Rather than try to come up with a list of what cigars were the best, I decided to go with the cigars I found the most memorable last year. Listed alphabetically, here they are, with a load of honorable mentions that also impressed me in 2012:
90 Miles 1980 Edition Gordito
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 5 x 52
Strength: Med-Full
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican Ligero
Binder: Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut BroadleafThis may have been the biggest surprise of the year for me. I really like the people who represent this company, and I liked the 90 Miles from the get-go. But this 1980 blend really blew me away. I hope more cigar smokers will pay attention to this brand as a result.
Alec Bradley American Sun Grown Toro
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Size/Strength: 6″ x 50 / Full
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown Jalapa
Filler: Nicaraguan Estelí and Condega
Binder: Nicaraguan Jalapa
This was a tough choice, because I think I liked the American Classic Selection about equally. The Sun Grown has a little more zing from the wrapper, but it’s Connecticut sister was a bit rounder.
CLE Corojo Robusto
Country of Origin: Honduras
Size: 5″ x 50
Strength: Medium – Full
Wrapper: Honduran-grown Cuban-seed Corojo
Filler: Honduran
Binder: Honduras
Christian Eiroa’s new CLE cigars made a good impression on me, but this Corojo Robusto was about as close to perfect a smoke as I can remember.
Jesus Fuego Origen Toro
Size: 6″ x 50
Strength: Medium – Full
Wrapper: Brazilian Corojo
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran Corojo
Binder: Costa Rican Corojo
I’ve always liked Jesus’s cigars, but he really knocked me out with his Origen Toro. Like Christian, he is a master at understanding Corojo leaf, and the Brazilian leaf he used on this cigar is the icing on the cake.
Montecristo Epic Toro
Size: 6″ x 52
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican
Binder: Nicaraguan
This was one of the most attractive cigars I saw last year. The wrapper is so beautiful in color and patina you almost hate to burn it. The flavors ramped up nicely for a very smooth smoke with bottomless depth.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Grand Robusto
Size: 5 5/8″ x 55
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
This was one of those cigars I’d been wanting to try for a long time, so I finally picked one up and it did not disappoint. As I remember, it was super-creamy, nutty, woody, and sweet. I could definitely see more of these in my cigar-smoking future.
My Uzi Weighs A Ton “Bait Fish”
Size 4″ x 44
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Negro
Filler: Nicaraguan Esteli Ligero, Nicaraguan Seco Jalapa and Nicaraguan Viso Condega
Binder: CT Broadleaf Maduro
One of the most impressive cigars I smoked this year; especially since I don’t usually smoke a 4×44, but this little number was awesome. I’m glad I had several of them, because I thought I may have missed something the first time around, but they were ALL equally outstanding.
Padron Serie 1926 No.6 Maduro
Size: 4″ x 50
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
You’re probably not surprised that a Padron showed up in this list, but this 1926 was my first in years and it was pretty much what you would expect. These are usually out of reach for my budget, but I bought it with some extra cash I had left in a gift card. It was also my New Year’s Eve cigar.
Perdomo Grand Cru 2006 Grand Robusto Sun Grown
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 5″ x 60
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Cuban Seed Sun Grown
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
I wrote an article earlier this year on how I have grown accustomed to 60 ring cigars. For this 2006 series, Perdomo re-blended the rotund selection. All three wrapper blends were enjoyable, but the Sun Grown seemed to standout the most in terms of balance and flavor.
Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Toro
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 6″ x 52
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Nicaraguan Estelí
Binder: Nicaraguan Jalapa
I smoked this cigar (my first) at a Rocky Patel dinner they had at Leaf last year. All I can tell you is this cigar was nothing short of incredible. Even Rocky, himself, told me it was a personal favorite of his.
Most Honorable Remembrances
Executive Editor
Gary Korb has been writing and editing content for CigarAdvisor.com since its debut in 2008. An avid cigar smoker for over 30 years, he has worked on the marketing side of the premium cigar business as a Sr. Copywriter, blogger, and Executive Editor of Cigar Advisor. A graduate of the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, prior to his career in the cigar business, Gary worked in the music and video industry as a marketer and a publicist.
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