Cigar Journal 2023 Cigar Trophy Awards

Each year, Cigar Journal hosts the Cigar Trophy Awards – an award voted for by cigar consumers rather than those in the industry. Established in 1998, the Cigar Trophy Award has become a coveted prize in the cigar world and is the only one voted for by the public.

Smokers are encouraged to nominate candidates for categories such as Best Brand, Best Cigar, Best Value, Best Boutique Brand, Best Accessory, and Best Lounge. These nominees are then shortlisted, and cigar smokers are able to vote for the winner from the top five.

This year’s awards were held on Thursday, September 14 2023, and several of the winning smokes are actually stocked here at Havana House. If you want to try these award-winning cigars yourself, take a look at our cigar range and choose your own winner!

Best Brand of 2023 – Cigar Journal 2023 Cigar Trophy Awards

• Best Brand Cuba 2023: Partagás
• Best Brand Dominican Republic 2023: Fuente Fuente OpusX 20th Anniversary
• Best Brand Honduras 2023: Leaf by Oscar Valladares
• Best Brand Nicaragua 2023: Oliva Serie V
• Best Brand Other Countries 2023: Toscano Master Aged, Italy

Best Cuban Cigar Brand 2023 – Partagás

Awarded the best Cuban brand of 2023, Partagás is a worthy winner. They have been making fantastic smokes for over 170 years and remain one of the best-selling cigar brands in the world. Partagas cigars are powerful, medium to full-bodied, with intense flavours of rich earthiness, dark coffee, and spice, making them perfect for more seasoned smokers who like a cigar that packs a punch.

If you’re looking for an intense smoking experience, then check out our range of Partagas cigars.

Best Honduran Cigar Brand 2023 – Leaf by Oscar Valladares

Oscar Valladares is a cigar brand from Honduras that has been creating exceptional smokes since 2012. The Leaf by Oscar line is a particularly exciting development by Oscar, created at his boutique factory. The thing that sets the Leaf line apart from all other brands is the fact that the cigars are covered with a rustic-looking tobacco leaf rather than a cellophane wrapper. It makes the cigar look intriguing and appealing and truly distinguishes Leaf by Oscar Valladares from every other brand on the market.

Add a few Leaf by Oscar Valladares cigars to your collection today by browsing our range at Havana House.

Best Nicaraguan Cigar Brand 2023 – Oliva Serie V

Winning the Best Cigar Brand from Nicaragua, Oliva has been in the cigar business since 1886, but it is their Serie V line that debuted in 2006 that continues to attract attention to this brand. Oliva Serie V is made with a complex blend of Nicaraguan long-filler tobacco by a small group of rollers.

If you’d like to try cigars from the Oliva Serie V line, check out our range of Oliva cigars online.

Best Cigar of 2023 – Cigar Journal 2023 Cigar Trophy Awards

• Best Cigar Cuba 2023: Partagás Serie E No.2
• Best Cigar Dominican Republic 2023: Davidoff Signature No.1 Limited Edition
• Best Cigar Honduras 2023: Plasencia Cosecha 149 La Vega
• Best Cigar Nicaragua 2023: Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Maduro Robusto
• Best Cigar Other Countries 2023: Casa 1910 Cuchillo Parado, Mexico

Best Cuban Cigar 2023 – Partagás Serie E No.2

The Partagas Series E No.2 cigar presents a powerful puff with earthy, peppery flavours that cumulate into a strong finish. Measuring 5 1/2″ x 54, this cigar is a Duke vitola, which isn’t too common in the cigar world; however, this speaks to Partagas’ commitment to innovation.

As you smoke the Serie E No.2, you’ll experience a softer, less direct pace, but there will still be big flavours throughout the smoke.

Best Dominican Republic Cigar 2023 – Davidoff Signature No.1 Limited Edition

The Davidoff Signature No.1 Limited Edition is a call-back to an innovative and iconic cigar format from Davidoff’s past – the Panetela Larga – which features a pigtail top, which was a ground-breaking design in 1969 when the Classic No.1 was launched.

The Signature No.1 is a lovingly recrafted panatela larga cigar, measuring 7 ½” x 39. The flavours are subtle, and the construction is immaculate.

Want to try this cigar? You can find the Davidoff Signature No. 1 Limited Edition 2023 Cigar here at Havana House.

Best Honduran Cigar 2023 – Plasencia Cosecha 149 La Vega

The Plasencia Cosecha 149 showcases tobacco from Plasencia’s 149th harvest, which happened in 2014. Cosecha means ‘harvest’, so the name of the cigar celebrates the origins of the tobacco used. The tobacco was aged for seven years before being crafted into these fantastic medium-full-bodied smokes.

The Plasencia Cosecha 149 is blended with a wrapper from Olancho, San Agustín, a binder from Jamastran and a mix of filler tobaccos from Jamastran, Talanga and Olancho, making this a 100% Honduran tobacco.

Best Value Cigar 2023 – Cigar Journal 2023 Cigar Trophy Awards

• Best Value Dominican Republic 2023: La Aurora 107 Nicaragua
• Best Value Honduras 2023: Rocky Patel Vintage 1990
• Best Value Nicaragua 2023: Joya de Nicaragua Clásico Original

Best Value Honduran Cigar 2023 – Rocky Patel Vintage 1990

The Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 series offers an ingenious blend of tobaccos from around the new world, bound by a 12-year-old Honduran Broadleaf wrapper. Over the years, the wrapper has dulled in strength, yet grown in complexity and flavour. The cigar is perhaps a lot milder than one would expect from a Rocky Patel cigar, and smokers will be treated to a nutty, caramel taste.

The Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 line is available in a few different formats, including:

• Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Robusto Cigar
• Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Torpedo Cigar
• Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Petit Belicoso Cigar

Best Boutique Cigar Brand 2023

• Best Boutique Brand Costa Rica 2023: Casdagli Villa Casdagli
• Best Boutique Brand Dominican Republic: Principle Aviator
• Best Boutique Brand Honduras 2023: Villa Zamorano Reserva Collection
• Best Boutique Brand Nicaragua 2023: Black Label Trading Company Royalty

Best Boutique Cigar Brand Costa Rica 2023 – Casdagli Villa Casdagli

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Casdagli Cigars, a sub-brand was launched called Villa Casdagli. There are five vitolas in the original line and two in the Villa Casdagli Petit Exquisitos line. They each offer a rich smoke that perfectly celebrates the stunning Villa Casdagli.

Here at Havana House, we have the Villa Casdagli Nicarita Petit Exquisitos Cigar, a smaller format cigar measuring 4″ x 35, which offers a slow-burning 20-minute smoke packed with rich flavour, rounded strength and a warm, nutty aroma.

Want to try more top-rated cigars? Check out our own Havana House Top Ten Cuban Cigars!