The 2019 Cigars of the Year list created by Cigar Aficionado was kicked off by the #1 Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro. Nodal had taken only a few decades to go from industry outsider to stealing the spotlight in the biggest way possible. A.J. Fernandez in Nicaragua is one of the most sought-after collaborators in the business, and he helped make this one too tasty to ignore.
It wouldn’t be a Top 25 Cigars of the Year list without an exquisite Padrón. Yet again, the 1926 blend was smooth and delicious, offering notes of chocolate, coffee, and a hint of dark cherry. We’d know that smoke in our sleep, and by now, the rest of the world probably does too. Next up, Kyle Gellis continued to build his reputation as a top-level blender with the #3 cigar on the 2019 Cigars of the Year list, the Warped Serie Gran Reserva 1988. If you want to rank high these days, it’s almost required that you blend a Nicaraguan puro, and a partnership with Aganorsa Leaf ensured that this one would be worthy of consideration for anyone’s best-of list.
There’s nothing quite like a Cuban Cohiba, and the #4 cigar of the year in 2019 was a tip of the lighter to the storied brand from the heart of the cigar world. Following it up in the #5 spot on the 2019 Cigars of the Year list was Rocky Patel’s A.L.R Second Edition. The aged limited and rare smoke gets points for using non-Nicaraguan tobacco (at least for the wrapper). It also earned its 94-point rating for the super tasty dessert notes in its smoke – a very memorable cigar for those who experienced it.
Oliva Serie V continued its ridiculous top 10 streak by landing at number 6 in 2019. Everyone knew by then what a great smoke it was, but there was just no denying it. If you want a cigar that is almost guaranteed to deliver the Serie V is definitely a top candidate. Nicaraguan tobacco at its best – that’s the promise of this beautiful Oliva blend.
Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary came next on the 2019 Cigars of the Year list. Dion Giolito selected lower-priming tobaccos to a surprising effect, creating a smoke with flavors of gingerbread, orange peel, and caramel. It was a holiday treat at any time of year, and another blend showing just how good Giolito is at putting together premium tobaccos in just the right mix.
The Number 8 cigar on the 2019 Cigars of the Year rankings was one that needs no introduction: the Fuente Fuente OpusX Reserva D’Chateau. In a world full of Nicaraguan puros, this blend uses nothing but Dominican leaf to create a cigar that can stop traffic. People still buy out many sellers’ entire stock of OpusX cigars before they even arrive, but the hype is often justified. You can’t really deny it, can you? This blend is always worth a puff.
Tatuaje had the #9 rank on the 2019 Cigars of the Year list with the Nuevitas Jibaro. It was a nice rustic smoke that showed another side of Nicaraguan tobacco (as if there was one that hadn’t been fully explored by now). That shaggy foot lets you know you’re in for a cigar that isn’t well-mannered, and the initial spice blast confirms things. This one was a memorable blend even in an industry packed with Nica sticks.
The final cigar of the top ten was H. Upmann’s 175th Anniversary blend. Yes, another Nicaraguan puro. And yes, it was superb. With 93 points, this cigar’s salty cherry chocolate layers kept things interesting and satisfying.
Please browse our selection of Cigar Aficionado 2019 Cigars of the Year at your leisure.
