Cigar Aficionado Top Cigars of 2024 Sampler
Each year, Cigar Aficionado smokes through hundreds of cigars from around the world, rating and ranking them with the utmost scrutiny. When December rolls around, the publication revisits the highest-scoring contenders for a second round of blind tastings, this time to determine the ultimate Top 25 Cigars of the Year. The results shape one of the most anticipated lists in the cigar world, crowning the year’s very best smokes in craftsmanship, consistency, and flavor.
For 2024, we’ve hand-selected 15 of these celebrated cigars to bring you an extraordinary tasting experience worthy of the honor. From bold Nicaraguan powerhouses to silky Dominican classics, this sampler captures the essence of what made these cigars shine among the year’s elite.
Now it’s your turn to be the critic, light up, savor each draw, and see how your palate aligns with the experts at Cigar Aficionado.
The Cigar Aficionado Top Cigars of 2024 Sampler Includes:
1 x My Father The Judge Grand Robusto (5" x 60, ●●●●● Full, Rated 98). Selected by Cigar Aficionado as the 2024 #1 Cigar Of The Year. As the pinnacle of the Garcia family’s acclaimed My Father portfolio, The Judge continues a legacy of exceptional craftsmanship that has earned worldwide praise. This cigar takes the classic My Father recipe to new heights. A rich Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper covers a dual Corojo and Criollo binders, amplifying strength while retaining the smooth complexity and balance that fans have come to expect. The draw is flawless, igniting waves of toasted walnut, leather, coffee, and nutmeg. Midway through, subtle notes of sweet cream and bright citrus refresh the palate, culminating in a slow-burning finish of espresso, black pepper, and savory char.
1 x Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Espeso (5 ½" x 60, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 97). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #2 Cigar Of The Year. Each stick is born in the San Lotano Factory in Nicaragua and is rolled under the supervision of AJ Fernandez himself. The wrapper, filler, and binder are 100% Nicaraguan leaves from his very own family farms. Each vitola is softly box-pressed and rolled to precision. The draw is soft and easy, the smoke production is superfluous, and the flavor is impeccably rich and exciting. An enormous burst of Nicaraguan spice greets the palate on opening puffs, soon settling down to a bold medley of black pepper, caramel, and cinnamon. Notes of earth and coffee hang in the shadows as a woody core of flavor emerges to take over the blend. A solid level of spice remains throughout the cigar, and the finish is sweet, speckled with light floral notes.
1 x E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial (6 1/8" x 50, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 96). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #3 Cigar of the Year. Treating tobacco blending as much an art as a science, Carrillo sourced a wide variety of fine Nicaraguan longleaf aged in tercios, meaning tied into bundles within royal palm leaves, resulting in a smooth yet powerful smoke. The toothy, oily wrapper contains the aroma of rich tobacco and crisp fresh hay, thrilling the nose while the tongue detects a flourish of pepper during the cold draw test. Beginning dry and with deep notes of turned earth and charred oak, when first lit, the cigar's flavor soon brightens and expands to include black tea and sweet cream.
1 x Padron 1926 Serie No. 6 (4 ¾" x 50, ●●●●● Full, Rated 96). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #4 Cigar of the Year. Made of the finest sun grown Habano tobacco Nicaragua has to offer, this Nicaraguan puro is one of the most decorated cigars ever produced. From the very first puff, the 1926 Serie erupts with a copious thunderhead of thick white smoke, blanketing the palate with rich, spicy Nicaraguan tobacco flavor. The complexities in the 1926 are indescribable, ranging from nutmeg to cocoa to cedar. The puff concludes with a long, robust finish that coats the tongue like thick syrup. Absolutely marvelous.
1 x Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Torpedo (6 ½" x 52, ●●●●● Full, Rated 95). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #6 Cigar of the Year. This is a shining example of Nicaraguan craftsmanship. Expertly hand-rolled by seasoned torcedors, this cigar features a potent Nicaraguan Habano filler and binder blend wrapped in a luscious, dark Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper. The result is a full-flavored ultra-smooth smoke that delivers deep complexity and satisfying richness from start to finish. Expect an initial hit of bold pepper, a signature note familiar to Serie V fans. But the true character of the Melanio Maduro soon reveals itself: layers of mocha, nutmeg, leather, and hints of black cherry and cinnamon unfold gracefully. Accents of cedar and earth accompany the spice, making for a multi-dimensional experience that keeps evolving.
1 x Brick House Churchill (7 ¼" x 50, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 93). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #10 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 La Aroma De Cuba Pasion Box-Pressed Torpedo (6 1/8" x 54, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 93). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #11 Cigar of the Year. This is a Nicaraguan puro. The unique wrapper leaf used for Pasion is a shade grown Nicaraguan leaf hailing from the Garcia family farms in Namanji, just East of Esteli. This region is about as ideal as it gets for growing tobacco. Cedar is the main note at first light, soon followed by a sweet array of caramel, molasses, and nuts. The earthy core soon becomes the standout of the flavor profile, with bursts of white pepper between each puff. The finish is smooth, sweet, and spicy.
1 x Aksum Claro Robusto (5" x 50, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 93). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #12 Cigar of the Year. As for the blend, the filler is Nicaraguan, the binder is Connecticut Broadleaf, and the wrapper is a stunning Sumatra Claro leaf grown in the volcanic soils of Ecuador. The construction is flawless, ensuring a consistently easy and productive draw. Upon lighting, spicy Nicaraguan pepper bursts onto the palate, followed by bold waves of espresso and nuts. Woody nuances frame the outer edges of the flavor profile, while an earthy, raw tobacco core binds everything together in perfect harmony.
1 x Viva La Vida Jester (5" x 56, ●●●●● Full, Rated 93). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #13 Cigar of the Year. Every single leaf used in the blend is grown in Nicaragua - wrapper, filler, and binder. The result is a flavorful concoction suited to experienced connoisseurs in search of the next big thing. An easy draw produces copious amounts of thick, blue smoke, which greets the palate with plenty of heavy Nicaraguan spice. White pepper is the big opening, soon turning into a meaty medley containing notes of oak, cinnamon, and earth. A hint of floral sweetness through the nose finishes the profile.
1 x Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown Epicure (6" x 54, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 93). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #16 Cigar of the Year. Perdomo has gone all out, utilizing tobacco that has been aged no less than 15 years. This cigar version contains Nicaraguan binder and filler leaves and a golden-brown sun grown Nicaraguan wrapper. Cedar and white pepper are the opening notes, with a bit of Nicaraguan intensity backing it up. This settles quickly to a spicy, earthy array of classic aged tobacco flavor with hints of brown sugar and citrus in the background. The finish is short and peppery.
1 x Plasencia Cosecha 151 La Musica (5" x 50, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 92). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #17 Cigar of the Year. This cigar features tobacco exclusively from the 2016 harvest and is hand-rolled at the family’s Tabacos de Oriente factory in Honduras. Moreover, every leaf in this blend—wrapper, filler, and binder—is grown in Honduras, making it a genuine Honduran puro. The smoking experience opens with a burst of white pepper and toasted earth, characteristic of the expertly aged Honduran tobacco. This flavorful foundation persists throughout, as earthy notes meld with hints of cocoa, baking spices, and cedar. The finish is creamy and spicy.
1 x Cohiba Riviera Robusto Box-Pressed (5" x 52, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 92). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #20 Cigar of the Year. As for the blend, the fillers come from Honduras and Nicaragua, the binder is Honduran, and the wrapper is a beautiful, oily San Andres leaf from Mexico. The flavor journey begins with a noticeable, though gentle, burst of white pepper, soon followed by subtle and smooth notes of cedar and chocolate. The core of the profile is earthy tobacco, and hints of coffee and black cherry are detectable throughout. The finish is bold and smooth.
1 x La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Maduro Chiselito (5" x 44, ●●●●● Full, Rated 92). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #21 Cigar of the Year. Made in Santiago, Dominican Republic under the discretion of master blender and tobacco expert Litto Gomez, this cigar contains a rich all-ligero filler and binder blend of smooth Dominican tobacco. It is then finished with a dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Opening with a barrage of spice and cedar, the intensity of this cigar makes its presence felt early on. The flavor profile quickly turns sweet, with heavy floral notes and chocolatey undertones.
1 x Warped Corto X52 (4 ¾” x 52, ●●●●○ Medium-Full, Rated 92). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #23 Cigar of the Year. Packed with a complex filler blend of robust Criollo ‘98 and Corojo ‘99 tobaccos, each of these Nicaraguan Puros are finished with a flawless shade-grown Jalapa Corojo wrapper of exquisite quality and taste. Your senses can expect a rush of charred oak and rustic tobacco tastes, with a burst of black pepper spice to be found in the retrohale. Soft leather and creamy caramel are abundant as the stick settles into a razor-sharp burn, with smooth milk chocolate, earthy demarara sugar, and a bit of crushed red pepper.
1 x Ferio Tego Summa Corona Gorda (5 ¾” x 46, ●●●●● Full, Rated 92). Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2024 #24 Cigar of the Year. The blend features a complex mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers, an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and a rich, deep brown Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper. The smoke opens with notes of cedar and toasted nuts, accented by just the right hit of white pepper. As it develops, the profile deepens into a sweet fusion of milk chocolate, raisins, and rich tobacco. The finish is equal parts sweet and spicy.
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