Cigar Aficionado Magazine is a big name in the cigar world, and many cigar lovers will have been waiting eagerly to discover which special cigar has been named ‘Cigar of the Year’ for 2020.
The wait is now over, and we can reveal that the chosen cigar is the luxurious E.P. Carillo Pledge Prequel! We share more about the top cigars of the year, as well as where you can get your hands on these incredible smokes.
Cigar of the Year – E.P. Carillo Pledge Prequel
Named Cigar of the Year 2020 by Cigar Aficionado, the E.P. Carillo Pledge Prequel is certainly one you’ll want to try!
The Pledge is actually a fairly new cigar, only going on sale to the public in September. It is an incredibly rich and complex smoke that is sure to grab your attention, after a few puffs, you’ll know exactly why this cigar has made it to the top of the list.
The Pledge is made with a Connecticut Habano wrapper that adds to its punchy flavour. Within the smoke, you’ll find hints of spicy oak, black pepper, liquorice, cherry and baking spices. The smoke is balanced and masterfully-crafted, finishing with notes of baked apple for the perfect ending.
The Pledge Prequel marks the second time an E.P. Carillo cigar has been named Cigar of the Year. They are certainly a brand to watch!
Here at Havana House, we have the Cigar of the Year, Pledge Prequel, available as a single cigar or as a box of ten! We expect these will gain a lot of interest following their accolade, so add this to your collection while you can!
Number 2 – Feunte Feunte OpusX Double Robusto
The OpusX line was first released in 1995, and to this day it remains an iconic smoke. The cigars in this line are some of only few that are created with all Dominican Republic tobacco.
One of the best parts about the OpusX is the wrapper, which is shade-grown from Corojo seeds at Chateau de le Fuente.
The Double Robusto is a strong smoke, full of sweet spices and notes of caramel and rum.
Number 3 – Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Hermoso
Despite its smaller stature, this cigar certainly isn’t short on flavour. In fact, the compact size seems only to have enhanced the intensity of the bold smoke.
If you’ve tried a Padrón 1964 Anniversary cigar before, the Hermoso cigar doubles this experience. It has intense notes of coffee, cocoa and earth that perfectly blends to create an intense, hot chocolatey smoke that envelops your senses.
The Hermoso, released in 2016, is the newest addition to the 1964 Anniversary Series, which was first launched in 1994. Despite constant innovation in the cigar industry, this four-year-old smoke remains such a delight it is still considered one of the top cigars in 2020.
Number 4 – La Mission L’Atelier 1959
L’Atelier was created as a space for brand owner Pete Johnson to create more unique cigars – ones that feature, shapes, sizes and designs that aren’t often seen these days on the cigar market.
La Mission L’Atelier 1959 certainly fits into this description of ‘unique’. It features a pigtail cap and has squarish edges from box pressing.
Balance is at the heart of this cigar’s tasting notes. For every sweet note, there is a salty; every nutty note, a spicy one. It is impressively balanced, while retaining enough of a complex contrast to keep the smoke exciting.
Number 5 – Punch Short de Punch
The first Cuban smoke on the list comes in at number 5! The Punch Short de Punch is the latest new size to be added to the Punch portfolio. When it was announced at the 2019 Habanos Festival, it caused great excitement as new additions to this brand are very rare.
The Short de Punch is a fantastic cigar that is well worth the hype. Smoking it will introduce you to hints of nutmeg, pecans, graham crackers and spicy notes of chilli, making for a complex and intriguing experience.
Many of these cigar brands can be found here at Havana House! If you would like to try cigars from these brands, or even smoke the Cigar of the Year, then check out our full range of cigars online!
Cigar Aficionado Reveals Cigar of the Year 2018
20 December 2018 by Ellie
Cigar Aficionado Magazine is a big name in the cigar world and many cigar fans have been waiting in anticipation for the release of this year’s top 25 cigars, including the cigar they deem to be worthy of being the ‘Cigar of the Year’! Luckily, the day has come, and in 2018 the accolade has been awarded to the luxurious E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic!
It’s here! The cigar of the year, as decided by Cigar Aficionado Magazine has been announced, and this year the accolade is awarded to Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark!
The blend used for this top cigar is based on that used in the original Don Carlos cigar, which was released back in 1976. As with most Don Carlos cigars, the wrapper originates from Cameroon, while the interior tobacco is grown in the Dominican Republic and then well-aged. In keeping with their usual style, the exact blend remains a well-guarded secret! The taste remains familiar to fans of the Fuente cigar; however, there is a welcome twist that has certainly contributed to elevating it to the top spot on Cigar Aficionado’s list.
The shape of the cigar surely contributes to it’s winning spot also, as it is intriguing compared with the more standard sizing seen with many cigars. The Eye of the Shark cigar is not box-pressed or conventional in shaping. Instead, the bottom-half of the stogie is pressed, while the upper-half tapers, as with a regular rounded belicoso. While Fuente has used a similar shape before, that has only been for limited releases, so the somewhat peculiar shaping remains refreshing and surprising. The name of the cigar can also be attributed to the shape; as the cigar arguably takes the form of a shark’s body!
Of course, the taste is what everyone cares about the most. The Shark gives off its phenomenal flavours as soon as it is lit. With a range of flavour notes present, from spices to citruses, there are many complex layers apparent in each puff. As you continue to smoke the cigar, tones of nuttiness, cider and cedar make themselves known, contributing to a truly fantastic flavour!
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