FOH top 26 of 2021 Cigars 26-1

[El Presidente]

All ratings are based upon 20/21 stock.  

In order to make the list I needed to have inspected a minimum of three mastercases throughout the year. 

Rankings are subjective and based upon quality (construction/wrapper/aroma) and flavour (smoking experience). 

 

 

26 

 

H. Upmann Magnum 54 

When people talk about cigars that "fly under the radar", this one is it.  It has plenty of fans and they don't mind one bit. The quality this year has been exceptional and the smoking experience all toast, almonds, coffee shortbread. 

 

 

25 

 

Trinidad Media Luna 

In a year where there has been a drought of premium cigars the Media Luna has been somewhat readily available. It has performed flawlessly for most of the year and i haven't seen a bad batch.  It has been one of the workhorses of the Trini line in 2021. 

 

 

24 

 

San Cristobal La Fuerza 

Fuerza has been a standout performer over the last few years and it hasn't come off the boil in 2021.  A 23 ranking is a superb effort but it has been the fall guy for an exceptional year where the quality and smoking experience of most cigars has improved dramatically. 

 

 

23

 

Romeo y Julieta Ehibicion Number 4 

Those rosado wrappers were largely back throughout 20/21 stock and it made a huge difference. Still one of my favourite cigars but it is one cigar that demands the correct elements to be in play for it to perform as it should. 

 

22

 

Partagas Lusitania 

Supplies really dried up in the last quarter but the quality has been excellent throughout the year. We saw a smattering of Ramon Allones Gigantes and HDM DC  in 2021 but Lusi carried the DC flag and did it well. 

 

 

21

 

Montecristo Number 4 

For the numbers they pump out they did a brilliant job these past 12 months. People pass them up, but they shouldn't. A great box of Monte 4 in the humidor is a must for me at all times. Great value, great flavour, consistent. 

 

20

 

Punch Short De Punch. 

Full flavoured, good value and the quality improved the more we saw of 21 stock. If it were a touch more wrapper consistent it would be further up the list. 

 

19

 

Juan Lopez Seleccion Number 2 

Quality was high in 21 but it faced much sterner competition from the other robusto's that it normally leaves in it's trail.  still my go to Robusto .....but in 21 i have been sleeping around more and more  with Regio/BRC/RASS/D4 

 

18

 

Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure Number 2 

Huge improvement this year after a number of mediocre years. hard to find a bad box in 21 and the flavour complexity is back to the great Epi 2 of old.  Fantastic to have it back to where it should be. 

 

 

17

 

H. Upmann Magnum 46 

21 magnum 46 are some of the best quality magnum 46 that I have ever seen. The 46 is one cigar that i live at the 5-8 years normally but I suspect 3-5 will see these at or near their peak. 

 

 

16

 

Trinidad Coloniales 

I have a whole new respect for the Coloniales in 2021. The Cohiba siglo II had a remarkable year but not far behind was the Coloniales. 

Class, flavour, finesse personified. 

 

15

 

El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme 

Welcome back fine lady. 

There were never huge quantities but it met our list minimum requirements and what was seen was generally superb.  They are smoking citrus honey sweet with only upside to come.

 

 

14

 

H. Upmann Number 2 

We saw some stunning Upmann 2 mastercases in 2021 and most of them with just an exquisite Rosado wrapper.  there was a lot of competition in the Piramide ranks in 2021 but the Upmann 2 more than held its own. 

 

13

 

Montecristo Number 1

The flavour, construction and general consistency of this Lonsdale in 2021 has by far been the best that I have seen since 1996.

It has been an absolute star. 

 

 

12

 

Montecristo Number 2 

They pumped out a truckload in 2021 and that is what makes its performance so special. For all the other piramide's combined they would pump our 20 Monte 2. It is a workhorse and this year they got that workhorse to perform like a Thoroughbred. 

 

 

11

 

Bolivar Belicoso Finos 

One of my go-to cigars continued to get better in 2021. I made it a point of smoking fresh BBF from box to box in our store walk in and I couldn't remember anything less than a very good cigar. Firm favourite done exceptionally well in 21. 

 

 

10

 

Punch 898 PCC Regional 

They were still pumping them out in 2021 and they deserve to be on this list. What I love about the Punch 898 is that it delivers such a unique peanut/coffee profile. It has found a legion of fans on the forum. 

 

 

 

9

 

Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de  Rio Seco 

This cigar flies a little under the radar but there are plenty of you who have cottoned onto how good it is.  The sweet /savoury spice interplay is damn moreish!

Actually, it has been way better than good in 2021. It probably deserves to be higher up the list but it faces some tough competition in an super competitive year.

 

 

8

 

Cohiba Siglo II

The best year for Siglo II ever. 

....ever. 

If only they weren't so damn expensive!

 

 

 

7

 

Ramon Allones Specially Select 

RASS has had a benchmark year. The stewed fruits are back and they are a far better cigar as a result. 20/21 has been magnificent and I haven't seen any drop off in quality or blend. 

Dress box or cab...it hasn't really mattered. 

 

 

6

 

Bolivar Royal corona 

What a year for the BRC!  i haven't smoked better BRC in 20+ years. Far richer on the palate with the cocoa spice on full display. Special in 21. 

 

 

 

5

 

Partagas Serie D Number 4 

In 2021 the D4 ( of all cigars inspected) averaged the highest % of PSP per mastercase.   That is testament to the quality seen. You only have to read the forum feedback and you know that 20/21 D4 have been smoking incredibly well. You don't have to ....but lay down as many as you can afford for a 5 year nap. Thank me later. 

 

 

4

 

Punch Punch 

I think it was around May 21 when the emails , PM's, WhatsApp messages started coming in about the 20/21 Punch Punch.  I had been spruiking them for a while but they have gone from good cigar in 19 to GREAT cigars in 21. Seriously special right now. 

 

3

 

Saint Luis Rey Regio

What a year for Reggie! 

Brilliant. take some almonds/nuts, a few pieces of dried fruit and pop them in your mouth. that is the Regio profile in 20/21.  Just exceptional execution. 

 

 

2

 

Cohiba Robusto 

Even Cohiba sceptics acknowledge that Cohiba Robusto was on fire in 2021.  The three Cohiba's in constant production throughout 2021 were the Siglo I / II and Cohiba Robusto. All three in terms of consistency/quality were light years ahead over previous years.  

What impressed me most however was that the 21 Cohiba Robusto  hit the ball out of the park in terms of flavour. The perfect interplay of citrus, honey, cream, lemongrass and milk coffee.

1

Partagas Serie P Number 2 

There were a couple of cigars this year that I have received constant text/PM/WhatsApp messages on.  None more than the 21 Partagas Serie P number 2. 

This is another example of a cigar that in 21 has gone from good/very good to "out of this planet" great 

Medium bodied, full flavoured with sourdough, espresso, raisins, touch of sweet paprika spice.   

Cigar after cigar, box after box, they have been flavour bombs.  I don't want the music to stop. 

 

 

 

[Juliano88]

It's that time of year!!

[jbers]

Each 2020 magnum 54 I’ve had has been absolutely fantastic.  Definitely recommend to those who have been on the fence.  

[El Presidente]

Updated 

[El Presidente]

Updated 

[coug28]

Thanks @Elpresidente for doing this…you may have done this before in years past, but it’s the first I’ve seen such a thread. Either way, this is a cool/fun thing to do, so we can see what’s going on with the quality of cigars coming out of Cuba….and there can’t be many who see more than what you do. Hopefully this is a tradition that can continue. Best opportunity we have to get a small glimpse into Habanos through your eyes. 
 

Just wanted to say that your time spending to do/share this insight is appreciated. So again, thank you! 

[CptGoodTimes]

Wow…not inside Top 10 yet and Lusi, Up2, & Monte2 off the board.  Get your popcorn ready 

[Enduin]

@El Presidente Does it look like the '21 Coloniales are even better than the '20? Or on the same level?

[El Presidente]

7 hours ago, Enduin said:

@El Presidente Does it look like the '21 Coloniales are even better than the '20? Or on the same level?

I think if anything they have got a touch more consistent. Not much in it however 

 

 

[El Presidente]

Updated 

[HawkI84]

On 12/15/2021 at 6:22 PM, jbers said:

Each 2020 magnum 54 I’ve had has been absolutely fantastic.  Definitely recommend to those who have been on the fence.  

Agreed. I just started getting in to CC's this year, so there's only a couple cigars I've got multiple boxes of - this is one of them (Monte 2's and Short de Punch are the others, despite some construction/draw issues with those). Still waiting for a lot of them to age a bit longer.

[El Presidente]

updated. Only 1 and 2 to come. 

[Bri Fi]

Really surprised the SLR and punch punch beat out the D4

[El Presidente]

21 minutes ago, Bri Fi said:

Really surprised the SLR and punch punch beat out the D4

To be fair, there was a bees pecker between the top 10

[NicPac]

52 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

To be fair, there was a bees pecker between the top 10

Bees pecker 😂😂😂 never heard that one before. That’s definitely getting added to the vocabulary 

[Enduin]

On 12/20/2021 at 6:28 PM, El Presidente said:

I think if anything they have got a touch more consistent. Not much in it however 

 

 

Thanks @El Presidente! Is that consistency across the board in terms of factory codes or does it seems like BSM/Donatien is still a better choice for '21 Trinis?

[Juliano88]

P2 and Espi? P2 and Sig III? Maybe E2...so many options. 

[coug28]

3 minutes ago, Juliano88 said:

P2 and Espi? P2 and Sig III? Maybe E2...so many options. 

My $ is on CoRo and PSP2! 

[Juliano88]

3 minutes ago, coug28 said:

My $ is on CoRo and PSP2! 

That make's more sense. Haven't had a CoRo this year but heard many great things about 21 boxes. On my hit list for next haul. 

[OrangePaw]

16 minutes ago, coug28 said:

My $ is on CoRo and PSP2! 

That was my guess as well. 👍

[joncat]

I'm going with PSE2 #2 and Coro #1.

Truth be told I love them all!!!!

I love to mix it up.

[Rhinoww]

Regio getting some good love. Well deserved from my vantage point. 

[El Presidente]

updated

[Bijan]

7 hours ago, coug28 said:

My $ is on CoRo and PSP2! 

You nailed it!

[OrangePaw]

1 minute ago, Bijan said:

You nailed it!

💥 💥