Posted by RRCShop Team on 11/13/2021 to

Learning about the world of cigars is a task that excites all those who enjoy the experience of smoking good tobacco. They are interested in learning about the flavors and quality of the product and, of course, knowing in which countries the best are produced.

Identifying the best cigars is not an easy task, and that is why we decided to approach Cigar Aficionado magazine and explore in its pages the records of the Top 25 of the last ten years, with the intention of presenting our readers, not only which ones were awarded the Cigar of the Year, but also in which countries they were made.

An interesting fact that we can share with you to start the count is that, unlike what many might imagine, only one of the ten awarded cigars was made in Cuba, while the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua obtained four awards each; the other country that managed to have one of its cigars crowned champion was Honduras.

Let's look at the winning brands for each year of the decade:

2020: E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel - Rating 98

This cigar, from the Dominican Republic and produced by Tabacalera La Alianza SA, has dimensions of 5"by 50 ring gauge. Its most distinctive tobacco is its wrapper, a variety of Cuban seed grown in Connecticut and called Connecticut Habano. The filler is from Nicaragua and the binder from Ecuador.

2019: Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro - Rating 96

It was prepared by Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez Cigars, from Nicaragua, and all the leaves that make up the mixture were grown in Nicaragua. Its dimensions are 6"by 52 ring gauge.

2018: E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic - Rating 96

This cigar belongs, like the one from 2020, to Tabacalera La Alianza S.A., from the Dominican Republic. Its dimensions are 5 3/8"by 52 ring gauge and it was made entirely using tobacco grown in Nicaragua.

2017: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark - Rating 97

This cigar, from the Dominican Republic, like the one from the previous year, was made in Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. It has a wrapper from Cameroon and the rest of the leaves were grown in the Dominican Republic. Its dimensions are 5 3/4"by 52 ring gauge.

2016: La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull - Rating 96

This is a cigar made by Tabacalera La Flor S.A., and like the 2017 and 2018 Cigars of the Year, the award-winning company is located in the Dominican Republic. Its wrapper, of a striking shade between red and brown, was cultivated in Ecuador and the rest of the leaves that make it up, in the Dominican Republic. Its dimensions are 6 1/2"by 64 ring gauge.

2015: My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo Box Pressed - Rating 97

This cigar was made in Nicaragua at the My Father Cigars factory, belonging to the García family, which is located in the city of Esteli. All its leaves were grown in Nicaragua. Its dimensions are 6 1/8"by 52 ring gauge. It was the second Garcia family cigar to win the first Cigar Aficionado award in the decade.

2014: Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado - Rating 96

Manufactured in Nicaragua by Oliva Cigar Co., this cigar whose dimensions are 6 1/2"by 52 ring gauge, has a wrapper of Sumatra seeds grown in Ecuador. The leaves for the filler and the binder are grown in Nicaragua.

2013: Montecristo No. 2 - Rating 96

This is the only Cuban cigar that obtained the Cigar of the Year distinction in the decade that we are reviewing here. All the leaves for its elaboration were cultivated in Cuba. Its dimensions are 6 1/8"by 52 ring gauge.

2012: Flor de las Antillas Toro - Rating 96

This cigar was made by Tabacalera Cubana S.A., a Nicaraguan company of the Garcia family. Like the 2015 winner, all the leaves with which this cigar was made were grown in Nicaragua. Its dimensions are 6 1/8 "by 52 ring gauge.

2011: Alec Bradley Pressed Churchill - Rating 96

Made in Danli, Honduras, at the Raices Cubanas Tobacco Factory, owned by the Rubin brothers, this cigar has dimensions of 7"by 48 ring gauge. The award obtained for this cigar, made with leaves grown in Honduras and Nicaragua, contributed to promote Alec Bradley's career in the world of tobacco, in which he enjoys great prestige today.