#20 2023 Cigar of the Year

#20 2023 Cigar of the Year: Manolo Quesada 75th Anniversary by Quesada Cigars

SPECIFICATIONS

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacos de Exportacíon (TABADEX)
Vitola: 6 3/4 x 48
Price: $15.00

Sponsor: Yes
Samples Provided for Initial Review: Yes
Review: Manolo Quesada 75th Anniversary by Quesada Cigars (5/16/23)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Company): 9 (2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)

The Details

The #20 2023 Cigar of the Year is the Manolo Quesada 75th Anniversary by Quesada Cigars. On April 10th 2022, Quesada Cigars Founder and President Manuel “Manolo” Quesada turned 75 years old. Commemorating the occasion, Quesada Cigars released a special limited edition cigar dubbed the Manolo Quesada 75th Anniversary. More recently, Manolo’s daughter Raquel has been playing an increasing role in the operations of Quesada Cigars, but according to Quesada Cigars the Manolo Quesada 75th Anniversary was a project specifically blended by Manolo himself.

The Manolo Quesada 75th Anniversary is a three-country multinational blend. This includes an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from both Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The cigar was produced at the Quesada factory TABADEX, which in 2022 was our Small/Medium Factory of the Year. The Manolo Quesada 75th Anniversary is offered in one size – a 6 3/4 x 48 parejo. This size is essentially a Short Churchill. It was a size also personally picked by Manolo Quesada, as he says it is one of his go-to sizes. The cigars are presented in ten-count boxes. A total of 1,200 individually numbered boxes were allocated for this release.

The Manolo Quesada 75th Anniversary delivered a complex flavor profile of natural tobacco, cedar, date, orange peel, hay, cocoa, and pepper. The cigar started out with medium strength and medium-bodied flavors. While the strength remained in the medium range for the duration of the smoke, the flavors did move into the medium to the full-bodied range during the final third.

For Quesada, this is the ninth appearance on the Countdown – including the past three years in a row. This is the fifth Dominican-made cigar to make the 2023 Countdown thus far.

REFERENCES

Photo/Media Credits: Cigar Coop