Photo courtesy of Cigar Aficionado
This was very difficult. I’ve been working on this for a couple of weeks and I’ve changed things around over and over. I had 365 cigars to peruse for position. That’s right. I reviewed one cigar every single day of the year. So after enduring severe shock therapy, I made my final decisions.
Some of these cigars were rated by me. Others were not. Not every cigar is in order of their rating. I picked the ones that hit me at gut level. And worth their price point.
1. Bespoke Cotton Tail
2. Paul Garmirian 25th Anniversary Connoisseur
3. La Flor Dominicana Coronado 2015
4. Freya by Emma Viktorsson from Las Cumbres Tobacco
5. All My Ex’s by Ezra Zion
6. La Mission du L’Atelier
7. Espinosa Laranja Reserva
8. El Güegüense from Foundation Cigar Company
9. Arandoza Defcon
10. Southern Draw Cigars Kudzu
11. Meridian “Sopadre” by Cornelius & Anthony
12. Manolo Estate Serie 32 Habano
13. Nomad Estelí Lot 8613
14. El Galan Reserva Especial Habano
15. Protocol by Cubariqueño Cigar Company
16. La Flor Dominicana La Nox
17. Blessed Leaf 1611 by Ezra Zion Cigar Co.
18. Cohiba Nicaragua N54
19. Ave Maria Divinia
20. Ugly Christmas Sweater Red Blend 2015 by Ezra Zion Cigar Co.
21. BLK WKS Studio NBK by Black Label Trading Co.
22. Alec Bradley Tempus Nicaragua
23. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa
24. El Centurion H-2K-CT by My Father Cigars
25. La Imperiosa by Crowned Heads
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Cigar Reviews by the Katman 
Outstanding list Uncle. Have tried all but 4 of them and going after those now based onyour recommendation. We still agree at least 85% of the time. Much better than I can sa for any of the others.
Thanks Bob. Was just told that CA had their list out. I checked it out and its full of shit.
I don’t think I’ve ever agreed with a statement more.
Thanks Phil!
Bruce
Good list. Did Jon Huber send you a thank you? LOL!
very good list , 10 times better than CA
I live in a corner of the universe where rare cigars are even rarer. Consequently don’t get the opportunity to try them all. My greater concern is, what will the FDA do? If they get their hands on cigars, every one on the list will be verboten. Let’s hope Congress does not give the FDA the necessary funding to ruin one of the last remaining joys in a man’s life.
Thank you so much! I feel very honored! And indeed I see many many super cigars on your list!
Thanks for all your invaluable insight.
I was impressed by Opus X release this year. Wonderful smelling cigar before lit and exquisite flavor profile. Of course they cost 17 to 21 dollars but I smoked close to 15 of them and all were perfect in every respect. Kind of a treat in my 60th year and I won’t be indulging so extravagantly in 2016 but these were the best of 2015 in my humble opinion.
Thanks for the great reviews Phil and of course the great stories and insight included in every review.
Peace. Tall Richard
I avoided putting super expensive cigars on my list. This isn’t what most smokers smoke. So I kept my list to pretty affordable cigars.
Fantastic list! I very much enjoy your reviews! Although I’m not Jewish, all my friends growing up were. Hearing your pithy reviews brings back great memories! I wish you the very best. Thank you for the great service you provide! I always check you first!
Thanks Brian.
P
Hi Phil. True to form… a Top 25 list everyone can enjoy!! I respect your reviews and look for them on a daily basis. I also love all of the side notes and stories. I’m truly sorry about your health issues. You and your family are in our prayers. Keep up the fight. yours truly, Scott
Wow! I love this list!!! And, thank you for including BLK WKS Studio NBK, we are incredibly honored!
If we can’t make fun of death we are not really enjoying life.
A man finds out he has two months to live due to brain cancer. He gets his son and goes to the local bar to drink it up. He tells all of his friends at the bar that he only has a couple of months to live much to their dismay and everybody is so sad and the drinks come freely. One of the locals asks him what he is dying of? He says I’m dying of AIDS boys. His son is aghast and later on asks his dad “dad why would you tell everybody that you have AIDS”? Dad replies “son I don’t want anybody sleeping with your mama once I’m gone”! Bless you and thank you so much for these excellent reads! Keep on kicking ass and enjoying those sticks sir!!
LOL! Now that’s funny. When my time comes, I shall use that simple story. Thanks for putting a big smile on my puss first thing in the morning, Jonathan!
All the best,
Phil
Great list and related stories.
I have the urge for a fatty pastrami on rye, a Dr. Brown’s cream and a piece of derma.
Thanks.
.
Hey there Katman! I assume you left off the Cubanacan HR from your Top 25 (2015) rankings due to it’s price? I am curious….If price were not a factor, where would it have landed in your rankings? Based on your review of the Hermoso, I would have expected it to have a very high ranking. Personally, it was one of my favorite cigars last year and I was lucky enough to find boxes of the sublime vitola at half their suggested retail price, so I snagged a couple of them to sit on for special occasions and to age. If you have the time and/or want to do it, I think it would be awesome if you could have two separate rankings; one being cigars under a certain price (ie: $10 or $12) and the other to include all cigars regardless of price. This would show us which cigars you believe have the most value depending on where they fall in line in relation to their expensive counterparts, as well as not omitting the stellar, more expensive sticks that demand more from our wallets. Also, it would show us which sticks you felt were the best out of the ones you tried and/or reviewed last year, and years going forward. I am a fairly new reader of your site and have been catching up with many of your past reviews/articles and must say I always find enjoyment when I read your assessments, as well as your extra tidbits (especially when you write about your past experiences regarding your music career). I have a strong interest in music, and classic rock to boot, so it is always entertaining when I read about your experiences from years ago. I also seem to have a similar palate to yours as I usually agree with your assessments on the sticks you have reviewed that I have tried. Between you and Cigar Coop, if you both write a good review for a particular stick and I haven’t tried it yet, you can guarantee I will get my hands on it. I just wanted to say thank you for all you do and for providing me a means of entertainment while smoking each day, as well as information on sticks I need to try or stay away from. I wish you good health and hope you are able to keep on doing what you do. Peace brother, and Happy Smoking!