By Thomas Pappalardo

From sitting down with four-time NBA champ Steph Curry to the Top 25 Cigars of 2023, you could say that the Jan/Feb 2024 edition of Cigar Aficionado had a considerable amount of star power and kicked off the new year in a big way. That issue also included our trademark tasting section that was equally laden with all-stars. Fifty-one of the 72 cigars we rated scored 90 points or higher, and we whittled down that list to just the absolute best of the best with nine cigars that rated 93 points or higher.

Every cigar rated by Cigar Aficionado is smoked blind by our panel of editors. The tasting coordinator removes the cigars’ identifying bands and replaces them with plain white, numbered labels before handing them out. Members of the tasting panel have no idea what they are smoking and cigars are evaluated without biases such as price, country of origin and brand.

Bolivar Belicoso Fino (94 points, £35.10)

Named after the liberator of South America, the Bolivar brand was founded in 1902 and has made a name for itself among cigar smokers for its strength, as well as its sophistication. The first puffs of this tapered cigar are laden with a rich, earthy character that scales back to unveil notes of caramel, honey and nuts with some cocoa powder harmonizing on the finish. It may not have the same brand recognition as Cohiba or Montecristo, but it can certainly hold its own in delivering an exceptional smoke. See full tasting note.

La Aroma de Cuba Pasión Box-Pressed Torpedo (94 points, $12.20)

According to Ashton’s Sathya Levin, the La Aroma de Cuba Pasión line was the result of two years work to perfect the blend. The star is the reddish wrapper, which was grown in Nicaragua by the Garcia family in an area called Namanji and is the same leaf the Garcias use for their Flor de las Antillas brand, but that one is grown in the sun rather than in the shade. This box-pressed torpedo has a leathery, spicy quality with some sweet cinnamon segueing to a cedar finish. See full tasting note.

My Father The Judge Grand Robusto (94 points, $13.30)

The Judge was created by the Garcias as a fuller-bodied alternative to its core My Father line. Clad in a leaf of Ecuador Sumatra atop two Nicaraguan binder leaves (one Corojo, one Criollo) and filler from three of the Garcia’s farms in Nicaragua, this box-pressed, 5-by-60 cigar has a lush draw and even combustion, despite its girth. Every puff is sweet and rich with impressions of toast and wood coming together for a resoundingly nutty finish. It’s a cigar with some pedigree, Cigar Aficionado’s No. 17 Cigar of 2021. See full tasting note.

Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Hermoso (94 points, $15.20)

Measuring 4 by 56, the shorter, thicker format of this softly pressed robusto seems to amplify the characteristics and strength typical of the Padrón 1964 Anniversary line. It’s a medium- to full-bodied smoke layered with opulent notes of coffee bean, oak, and spice and a crescendo smacking of black cherry. It was the No. 3 Cigar of 2020 and four years later still delivers an elegant, sophisticated smoke. See full tasting note.

Casa Cuba Doble Cuatro (93 points, $11.10)

Carlos Fuente Sr. created the Casa Cuba line to evoke the type of cigars that the Fuente family once rolled on their back porch in Tampa, cigars made with Cuban tobaccos as part of the blend. Burning and drawing evenly, this robusto has an initially woody, spicy aspect that mellows for notes of almond, coffee and orange zest. The finish is toasty. See full tasting note.

Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de San Juan (93 points, £44.50)

This 5-7/8-by-54 toro, released in 2014, was the thickest Hoyo de Monterrey in production to date. The smoke is well balanced with a sweet-and-savory aspect to it with elements of sea salt, chocolate, leather and peanut. Some nougat comes in to bring the flavors together on the finish, for a dessert-like effect reminiscent of a Snickers bar. See full tasting note.

Juan Lopez Selección No. 1 (93 points, £29.40)

Juan Lopez is one of the smaller brands in the Habanos portfolio, but it can still shine even out of the spotlight. The No. 1 measures 5 5/8 by 46, and it’s an earthy, woody smoke with mixed nuts, licorice and nougat coming together for a rich finish. With Cuban cigars becoming more and more expensive, its £29.40 price tag comes as a bit of a relief for Habanos devotees. See full tasting note.

Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante No. 2 (93 points, $24.78)

Originally a prototype blend by Rafael Nodal and A.J. Fernandez when they were creating the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua blend, this box-pressed torpedo is not as powerful as the original line. The No. 2 seems to concentrate the flavors for a peppery smoke layered with notes of chocolate, coffee, oak and red wine. The finish suggests chocolate-covered raisins. See full tasting note.

Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Torpedo (93 points, $14.10)

In 2010, Rocky Patel released a cigar line to commemorate 15 years in the business. At the time, the line was novel for Patel as it was made in Nicaragua whereas his cigars were previously Honduran. This oily torpedo delivers a full-bodied experience with a core of fresh tobacco accented by earth and honey. A hint of cocoa comes through the earthiness with some herbal elements and all recur on the finish. See full tasting note.

Originally Published: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/nine-outstanding-cigars-you-should-be-smoking-now