Stogie Commentary: Perfect Fives

After reading my recent review of the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu No. 2 (Exclusivo Zona del Este), a reader asked what other cigars had received a heralded five out of five stogies rating. I directed him to our Stogie Reviews Archive where you can see all the cigars we’ve reviewed and the rating each received.

But I kept thinking about it. And it seemed to me that it might be worthwhile and interesting to list all the other cigars that have been awarded five stogies, the reviewer, and a bit from the review.

First, here’s the definition of what a five-stogie rating means, according to our ratings system: “These cigars are truly an occasion. We recommend you give these babies your full and undivided attention. If not, you’d better be at a wedding or some other significant celebration.” Now, on to the list.

The first cigar to achieve a perfect five was the Davidoff Grand Cru No. 3, which Patrick A called “one of the finest stogies I had ever enjoyed.” He praised it for a symphony of tastes that remained a smooth, graceful, and mild smoke. The only drawback, he wrote, was the price tag of around $13.

I praised another Ashton, the Classic Corona, for its finely mixed flavors, slow burn and creamy smoke.

Three Cubans grace the list. Patrick A found the Cohiba Siglo V to have the prelight aroma of “the subtle perfume of a delicate angel,” while the smoke itself yielded sophisticated floral notes as well as “complex salty and sour flavors complemented by an ever-present dark chocolate sweetness.”

Patrick S sang the praises of the Ramón Allones Specially Selected, a robusto with excellent construction, a sturdy ash, and a lower price than many of its Cuban counterparts. “Immediately after lighting,” he wrote, “I enjoyed an abundant amount of leather flavors paired with pepper, earth, and even caramel.”

The relatively new Montecristo Petit Edmundo was “gorgeous in every way,” according to Patrick A. Praising its complexity, he called it “a well-balanced, full-bodied, complex masterpiece.”

The Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Torpedo was also praised by Patrick A as a cigar that never disappoints and a bargain at about $8.75 a stick. It is, he wrote, “a slice of heaven.”

He also cited the Padrón Serie 1926 No. 6 as a truly complex cigar whose flavors included a “taste that reminded me of moist chocolate cake.” Noting that at about $12 it isn’t an every day cigar, Patrick A said “this terrific smoke certainly qualifies for any celebration.”

Patrick S recommended slowly smoking the Coronado by La Flor Double Corona to savor “the perfectly balanced medley of flavors.” Costing about $8, he said the “tobacco treat…would stand out when pitted against stogies that cost twice as much.”

In addition to the previously mentioned pair, I awarded five stogies to the Partagas 150. I feel lucky to have gotten one of these very expensive, hard-to-find cigars and greatly enjoyed its subtle, complex flavors.

So, there you have it. The StogieGuys.com top ten (so far). Now, why not leave a comment with your top-notch picks?

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys