14 Top-Rated Cigars to Experience Right Now

Finding the ultimate smoke is a journey of discovery, whether you are unwinding by the pool or enjoying an afternoon in a private lounge setting. Cigar Aficionado’s blind tasting panel recently put 72 premium cigars through their paces, with 43 netting scores of 90 points or more. From classic Cubans to Nicaraguan estate blends, here are 14 of the finest smokes rated in the issue—expanded with tasting notes, historical context, and paired with authoritative cigar and luxury resources.

The Standout Selections at a Glance

Deep-Dive Reviews & Tasting Profiles

1. La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Churchill (96 Points, $10.50) The stately Churchill format has made a triumphant return, taking top honors on this list. Blended by My Father Cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua, for Ashton Cigars, the Mi Amor utilizes an oily Mexican San Andrés wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. It envelops the palate in rich marzipan, toffee, dark chocolate, and roasted nuts, making it a staple recommendation on Cigar Aficionado.

2. H. Upmann Connossieur A (94 Points, £46.50) Exclusive to specialist Habanos stores, this 5 1/2 x 52 vitola shares dimensions with the iconic Cohiba Genios. Produced under the historic Habanos S.A. portfolio, it brings delicate lavender, peach, and gingerbread notes that pair exceptionally well with single malt scotch listed on Whisky Advocate.

3. La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull (94 Points, $22.70) Designed by Litto Gomez, this uniquely shaped Salomon won Cigar of the Year in 2016 and continues to perform at an elite level. Hand-rolled at the La Flor Dominicana factory in Tamboril, Dominican Republic, its 64 ring gauge delivers an impeccable burn, weaving leather, almond, and cinnamon profiles together, as often featured in Halfwheel industry coverage.

4. Padrón Family Reserve No. 85 (94 Points, $25.80) Honoring founder José Orlando Padrón’s 85th birthday, this box-pressed robusto is crafted by Padrón Cigars using sun-grown tobacco aged for up to ten years. The smoke offers an earthy cocoa core reminiscent of peaty Islay whiskies featured on Distiller.

5. Bolivar New Gold Medal (93 Points, £47.50) Encased in gold foil, this 6 1/2 x 48 toro is sold exclusively through La Casa del Habano franchises. The profile transitions from initial floral notes into salted caramel, cappuccino, and nutmeg, offering a luxurious experience covered by luxury publications like Robb Report.

6. Casa Carrillo Encore Majestic (93 Points, $14.15) Former Cigar of the Year winner Ernesto Perez-Carrillo crafted this Nicaraguan puro at the E.P. Carrillo Cigar Company facility. It delivers rich notes of chocolate malt, black pepper, and roasted coffee beans, frequently reviewed by taste testers at Cigar Snob Magazine.

7. Montecristo No. 2 (93 Points, £46.50) Perhaps the most famous Cuban torpedo in history, this benchmark smoke is regularly discussed across tobacco forums like Reddit Cigar Community. It evolves continuously, moving from dry earth into rich chocolate, dark raisin, and savory leather.

8. My Father Le Bijou 1922 Toro (93 Points, $12.30) Featuring a dark "double-oscuro" wrapper, this blend created by José "Pepin" Garcia is distributed widely through major retailers like Famous Smoke Shop. The full-bodied smoke releases bold waves of espresso, red pepper, and sweet molasses.

9. Ramon Allones by AJ Fernandez Churchill (93 Points, $16.50) Master blender A.J. Fernandez revitalized this heritage trademark owned in the U.S. by General Cigar Company. Crafted with tobaccos grown on his farms in Estelí, it yields a toasted, earthy finish available via suppliers like Cigar.com.

10. Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Profundo Churchill (93 Points, $12.75) A collaboration between Rafael Nodal of Altadis U.S.A. and A.J. Fernandez, this cigar features an extra-fermented oscuro wrapper leaf. The blend delivers deep cedar, leather, and roasted nut tones, often stocked by major distributors such as JR Cigar.

11. Joya de Nicaragua Número Uno Le Premier (92 Points, $21.00) As Nicaragua's oldest maker of handmade cigars, Joya de Nicaragua crafts this refined, medium-bodied smoke with a smooth Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper. Its signature pecan sandie flavor profile is highlighted by retail partners like Cigar Bid.

12. Long Live the Queen Maduro Queen’s Coronet (92 Points, $16.50) Produced by Caldwell Cigar Co., this Maduro vitola combines a Mexican San Andrés wrapper with Indonesian binder and Broadleaf fillers. It coats the palate with spicy licorice, orange peel, and coffee liqueur, available through outlets like Gotham Cigars.

13. Rocky Patel Thirtieth Anniversary Sixty (92 Points, $20.00) Celebrating three decades in the business, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars blended seven-year-aged binders with five-year-aged fillers for this box-pressed Sixty. The result is a bold, tannic smoke frequently highlighted on Smoke Inn.

14. Trinidad by Tommy Bahama Island Collection Marlin (92 Points, $18.50) Combining lifestyle fashion from Tommy Bahama with premium tobacco blending, this resort-ready smoke brings sweet wood, spice, and citrus notes. It offers an easygoing burn designed for casual relaxing, much like the private retreats found at The Airways Club.

Enhancing Your Tasting Experience

To truly evaluate cigars of this caliber, proper storage and environment are essential:

• Humidor Maintenance: Keep your sticks at 65–70% relative humidity using precision humidification systems from Boveda on Boveda Inc..

• Precision Cutting: Use a clean guillotine or V-cutter from Xikar or custom cutters from S.T. Dupont to preserve wrapper integrity.

• Lighting Ritual: Toast the foot gently using high-purity butane torches from Colibri to avoid scorching the delicate leaves.

• Temperature Storage: Store your collection in climate-controlled humidor cabinets from Liebherr to prevent tobacco beetles.

• Pairing Science: Match full-bodied maduros with aged rum from Diplomático Rum or small-batch bourbon from Bourbon Review.

• Lounge Etiquette: Always let a cigar die naturally in an ashtray rather than stubbing it out, as recommended by etiquette guides on Gentleman's Gazette.