Cigar Aficionado Top Cigars of 2022 Sampler

Cigar Aficionado Top Cigars of 2022 Sampler

Each year, Cigar Aficionado lights up the cigar world with its Top 25 Cigars of the Year list, the ultimate ranking of the finest smokes across the globe. After months of blind tasting, reviews, and re-tastings, only the most exceptional cigars make the cut.

We’ve gathered 16 of these award-winning blends into one incredible sampler so you can experience what the experts rave about. From bold Nicaraguan powerhouses and rich Honduran gems to silky-smooth Dominican standouts, this collection delivers a world tour of the best cigars 2022 had to offer.

Note: Quantities are limited and some of these award-winning sticks are notoriously hard to find. We’ve packed this sampler with as many from the official Top 25 list as possible, but occasional substitutions of equal quality may occur.

The Cigar Aficionado Top Cigars of 2022 Sampler Includes:

1 x Rocky Patel Sixty Sixty  (6” x 60, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 96). Selected by Cigar Aficionado as the 2022 #2 Cigar Of The Year. Aged for over two years, and made in his Nicaraguan factory, Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A., the Sixty combines a rich Nicaraguan filler and binder blend with a gorgeous Mexican San Andres wrapper leaf. A precision roll along with a crisp box-press ensures a pleasant smoking experience from beginning to end, including an easy draw and affluent smoke production. The initial opening of the cigar is heavy on earth and pepper, something all too common with premium Nicaraguan tobacco. Soon, however, the profile takes a sweet turn as hints of coffee and nuts begin to surface. A spicy cayenne note at the back of the throat keeps it interesting, and a sweet caramel finish ties the package together.

1 x Oliva Serie V Churchill Extra (7" x 52, ●●●●● Full, Rated 95). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #5 Cigar Of The Year. This is a shining example of Oliva’s legacy in the premium cigar world. This blend consists of Jalapa Valley ligero long-fillers, a hearty Nicaraguan binder, and a silky Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper. The result is an intense and captivating experience: a front-loaded blast of Nicaraguan spice and pepper that settles into waves of cedar, espresso, earth, and bittersweet chocolate.

1 x Alec Bradley Black Market Churchill (7” x 50, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 94). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #6 Cigar of the Year. This cigar is heavy with tobaccos from Nicaragua, Honduras, Sumatra, and Panama. During the initial lighting, slow deep puffs allow the Jamastran and Panamanian filler to pepper the palate with sweet cinnamon and loamy earth. The Sumatra binder adds plenty of spice to the mix, which blends well with the mocha and leather that announce themselves before the halfway mark. The final stages of the cigar are marked by a meaty char and plenty of cream.

1 x My Father Le Bijou 1922 Churchill (7" x 50, ●●●●● Full, Rated 94). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #7 Cigar of the Year. This cigar’s blend is a Nicaraguan puro that makes use of the very delicious Habano Oscuro wrapper. The flavors most prevalent after lighting continue to be that of bitter dark chocolate, tobacco, leather and spice, with the traditional Pepin blast of pepper making its presence now and again. But the cigar shows refinement and grace, revealing a profound butterscotch sweetness and a light hint of cinnamon.

1 x Padron 1964 Principe (4 ½" x 46, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 94). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #8 Cigar of the Year. These cigars are masterfully constructed using sun-grown Nicaraguan Habano tobacco that undergoes aging for no less than 4 years. This blend delivers copious amounts of heavy white smoke that indulges the palate with complex flavors of white pepper and cedar. Earthy richness surrounds a bouquet of cinnamon, tobacco, and light floral nuances while bombarding the taste buds with powerful Nicaraguan spice.

1 x Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Churchill (7" x 50, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 93). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #9 Cigar of the Year. Crafted by master blender AJ Fernandez at his esteemed factory in Nicaragua, this cigar is a pure Nicaraguan creation featuring only the finest tobaccos hand-selected from AJ’s farms in Estelí. Upon ignition, you’re welcomed by waves of espresso and earth, followed by evolving notes of vanilla bean, orange peel, licorice, and even a nutty whole wheat cracker undertone. The flavor transitions are seamless, the burn is razor-sharp, and the construction is second to none.

1 x E.P. Carrillo Pledge Apogee (6 ¼" x 58, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 93). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #11 Cigar of the Year. The filler blend is Nicaraguan, the binder from Ecuador, and the dark, oily wrapper is a unique Connecticut Habano leaf grown right here in the U.S.A. This exquisitely crafted cigar begins with a surprising amount of spice and pepper that will command your attention. Soon after, it settles into a smooth, delectable smoke with notes of cocoa and creamy cedar. A hint of caramel sweetness and cinnamon keep things interesting along the way. The finish is noted with an increased sweetness, along with creamy oak, cocoa, topped with a touch of spice.

1 x La Flor Dominicana Oro Chisel (6” x 54, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 93). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #12 Cigar of the Year. The filler and binder tobaccos are all from Gomez's La Canela farms, but the blend beneath the Nicaraguan Habano wrapper was crafted specifically for this cigar, so even longtime LFD fans will find something new to explore. This cigar produces plenty of wood and white pepper notes that call out for pairing with a well-aged Scotch. There are some earth and wheat toast notes to keep you paying attention as the straight burn takes a long, long time to finish what was started.

1 x Joya De Nicaragua Antano 1970 Churchill (6 7/8" x 48, ●●●●● Full, Rated 93). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #13 Cigar of the Year. This cigar offers a mind-numbing blend of unusually stout Nicaraguan ligero tobaccos. That inner package is then finished with a thick, dark Nicaraguan Habano Colorado wrapper leaf. The result is what has been dubbed the world's strongest cigar. A firm, yet productive draw offers thick ribbons of blue smoke, heavily coating the palate like honey. Sweet black cherry, faint cedar, and a dash of Nicaraguan pepper are the main notes, soon followed by long dashes of cocoa and subtle hints of coffee. The finish is sweet and floral.

1 x New World Dorado Robusto (5 ½" x 52, ●●●●● Full, Rated 93). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #14 Cigar of the Year. The gorgeous wrapper leaf used here is a Nicaraguan Habano Sun Grown leaf, and all tobacco used for this cigar is from the maiden crop of Dorado Farm, grown more than five years ago. The all-too-familiar Nicaraguan white pepper is the first flavor to emerge, but it soon settles down into a smooth mixture of nuts and cedar. The core of the profile is a dark, rich earthiness that holds the entire thing together beautifully. Hints of citrus and espresso roll off the tip of the tongue, and the finish through the nose is spicy and bold.

1 x Brick House Churchill (7 ¼" x 50, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 92). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #18 Cigar of the Year. This Cigar is crafted with a Nicaraguan filler and binder and a unique Ecuadorian Havana Subido wrapper. True to JC Newman craftsmanship, it offers a smooth, consistent draw and rich, creamy smoke. The flavor opens with a gentle hint of white pepper, evolving into a layered medley of cinnamon, coffee, and cedar. Subtle notes of coconut, nutmeg, and maple add complexity, all balanced over a sweet tobacco core reminiscent of traditional premium cigars.

1 x San Cristobal Clasico (5" x 50, ●●●●● Full, Rated 92). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #19 Cigar of the Year. Crafted under the supervision of Jose "Don" Pepin Garcia. This is a Nicaraguan puro featuring only the best filler and binder tobacco as well as the Pepin signature, flawless Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. This blend is every bit as rich and fully flavorful as it was when it first debuted, teeming with earth, dark chocolate, spice and a bit of cinnamon.

1 x Casa Magna Colorado Robusto (5 ½" x 52, ●●●●● Full, Rated 92). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #20 Cigar of the Year and the 2024 #10 Cigar of the Year - Rated 93. Created by two cigar industry superstars, Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plascencia. This is a Nicaraguan puro using leaves from both Esteli and the Jalapa Valley. Created by two cigar industry superstars, Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plascencia. The clear winner here is the beautifully rustic red hued Colorado wrapper. It has a very earthy flavor profile which shifts throughout the cigar with highlights of creaminess, almond butter, sweet cherries, caramel, warm spices, cedar, and leathery notes all joining the party.

1 x Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Habano Robusto J Sub for Corona Gorda R (5” x 52, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Blend is Rated 92). The Corona Gorda R was Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #23 Cigar of the Year. The blend consists of Nicaraguan filler and binder, cloaked by a deliciously rich brown Ecuadorian wrapper. The cigars are made at A.J. Fernandez’s San Lotano factory in Nicaragua and big flavors seem to be the theme here. The Corona Gorda produces a dense, ample smoke full of pistachio, almond and orange peel notes. Spicy accents of red and black pepper—and a big snap of leather—lead to a smoked hickory finish.

1 x La Gloria Cubana Classic Glorias (5 ½” x 43, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 92). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #24 Cigar of the Year. With a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican leaves, a Nicaraguan binder, and a gorgeous Ecuadorian wrapper. Few classic cigars have truly emulated the Cuban experience the way La Gloria Cubana Classic has. A burst of spicy white pepper at first light soon turns into a crisp, earthy core of aged tobacco flavor spiked with hints of cinnamon and cedar. Soft floral notes adorn the clean, spicy finish.

1 x Plasencia Reserva Original Robusto Sub for Corona (4 ¾” x 52, ●●○○○ Mild-Medium, Blend is Rated 92). The Corona was Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2022 #25 Cigar of the Year. Grown organically in Nicaragua using farming methods inspired by the Nicarao Indians from over 500 years ago, this blend is certified 100% organic by the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA). A smooth, effortless draw produces thick clouds of creamy white smoke, delivering initial notes of white pepper and sweet cream. As the cigar progresses, flavors of nuts, cereal, and baker’s spices emerge, all built around a spicy Nicaraguan core.

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