FOH Cuban Top 20... 2022

[El Presidente]

Tough year to judge as production / availability was down some 60% on 2021.  

So let's work with that we have:

Top 20 in 2022 is  based upon:

• Regular availability throughout the year. 
• Inspection of at least 3 full mastercases. 
• Consistency:

1. Quality
2. Construction
3. Flavour

• Utility. Delivering pound for pound Cuban experience excellence. 

 

20. Cohiba Siglo II. 

It had a great year but since May has been laden with a huge $ tag. Some of the best Siglo II ever were made in 2021/22 but there is much better value eslewhere. If you have the coin for superb quality Petit Corona and don't give a flying fig about price.....you are already smoking the 2021/22 regularly without any drama in getting enough supply. 

 

19. Bolivar Corona Junior 

Great  year for the BCJ. Smoking so damn rich, full and sweet. 

 

18. Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial 

Consistent performer all year. The coffee cake cream element dives this cigar superbly. 

 

17. Trinidad Coloniales 

Excellent year for Trinidad Coloniales but again weighed down by Cigarmageddon price increases. Such a shame for a cigar which showcases Cuban tobacco excellence. 

 

16. Bolivar Belicoso Finos 

Good year for BBF lovers but there have been quite a few very good years back to back.  They have been medium bodied, full flavoured in 21/22. Wonderfully balanced. 

15  Juan Lopez Seleccion Number 2 

I love my Juan Lopez Number 2 but I still don't believe they have reached the heights of that 2018 production run. Close. So close. 

 

14. Montecristo Number 1 

Monte 1 have been on fire in 2021/22. They have been on fire for a number of years. I notice that there are still some reported construciton issues with them but that isn't something that I have experienced. Pure Montecristo flavour in a classy Lonsdale delivery. 

 

13. H. Upmann Connoisseur Number 2 

Regular rotation cigar for me. I am an avid lover of the Punch Punch over the past two years but it has been thin on the ground in 2022. The Connie 2 has stepped up and taken it's place for me. Medium bodied, rich profile. Just the way I like my cigars. 

 

12. Montectisto Number 2 

In terms of 2022 supply,  Cuba has ridden on the back of three cigars. The Monte 2 was one of those three and it has stood up magnificently under immense pressure. Now you may not like the Monte 2 flavour profile but the overall quality this year has been as good as any year since I have been in business. 

'

11.  Montecristo Number 4 

Here is another one of those three cigars Habanos has relied upon this year. I don't understand why some people think that the Monte 4 is somehow beneath them. If you haven't tried one in some time, trade for a couple or pick up a quarter pack. They are always in my humidor and "hit the spot" time after time after time. 

 

10.  Montecristo Number 3 

The most underated cigar in the Habanos lineup. This is a sensational Corona in 21/22. Corona's have fallen out of favour and it is one of the reasons I want to do one with Nudies or MoFOH in 2023. I am using the 2022 Monte Number 3 as my baseline, as the cigar I have to better. It is a very high bar. 

 

9.  Juan Lopez Seleccion Number 1 

What a treat the JLS1 have been in 2023. Smooth, rich and Juan Lopez sweet. Once upon a time you needed to age them 5+ years but that is no longer the case. Yes, they will still age magnificently but 24-36 months is all they need and even a 90 day lay down is going to deliver you a 91 point cigar most times. 

 

8. Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Number 2 

Epi 2's came back with a vengence in 2022. All aspects of qualtiy were up. There a little more "oomph" to them as well which I appreciate. 

 

7. Cohiba Robusto 

The biggest kudos you can give to the Cohiba Robusto is that pricing moved from the $500's to the $1400-1500's and sales levels held. Well they have held to date at least. You may not be a Cohiba man and that is fine. For those who love the Cohiba profile you know how good the 2022 Cohiba Robusto have been. They are on fire. 

 

6. Bolivar Petit Cororna 

Consistently  the fullest bodied cigar in the Cuban lineup. Well to my tastes at least. The BPC has been one of the standout cigars of 2022. The flavour is big, intense. The cigar delivers exactly what it promises and does so to the last draw. 

 

5. Hoyo de Monterrey Rio Seco 

The Rio Seco rates so highly because it is a unique blend consitently delivered to a very high standard. That ginger bread/coffee cake base is sublime. Whoever blended this cigar is truely a master. I may dislike the size/vitola but I can take nothing away from the execution of someting special. 

 

4. H. Upmann Number 2 

The best Piramide of 2022. It wasn't lumbered with the high production numbers of the Monte 2. Throughout 2022 I was blown away by the flavour intensity of the Upmann Number 2. They were regularly available but never in high numbers. let's hope we see some increased availability at the same quality level in 2023. 

 

3. Ramon Allones Specially Select 

21/22 RASS are changing peoples opinions about RASS. You can't give them a higher compliment than that. The best in many many years. For me, the best since 08. 

2. H. Upmann Magnum 54 

The Upmann 54 is a sleeper. For sheer availability and flavour/construction consistency it has been a deamon in 2022. I dislike the vitola but that is my problem. I am love with the flavour profile and i haven't had less than a 91 point experience this year. 

 

1. Partagas Serie D Number 4 

I am going to give the PSD4 the 2022 gong because it has almost single handedly carried the Cuban cigar industry on it's back and it did so with aplomb. Given the huge numbers they pumped out in 2022, quality was exceptionally good. D4 flavour consistency was also a high point. 

In such a disasterous year, the D4 shone like a beacon. 

 

 

[BoliDan]

Very nice list. JL1 at #9 is so FOH. 

[Chas.Alpha]

Now that's a "Top 25" list that is worth paying attention to! Thanks for the fun memories CCzar and FOH!!! 

[MossybackR]

If Punch Punch were more available it surely would rank high.

[99call]

Yep the Punch Punch of late would win this hands down if their numbers were good. 

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, MossybackR said:

If Punch Punch were more available it surely would rank high.

Unfortunately, they have been as scarce as hen's teeth these past 6 months. 

[dicigar]

WOW @El Presidente got me interested in the Mag 54. How does it compares with the connie 2, flavor and strength wise?

[cigaraholic]

Thanks for the list!

Sadly there are less than a handful of these I will still buy, unless I go back to my old job robbing liquor stores.

[Connoisseur Kim]

Happy to see Montecristo No. 1 being on the list too 👍. I feel glad that Montecristo No. 1 pops more frequently on 24:24 than the past since it's one of my favourite CCs and CCs I would like to stockpile as many as possible 😊.

[SonGoku]

I would definitely be interested in nudie in a corona format. I love that classic format. Hoping I like the nudies enough for them to be a cheap everyday cigar alternative to the cubans. Just missed getting my first nudies today.

[oneizzzz]

19 hours ago, Connoisseur Kim said:

Happy to see Montecristo No. 1 being on the list too 👍. I feel glad that Montecristo No. 1 pops more frequently on 24:24 than the past since it's one of my favourite CCs and CCs I would like to stockpile as many as possible 😊.

Totally agree.  In evaluating my smoking habits the other night, the Monte 1 turned out to been the cigar I reached for the most all year.  Went through a whole box in 2022; I haven't even come close to that with another cigar.  They really hit the spot for me.

[Connoisseur Kim]

4 hours ago, oneizzzz said:

Totally agree.  In evaluating my smoking habits the other night, the Monte 1 turned out to been the cigar I reached for the most all year.  Went through a whole box in 2022; I haven't even come close to that with another cigar.  They really hit the spot for me.

Much agreed @oneizzzz! Monte 1 hits the spot for me too and I think its refined blending makes it more unique from other cigars 🙂. I also found that it tastes better than worldwide popular Monte 4 and monsterous fat RG cigars👍.

[KCCubano]

12 minutes ago, Connoisseur Kim said:

Much agreed @oneizzzz! Monte 1 hits the spot for me too and I think its refined blending makes it more unique from other cigars 🙂. I also found that it tastes better than worldwide popular Monte 4 and monsterous fat RG cigars👍.

I think current production very good if well rolled. Last two I tried were plugged to the max

[Connoisseur Kim]

20 minutes ago, KCCubano said:

I think current production very good if well rolled. Last two I tried were plugged to the max

My Monte 1 Clearance box has a box lid issue and I hope it's just a box lid problem, since my Korean FOH buddies said some of their CC boxes tasted really good with good draw but had a nasty box lid problem like my Monte 1. I agree that skinny CCs like this taste good when they're well rolled.

[coug28]

Tip o’the cap to the PSD4. A well deserved nod. Twas always a bridesmaid, but never the Bride….until now. 

 

 

 

[Capn_Jackson]

Love to see these three Bolivar vitolas, and both JL’s on the list. Good stuff!

[Hollywood Ninja]

Nice to see HdM EE on the list. I discovered those this year via a trade and have been very happy with the box.

Sent from my SM-G996U1 using Tapatalk

[shokao]

The FOH lists makes much more sense than most lists out there. 

Couldn't agree more: specially with Montys, HDMs and PSD4 positions. 

[Buffalo]

Recently, I have had a couple of MC #3s and I am not sure if I have smoked a better cigar. Just am amazing array of delectable flavors.                                       The Boli PC has been right on its heels, though. Wonderful cigar, but in a different flavor realm.

[Ford2112]

I killed my box of Boli PCs over the summer. They were all on point!

[Monterey]

21 hours ago, Connoisseur Kim said:

My Monte 1 Clearance box has a box lid issue and I hope it's just a box lid problem, since my Korean FOH buddies said some of their CC boxes tasted really good with good draw but had a nasty box lid problem like my Monte 1. I agree that skinny CCs like this taste good when they're well rolled.

You'll have to report back.  I picked up 5 boxes of these a year ago.  Every box had the lid unable to close fully.  Won't get to them myself for awhile. Haven't heard anyone comment on how these oversized cigars smoke.

[Connoisseur Kim]

3 hours ago, Monterey said:

You'll have to report back.  I picked up 5 boxes of these a year ago.  Every box had the lid unable to close fully.  Won't get to them myself for awhile. Haven't heard anyone comment on how these oversized cigars smoke.

Sure thing @Monterey. Will let you know when I puff my Monte 1 box. Hope my Monte 1 box will be great as my previous Monte 1 experience.

[Hoepssa]

After a decade I relight my fire on D4. They are so delicious. I started to stock more 20-21 Habanos when I see them, only Mag 54 & D4 I love them fresh.

[westg]

No Monte  Petit Edmundo Rob ?

[El Presidente]

12 hours ago, westg said:

No Monte  Petit Edmundo Rob ?

West, the difference between their best and worst in 2022 was just too large.  They could be excellent or very average and that was out of the same mastercase. We picked the eyes out of them for FOH but there were plenty of .....as Lurch would say...