[Editors Note: As most Cigar Blogs will or already have, we present our Top Cigars of 2011 List, which will consist of the Top 10 Non Cuban Cigars that Steve, Patrick and I have smoked this year, along with 7 Honorable Mentions (which are presented today in no particular order) and some Miscellaneous awards. All cigars on these lists had to be officially released in the year 2011 in order to be eligible. And as with ALL Top Lists, this is a list culled solely from cigars that we have smoked...In other words, there were quite a few cigars released last year, but it would be impossible for any one person to smoke (and review) every cigar that made it to the market, so while there may be better cigars that were announced then are on this list (although we doubt it), we believe this list constitutes the very best cigars that were released in 2011.
Also, we are aware that there may be a few cigars with higher scores (on the original reviews) are lower on the list then some with lower scores. The reason behind this is simple: Consistency. While we base our (initial) review on a specific numbers of cigars that are smoked at that time, we continue to smoke our Top Cigars though out the year (in fact, we have boxes or bundles that we have been smoking from of each one of the Top 10), and the sticks with the most consistency in terms of Flavor and Construction at the end of the year are ranked #1-#10.
As always, we welcome your comments, suggestions and conflicting opinions. ~ed.]
2011 Honorable Mentions
(in no particular order):
Four Kicks by Crowned Heads

I was Very excited to when I heard that Four Kicks was going to be produced by E.P. Carrillo, as everything they touch seems to turn to gold...However, this being E.P. Carrillo's first venture into producing a separate brand, I was (just a bit) concerned about how it would taste...Would it be just another E.P. Carrillo blend with a different name, or something different altogether? Well, I am happy to report that it is a little of both...It seems I could taste some similarities to the E.P. Carrillo profile (I would compare it to the Short Run if pressed), but the Four Kicks stands on it's own...A wonderful blend of strong and sweet, with a great kick (yeah, yeah, no pun intended) that really sets the whole cigar off...This would be a wonderful every day cigar: strong enough for you to take notice, complex enough to keep you interested, great construction that really is a joy to smoke and with a price that is quite affordable, especially in the smaller vitolas...
Undercrown

I am absolutely confident that this cigar will do well, it’s definitely something unique and it has great flavor to it. Personally, the only issue I have with it is while I was smoking it all I could think of was…"I would rather be smoking a Liga Privada". The Liga Privada line is held in such high regard to me that I found this to be a let down just by default. However, due to availability, I would definitely pick up this cigar, and truth be told this will probably become part of my rotation for when I want something truly unique, even if it’s not really in my wheelhouse strength or body wise. Drew Estate is at it again, creating and producing products that are innovative and full of passion, which to me is what Undercrown really represents.
Cain Daytona Lancero

I was quite impressed with this cigar, to say the least. Just like the Cain F Lancero, while it is obviously shares quite a few of same profile characteristics, the lancero vitola the lancero in this line changes the profile TOTALLY from the other vitolas in the line...While I like most of the sizes in the Daytona line, this is easily the best out of all of them...How does it compare to one of our Top 10 Cigars of last year, the Cain F Lancero? Honestly, I liked the Cain F Lancero more (I think I just like the blend a bit better overall), but it is pretty close, and I would be perfectly happy to smoke either one of them at any point...
Tatuaje TAA Release

When Pete mentioned that the blend was "similar to the styles of Brex and Tenderloin", I (along with every one else, I am sure) started salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs...So, the biggest question on everyone's mind is most likely "Does this taste anything like the PTL or the Rex"? The answer is: Sort of...There are definitely some similarities, but In my opinion, the TAA is not as full bodied as either of them...It is also closer to the Pork Tenderloin in mouth feel (they are both very "Gritty" on the palette), and closer to the Barclay Rex in profile (with the noticeable sweetness and less spice), but is not quite as complex or as balanced as either of the other two...Good enough to buy a box to put down, for sure...
E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut

EPC absolutely Nailed this blend...I have been disappointed in the recent lackluster Connecticut releases by various manufacturers who seem to sacrifice complexity in the name of "Mildness", but the New Wave Connecticut has an almost perfect combination of creaminess, sweetness and spice, with great, easily discernable flavors that change from one puff to the next as the smoke progresses...Throw in the price ($4.50 for the smallest and best vitola) and you have an instant classic on your hands...(Of course, you have to actually like Connecticut wrappers in the first place)...I have a feeling this will be one of the sleeper hits of the year, and will be getting a box immediately upon their release...
San Lotano Oval by AJ Fernandez

I could definitely see this cigar as being on my top ten list for the year so far, I could say that about the regular San Lotano Habano line but this takes it even further for me, a great innovative shape, perfect vitola, wonderful smooth flavor profile, a complex and interesting smoke. I will definitely be buying some of these and checking out the rest of the sizes because i was extremely impressed with this cigar.
La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro

I had heard that this blend was not as strong as Litto's normal cigars, and that definitely proved to be the case...However, I did not expect the wonderful sweetness that blended so well with the pepper and spice (and other flavors)...This is an wonderfully balanced blend, with flavors coming at you from every side (especially in the smaller vitolas)...It seems to me that Litto produced this cigar for more flavors and less strength, and succeeded...
_______________________________________________________________________
Top Cigars Smoked (but not offically reviewed) in 2011:
- Cromagnon
- Curivari
- AF1 by Emilio Cigars
- Litto Gomez Small Batch #4
- Jaime García Reserva Especial Limited Edition (Connecticut)
- J. Fuego Sangre de Toro Originals
- Illusione ~MK~ Ultra
_______________________________________________________________________
Most Unique Non Cuban Cigar Packaging
(in no particular order)
Viaje Zombie


Room 101 Namakubi Papi Chulo

Tatuaje Wolfman

Liga Privada "A"

E.P. Carrillo "Dark Rituals"

"My Uzi Weighs a Ton"

Viaje "C-4"
(Photo via Viaje Facebook Page)
_______________________________________________________________________
Worst Cigar of the Year
Draper’s 124th Anniversary by La Aurora
We did not review many horrible cigars this year (including this one), but this cigar by La Aurora was the absolute worst that I can remember, not just in flavor and construction, but also because we had such high hopes for it (knowing what has come out of the collaboration between Draper's and manufacturers before, i.e. the WCD 120).
_______________________________________________________________________
Best New Brand (2011)
Four Kicks by Crowned Heads

New cigar brands coming out (and even older brands) really need to take a page from the Crowned Heads way of doing things, especially in regards to the official website (which you can find HERE) and the use of social media...Well designed, great explanations and exclusive content and a blog that is actually updated on a regular basis (with relevant info)...I am sure it takes quite a bit of time and effort, but I think it really makes people more invested in the brand itself.
_______________________________________________________________________
Best Under $2 Smoke
J. Fuego Sangre de Toro Originals

An J. Fuego Original vitola won this award last year (in that case, the Origen Original) and I am happy to say that the Sangre de Toro version is even better (for the same price)...Small, cheap, and extremely flavorful, it is the perfect 30-45 minute smoke. If you have not tried one, you are missing out...
_______________________________________________________________________
Coming This Week!
- Wednesday, Dec. 28th- 10th-6th Place 2011 Cigar of the Year Awards!
- Thursday, Dec. 29th- 5th-1st Place 2011 Cigar of the Year Awards!
- Friday, Dec. 30th- A Review of the Opus X Scorpio Maduro!