StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2015 (Part I)

We smoked a lot of cigars in 2015, many of them truly wonderful. A handful got our top five-stogie rating, but more came awfully close. In fact, 16 cigars scored four-and-a-half stogies, while 40 earned four stogies. As we end the year with our traditional look back, we’ll focus first on those smokes that just missed the top slot. Tomorrow, we’ll come back with a look at the six that landed at the pinnacle.

The 4.5-stogie rated cigars span a wide range of manufacturers, blenders, strengths, and sizes. They’re listed in alphabetical order:

Abaddon Lancero (Blue Havana Exclusive): “An easy recommendation and a solid complement to an after-dinner serving of high-proof bourbon.”

Aging Room M19 Fortissimo Preferido: “May be the smoothest Fortissimo yet.”

Añoranzas Toro: “A box-worthy full-bodied cigar that’s consistent, complex, and downright delicious.”

Avo Heritage Short Robusto: “Beginning with cedar and a hint of the hay and grass common to many Davidoff productions, there’s quickly quite a bit of spice.”

Boutique Blends La Bohème Mimi: “Another virtuoso performance for Boutique Blends.”

Byron Serie Siglo XX Londinenses: “The flavors are as numerous as they are harmonious, and the experience is downright memorable.”

Exactus Puro Ambar Short Robusto: “If you like bold, spicy cigars, this is one to try.”

Fratello Bianco Event Exclusive: “As the cigar progresses, the complexity deepens with the additions of creamy nut, damp earth, and a dried fruit sweetness.”

Guayacan Sabor de Esteli Habana Robusto: “Teeming with taste and abundant in complexity.”

Illusione Fune d’Amour Viejos: “The flavors are a whirlwind combination of dry woodiness, hay, roast nuts, light honey, and maybe a hint of muted black pepper.”

Kilo Toro: “Balanced, cool-burning, interesting, unique, and superbly constructed.”

La Palina H-Town Lancero: “The initial profile is creamy, nutty, and bready with a significant kick of cayenne spice on the finish.”

Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2015 LC46: “A complex smoke that began with roasted nuts, dry cocoa, and a little back-of-the-throat spice.”

Nestor Miranda Collection One Life Edition Danno Habano: “No doubt concentration will pay off in what you experience with this complex cigar.”

Padrón Serie 1964 Exclusive Natural: “You get a high-quality stick with balanced, medium-bodied flavors for your money.”

Tatuaje La Verite Churchill 2008: “Balance is wonderful and the texture is bready. The taste is bright and vibrant.”

You’ll find an explanation of our rating system here and a curated listing of our five-stogie selections through the years here. An alphabetical compilation of all reviews (spanning almost ten years!) is here. And lastly, please keep in mind this best-of list is restricted not to cigars that were introduced in 2015, but rather cigars we reviewed in 2015.

–George E

photo credit: N/A