The Best 5 Cigars I Smoked This Year: 2024
Personally, I’m not a fan of giving cigars a rating because it just doesn’t make sense. Over time, you’re bound to get results that feel completely off. For that reason, I prefer to focus on the best cigars I smoked in a year, based purely on experience. With that in mind, here’s my list of the best cigars I enjoyed in 2024.
Bolivar LE 2018 Soberanos Cigar
Length: 5 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 54
Starting off with the Bolivar Soberanos, this is a cigar I had early in the year at the launch of the Bolivar Regentes event. Hunters & Frankau provided these cigars as a comparison to the new Regentes, aiming to show how aging had enhanced the Soberanos. They explained that the Regentes is likely to improve in a similar way over time. Although the Regentes was already an excellent cigar in my experience that night, the Soberanos completely stole the spotlight.
Everything about this cigar was impeccable. The burn was flawless, the draw effortless, and the flavors absolutely incredible. It had the deep, heavy flavor notes you’d expect from a Bolivar cigar, yet it felt refined, as though the years had chiseled it into a perfectly smooth and balanced experience.
Joya De Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
The Cinco de Cinco is a cigar with deep significance to Joya de Nicaragua, representing 55 years of the company’s history. As the first proper Nicaraguan cigar company, every cigar they produce has a lot to live up to, and the Cinco de Cinco certainly does not disappoint. I had the pleasure of enjoying this cigar twice so far, both times in the company of Juan Martínez, which may have influenced how I experienced it. Regardless, this is without a doubt one of the best cigars I’ve smoked this year.
Unlike the previous anniversary release from Joya de Nicaragua, this cigar isn’t strong at all, but it is undeniably full of flavor. Beautifully complex, it stands out as a truly exceptional cigar. I haven’t enjoyed many cigars in the same way I’ve enjoyed this remarkable work of art.
Padrón 50th Anniversary Maduro Cigar
Length: 6 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 52
Padrón consistently ranks among my favorite cigar brands. Every year, one of the best cigars I smoke comes from this company, and this year was no different. Thanks to a friend I met in Bulgaria, I had the opportunity to try one of their incredibly rare cigars—the Padrón 50th Anniversary Maduro. These cigars were originally released as part of a special humidor, and those who purchased the humidor gained the ability to buy more of these cigars. Otherwise, they’re notoriously difficult to find.
In the video above, I may not appear overly impressed, as I described it as being very similar to one of the Family Reserve cigars, such as the No. 45. However, that’s by no means a criticism. The No. 45 is an incredible cigar, and I stand by my comment that the 50th Anniversary is quite similar, if not the same, in terms of profile, flavor, and body. Since the Family Reserve cigars rank among the best I’ve ever smoked, this is high praise. Either way, the Padrón 50th Anniversary Maduro was an exceptional experience and easily one of the best cigars I’ve enjoyed this year.
Montecristo Especial
Length: 7 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 38
In my humble opinion, the lancero is the best vitola for cigars. This format allows you to experience the blend in its purest and most effective form, which is why it’s often considered the aficionado’s vitola. The Montecristo Especial is one of those cigars that may not enjoy widespread popularity, but I absolutely adore it. No matter how many times I smoke it, it always surprises me with just how good it is. It’s almost as if I can’t believe a cigar can taste that amazing, and each time I revisit it, I’m reminded why it’s one of the best cigars I’ve ever had.
This year, I smoked a fair number of them, and every single one stopped me in my tracks. The Montecristo Especial is my meditation cigar, my “forget the world because nothing else matters” cigar, and my special occasion cigar. Even when compared to the Cohiba Lancero—which, to be fair, is an incredible cigar—the Montecristo Especial came out on top. Even if only marginally, it still surpassed the flagship for me. No matter what, the Montecristo Especial remains one of the best cigars I’ve ever smoked, and this year, it’s once again among my absolute favorites.
La Flor Dominicana Unico Salomon
Length: 7″
Ring Gauge: 64
I traveled extensively this year, meeting wonderful people and enjoying some incredible cigars. From the moment I took my first puff of this cigar, I knew it would be the best one I smoked all year. This cigar perfectly encapsulates why I’m a fan of La Flor Dominicana (LFD). Not only is it one of the most innovative companies in the cigar industry, but it also produces some of the finest cigars I’ve ever had the pleasure of smoking.
Beyond the intricate design and individual artwork present on each of these salon cigars, the vitola itself is stunning. It’s a challenging cigar to roll, requiring highly skilled rollers, which adds to its prestige. Admittedly, this isn’t a cigar I smoke often because of its sheer strength. It’s full-bodied in a way that’s rare for me, though not beyond my palate. Because of its intensity, the context—when, where, and your mood—really matters when smoking it. This isn’t a cigar you casually pull from the humidor; it’s a commitment, and I’m absolutely here for it.
It truly is a center-stage cigar, and without a doubt, the best cigar I smoked this year.
