The Competition
2020 was a troublesome year…life got extra busy, COVID made everything stupid, and I just couldn’t see how there was any particular cigar that rose so far above the rest that I could name it “Cigar of the Year”…so I didn’t.
Not to say that 2021 was any less busy…my mom passed, the company I had gone to work for kind of imploded, I co-founded a new business in the wake of that, I’ve had other personal life turmoil swirling around…and COVID is still making everything stupid…but…
2021 featured a good number of cigars that scored a 9.5 points out of 10 on my scale. Looking back, though, some stand out above the others (this is admittedly a problem is not have a more granular scoring system…but it’s one I’ve accepted).
In order of appearance, the 9.5 scorers that still stand out in my mind are…
- Zino Platinum Limited Edition 2020
- Foundation Tabernacle Goliath
- Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Corona Gorda
- CAO Zocala (2021)
- Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf
- Protocol Cigars Sir Robert Peel Natural
- La Gloria Cubana Medio Tiempo
- Cohiba Serie M
- Avo Syncro Caribe
- ATL Cigar Co. Libertad
- Southern Draw Rose of Sharon
- Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Brûlée Blue
Runner Up: Davidoff Dominicana
This new addition to the regular releases from Davidoff (regular, but limited, really) was a revelation to me…exceptionally complex and pleasing. All three vitolas were very good, but the Robusto is the one where the true magic happened.
Cigar of the Year: Davidoff The Chefs Edition (2021)
- Vitola: Churchill
- 7” x 48 ring gauge
- MSRP $39
- Purchased at Burns Tobacconist
Read my Original Review
This just rose head-and-shoulders above the rest. It’s just so complex, tasty, and pleasing overall. I was lucky to acquire about half a box of these beauties before they disappeared, both through purchase and being gifted them for my birthday. I have a couple left and they will be really hard to hold on to long-term because the urge to smoke them is so great…hopefully they will produce another run like they did with the first Chefs Edition.
It starts off nutty and sweet with notes of citrus and that signature Davidoff funk. White pepper tickled the palate and nose, while cedar and earth were evident on the finish of each puff. It’s truly an amazing experience that I would repeat time and time again if it were possible.
