PCA 2025 Post-Game Report -Top Cigars, Companies, and Booths

In this Post-Game Report, we present our top five cigars, companies, and booths from the 2025 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. Every year, the members of the Cigar Coop Coalition select their top five cigars ahead of the PCA Trade Show and then choose their five favorite cigars after the event. Additionally, each member of the Coalition submits their recommendation for the best company and booth at the Trade Show. “The Company” pick is focused on overall performance at the Trade Show, while the Booth picks specifically focus on physical layout. The top cigars picked are based on those smoked during or after the 2025 PCA Trade Show. We have asked that cigars smoked before the show be excluded.

Finally, in the spirit of partnership this year, we invited Jay Davis of Blue Smoke Dallas to provide his 2025 PCA top-five cigars.

Will Cooper’s Picks

Coop’s Top Five

Rank	Cigar	Notes
1	Perdomo Legacy Shade Grown	For me, this was a landslide winner for 2025. I smoked this one on the show floor and couldn’t put it down. This is very different from anything Perdomo has done before but also takes Perdomo in a new direction. This is Nicholas Perdomo III’s official blending debut, and it’s a grand slam home run.
2	La Flor Dominicana Suave Corojo	This was one of the biggest surprises, as I was a huge fan of the original Suave. I wasn’t sure how well this new blend would work. This one turned out to be better. What a job by the LFD team!
3	Artesano del Tobacco Viva La Vida Connecticut	An actual breakthrough cigar for the Artesano de Tobacco guys. It gives them an outstanding, creamy cigar with the signature AJ Fernandez thumbprint that delivers enough pop to satisfy.
4	Crowned Heads Broadway	Not only is the packaging fantastic, but so is the cigar. It’s another great expression of Broadleaf from Crowned Heads
5	El Rey Del Mundo Appointment	This was one of the revelations of the show. STG got their hands on the Cameroon from the JRE Tobacco Farm, and it’s a winner all-around.

* Note: The Romeo y Julieta 150th was not included on my list as I smoked it before PCA 2025.

Coop’s Company/Booth

	Company/Booth	Notes
Company of the Show	(tie) Altadis U.S.A./Arturo Fuente	Altadis U.S.A. was my pick going into the PCA, and they certainly delivered on everything promised, so they shouldn’t lose points. At the same time, Arturo Fuente is coming out with seven releases, many of which incorporate new innovations that cannot be overlooked. This was Fuente’s biggest show that I can remember.
Booth of the Show	Altadis U.S.A.	A very well laid out booth. The Romeo y Julieta booth within a booth was fantastic. On top of that, the way they showcased the history of the Romeo y Julieta brand, combined with a coffee station, put it over the top for me.

Bear’s Top Five

Rank	Cigar	Notes
1	Perdomo Legacy Nicaraguan Shade Grown	Hands fucking down, the best cigar I smoked at the show. It’s not even close. Let’s face it, there was some stiff competition, as many cigars that premiered at the show were terrific, so this is saying something. Nicholas III hits a grand slam in this tribute to his father’s life’s work.
2	Artesano del Tobacco Viva La Vida Connecticut	Honesty time. Gather around. I think the team behind this company is cool people, BUT I haven’t liked any release they’ve put out. That makes me an outlier, as I know they’ve been very popular. But, this blend HITS! Connecticut Shade has had a near-decade-long renaissance with each brand striving to deliver the unique “not your father’s Connecticut” offering. Many have succeeded. Add Viva la Vida to the distinguished list.
3	Mi Querida Gorila Gordo by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust	“Bear, you hate gordos.” Ok, hate is a strong word, but if there’s a yin to Coop’s yang of love of Gordos, I am that guy. However, it’s impossible not to recognize greatness. And let’s face it, I love this blend. No shocker here.
4	El Rey del Mundo Appointment	Eiroa-grown Cameroon was a winner for this blend: sensational flavor and a steal on the price.
5	La Flor Dominicana Suave Maduro	Litto Jr may have been knee-high to a grasshopper when the original Suave (aka premium line, aka light) was originally blended, but his take and re-do on LFD’s classic line is a surefire winner.

Bear’s Company/Booth

	Company/Booth	Notes
Company of the Show	Altadis U.S.A.	This booth was an experience. Drew Estate usually holds the franchise on best “experience” at a booth, and this year was a close second to Altadis. This was a milestone year for Rocky Patel, and he delivered as well. Plasencia’s latest brand debut was one for the books. But Altadis stole the show for me. Altadis’s booth was incredible, and while not everyone had a guided tour by Rafael Nodal, that made it even more special. With tributes to Trinidad, Montecristo, and H. Upmann all centered around the 150th celebration of Romeo y Julieta, it was a sight and time to behold. Each product was special and unique and held a special place in Altadis’s treasured catalog. This large company continues to do right by its consumer and serve as sensational stewards of some of the industry’s most iconic brands.
Booth of the Show	Mayflower Cigars	If you’re going to name your company after arguably the most important ship in our country’s colonial history, you need to bring it. And when I say “it,” they did. They brought a boat. The booth was an honest-to-goodness boat! I wouldn’t have placed it in the water of the Gulf or anything, but it was beautiful and not at all gimmicky. The detail was ornate, but not overdone. I loved this booth.

Ben Lee’s Picks

Ben’s Top Five

Rank	Cigar	Notes
1	Crowned Heads Broadway	This cigar was outstanding. Rich flavor and excellent construction. It was the sleeper of the show.
2	Aging Room La Boheme	What an outstanding new rendition of this cigar. I enjoyed the original, but this is a completely new cigar, not just a rebound. So much more flavor and full-bodied.
3	Artesano del Tobacco Viva La Vida Connecticut	This one really surprised me. It’s another very good medium-bodied Connecticut, but with more unique flavors.
4	La Flor Dominica Suave Maduro	Whole new blend from the previous Suave. Much more full-bodied and full flavor. Potent.
5	Diesel Racking	The new aging of tobacco involves the use of a bourbon barrel from the Raceking Founder’s Collection from Rabbit Hole, which creates a unique and very tasty blend.

Ben’s Company/Booth

	Company/Booth	Notes
Company of the Show	Altadis U.S.A.	Altadis has come out with several great cigars this year. La Boheme, Romeo y Julieta 150th, Montecristo M, Trinidad Miami and the new H. Upmann are all amazing releases.
Booth of the Show	Plasencia Cigars	Their unveiling of the Alma de Cielo was really well done. Having the cigar drop down from the ceiling was a very nice touch.

Erron Nielsen’s Picks

Erron’s Top Five

Rank	Cigar	Notes
1	Perdomo Legacy Nicaraguan Shade Grown	This cigar was exceptional. I had high expectations, and this cigar delivered in both the flavor profile and packaging.
2	ChìMolly Pangu	Hidden gem of a company. I was blown away by how good this cigar was. No expectations going in, but wow, is this cigar good.
3	Crowned Heads Broadway	Outstanding cigar. This one was an unexpected standout. It’s another quite enjoyable medium-bodied Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper with complexity and a lot of smoke output
4	Bentley White	A cigar I didn’t know anything about going into the show. Distinguished itself from typical Connecticut shade cigars by offering a less sweet profile, delivering a medium-strength experience with notes of pepper, earth, and oak-barrel sweetness on the finish. Great cigar
5	Artesano del Tobacco Viva La Vida Connecticut	Not your father’s Connecticut is the first thing I thought of when I smoked this. Step up in my opinion from the other releases. Way more balanced, and the white pepper, toasted almond, and creaminess pull this cigar together well.

Erron’s Company/Booth

	Company/Booth	Notes
Company of the Show	Altadis U.S.A.	Altadis truly stole the spotlight this year with an impressive lineup of new releases, including La Boheme, Romeo y Julieta 150th Anniversary, Montecristo M, Trinidad Miami, and the latest H. Upmann—each showcasing the brand’s commitment to excellence and heritage. Their booth was not just a display but an immersive experience, rivaling even Drew Estate’s traditionally standout presence. A personal tour by Rafael Nodal made the moment even more memorable, with thoughtful tributes to Trinidad, Montecristo, and H. Upmann all centered around the Romeo y Julieta milestone. While Rocky Patel marked a banner year and Plasencia made waves with a remarkable new debut, Altadis stood out as a company that continues to honor its legacy while delivering innovative cigars that resonate deeply with consumers.
Booth of the Show	Altadis U.S.A.	The Altadis U.S.A. booth was spot on and uniquely designed. Centered around the 150th anniversary of Romeo y Julieta, the booth featured a “booth within a booth” concept, complete with interactive displays. The celebratory cigar, blended by top growers like AJ Fernandez and the Plasencias, stood out—especially the exclusive “Reconciliation” humidor. Other notable launches included the H. Upmann Heritage Finca Providencia, Trinidad Espiritu Miami Edition, and Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Concerto.

Tripp Waldrop’s Picks

Tripp’s Top Five

Rank	Cigar	Notes
1	Romeo y Julieta 150th Anniversary	An anniversary cigar that really lives up to the expectation that a 150th anniversary brings along with it. Exceptional.
2	ChìMolly Pangu	When Erron gave me one of the show samples of this cigar, I was shocked to find such a great cigar from a brand and factory that I hadn’t even heard about yet
3	Crowned Heads Broadway	This cigar felt like Crowned Heads going back to their roots. A Broadleaf that checks all the boxes you hope for when you try a new one.
4	Artesano del Tobacco Viva La Vida Connecticut	As everyone else has noted, this was a surprise. A stronger Shade cigar, but with the balance that most don’t have.
5	La Aurora Family Creed Fuerte Sol	This one surprised me because it’s so unlike anything that La Aurora has done before. La Aurora took a page from the book of LFD for this one.

Tripp’s Company/Booth

	Company/Booth	Notes
Company of the Show	Arturo Fuente	Fuente isn’t usually known for innovation. Seeing them tease some upcoming releases with a couple of wrappers they’ve never used before, and even their ‘double wrapper’ Don Carlos was a big surprise.
Booth of the Show	Drew Estate	Tour de Liga was one of the more interesting booth experiences we’ve had in recent memory.

Jay Davis’ Picks

Jay’s Top Five

Rank	Cigar	Notes
1	Bandolero Premium	This was my prediction for number 1 going into the show, and it did not disappoint at all. This cigar lived up to the hype of a $38 cigar. It has excellent construction and fantastic flavor. I was also impressed by how much I liked a 55 ring gauge cigar, which is not in my wheelhouse. A winner for sure.
2	Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Red Meat Lovers Fritanga	This cigar delivered. It is rich and powerful, yet has a smoothness I really enjoyed. It has the strength and spice of a Trique Traca melded with a creamy finish. Loved it.
3	Romeo y Julieta 150th Anniversary	This cigar has a lot of hype. And it delivers with exquisite tobacco from Plasencia, AJ Fernandez, and the Perez family. It shows that Altadis can still make a super premium cigar in the Dominican Republic. This cigar keeps the elegance of Romeo yet delivers full-bodied flavor and medium strength.
4	Stoic	An affordable, well-made Dominican cigar that really showcases Klass Kelner’s ability to make a cigar worthy of his father and grandfather, yet it is an affordable new entry into the market
5	El Rey Del Mundo Appointment	This is a cigar our store did not bring in yet, but after smoking many, I think it delivers an incredible smoking experience for under $10. The use of the Eiroa tobacco is well matched with the other tobaccos in the cigar. And the packing also punches above its weight class.

Coalition – Overall

Coalition 2025 PCA Top Cigars

Notes:

This was not vitola-specific in that all cigars with the same blend were consolidated into a line. Points were awarded as follows: five for first place, four for second, three for third, and so on.

Cigar	Coop	Ben	Bear	Erron	Tripp	Jay	Overall
Perdomo Legacy Shade Grown	5		5	5			15
Artesano del Tobacco Viva La Vida Connecticut	3	3	4	1	2		13
Crowned Heads Broadway	2	5		3	3		13
ChiMolly Pangu				4	4		8
Romeo y Julieta 150th Anniversary					5	3	8
Bandolero Premium						5	5
La Flor Dominicana Suave Corojo	4						4
El Rey Del Mundo Appointment	1		2			1	4
Red Meat Lovers Fritanga by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust						4	4
Aging Room La Boheme		4					4
La Flor Dominicana Suave Maduro		2	1				3
Mi Querida Gorilla Gordo by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust			3				3
Bentley White				2			2
Stoic Justice						2	2
Diesel Raceking		1					1
La Aurora Family Creed					1		1