It’s a project that has been ten years in the making – or at least almost 18 months.
The concept for doing a Cigar of the Decade selection started in July, 2018. I was driving outside Alburquerque, New Mexico heading to Las Vegas for the IPCPR Trade Show. I had just talked to Sam Morales, who at the time was the Director of Marketing for Drew Estate. We had touched base on the 10 year anniversary releases for Liga Privada. Following that conversation, I reflected how I couldn’t believe it was ten years since Liga Privada was released. That led to the word of the day – “decade.” Cigar Coop was getting close to covering the premium cigar industry for a decade – and the decade was closing out for cigars. It was then when the idea of doing a Cigar of the Decade popped into my head. Because there would be very few opportunities to work on such a project, I decided to plan ahead.
On the drive back from Las Vegas, I started formulating what this process would be. I knew it wouldn’t be an easy thing – and it was a lot of work. The project would select the best cigars of the decade from 2010 to 2019 – and I dubbed it “The Decade List.”
I thought as 2019 came to a close, other media outlets would be doing a similar concept. While I saw a couple of media outlets attempt to talk about a “Cigar of the Decade” more in a discussion, much to my surprise and disappointment, I saw no other media outlets putting Cigar of the Decade through an official process.
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Criteria and Process
Whether we are doing a Cigar of the Year or a Cigar of the Decade, it’s the process that is the most important thing.
For “The Decade List,” 26 cigars were selected. While the intent was for 25, there was a tie at 25th and a decision was made not to break the tie. Candidates that were considered for The Decade List were from two pools:
- Cigar of the Year Winners (10): Winning Cigar of the Year is our highest honor on Cigar Coop, thus each of the ten Cigar of the Year winners was given automatic placement on The Decade List.
- Wildcards (16): Cigars that placed #2 or #3 on a Cigar Coop Countdown combined with some of the highest-scoring cigars that didn’t qualify for the Countdown due to eligibility reasons were still considered for the list. A total of 16 cigars coming from this pool were selected to be on The Decade List.
The cigars from the two pools were all re-ranked regardless of the pool it came from. Therefore, it’s possible for a Wildcard cigar to place ahead of a Cigar of the Year winner. Unlike Cigar of the Year, the cigars were not all re-smoked, but there were some cases that if a cigar under consideration was only smoked once, at least one additional cigar was re-procured and re-smoked. Many of the rankings were derived from the reviews and offline raw notes associated with the reviews.
For Cigar of the Year, we emphasize how the cigar performs throughout the year. With the Decade List it was not practical or possible since many cigars are older. In this case, we focused on cigars as they were at their peak. All cigars on this list must have been released during the years 2010 through 2019, and reviewed on Cigar Coop during those years. One might ask why not just take the highest-scoring cigars. Our scoring has evolved from year to year and in fact in 2010 and 2011, there wasn’t even scoring implemented. This looked at everything from a fresh perspective when developing the list.
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With The Decade List, there are those who argue “these aren’t the best selling cigars” or “you can’t get these cigars.” If popularity and availability had been taken into account, the list below would look very different. However, the point of the list was to choose the best quality cigars of the decade. Some time in 2020, I’ll reflect on some of the cigars that had an impact with cigar enthusiasts from the 2010-19 decade.
The Decade List was curated from 1,974 cigar reviews done on Cigar Coop over the decade with the intention of filling only 25 slots. It was quite a challenge and while many great cigars and brands missed the list, it wasn’t the place to give participation trophies either.
1. La Aurora 100 Años Edición Especial
CIGAR OF THE DECADE 2010-19
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: La Aurora S.A.
Robusto: 5 x 50
Year Release: 2012
Distinguished Honors: #1 Cigar of the Year – 2013
The Cigar of the Decade for 2010-2019 is the La Aurora 100 Años Años Edición Especial.
In 2003, the La Aurora factory in the Dominican Republic celebrated its 100th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, La Aurora Cigars released 100 Años, a limited edition Dominican puro that became one of the company’s most iconic releases. Fast forward to 2012, and due to consumer demand, La Aurora made a decision to relaunch the 100 Años. As a part of the re-launch, La Aurora also unveiled the La Aurora 100 Años Edición Especial, a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapped offering which would be a periodic limited production offering. While the original 100 Años was offered in several sizes, the La Aurora 100 Años Edición Especial is offered in one size – a 5 x 50 Robusto.
The Aurora 100 Años Edicion Especial delivers rich bold and meaty flavors of dark chocolate, mocha, leather, cedar, nut and pepper. There is an intangible quality to how these flavors complement each other delivering the qualities of an epic smoke.
The La Aurora 100 Años Edición Especial not only went on to win the Cigar Coop 2013 Cigar of the Year, but it also is the highest-scoring cigar in the history of Cigar Coop to date with a 98. An easy choice for Cigar of the Decade.
2. Davidoff Oro Blanco
Wrapper: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Cigars Davidoff
Gran Toro: 6 x 54
Year Release: 2014
Distinguished Honors: 96/Oasis Rating (Wildcard)
Back in 2014, word came that Davidoff was going to release a cigar made from 2002 vintage tobaccos known as the Davidoff Oro Blanco. While the vintage tobaccos are a big part of the story of this release, it’s the price point that overshadows it. The Davidoff Oro Blanco is priced at $500.00 per cigar – making it the most expensive Davidoff release to date. In terms of the tobaccos, they are used from a 2000 to 2001 crop grown in the Mao region of the Dominican Republic (which Davidoff still refers to as the 2002 vintage). The blend was put together by Davidoff Master Blender Eladio Diaz and was rolled by some of Davidoff’s most skilled rollers with over 15 years of experience. Because of the scarcity of the tobaccos and the skills required for this cigar, this is released in small batches.
When it comes to price, it was not considered when building The Decade List. The cigar comes in some amazing packaging, but its the cigar itself that delivers what it promises. The Davidoff Oro Blanco is an amazing cigar that fires on all cylinders – flavor, complexity, and construction. In particular, the Oro Blanco excels in the flavor category. While it’s tough to justify a cigar at $500.00, it still is a cigar that ranks as Davidoff’s best release to date.
3. Davidoff 2013 Year of the Snake Edition
Wrapper: Ecuador 702
Binder: Dominican: San Vicente Seco
Filler: Dominican: Piloto Seco, San Vicente Ligero, Piloto Viso, Hybrid 192 Seco/Yamasá
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Cigars Davidoff
Churchill: 7 x 48
Year Release: 2012
Distinguished Honors: #2 Cigar of the Year – 2013 (Wildcard)
Late in 2012, Davidoff unveiled the first worldwide installment of its Chinese Zodiac series, the Davidoff Year of the Snake. At the time it was released, it ranked as one of the more expensive Davidoffs at $30.00 per cigar (as we saw with Davidoff Oro that was eclipsed quite a bit). The cigar was released just before 2012 closed, so cigar enthusiasts would have it in time for the Year of the Snake Chinese New Year celebrations in early 2013.
The cigar featured some of Davidoff’s best tobaccos, including a darker incarnation of the brand’s famed Ecuadorian 702 wrapper. The rest of the blend is all Dominican highlighted by a special Hybrid 192 tobacco leaf in the filler. Year of the Snake was available in one size – a 7 x 48 Churchill. The cigar delivered one of the most unique profiles that has been seen on a Davidoff, highlighted by a subtle sweetness reminiscent of apple cider. In any other year, this probably would have been cigar of the year, but in 2013 it finished as the runner up to the cigar that would become our Cigar of the Decade (La Aurora 100 Años Edición Especial). This cigar is still good enough to place on The Decade List’s Top 3.
4. AVO Limited Edition 2010 (AVO LE10)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun-Grown
Binder: Mexican Sumatra Seed
Filler: Dominican – all Ligero
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: O.K. Cigars
Super Robusto: 5 1/2 x 55
Year Release: 2010
Distinguished Honors: #1 Cigar of the Year – 2010
For nearly two decades, the AVO Limited Edition series has been a favorite among cigar enthusiasts. The series was launched in 2001 and has followed each year with a different limited production release done in a different size and a different blend. Most of the releases have been timed around the late brand founder/ambassador Avo Uvezian’s birthday (March 22nd). In 2010 came a very different installment of the series – simply titled the AVO LE10 (Limited Edition 2010). It was a much bolder AVO cigar than we had seen before and in a thicker format that we had seen on an AVO before (55 ring gauge).
With the AVO LE10, the grass and pepper notes of this cigar remind you of a quintessential AVO release. The notes of chocolate, coffee, and cream layered on top of it add something else special. Combining these flavors with the boldness this cigar delivers makes this not just memorable, but one of the historic cigars released from the brand. It’s a cigar that capture the 2010 Cigar of the Year on Cigar Coop.
5. La Palina Collection Goldie Laguito No. 2
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican
Country of Origin: United States
Factory: El Titan de Bronze
Laguito No. 2: 6 x 38
Year Release: 2012
Distinguished Honors: #1 Cigar of the Year – 2012
In 2012, La Palina Cigars launched the La Palina Collection, an umbrella for its limited edition cigars. The first cigar released in the series was the La Palina Goldie. This was intended to be an annual release that would be released in a different frontmark each year. The Goldie gets its name from La Palina owner Bill Paley’s grandmother. Goldie Paley’s image appears on the banding and packaging of many La Palina cigars. The La Palina Goldie is produced in Little Havana’s El Titan de Bronze factory. It was rolled by a single roller, the late Maria Sierra. Sierra rolled the Goldies each year from 2012 until her retirement in 2017. Sierra got her start as a roller at the famed Fabrica de Tabacos El Laguito in Cuba. Sierra retired in 1998, and over a decade later she would relocate to the United States where she would start rolling at the El Titan de Bronze factory. The first Goldie she would produce would be a “Laguito No. 2” – paying homage to what the petite lancero size was called at the famed El Laguito factory..
What makes the Goldie special is the incorporation of high priming Nicaraguan medio tiempo leaf in the filler found on only 10% of tobacco plants. The blend also incorporates an Ecuadorian wrapper and binder as well as some Dominican and Nicaraguan filler. Rolled in the 6 x 38 Laguito No. 2 size was magical – creating a unique and complex cigar experience. This is a cigar that would go on to win the 2012 Cigar of the Year, and it’s a cigar that also has earned its top five place on The Decade list.
6. Padrón 50th Anniversary Maduro (The Hammer)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacos Cubanica S.A.
Toro: 6 1/2 x 52
Year Release: 2014
Distinguished Honors: #1 Cigar of the Year – 2015
The year 2014 marked 50 years since Jose O. Padrón founded Padrón Cigars. The signature release for the 50th-anniversary milestone was a limited production cigar known as the Padrón 50th Anniversary – produced in both Maduro and Natural blends. This is an ultra-premium cigar line that features some of the best tobaccos secured by the Padrón family. The cigars were packaged in an exquisite humidor designed by Cuban graphic artist Nelson Alfonso. The humidor containing 50 cigars was packaged at a retail price of $5,300.00. The Padróns gifted a special customized New England Patriots version of the humidor containing both the natural and maduro cigars to Patriots owner Robert Kraft – and he then gifted cigars to the players following Super Bowl LIII. It’s the Maduro version that won our 2015 Cigar of the Year award and lands on The Decade List.
The Padrón 50th Anniversary Maduro delivers the flavors you come to expect from a Padrón Maduro blend -namely notes of cocoa, chocolate, cedar, cream, earth, cedar, and pepper. The differentiating factor is this might be the smoothest Padrón. Depending on whether or not the price of the humidor was factored in, this cigar retailed anywhere from $40.00 to $106.00. Price aside, this simply was the best Padrón cigar ever produced – and there are some very good ones.
7. Atabey Brujos by Selected Tobacco
Wrapper: Not Disclosed
Binder: Not Disclosed
Filler: Not Disclosed
Country of Origin: Costa Rica
Factory: Tabacos de Costa Rica
Brujos: 4 7/8 x 52
Year Release: 2012
Distinguished Honors: 95/Memorable Rating (Wildcard)
The Atabey Brujos is a cigar that comes from Nelson Alfonso’s Selected Tobacco. Based in Cuba, Alfonso started out as a graphic artist and was behind the branding of the famed Cohiba Behike as well as the Padrón 50th Anniversary humidor we discussed above. He eventually decided to launch his own set of brands and in 2012 he launched Selected Tobacco. Selected Tobacco consists of three brands, Atabey, Byron, and Bandolero – each an ultra-premium set of cigars with ultra-premium packaging. To produce his cigars, Alfonso turned to Costa Rica, and specifically the Tabacos de Costa Rica factory. Its the Atabey brand, specifically the Atabey Brujos, that lands on The Decade List.
Alfonso isn’t disclosing the details of his blends, but Cigar Aficionado reported in 2015 as the cigar as having an Ecuadorian Havana wrapper with mostly “Nicaraguan guts.” The Brujos is a 4 7/8 x 52 Robusto. The Atabey Ritos is a cigar that fires on all cylinders – flavor, complexity, and construction. It’s not a powerhouse cigar, but what it doesn’t have in terms of strength, it pays back dividends in terms of flavor.
8. Tatuaje La Vérité 2013
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars SA
Churchill: 7 x 47
Year Release: 2016
Distinguished Honors: 94/Chuck Norris Rating (Wildcard)
La Vérité is a brand of limited edition cigars that come from Pete Johnson and Tatuaje Cigars. Johnson is not only known as a world-renowned cigar maker, but someone who has an affinity for the wine industry. With La Vérité, Johnson was able to bridge these two passions. The La Vérité borrows a concept from the wine industry in that it uses tobaccos from a single vintage year. In 2016, Johnson released the third installment of this series, the La Vérité 2013 edition. It had been seven years since the prior La Vérité release, the La Vérité 2009. For the La Vérité 2013 edition, the tobaccos comes from a 2013 vintage year from the Garcia family’s La Estrella farm in Estelí, Nicaragua. As with the previous two installments, the third edition of La Vérité comes in two sizes, with each having an optimized blend for the size – La Vérité 2013 (a 7 x 47 Churchill) and L’Esprit de Vérité 2013 (a 5 x 50 Robusto). It’s the La Vérité 2013 Churchill that lands on the Decade List.
La Vérité 2013 is a cigar that fires on all cylinders – flavor, complexity, and construction. The 7 x 47 Churchill size easily ranks as the best release under Johnson’s La Vérité brand. It’s a cigar worthy of its #8 spot on The Decade List.
9. Joel Sherman 75th Celebration by Nat Sherman
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Seed
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Quesada Cigars SA
Robusto: 7 1/2 x 46
Year Release: 2014
Distinguished Honors: #1 Cigar of the Year – 2014
While many know the name Nat Sherman, the name Joel Sherman is one that isn’t quite as well known. Joel is the son of Nat Sherman, who served as the President and CEO of Nat Sherman prior to the sale of the company to Altria in 2017. In 2014, Joel celebrated his 75th birthday and a special one-time limited edition cigar was created. The Joel Sherman 75th Celebration is a project that is a reflection on Sherman himself. The crest that is showcased on the black lacquered box was inspired by Sherman’s days as a young drummer and uses the logo that was on his bass drum. Each box also contained a personal note from Mr. Sherman describing his love of cigars and joy of being a part of a family run business.
The cigar itself was a beautiful 7 1/2 x 46 near-Churchill sized vitola. Produced at Nat Sherman’s long-time manufacturing partner Quesada Cigars, the Joel Sherman 75th Celebration featured a beautiful Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over Dominican tobaccos. The cigar itself delivered an outstanding medium strength, medium to full-bodied cigar loaded with flavor. In the end this cigar went on to capture our 2014 Cigar of the Year award.
10. Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto by JRE Tobacco Co.
Wrapper: Authentic Corojo (Honduras)
Binder: Authentic Corojo (Honduras)
Filler: Authentic Corojo (Honduras)
Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: Las Lomas
Robusto: 5 x 50
Year Release: 2018
Distinguished Honors: #1 Cigar of the Year – 2018
JRE Tobacco is the company founded by Julio and Justo Eiroa. The Aladino brand quickly became both the flagship and workhorse brand of the line. In 2018, JRE decided to expand the Aladino line by introducing a limited production cigar known as the Aladino Corojo Reserva. At the time, it was released in one size, a 5 x 50 Robusto. The original Aladino was an Authentic Corojo puro. The Aladino Corojo Reserva builds on that theme as it incorporates a Corona priming into the blend. The end result is that this makes the Aladino Corojo Reserva a bolder cigar.
The vision of the Aladino brand is to deliver a smoke much like the ones during the golden age of cigars from 1947 to 1961. Aladino Corojo Reserva keeps to that vision. It’s a mostly medium to full smoke in terms of strength and body. Flavorwise, the flavors are very classic: natural tobacco, earth, cedar, pepper, and even some floral notes. This cigar delivers plenty of flavor nuances and transitions making it a complex cigar as well. This cigar quickly became a huge hit and has remained consistent since its release. It ended up finishing as our Cigar of the Year for 2018.
11. EIROA The First 20 Years Colorado 50 x 5 by C.L.E. Cigar Company
Wrapper: Honduran Colorado
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: El Aladino
Robusto: 50 x 5
Year Release: 2017
Distinguished Honors: #1 Cigar of the Year – 2017
The EIROA First 20 Years Colorado is the fourth blend under C.L.E.’s EIROA brand. It is also the second blend to carry the EIROA First 20 Years name, a line that commemorates C.L.E. Cigar Company founder Christian Eiroa’s 20 years in the tobacco business. Eiroa had always sought to create a blend with a specific shade of Colorado (reddish hue) wrapper in mind. The EIROA First 20 Years Colorado represents the end product of incorporating that wrapper into a Honduran puro blend which contains the Authentic Corojo grown on the Eiroa’s family tobacco farms. This is an ongoing limited production release due to the availability of the tobaccos used.
The easiest way to describe this Honduran puro is flavor bomb. However, it doesn’t overpower the smoking experience, delivering a medium strength, medium-bodied smoking experience. The cigar would finish 2017 as the Cigar of the Year.
12. Quesada 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Country or Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Cigars Quesada Cigars S.A.
Corona Clasica: 6 1/2 x 46
Year Release: 2014
Distinguished Honors: #2 Cigar of the Year – 2014 (Wildcard)
In 2014, Quesada Cigars commemorated 40 years of opening their MATASA factory (which would be renamed to Quesada Cigars S.A. in 2014) in the Dominican Republic. To commemorate the occasion, Patricia and Raquel Quesada, the daughters of company patriarch Manuel “Manolo” Quesada” created the Quesada 40th Anniversary line. This was a San Andres Maduro wrapped blend released in five sizes. There was a sixth size that was created by Manolo Quesada himself. This was a 6 1/2 x 46 Corona Gorda that used a different blend highlighted by an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper. That cigar was the Quesada 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica. It’s been a cigar that has been in limited production over the years.
This was not a milder Connecticut Shade cigar by any means, but it wasn’t overpowering either. The cigar delivers a wonderful flavor profile highlighted by an incredible sweetness. This was good enough to capture the #2 Cigar of the Year for 2014.
13. Davidoff Art Edition 2014
Wrapper: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Piloto Viso, San Vicente Mejorado Seco, Piloto Mejorado Seco, San Vicente, Mejorado Viso, Vicente Mejorado Viso
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Cigars Davidoff
Perfecto: 5 15/16 x 54
Year Release: 2014
Distinguished Honors: #3 Cigar of the Year – 2014 (Wildcard)
At the Art Basel festival in Miami Beach, Florida, Davidoff launched a program known as the Davidoff Art Initiative. With this program, Davidoff would establish an art residency to help emerging artists and provide grants for those artists to attend. This cigar project would also provide the opportunity for artists to create artwork for the packaging and banding of cigars. One such project was an ultra-premium limited edition cigar known as the Davidoff Art Edition 2014. The cigar itself is a Dominican puro in a perfecto shape. There were two packaging options made available for the release – each consisting of a different work of art.
With four cigars from the company, Davidoff has certainly had its share of cigars on The Decade List, but this one is another masterpiece. The Dominican tobaccos combined with the perfecto shape deliver a highly complex flavor profile. It’s a cigar that easily ranks as the best perfecto of the Decade.
14. Crux du Connoisseur No. 2
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano (Jalapa)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Honduran
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Plasencia S.A.
No. 2: 6 1/2 x 38
Year Release: 2015
Distinguished Honors: #1 Cigar of the Year – 2016
In 2015, Crux Cigars launched its Crux du Connoisseur line. The “du Connoisseur” name can be derived from the fact that all three vitolas in the line are what are typically called “connoisseur” sizes – namely 38 ring gauge and under. While this might seem like an unusual line, its not a new concept for Crux as they have focused on small ring gauges over the years. This has been seen with the Ninfamaniac, Ninfamaniac Dark, Skeeterz, and Sports lines – all of which are 35 ring gauges and under. In a way, those early releases might have paved the way for the Crux du Connoisseur line – and its the No.2 size that took Crux to gaining the title for Cigar of the Year in 2016.
The Crux du Connoisseur No. 2 is a slightly shorter 6 1/2 x 38 lancero, but its the perfect size for this blend dan it makes for one of the best lancero experiences in recent memory.
15. Aladino Elegante by JRE Tobacco Co.
Wrapper: Authentic Corojo (Honduras)
Binder: Authentic Corojo (Honduras)
Filler: Authentic Corojo (Honduras)
Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: Las Lomas
Elegante: 7 x 38
Year Release: 2015
Distinguished Honors: #2 Cigar of the Year – 2016 (Wildcard)
The Aladino Elegante is one of the original blends brought to market by JRE Tobacco Company. The original Aladino line is the one that became the breakthrough line by Julio and Justo Eiroa. Like the Aladino Corojo Reserva, the original Aladino consists of 100 percent Authentic Corojo. Over the years Aladino has been a versatile blend made in many sizes, but it was the Elegante that captures the attention here. This is a traditional 7 x 38 lancero that really brought out the best of this Authentic Corojo puro.
While Aladino has now become a staple of many humidors, at the time this cigar got #2 Cigar of the Year, it caught a lot of people by surprise. Perhaps the best thing about this cigar is how it has continued to maintain its consistency since that #2 rating.
16. Debonaire 33rd Maduro
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: De Los Reyes S.A.
33rd: 9 x 50
Year Release: 2015
Distinguished Honors: #2 Cigar of the Year – 2015 (Wildcard)
In 2015, Debonaire House introduced the Debonaire Maduro, a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapped offering to the Debonaire brand. One of the sizes released was a limited edition 9 x 50 “A” size known as the Debonaire 33rd Maduro. The 33rd refers to the highest rank of the Freemasons. This is not a new concept to the Debonaire, as it has an offering on the other end of the spectrum known as the First Degree, which represents the apprentice/entry point of the Freemasons.
This monster sized cigar is going to deliver plenty of flavor and with lots of transitions and flavor nuances. This is an “A” vitola that is flavorful right until the end and doesn’t run out of steam. In the end, this is not only one of Debonaire’s finest cigars, but it ranks as one of the all time “A” size vitolas.
17. La Flor Dominicana Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 6
Wrapper: Dominican Pelo de Oro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera La Flor
Vitola: 6 3/4 x 52
Year Release: 2016
Distinguished Honors: #3 Cigar of the Year – 2017 (Wildcard)
In 2016, La Flor Dominicana released its 2016 installment of its Small Batch Series, the Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 6. This is a series that was launched in 2006 and has been released every few years. This is a cigar that involves taking the best tobaccos from company owner Litto Gomez’s La Canela farm from a single crop year. While there have been many iconic releases in the series, its the No. 6 installment that is the one that stands out.
La Flor Dominicana simply knocks it out of the park with Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 6 – delivering excellent flavor, complexity, and construction. Even over 3 1/2 years after its release, this cigar still seems to be smoking at its peak, with no signs of slowing down.
18. Muestra de Saka Unicorn by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Diademas Deluxe: 6 1/2 x 60
Year Release: 2018
Distinguished Honors: “94/Chuck Norris Rating” (Wildcard)
The Muestra de Saka Unicorn was a project by Steve Saka and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust released in 2018. After smoking some ultra-premium cigars in the $250.00 to $2,000 range, Saka decided to try his hand at making one himself. Basically he undertook this project to spend as much money as possible to make what he described as an “ultra-ultra” premium cigar. This resulted in the Muestra de Saka Unicorn – and it came priced in at $100.00
Saka is known for his work with Connecticut Broadleaf and Nicaraguan tobacco, and for the Unicorn Saka said he sorted through over 6,000 lbs of the best Broadleaf and Nicaraguan tobacco, only to use 1% of it for the Muestra de Saka Unicorn. The result paid off in dividends for Saka. Saka has put out some incredible blends this past decade, but the Unicorn lives up to its billing as the best of the best.
19. E.P. Carrillo Elencos Don Rubino (2011)
Wrapper: Brazilian
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza
Don Rubino: 5 1/4 x 50
Year Release: 2011
Distinguished Honors: “Memorable Release – 2011″ (Wildcard)
While Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. certainly has delivered many iconic releases, perhaps the one that is most overlooked is the E.P. Carrillo Elencos. Elencos is a line that was introduced in 2011. The Elencos is a line that was actually derived from a limited release a year early – E.P. Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2010. The Limitada 2010 was a popular limited production line, so the company decided to make an ongoing production of the blend which was dubbed the E.P. Carrillo Elencos. In addition to the original Toro size of the Limitada (which was renamed Elites), two other sizes were added – Acto Mayor (Torpedo) and Don Rubino (a Robusto).
Elencos is highlighted by a Brazilian wrapper, not something that is commonly seen in the Perez-Carrillo Jr. portfolio. It’s a cigar that shines in the most important category – flavor. It has an old school profile with some contemporary flashes mixed in. The line would go on hiatus for a few years before returning in 2017. However it’s the 2011 release in the Don Rubino size that really shined here – and it emerged as one of the true masterpieces by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr.
20. Illusione Síngulare Phantom EL 2010
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas S. de R.L
Robusto: 6 x 50
Year Release: 2010
Distinguished Honors: “Memorable Release – 2011″ (Wildcard)
In 2010 Dion Giolito of Illusione Cigars launched one of the true iconic (nearly) annual limited edition cigars in the industry known as Illusione Síngulare. Each release of the Síngulare Series would involve a different blend in a different size. The first release was the Illusione Síngulare, a Nicaraguan puro focusing on lower priming tobaccos specific to one farm. It didn’t take long for this cigar to earn its place as one of the great ones as in the end this cigar, while not a powerhouse of strength, certainly qualifies as a flavor bomb.
At the time, only same year releases were eligible for the Cigar Coop Countdown. This one goes back to 2011, where we didn’t have numerical scores either. However its “Memorable” rating is good enough for me. At the time I reviewed it, I said that I wished someday, this cigar would become an ongoing release in the Illusione portfolio. I got my wish in 2016.
21. Saga Short Tales Tomo VI: The Sixth Element: El Tabaco by De Los Reyes Cigars
Wrapper: San Andres Maduro
Binder: Dominican San Vincente
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, and North American
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: De Los Reyes S.A.
Robusto Extra: 5 1/2 x 58
Distinguished Honors: #1 Cigar of the Year – 2019
De Los Reyes Cigars a company owned by the Reyes family. The Reyes family has been involved in all aspects of the cigar industry, and over the years it has earned a reputation as one of the elite tobacco growers in the world. In addition, the Reyes family produces cigars at their own factory. The workhorse brand of the portfolio is the Saga brand. In 2016, they started to roll out an ambitious project known as Saga Short Tales. The concept behind the line is a series of unique cigars – each with a different blend, different vitola, and different theme. The themes in the Short Tales series each pay homage to the art of tobacco and/or tobacco making. For the most part, these have been cigars skewed toward the smaller side. There are ten installments to the Saga Short Tales line, and since the initial launch, Saga has showcased six of the ten releases – each called a “Tomo” (chapter). The sixth installment is known as “Tomo VI: The Sixth Element: El Tabaco.” The cigar captured the 2019 Cigar of the Year.
Perhaps this was the biggest surprise of the decade in terms of a Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year winner, but this cigar simply performed at a high level following its release. While not an overpowering cigar, it’s rich and decadent – and finds a way to make a San Andres Maduro wrapper work without all of the pungency. Not only is it a Cigar of the Year and makes The Decade List, it might be the best kept secret of the decade.
22. Perdomo Reserve Limited Cameroon Edition Petit Corona
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera Perdomo
Petite Corona: 4 1/2 x 44
Year Release: 2011
Distinguished Honors: “93/Box Worthy Rating” (Wildcard)
Perdomo Cigars is known for its blends coming in Connecticut, Sun-Grown, and Maduro offerings, however, the company has been known to dabble in Cameroon from time to time. In 2011, the company introduced a 4 1/2 x 44 Petite Corona offering under its Perdomo Reserve line. The Cameroon wrapper sourced by Nick Perdomo is combined with Nicaraguan-grown tobaccos from the Perdomo farms. The result is a cigar where great things come in small packages.
This simply is one of the great Cameroon releases of the decade. The way the tobaccos are blended in the small petite corona format gives new definition to the term ‘flavor bomb.”
23. La Palina El Diario Robusto
Wrapper: Honduran Corojo ’99 Rosado
Binder: Honduran Criollo ’98 (Double binder)
Filler: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98
Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas S. de R.L
Robusto: 5 x 52
Year Release: 2011
Distinguished Honors: #1 Cigar of the Year – 2011
In 2010, businessman and philanthropist Bill Paley decided to resurrect a dormant cigar brand started by his grandfather Samuel Paley known as La Palina. To relaunch the brand, Paley wanted to make the best cigar possible and he turned to Enrico and Paolo Garzaroli of the Graycliff Cigar Factory in the Bahamas to make it. It was an ultra-premium cigar line priced in the $20.00 range and garnered critical acclaim. At the same time, Paley needed a premium everyday cigar, and that’s where the El Diario comes into play. To produce El Diario, Paley turned to the Raices Cubanas factory. In the end, he was able to deliver a cigar about half the price of the Family Series. Like the Family Series, it garnered high acclaim and captured our 2011 Cigar of the Year on Cigar Coop.
It would be a line extension to El Diario a year later known as “KB” (Kill Bill), that got most of the attention. KB is a 4 1/2 x 40 Petite Corona, but in this author’s opinion, it was the 5 x 52 Robusto size of El Diario that was the belle of the ball in this line. The La Palina portfolio is one that has grown and changed over the years, but El Diario still holds a strong place even as the decade has come to a close.
24. La Aurora 107 Cosecha 2006 Corona Gorda Especial
Wrapper: Ecuadorian HVA
Binder: Brazilian
Filler: Dominican (Cibao Valley), Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: La Aurora SA
Corona Gorda Especial: 6 x 47
Year Release: 2016
Distinguished Honors: #2 Cigar of the Year – 2017 (Wildcard)
The Cosecha 2006 is an extension under the current La Aurora 107 brand, but features an all-new blend. The name “cosecha” translates to “harvest” and it is appropriate for this blend. This is because there are tobaccos from a 2006 vintage incorporated into the blend. It’s a blend that was put together by Master Blender Manuel Inoa at the La Aurora factory in the Dominican Republic. It was a limited edition release due to the amount of the vintage tobaccos that were available for this blend.
While many might be familiar with the La Aurora 107, the Cosecha 2006 takes things to a completely different level. In particular, it was the 6 x 47 size where this cigar really shined. This cigar finished as the Cigar Coop #2 Cigar in 2017, but it was one that certainly gave the #1 a run for its money that year.
25. VegaFina Anejado 7 Anos Robusto Extra (tie)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Colombian, Nicaraguan, Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera de Garcia
Robusto Extra Pigtail: 6 x 50
Year Release: 2017
Distinguished Honors: #3 Cigar of the Year – 2018 (Wildcard)
When it comes to the VegaFina brand, while it is seen in the U.S. market, it has been one that has been more successful in Europe – particularly in Spain. In addition to the VegaFina brand being known for its popularity in Europe, it is also one that has positioned itself as a value-priced brand. In 2017, Altadis USA brought the limited production VegaFina Anejado 7 Anos Robusto Extra to the U.S.
The VegaFina Añejado 7 Años Robusto Extra Pigtail is a five-country multinational blend featuring an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Indonesian binder, and a combination of Colombian, Nicaraguan, and Dominican fillers. The VegaFina Añejado 7 Años Robusto Extra Pigtail is a five-country multinational blend featuring an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Indonesian binder, and a combination of Colombian, Nicaraguan, and Dominican fillers. It’s not only one of the Decade’s best, but for $5.95 it provided one of the decade’s best values.
25. Matilde Oscura Toro Bravo (tie)
Wrapper: Mexico – San Andres
Binder: Sumatra
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Pennsylvania (USA)
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera La Matilde
Toro Bravo: 6 1/2 x 54
Year Release: 2015
Distinguished Honors: #3 Cigar of the Year – 2015, Cigar Media Association #1 of the Year (Wildcard)
Matilde Oscura was the second line released by Matilde Cigars, the company owned by the Seijas family. The legendary José Seijas founded Matilde and his son Enrique now runs the company. Matilde Oscura made its debut in 2015. It’s a San Andres Maduro wrapper offering and The Matilde Oscura Toro Bravo delivers notes of mocha, earth, cedar, and white pepper. There are also undertones of dried fruit and cream. The cigar has a nice smoothness throughout the smoking experience.
This cigar is one of the finest examples of a San Andrés blend I have seen.
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
