This week the big dog barked, and all across the cigar-smoking country (and possibly the world), printers cranked to life, dutifully replicating the most anticipated top 10 list of the year. Chances are, you’ve seen it already. But before you take your printout, withdraw the $165.96 it would take to buy the ten smokes ($95.05 if you can’t buy Cubans) and drop by your local brick and mortar, we thought we’d humbly offer you a second opinion. Who knows, maybe we’ll save you a little money.
We haven’t reviewed all the cigars on the list (we’re a little weak in the Behike and other Cuban category), but we’ve touched on many of them. Here’s our take on the smokes in the popular lifestyle magazine’s list.
Padron Family Reserve 45 Years (#3)
Camacho Corojo (#5)
Illusione Epernay (#7)
EP Carrillo Edición Limitada 2010 (#8)
La Flor Dominicana Air Bender (#10)
Punch Grand Cru No. 2 Maduro (#13)
CAO La Traviata (#15)
Brick House (#17)
Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial (#18)
Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary (#19)
Alec Bradley Prensado (#20)
Ashton VSG (#23)
Casa Magna (#24)
This second opinion wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t tell you what we think are the top 10 cigars of 2010. And we will. In fact, we have so many opinions here at Stogie Review, you have your pick of four top 10’s. Choose one, or stack ’em up for a monstrous four-story opinion monolith, your choice. As Walt would politely say, happy smoking.
Top 10 Cigars – TGT Edition (2010)
Walt’s Top 10 Cigars of 2010
The Box-Worthies: Brian’s Top 10 Cigars of 2010
Mike’s Top 10 Cigars I Smoked In 2010
Hi Brian.
At the risk of making my self really unpopular amongst my fellow stogie review readers. I have to say that I totally agree with CA’s number one choice this year ( not to sure about the other 24!). Speaking as someone who lives outside of your great country the Behike was heads and shoulders above anything that I tasted in the last twelve months.
Cheers and happy new year.
I’m still working on acquiring one. (Not very hard, but it might happen.) So I’m really not in a position to agree or disagree on that one. I’m not one who assumes everything CA says is wrong because they said it. My policy is more like “distrust and verify.” Anyway, if the miraculous happens, and I get my hands on a few, I’ll give them a fair review.
A friend whose opinion I value did smoke one and told me something to the effect of “the Behike’s is one of the best Cubans I’ve had in a long time, but it wouldn’t make my top 10 list.” On the other hand, the Avo Heritage did.
Terrific idea for an article.
So glad I don’t live in that ugly nasty little bankrupt country. Just because you (most americans) don’t have the wit to get hold of decent cigars you all moan and wail when other people recognise that a larger (and far better) world exists outside of your tiny goldfish bowl.
Poor little Americans; all scrabbling around for pickings off the floor no one else in the (real) world would care about (and then’ having’ to make believe and reassure amongst themselves how great they consider these second and third rate bits of crap). Certainly a handful of decent NCs exist. I enjoy a few myself. But really. Keep it in context. And keep your own laughably limited national market-driven myopic pride to yourselves.
Well done CA for doing the decent and honest thing.
Now….that might just be THE most ignorant statement I have read in my entire life.
Don’t be jealous, we cant all live here 🙂
You gotta love people who pass judgment before they try a thing. Trolls are a lot of fun too, and great for page views and comment count. Back under your bridge, bigot.
LOL!
re: stupidamerican
Not sure where you’re at or how many countries you’ve spent time in; but, as far as cigars are concerned, you are obviously a bit of an ignoramus. I wonder what country buys the most Cuban cigars… O, yes, it is the United States. Illegally, but we are still a huge part of that market. I can guarantee that the Behike is more readily available to Americans than Tatuaje’s Le Vérité or Illusione’s Singularé are in Europe or South America or Asia or Africa.
Likewise, only a fool would fail to recognize the exquisiteness of a fine Havana, but the contention that they are still a superior product is as myopic as anything we Yanks are capable of. I can tell you another thing: I have never had a plugged Pepín Blue Delicias. Can’t say the same for the Lusitania, of which one is lucky to get a decent draw 20% of the time. Cuba still has the ideal soil, but Nicaragua is making equal cigars.
One thing I’ve noticed a lot in Europe is that the selection from DR, Honduras, Nicaragua tends to be lower end with the exception of Davidoff. (Hardly slack cigars there.) I would wager you haven’t smoked much from Guillermo León, either, except possibly the Preferidos. Hardly floor pickings.
And I’m certainly not a jingoistic American running around with the ‘best country in the world’ narrative stuck in my head. Yes, Paris is much nicer than the best part of the best city in the States. Western Europe has better education, health care, quality of life, &c. I’m aware of that. I’m also aware of the fact that I don’t get fooled with cigars very often, and if someone is trying to pass off something inferior, I know it. And I’ll say it in front of God and everyone: The Le Vérité is as good as ANY Cuban cigar… even ones going for 30 Euros.
Peace be with you.
“And I’m certainly not a jingoistic American running around with the ‘best country in the world’ narrative stuck in my head.”
I am partner. I think the USA is the best country the world has ever seen.
Yes, Paris is much nicer than the best part of the best city in the States. Western Europe has better education, health care, quality of life, &c. I’m aware of that.
What does this even mean? Are you serious. Yeh, maybe if you’ve been stuck in Camden NJ you’re whole life. …wtf? Western Europe has better education and health care systems????!!!! I nominate this as the most ridiculous, uneducated statement for 2011 and its only January.
man, that nicotine has gone to your head.
Hey, don’t get me wrong. It isn’t like I don’t love my country. I was just being fair. I love the Cubbies too, but they haven’t been perfect. (My particular baseball team is a terrible analogy, given that America is certainly not in Cubs territory as a nation — I think that would probably go to Italy, but you get my drift.)
Anyhoo, I probably opened up a can of worms that the guys at this site would really have debated elsewhere, so I’ll keep it to the finding that the La Sirena is killer.