Top 10 Lists
Top 10 Cigars of 2020 – Tony Casas Edition
Well, it’s that time of year again. Time for us to wrap up with our favorite cigars of 2020. A few notes here before we dive in. First of all, there isn’t many rules we follow here for what is eligible and what isn’t. It’s really just cigars we smoked this year that we found exceptional. Secondly, our blog has always been focused on subjectivity which means this list is based on my personal preference. We don’t assign ratings to our cigars, and there is less of a science to the process. Again, these are just the cigars I had this year that I truly enjoyed.
With that out of the way, lets get rocking!
#10 – Drew Estate Liga Privada Unico Year of the Rat
This cigar actually reminded me much more of a No.9 than a rat, and that’s likely why I enjoyed it so much. The flavor profile was spot-on with what I look for in a cigar, the burn and construction were perfect, and the burn was so slow it really allowed me to get more comfortable with the cigar. All in all this is a near-perfect cigar if it wasn’t for the availability which I really hope expands more in the near future as I’d love to keep this in my daily rotation.
#9 – The Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2020
This year’s Las Calaveras release simply put, is fantastic. It seems a bit of a departure in flavor from previous releases as the flavors seemed more on the sweet/chocolatey side vs more organic tobacco flavors. The construction is flawless, and the price point as always, is very affordable. This was one of the better cigars I had this year, but I still don’t believe it competes with last year’s release as far as the flavor profile goes which is strictly subjective. I even smoked them back to back to make sure my bias against how much I enjoyed last year’s wasn’t leading my decision and I still choose last year’s release over this one. I can’t stress this enough, that doesn’t mean this cigar isn’t on par by any stretch, it certainly is.
#8 – Tatuaje Escasos N
To me the Cazadores line always had this nice sweetness to it, but the Escasos is a much more dry experience in a very special way. The cigar is complex, and the flavors are very enjoyable. While the blend is similar in some aspects to the Cazadores, the experience is not. This blend actually seems like they took a more Cuban spin on the Cazadores line, which may be why it’s been circulated more in Europe as they tend to smoke more Cubans that us Americans do. Either way, its a great, special cigar and I can’t wait to get my hands on more.
#7 – The Crowned Heads Four Kicks Capa Especial
It’s no surprise that I absolutely loved this cigar. The Crowned Heads Four Kicks Capa Especial falls right in line with the rest of the portfolio. The cigar absolutely delivered on both taste, complexity, and overall smoking experience. It’s very likely that this one will fall in my top 10 cigar list as its one of the best cigars I have smoked all year.
#6 – Tatuaje Karloff
The Boris was one of my absolute favorite Tatuaje cigars released to date. While the memory is distant, reviewing my notes and what still exists up in my brain this cigar feels very similar, only with a bit more body to it. Taking the Boris out of the equation, the Karloff is an incredible experience. The flavors are incredible, well balanced, and just complex enough to keep me on my toes. On the subjective side those flavors really appeased my personal palate, especially the sweetness the cigar offered. The experience was perfect with not snags at all, and the price is well worth it. The only gripe, as you’d guess it, is the availability. That just means I gotta throw in a little more effort to pick up more of these before they are gone.
#5 – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Brûlée Blue
It goes without saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this cigar. And any Connecticut-wrapped cigar that can product enough flavor to be paired with a bold pastry stout without being overpowered by the beer demands attention. The flavors were incredible and a great change of pace for cigars I’ve smoked recently. They were complex enough, yet smooth and balanced. This is really a cigar for all occasions and something I would like to get quite a few more of before they are gone.
#4 – RoMa Craft Tobac Baka Jengi
I am a big fan of RoMa Craft’s cigars and there is no hiding that. While I smoked quite a few Baka last year, I never got around to reviewing them. I just kept smoking them thinking “It’s ok, you can just grab more when you’re ready to review them”, and then suddenly they were gone. Not making the same mistake with the Jengi I am glad to finally give my thoughts on this cigar. Plain and simple, I absolutely loved it. The whole Full-Body, Medium-Strength combination is my preference and this flavor profile is incredible. Its complex, yet easy to pick apart. The chocolate and oak flavors really appease my personal profile. All while delivering a flawless smoking experience. The only gripe I have is the availability, but that just means I need to buy more up front and make them last right? Box-worthy for sure.
#3 – Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Robusto
The Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf has been flying off shelves, with good reason, its a fantastic cigar. I have always been a fan of the brand and thier newest releases have just been on a whole new level. The flavor profile for the Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf is complex, and really showcases the superior quality tobacco in which the company uses. The price is VERY affordable and in my opinion much lower than what I’d drop on a cigar like this. Lets just hope they start coming in more regularly so I can stock up and keep them on hand for my regular rotation.
#2 – Fonseca by My Father Robusto
I’ve been on pins and needles awaiting the moment I could get my hands on these cigars. Quesada has been a favorite brand of mine for as long as I can remember, and My Father, I mean, who doesn’t love them? How did it go? Well, in short, it was absolutely amazing. The flavor profile is incredible and right up my alley, the smoking experience was flawless and the price is way below what I feel like I’d be comfortable paying for such a fantastic cigar. This is box worthy for sure, and a strong contender for my top 10 cigars of the year as it sits currently.
#1 – Illusione Cigares Prive PCA 2020 Exclusive
This Cigares Prive is a pretty big departure from the Illusione cigars I have smoked lately, yet somehow still feels similar. The flavor profile is very complex, and extremely impressive as it suits my personal palate extremely well. The cigar burned like a dream from start to finish, and the price is something I would pay time and time again for this cigar resulting in a perfect mixture. My only gripe is the availability. This just means I’ll need to buy quite a few more as a Christmas present for myself before these are gone.
Thanks for sticking it out with us this year. I hope each and everyone one of you have an amazing holiday and a much better 2021!
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