CA Report: Top New Cigars (January 13, 2025)

The cigars you need to make it to February!

There are few things in this world like the month of January…

A collective hangover in the form of a 31-day period, where everyone trudges through an exhausting return to form after December’s celebrations. Even the snow starts to look just a little less pretty without that holiday spirit. While for many this can be the time for the daily races, this can also be the time for trying new things. Like new cigars, for instance!

Here’s some smokes to do good by our resolutions. We’ve got some of the freshest sticks to enjoy, from blends by Epic, La Maestranza, and Deadwood’s Dia De Los Muertos. All these smokes are just the thing to help take you through the dreary skies and gray grass.

Drew Estate Deadwood Sweet Jane Dia De Los Muertos

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Drew Estate’s Dia De Los Muertos stands strong in the flavored cigar world. The ideal dessert smoke, that deliciously sweet flavor will get any leaf lover’s mouth watering. Be on the lookout for its defining contrast of flavor where vanilla meets a natural sweetness, earth, and light spices. If you’re a smoking vet looking to give a flavored cigars another chance or just looking for an infused stogie to satisfy your sweet tooth, it’s hard to find a better recommendation…at least from my seat. to introduce a newbie to the cigar life, I think this would be the perfect blend.

Epic Maduro Cigars

Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan

Epic Cigars is quickly becoming a go-to boutique cigar brand. Along with their Habano and Corojo lines, Epic Maduro delivers a consistent quality that has impressed my palate with notes of cinnamon, earth, and cocoa the whole way through. Aside from the darker, Brazilian wrapper, Epic’s use of well-aged tobaccos from three countries sets the stage for a a recipe that punches above its pricepoint. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this cigar popping on some end-of-year lists in 2025.

Roma Craft La Maestranza

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Brazilian / Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican, Honduras and Nicaraguan

For those of us who missed the boat on Roma Craft’s limited-edition Maquette La Maestranza, our second chance has arrived. No more scarcity in inventory—this turkey’s gone regular production! Plus, it’s the same blend. What a win-win! All the quality with none of the worry of this gem going away again? Sign me up! La Maestranza’s burn stays consistent throughout, boasting notes of spice, pepper, earth, and a gooey dark chocolate center. Okay, okay, it’s not a candy bar, but you’ll see what I mean when you try it.