Top New Cigars (October 16, 2023)

NEW CIGARS FROM ASYLUM, MACANUDO, PARTAGAS & MORE, REVIEWED!

You wanna know why I smoke new cigars? Right now, it’s because putting up Halloween decorations sounds something like this:

“A little to the left. No, your other left! MOTHER OF GOD, THE OTHER SIDE, YOU DON’T LISTEN!”

Hey, maybe she should try to balance on a ladder with a finicky staple gun and a bunch of fake spider webs wrapped around her foot…

I digress. Cigars. They’re the elixir. Especially when they’re the cream of the crop. And this week, I’ve got four worthy contenders (from Asylum, Macanudo, Partagas, and Espinosa) vying for a spot in your humidor. Which one will you choose? Lemme know in the comments below!

Asylum Friday the 13^th 2023: #Fear the Unknown Limited Series

Wrapper: Honduras Authentic Corojo
Binder: Mystery
Filler: Mystery

Once the kiddos are tuckered out from their Halloween sugar rush, it’s time to kick back with a fitting cigar. Like this Asylum Friday the 13^th annual release for 2023. Previous blends have all been mysteries, but they’ve decided to let the black cat out of the bag this year with details on the wrapper—Eiroa’s famed authentic Corojo. Expect a devilishly enticing array of spices and savory sweetness with a dose of full-bodied kick. No going house-to-house for these treats, they’ll come to your door instead!

Partagas Valle Verde

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: African Cameroon
Filler: Mexican San Andrés, Nicaragua Jalapa, & Nicaragua Esteli Ligero

In his full-length My Weekend Cigar review, Gary called Partagas Valle Verde, “…ultra smooth, understated at times, and vividly flavorful.” After trying it myself, nothing to argue there. There’s a lot of technical mumbo jumbo that you can read (if you click on the image above) about what makes this stick so good, but I’d rather focus on the flavor. Spices, sweet tobacco, a pinch of cinnamon, plus baking chocolates and earth—every bit as lip-smacking as the candied haul in the little one’s pumpkin pail. Check it out and message me back in the comments if you agree!

Espinosa Habano Rabito (New Size!)

Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

I’m pretty excited for this release; any day that I get to smoke a Corona becomes a great day. You can disagree with me all you want (it’s okay to be wrong) but there’s no denying that it’s the best cigar size. Now that my inbox is filled with contrarians, let’s talk about taste: coffee, pepper, cedar, and earth. The four staples. Certainly nothing exotic going on, but a truly classic profile nonetheless. Espinosa Habano is one of those cigars that takes you back in time. And now that it’s available in 6” x 46, you can experience that profile in an old world, size, too!

Macanudo Vintage 2013

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Honduras Olancho San Agustin
Filler: Dominican Republic Piloto Cubana, Brazil Mata Fina, & Nicaragua Jalapa

Draped in a decade-old wrapper, Macanudo Vintage 2023 is a perfectly-aged love letter to fans of Connecticut Broadleaf. Notes of leather, toast, and espresso beans combine with a dollop of citrusy spice thanks to the blend’s worldly combo of Honduran, Brazilian, and Nicaraguan tobacco leaves. My prediction: this is a cigar we’re going to be talking about for quite a long time—and it will likely be a contender for top cigar of the year honors.