to arrive at those retailers this Friday, Nov. 17.

The cigars made their debut at the 2023 PCA Convention & Trade Show this past July in celebration of Nick and Janine Perdomo marking three decades in the cigar business, a milestone that was reached in 2022. What is now known as Perdomo Cigars dates back to August 1992 and an upstart cigar operation called Nick’s Cigar Co., based out of Miami. In those three-plus decades, the company was renamed to Perdomo Cigars and built an impressive factory in Nicaragua that not only produces cigars but makes its own boxes. The company also grows a significant amount of the tobacco used in its cigars.

Nick Perdomo Jr. previously said that the 30th Anniversary “encapsulates not only the essence of our team’s dedication to the finest quality and craftsmanship, but it also represents our longstanding commitment to our cherished patrons.”

As with many Perdomo lines, the 30th Anniversary is being released in three blend options, one using an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, another using a Nicaraguan maduro wrapper, and the third using a Nicaraguan sungrown leaf. All three use a Nicaraguan binder and filler and are offered in five sizes.

The Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Connecticut is highlighted by a wrapper leaf that has been aged in bourbon barrels, while some of its fillers come with 15 years of age on them. The company says this blend offers a smooth, creamy complexity with hints of caramel and cedar on the finish.

Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Connecticut Robusto (5 x 54) — $12 (Box of 30, $360)

Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Connecticut Epicure (6 x 54) — $12.50 (Box of 30, $375) REVIEWED TODAY

Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Connecticut Churchill (7 x 54) — $13 (Box of 30, $390)

Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Connecticut Gordo (6 x 60) — $13.50 (Box of 30, $405)

Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Connecticut Torpedo (7 x 54) — $14 (Box of 30, $420)

All three versions of the Perdomo 30th Anniversary are made at the company’s factory in Estelí, Nicaragua and are being added as regular production lines to the company’s portfolio, though the company has said that they come with limited availability to ensure that it can supply its retailers with the cigars.

The cigar is golden brown and has a nice feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors at light up were a tangy lemon citrus, brown sugar, cinnamon, red pepper, thick sweet cream, and leathery black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 8+. Pretty good start.

At the first third (24 minutes) the black pepper is amazing when you retrohale. It will open your sinuses! I still had the lemony citrus, a lot of brown sugar, cinnamon, a zip of red pepper, thick sweet cream, and earthy leather. The finish is leather and light citrus with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium bodied. I have stated many times that I am not a Connecticut cigar guy but this is a very good Connecticut cigar. I rated the first third 95.

As I moved through the second third (49 minutes) the black coffee is creeping back. The earthiness is there and it's in abundance. I still had an adequate amount of the tangy lemon/tangerine type sweetness, brown sugar, cinnamon, a lot of earthiness, leather, and increased black coffee. The red pepper and cream were not there. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish has flip flopped with more citrus and less leather with very good lingering black pepper. This cigar is burning quicker than the maduro or sun grown. I rated the second third 94.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 12 minutes. Much shorter than the maduro or sun grown and I do not know why. The earthiness keeps creeping up. There are some decreased, somewhat muffled citrus notes, brown sugar, much less cinnamon, lots of earthiness, and black coffee. The black pepper is still around 8. Very good. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is citrus, earthiness, very light leather, and very good lingering black pepper. The cigar is still good but quite earthy. I rated the final third 93. This is the best Connecticut cigar I've had in a long time.

Overall Score: 94