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StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2014

31 Dec 2014

This was a good year for good cigars. Five scored our top five-stogie rating, and 15 ranked superbly at four and a half stogies.

Unlike last year, when I was the only one to award five-stogie ratings, each StogieGuys.com contributor had at least one top-ranked smoke in 2014.

Pete Johnson’s Tatuaje brand, which has had numerous high-scoring smokes through the years, scored two five-stogie ratings this year. The other three winners also represented brands with excellent track records: RoMa Craft, La Palina, and Paul Garmirian. Here are all five, listed in no particular order:

Tatuaje 10th Anniversary Bon Chasseur: This fat robusto was called a “remarkable smoke” and “simply one of the best new releases in recent memory,” by Patrick A.

Tatuaje Black Corona Gorda: Joey J found the flavors in this 2013 re-release “intense and varied… full-flavored all the way down to the nub.”

RoMa Craft Intemperance BA XXI A.W.S. IV: Patrick A’s other five-stogie cigar. He wrote of its “tremendous” balance, noting that the Lonsdale was “a joy to smoke.”

La Palina Collection Mr. Sam Robusto: After starting as a limited edition, Mr. Sam was added to the regular line and Patrick S called it “an impressive cigar full of flavor… that will be enjoyed by all types of cigar smokers.

Paul Garmirian Reserva Exclusiva Churchill: This quickly became my “newest favorite cigar,” an incredibly pleasing stick that displayed “subtlety and complexity.”

The following 15 cigars (listed in no particular order) came close. All you’ll see, they represent a wide array of companies, countries, prices, and profiles:

RoMa Craft Aquitaine Mode 5: “At $7, the Aquitaine Mode 5 is an incredible buy.”

Drew Estate Nirvana Toro: “There is something to love here for everyone.”

E.P. Carrillo 5th Year Anniversary Limitada: “It characterizes the best of E.P. Carrillo: flavorful, complex, and affordable.”

God of Fire Don Carlos 2009 Robusto: “I may only light up a God of Fire by Don Carlos cigar a few times a year, but when I do it’s always special and worth the high price.”

Illusione *R* Rothchildes: “This small, value-priced Illusione is outstanding.”

Illusione Epernay L’Excellence: “Illusione makes some very fine cigars, but the Epernay line is the pinnacle—Giolito’s highest achievement.”

Joya Red Robusto: “The Robusto is classic with traditional tastes and plenty of balance and complexity.”

L’Atelier Imports LAT46 Selection Spéciale: “At the midway point it becomes clear this is a complex, balanced cigar with lots to offer (especially to attentive smokers).”

My Father No. 1: The second time this cigar scored a four-and-a-half-stogie rating. “No simple sledgehammer. It has the subtlety and nuance that seasoned cigar smokers look for in cigars in this price range.”

Partagas Benji Homage Toro: “If you’re a fan of bold boutique smokes, check out the Homage.”

Reinado Grand Empire Reserve Ecuador Edition Petit Lancero: “One of the best Ecuadorian Connecticut-wrapped smokes I’ve had in a long time.”

Tatuaje The Jekyll: “The Jekyll is an excellent, well-balanced smoke that’s well worth the $13 price and worthy of the Monster Series name.”

Tatuaje Pudgy Monster Tiff: “It’s dominated by sweet creaminess, along with roasted nut and woodiness, and hints of paper, graham, and spice.”

Viaje Oro Reserva VOR Aficionado: “A special spice-forward, interesting cigar worth finding.”

Drew Estate Herrera Estelí Piramide Fino: “This is an outstanding belicoso… a truly wonderful value at $10.”

Padrón Family Reserve No. 50 Maduro: “A model of restrained strength with full flavors.”

If this list isn’t enough to keep you busy for a while, you can peruse all the Stogie Guys reviews back to 2006 at our archive. We also break out the five-stogie rated sticks here. And the details on our rating system are here.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

12 Responses to “StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2014”

  1. Reggie Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 2:42 pm #

    Fantastic list!

    Happy new year!

  2. Eric Hewett Friday, January 2, 2015 at 12:23 pm #

    Great list Guys! As a cigar lover I have always been disappointed by the crap that CA puts on their list and have never felt that it was a decent representation of the truly great cigars on the market. Your list hits the nail on the head and although I know that these lists are all subjective and influenced by personal palate and such….I feel like your list is much more representative of how the real cigar community feels. As a member of BOTL, CA Forum and Saints & Sinners just to name a few I know that I am not alone in this opinion. 🙂 Great work gentlemen.

    • Patrick Ashby Friday, January 2, 2015 at 3:07 pm #

      Thank you very much, Eric!

  3. Antonio Friday, January 2, 2015 at 5:09 pm #

    Want to really thank all the members at Stogie Guys for the inclusion in this list. Greatly honored by this and with those still discovering the Reinado cigar brand. Here is to a great 2015 year ahead my friends…

    Best Always,
    Antonio

  4. Patrick Ashby Friday, January 2, 2015 at 6:06 pm #

    By the way, if you're reading this list and thinking, "Boy, they're really missing X" or "That cigar doesn't belong!" by all means let us know in the comments. We always welcome your feedback, thoughts, and opinions.

    Keep in mind, though, this is not list of the best cigars that came out in 2014; it's simply a compilation of the best cigars reviewed by the StogieGuys.com staff in 2014.

    Here's to many great smokes in 2015!

  5. Dave G Monday, January 5, 2015 at 11:21 am #

    Agree with Eric fully on both counts!
    I've had the opportunity to sample many of these, but there are a few that I plan on exploring shortly.
    While we all have somewhat different tastes (thank goodness for that), this is a great list.
    Some favorites of mine that didn't make the list were EP Carrillo Edicion Limitada and La Historia, San Christobal Revelation, Casa Fernandez Anniversario Serie 2014 and AJF New World.
    Happy New Year Guys!

  6. Arless Monday, January 5, 2015 at 12:18 pm #

    This is a thought provoking list. The best I have seen so far. A number of these are unfamiliar to me, but those I am familiar with deserve to be recognized as you have with this list. I don't see one dog barking on your list and it sure makes me want to try several you have mentioned here like the Reinado GER Ecuador Edition Petite Lancero. Nice job gentlemen!!

  7. Arless Monday, January 5, 2015 at 12:28 pm #

    Surprised a Padron didn't make the list. The FR 50th is spectacular.

    • George E Monday, January 5, 2015 at 10:07 pm #

      Arless –
      I screwed up. The Padrón Family Reserve No. 50 Maduro did, indeed, score 4.5 stogies on Sept. 11 in a review by Patrick S. He said it was "a model of restrained strength with full flavors." Somehow I missed it in going through the lists. You can read it here: http://www.stogieguys.com/2014/09/09112014-cigar-…

      • Patrick Ashby Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 9:32 am #

        We added the Padrón Family Reserve No. 50 Maduro to the main article, FYI.

      • Arless Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 11:37 pm #

        No problem. A great list even got better!!

  8. Brian Friday, January 9, 2015 at 4:09 pm #

    Awesome rundown of the year's best cigars. Thanks for sharing.