The Top 25 Cigars of 2016 are here. Another year is in the books, and whether you enjoyed last year or were counting down the seconds until it ended, we can all agree there were some mighty fine cigars on the market in 2016. Now, it’s time for the iROBUSTO crew and community to narrow down the best of the best. This is our absolute favorite time of year!
The cigar industry saw an explosive year in 2016. With archaic FDA regulations coming down the pipe in the United States, we witnessed an unprecedented amount of new releases hit the market. Add this to the already exceptional selection of smokes available to consumers, and there was a daunting amount of smoking to be done last year (but hey, someone has to do the hard work!)
We’ve done our best to smoke everything we could get our hands on. Admittedly, just like any other year, there will always be cigars we either didn’t get to or could not find. For this reason, we always include Community Awards in our publication, as we want to know what you, the viewers, are enjoying, too. If we missed any gems, be sure to let us know in the comment section at the bottom of this page.
Noah CutLightSmoke
Leander LeeMack912
Notes on Leander’s Top 25 Cigars of 2016:
Rankings were based on ratings in his reviews.
The only sizes specified are blends offered in one size.
Most cigars were released in 2016 and readily available.
Notes on Noah’s (CutLightSmoke) Top 25 Cigars of 2016:
Some cigars that made Noah’s top 10 list from the IPCPR trade show have moved positions in relation to others on the same list. He revisited many of these cigars and noticed great improvements with a number of the blends before making his top 25 list.
To be eligible for his list, cigars must either be regular current production blends or be released in 2016 if they are a limited run.
A cigar that makes Noah’s top 25 list is then ineligible the following year. This means that any cigars on his 2015 list were no longer eligible for 2016, although, they will once again have a shot at it in 2017.
Notes on Mark and Hyacinth’s Top 25 Cigars of 2016:
Selections were based on cigars smoked during 2016.
The lists are truncated due to limited European supply of cigars.
Notes on the Community Top 25 Cigars of 2016:
Viewers submitted all cigars for this list.
Submissions were only eligible if they were current regular production or release in 2016 if they were a limited run.
Submissions did not have to be vitola specific, although, some specific sizes were submitted.
Our Community then voted on their submissions to determine final rankings you see today.
Top Cigars of the Year
Reveal Leander's Top 10 Cigars
#10 – Alec Bradley Raices Cubanas Designio #10 – Hoyo La Amistad #10 – Foundation The Tabernacle #9 – Crowned Heads Angels Anvil 2016 #8 – Viaje Furiosa #7 – La Galera Connecticut #6 – Asylum Lobotomy #5 – Eiroa The First 20 Years #4 – Fratello Bianco The Boxer #3 – Davidoff Yamasa #2 – 1502 XO Cigar of the Year – CLE AZABACHE
Reveal Noah's Top 10 Cigars
#10 – Nomad C-276 Robusto #9 – Tatuaje The Krueger #8 – Crowned Heads Le Careme Robusto #7 – Jas Sum Kral Red Knight Lancero #6 – Salamanca Cigar Group Joseph Nica Vana Nica Bella (formerly Nica Vana) Torpedo #5 – Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark #4 – Warped Maestro del Tiempo 6102R #3 – Foundation Tabernacle Toro #2 – 1502 XO Toro Cigar of the Year – Fable Fourth Prime Mi
Reveal Mark's Top 10 Cigars
#10 – Santa Damiana Vintage Maduro Robusto #9 – The Foundry – Heritage Bolivar 1895 #8 – Alec Bradley Filthy Hooligan 2016 #7 – 1502 XO #6 – Bolivar Libertador #5 – Ramon Allones (Cuban) Robusto #4 – Pura Soul Barber Pole #3 – Macanudo Inspriado Black #2 – Royal Danish Cigars Umami Blend Claro Fat Robusto Cigar of the Year – Eiroa Cigars First 20 Years
Reveal Hyacinth's Top 10 Cigars
#10 – YO by Axel Ortiz #9 – Leaf by Oscar Sumatra – Lancero #8 – Rocky Patel The Edge Candela #7 – Macanudo Inspriado Black #6 – The Foundry – Heritage Bolivar 1895 #5 – Pura Soul Barber Pole #4 – Ramon Allones (Cuban) Robusto #3 – Royal Danish Cigars Umami Blend Claro Fat Robusto #2 – Bolivar Libertador Cigar of the Year – Eiroa Cigars First 20 Years
Reveal Cigar Aficionado's Top 10 Cigars
#10 – Punch Gran Puro Santa Rita #9 – Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 #8 – Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto #7 – Norteño Robusto Grande #6 – Arturo Fuente Rosado Sungrown Magnum R Vitola “Forty-Four” #5 – Padrón Serie 1926 No. 90 (Natural) #4 – E.P. Carrillo Selección Oscuro Piramides Royal #3 – Partagás Serie E No. 2 #2 – Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro Robusto Cigar of the Year – La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull
Reveal the Community's Top 10 Cigars
#10 – Warped Corto #9 – Padron 1926 Serie 40th Anniversary Maduro #8 – Padron 1926 Serie #7 – Jas Sum Kral Red Knight #6 – My Father Flor de las Antillas #5 – Montecristo (Cuban) No. 2 #4 – Davidoff Yamasa #3 – Ramon Allones (Cuban) Robusto #2 – Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Personal Reserve Cigar of the Year – RoMa Craft Neanderthal
Reveal Leander's Top 11-25 Cigars
#25 – My Father The Judge #24 – Drew Estate FSG #23 – Charter Oak #22 – Blood Red Moon Habano Broomstick #21 – Aging Room Solera #20 – The Big Payback Connecticut #19 – Long Live the King Jalepeno #18 – Alec Bradley Medio Fuerte Ligas de Reyes #17 – Guardian of the Farm #16 – Perdomo Factory Tour Maduro #15 – Padron 1926 F75 #14 – La Boheme #13 – La Gran LLave Reserva #12 – Whiskey Rebellion #11 – Southern Draw Firethorn
Reveal Noah's Top 11-25 Cigars
#25 – My Father El Centurion H-2K-CT Toro #24 – La Palina Illumination Robusto #23 – Que Vida Robusto #22 – Duran Neya F8 Texas Tactical Lancero #21 – Matilde Oscura Toro Bravo #20 – AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes #19 – AVO Syncro Nicaragua Fogata Short Torpedo #18 – Warped/Casa Fernandez Guardian of the Farm Selección de Warped #17 – Jas Sum Kral Zlatno Sonce Toro #16 – Tatuaje Cojonu 2012 Sumatra #15 – Cubariqueno Protocol Lancero #14 – Emilio Cavatina Toro #13 – Cornelius & Anthony Daddy Mac Robusto #12 – Padron 1926 Serie No. 90 Maduro #11 – Ohana Pulse Toro
Reveal Cigar Aficionado's Top 11-25 Cigars
#25 – El Güegüense Corona Gorda #24 – Illusione MK #23 – Casa Cuba Doble Cinco #22 – Henry Clay Stalk Cut Toro #21 – Villiger San’doro Colorado Robusto #20 – Enclave Churchill #19 – Cohiba Siglo Vi (Tubo) #18 – Alec Bradley Coyol Petit Lancero #17 – Brick House Corona Larga #16 – El Centurion H-2k-Ct Toro #15 – Cromagnon Anthropology #14 – Aging Room Small Batch M356ii Mezzo #13 – La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor Belicoso #12 – Casa Turrent Serie 1901 Robusto #11 – Casa Fernandez Miami Aganorsa Leaf Maduro Robusto Extracasa Turrent Serie 1901 Robusto
Reveal the Community's Top 11-25 Cigars
#25 – Drew Estate Herrera Esteli #24 – Crowned Heads Le Careme #23 – Oliva Serie V Melanio #22 – La Flor Dominicana La Nox #21 – Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9 #20 – Foundation El Gueguense #19 – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Mi Querida #18 – La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero #17 – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa #16 – RoMa Craft CroMagnon #15 – Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro #14 – Drew Estate Liga Privada T52 #13 – 1502 XO #12 – Foundation The Tabernacle #11 – Warped Maestro del Tiempo
Fun facts about the iROBUSTO top cigars of 2016:
Most Expensive Cigar (on any list): Padron 1926 Serie 40th Anniversary Maduro ($26.50)
Least Expensive Cigar (on any list): Blood Red Moon Habano Broomstick ($5.00)
Company with the Most Awards (between all lists): Foundation & Warped tie with five awards each
Most Popular Vitola (between all lists where specified): iROBUSTO, DO U? The 5×50 Robusto dominated our lists with seven awards.
Wrapper with the Most Awards: Ecuadorian Habano took the cake with eleven awards!
Most Popular Puros: Nicaragua is where it’s at! Fifteen Nicaraguan puros were awarded this year.
Other Awards:
Best Budget Cigar of the Year: Foundation Charter Oak Broadleaf – This cigar exceeds expectations with phenomenal flavors for right around $5. You can’t beat that!
Best New Company: Jas Sum Kral – Riste Ristevski has stormed the industry with groundbreaking and industry-changing blends at reasonable prices. These cigars ooze quality which is expected given they come out of the New Order of the Ages factory which is overseen by Noel Rojas. With only one year under his belt, we can’t wait to see where JSK goes from here.
Strongest Cigar: RoMa Craft Neanderthal – All of us agree that this beast is no joke. The hair on all our chests can be seen for miles after smoking this explosive blend. Not only is it strong, it’s a great smoke, too!
Most Controversial Cigar: Davidoff Yamasa – Between conflicting reviews from Noah and Leander and left and right commentary from our viewers, we’ve determined this cigar makes the biggest pitch for love it or hate it relationship
Best Special Occasion Cigar: 1502 XO – This well-aged blend puts out such unique and delicious flavor that it’s the perfect pick for a birthday, wedding, or that big sale. It’s a beautiful stick made in limited quantities that won’t disappoint. There’s a reason why Enrique Sanchez knows how to “Relax & Enjoy.”
Hardest Name to Pronounce: Foundation El Güegüense – We here at iROBUSTO (experts of course) can usually manage to get this one out without twisting our tongues, but we’ve spent two years laughing at the way people pronounce this cigar name. Hats off, Nick Melillo!
2016 Cigars of the Year
We have listed all of the cigars with quick notes that have appeared on any of the lists by Hyacinth, Leander, Noah and Mark.
1502 XO Toro
Size: 6×50
Price: $17.75
Wrapper: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Notes: 18 year aged tobaccos, appeared on four iROBUSTO lists
Size: 6×60
Price: $14.00
Wrapper: Honduran
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Notes: Appeared on three iROBUSTO lists (#1 cigar of 2016 for Hyacinth & Mark)
Emilio Cavatina Toro
Size: 6×50
Price: $9.50
Wrapper: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Notes: Collaboration with Black Label Trading Company
Size: 6×52
Price: $11.50
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Nicaraguan & Honduran
Notes: Appeared on three iROBUSTO lists
Foundry Bolivar Heritage Series 550
Size: 5×50
Price: $6.49
Wrapper: USA Havano Connecticut
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Domincan, Honduran, Mexican, & Nicaraguan
Notes: Appeared on two iROBUSTO lists & Mark’s favorite budget stick
Fratello Bianco The Boxer
Size: 6.25×52
Price: $10.00
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Negro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Pennsylvanian, Dominican, & Peruvian
Hoyo La Amistad
Size: n/a
Price: n/a
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Notes: Collaboration with AJ Fernandez
Jas Sum Kral Red Knight Lancero
Size: 7×38
Price: $9.50
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Mexican & Nicaraguan
Filler: Undisclosed
Notes: Appeared on two iROBUSTO lists
Size: 4.5×56
Price: $7.95
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Claro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Notes: Appeared on two iROBUSTO lists & originally European exclusive
Salamanca Cigar Group Joseph Nica Vana Nica Bella (formerly Nica Vana) Torpedo
