2022 Cigar of the Year Countdown (Coop’s List): #6: Quesada 1974 Toro

“I found the Quesada 1974 Toro to be the best vitola in the line to date….This (the Toro size) seemed to work extremely well for this flavor profile. In the end, while the Toro size might be for the contemporary smoker, I found this size to smoke more like a connoisseur size.”

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Cameroon Seed
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: TABADEX (Quesada Cigars Factory)
Toro: 6 x 52
Price: $9.25

Sponsor: Yes
Samples Provided for Initial Review: Yes
Review: Quesada 1974 Toro (9/29/22)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Company): 8 (2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022)

Coming in at #6 is the Quesada 1974 Toro. The Quesada 1974 is a cigar line that pays homage to the year Quesada Cigars opened its own factory. It’s a cigar line that made its debut in 2019, which incidentally coincided with the 45th anniversary of the factory opening. In 2021, Quesada Cigars did a line extension in the form of a classic 6 x 52 Toro. But it was the Robusto that would land on the 2021 Countdown. This year the Toro lands a top ten slot at #6.

The blend to the Quesada 1974 features a Cameroon seed wrapper grown in Ecuador. There are Dominican tobaccos on the binder and filler, along with some additional Nicaraguan tobacco used in the filler. The Dominican tobaccos were grown directly by the Quesada family. Production comes from TABADEX, the Quesada factory. This is a regular production line for the Quesada’s and the Toro size was the fifth one introduced into the 1974 line.

The Quesada 1974 Toro delivered a medium strength, medium-bodied smoke from start to finish – making this a very approachable cigar. The Quesada 1974 line has a very unique flavor profile, and the Toro size is no exception. Along the way, this cigar delivered notes of bread, apricot, orange rind, wood, baker’s spice, and black pepper. The Toro is the belle of the ball of the Quesada 1974 line. While the Toro size might be one for the contemporary smoker, this cigar smokes every bit like a connoisseur size.

The Quesada Toro 1974 is the third cigar from Quesada to land on the 2022 Cigar of the Year Countdown joining the Quesada Oktoberfest 10th Anniversary Bavarian and the Casa Magna Liga F Churchill. It’s also the fourth cigar from the Quesada factory to land on the 2022 Countdown. As we have mentioned this is the eighth year a Quesada Cigar places on the Countdown and with three cigars this year, it’s one of Quesada’s strongest years. It gives the Dominican Republic a sixth cigar on the Countdown with three of them landing in the top ten thus far.