Every January, Cigar Snob releases its rankings of the previous year's 25 best smokes. This year's list comes on the heels of a rollercoaster year for the cigar industry, as the consequences of looming FDA regulation converged with the uncertainty of a tight presidential election to make waves through all 12 months of 2016. There were acquisitions, product releases and all sorts of shakeups at cigar brands big and small.
So how do we put this list together? It starts with a review of all the cigar ratings we released during 2016. Any cigar that scored 91 or higher was smoked one more time by our tasting panel. We used this feedback to create the list you see below.
Let us know your thoughts by writing us at feedback@cigarsnobmag.com; we might just publish your letter in an upcoming issue of the print magazine.
Scroll to the bottom of this list for links to the rest of our Top 25 rankings.
11. Don PepĂn Cuban Classic
Manufacturer: My Father Cigars S.A. (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: 1979; Physical size: 5 x 50
MSRP: $7.30
Rating: 93
12. Joya Black
Manufacturer: Joya de Nicaragua S.A. (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler:Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro; Physical size: 6 x 52
MSRP: $7.96
Rating: 93
13. 601 Red
Manufacturer: La Zona Cigar Factory (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Torpedo; Physical size: 6 1/8 x 52
MSRP: $7.95
Rating: 92
14. La Flor Dominicana 48th TAA
Manufacturer: Tabacalera La Flor S.A. (Dominican Republic)
Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Cameroon; Filler: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Toro Gordo; Physical size: 6 x 54
MSRP: $9.40
Rating: 92
15. EP Carrillo Short Run 2016
Manufacturer: Tabacalera La Alianza (Dominican Republic)
Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro; Physical size: 6 x 52
MSRP: $12.00
Rating: 92
Check out the rest of our 2016 list
- Cigars 21-25
- Cigars 16-20
- Cigars 11-15
- Cigars 6-10
- Cigars 1-5