2009 was an awesome year for cigars and I’m anxious to see what Walt and Brian have listed this year. I had a difficult time paring the list down to just ten. To help me pare the list down, I limited it to cigars I reviewed here on Stogie Review in 2009. These cigars weren’t necessarily released in 2009, just reviewed throughout the year. If I didn’t smoke enough of a cigar to review it, then I felt that it wasn’t on an even playing field and could not be fairly compared. Whew…now, onto the list:
10. Cuba Aliados Miami Robusto -> While my actual review was based on a lone cigar, I was able to smoke plenty more throughout the year. While its predominant woody and peppery tastes are common flavors, Rolando Reyes Sr. was able to work his magic so that a common blend smoked in a unique way.
9. Room101 Cigars by Camacho 702 (11/18) -> A controversial cigar that put my street cred in question with some of my loyal following. I still stand by my opinion that the Room101 in the classic Camacho 11/18 size is a special cigar that has just as much substance as it does flare.
8. Illusione ~hl~ -> Not the most popular size made by Dion Giolito. The knock on it is that it is lacking a robust flavor and body when compared to the remainder of the Illusione lineup. The ~hl~ won my heart with its complex woodsy and white pepper flavor profile, all wrapped together inside a sexy Lancero size. Dion is the master of blends that pop in small ring gauges.
7. “Cruz”ado Domenicos -> Where would Stogie Review be without this gem. Badass name that inspired Don “Cruz”ado in Mafia Wars. Again, not the most popular size in the “Cruz”ado lineup and it is overshadowed by the more popular Illusione line. What I found most unique about the “Cruz”ado was its bouquet of aromas that complimented its flavor profile very well. The smell of freedom has never smelt better.
6. CAO MX3 -> It was tough to put the MX3 in this position. I wanted it to place higher but the competition was just too fierce. While some knock it because it’s not a national release, I’m actually happy that its not. More for me. Old school maduro flavors with new school levels of richness. Truly a gem of a cigar that is, hands down, the best of the entire Escaparate collection.
5. CAO La Traviata Divino -> An instant classic cigar. The CAO La Traviata is legit. Balanced with a savory spicy/sweet taste that eventually incorporates a syrupy, woodsy flavor that had me from beginning to end. With back to back CAO entries, I can hear the chants of fanboi starting.
4. Man O’War Ruination Robusto #1 -> If there is one cigar that I smoked the hell out of this year, its the Ruination. There was a time that I had two 50 count humidors filled to the brim with these powerhouse cigars. The ruination combines power with an array of refined flavors which really make it a winner in my opinion. One day, and one day soon, the mainstream cigar media will give AJ Fernandez the overdue props he deserves.
3. Tatuaje Noella Reserva -> Mmmm…easily and without debate, the Tatuaje Noella Reserva could easily be in my top spot. Like I said in my original review, imagine if a Tatuaje Black and a Tatuaje Brown got together, hooked up, and had babies. Pete Johnson describes these Reservas as a “little monster” (in reference to The Frank in his Monster Series) but I call them a flavor bomb! If I were to play a game of Thermonuclear War, I’d want this flavor nuke on my side. It would be game over for my enemy!
2. Padron Family Reserve 45 Years -> The odds on favorite to be The Cigar of The Year for that “lifestyle” publication and without a doubt, if you smoked “The Hammer”, you’d see why a top spot in any list is justifiable. The Hammer continues to show why Padron is top notch in the cigar industry.
1. Davidoff Colorado Claro (Special T) -> It doesn’t get much more special than this. Meeting the Pope is a once in a lifetime event and so is the smoking experience of the Davidoff Colorado Claro. Its out of that “comfort” zone that most of us like to stay in but like other things in life, its worth the treat.
Closing Thoughts & Honorable Mentions
Well, there you have it. My Top 10 Cigars for 2009. Any of the Top 3 could easily take the top spot. But wait, there is more…no list would be complete without a few honorable mentions. These are cigars that if there weren’t so many limited edition cigars would’ve definitely made the list.
Camacho Connecticut 11/18 -> Again the classic 11/18 size of Camacho adds something special to the mix.
La Flor Dominicana Limitado IV -> The Limitado IV was my first experience with Litto’s Limitado line and it was a wonderful cigar. Thanks to @chiefhava for turning me on to these.
HC Series Habano Colorado -> The new line from Xikar, it replaces and expands on the Defiance line and they are also now produced by Jesus Fuego. Its a little firecracker of a cigar.
First post! Nice!
Jerry,
Great selection and not shocked at all with your picks. Though I have not tried all of these cigars on your list, I will be sure to seek them out. Thanks for another fine year of your most excellent cigar reviews. Looking forward to what you will bring to the table in 2010. Merry Christmas to you and your family and God Bless.
Stew
Nice list BTW..I have tried the Padron, La Traviata and the Tat, I will seek out the others too! The ones I have tried have been awesome!
nice list
Jerry. Nice list. None were surprising except for your number 1. With all the love you gave the hl, la traviata, and Padron 45th, I was surprised none of them made #1. Good list, however.
Happy Holidays, Don C!
Great list, McCruz. We have a lot of the same cigars in common in our Top 10. Our taste are more similar than I thought!
Nice work Sir. A very merry Christmas to you and yours.
Great list! I was guessing that the Padron 45th would be your no.1 though. Merry Christmas!
Nice list… minus the Room 101 🙂 Hope you got some metro bling from jewelry boy for that.
Very nice list. I am 100% with you on your comment about AJ Fernandez and his diserving of some mainstream love.
Excellent list there Jerry. I have to agree with schedel. The only one that surprised me was the number 1. Ok, I have to admit. I’ve only tried one Davidoff and I wasn’t impressed but it wasn’t a Colorado Claro. I’ll have to pick one up. Going to hit the Briar Patch here in Sac on Thursday and I’m sure they’ll carry that one. It will be on my shopping list 🙂
A superb lineup of smokes there Jerry. Kudos to you for really putting a lot of effort into coming up with a list of real winners. Thanks for all your hard work in keeping us noobs informed! All the best for a wonderful Christmas and New Year! – CD
Great list. I know first hand of the MX3 & the MOW Ruination having tried both based on your reviews. Given the rest of the list, I have to step my game up. Good work, bro.
-Da Byrdman-
Great list and nice reviews!
Absurd… Outrageous… Off the hook…
Jerry is da Man!
Awesome Top 10 Jerry!
Jerry,
Did you forget about El Triunfador???
Hey,
Great list.
I am looking forward for the toptens of Walt Brian before I get those special sticks to celebrate 2010.
WOW, I’m really surprised there’s no RP on your list!
Great read Jerry….a very well thought out and personal list. No huge surprises here, but was somewhat surprised by the Room 101 and the La Traviata picks.
I have had mixed experiences with the Room 101, but the 11/18 size you included has been the best of the line.
The La Traviata is definitely a great value, but there are tons of others I would have included instead. […and did on my list. =)]
Also, very surprised that you left the El Triunfador off this year’s list….thought for sure it would be in your Top 5.
Looks like I need to try the Special T and give those Mx3s you sent me another try.
…in the end…like I said on Twitter….there is so much good product on the market right now…we could look at a dozen of these lists and see a big variety. In that situatiuon, we all win.
Will be interested to see how our picks fair vs. Cigar Aficionado….I’m sure those sellout douchebags won’t have some of these anywhere in their Top 25.
The Chief
.Interesting list. I am a big fan of the Padron annaversary series and i think its a tossup between them and my other favorite smoke Fuentes Opus X Double Chateau for #1. Of course like the Davidoff who can afford to smoke them very often. But then again that is what makes them special. thanks for some interesting ideas on some smokes i havent tried yet
Very nice list. I too thought the Padron 45th would have made your #1 slot.
The MX3 was a great stick too. I got my hands on a couple but may have never known about them if you didn’t do that review. Comparing it to the Camacho triple mad, the Godiva chocolate analogy got me.
Thanks and have a Merry Christmas!
Rick