We made it through the tough ride that was 2020 in great shape to proudly deliver to you our ninth annual Top 25 list. 

Every 12 months, we compile a list of all the cigars that have scored 91 or better in the calendar year’s ratings sections. Those smokes are then re-evaluated, and our panel of experts collectively decides on the best of the best.

1.) Espinosa Laranja Reserva Escuro

Manufacturer: San Lotano Factory (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Brazil; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro; Physical size: 6 x 52
MSRP: $11.45
Rating: 94

The Espinosa Laranja Reserva Escuro is a cigar that unanimously wowed our panel every time we tasted it. This impeccably box-pressed maduro was put through the blind-tasting wringer over and over, and it rose to the top each time. The cigar hits home on every level, delivering a perfectly balanced combination of espresso and dark chocolate notes countered by smooth spice and earth, all held together by a sweet, creamy background flavor. The voluminous smoke output is thick and heavy with rich aromas of cocoa, cedar, and a touch of tanned leather.

We present to you the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Escuro, Cigar Snob Magazine’s Cigar of the Year for 2020.

2.) My Father Fonseca

Manufacturer: My Father Cigars (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Cedros; Physical size: 6 1/2 x 54
MSRP: $11.00
Rating: 93

From the moment My Father Cigars announced the acquisition of the Fonseca brand at the end of 2019, smokers, retailers, and even many of My Father’s competitors eagerly waited to smoke the revamped and re-energized version of the venerated brand. The Garcías didn’t disappoint. They delivered a beautifully produced, medium-bodied blend that instantly became a mainstay in the rotation of many a smoker. It speaks to the García family’s incredible cigar making talent and impressive development in their growing operations that 100 percent of the tobacco in this world-class cigar is cultivated by the Garcías themselves. Bravo!

3.) Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro

Manufacturer: Oliva Cigars (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Figurado; Physical size: 5 1/2 x 52
MSRP: $15.06
Rating: 93

The highest ranking of the three perfectos on this year’s list, the Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Figurado features a lush Mexican San Andres wrapper and impeccable construction. In recent years almost every facet of the Oliva Cigars operation in Nicaragua has been overhauled with multiple groundbreaking technological improvements that earned the company the Cigar Manufacturing Technology Advancement Award in this publication’s All-Decade Awards. The quality and consistency of the cigars coming out of Oliva today rival that of any manufacturer in the business, and no other product highlights that better than the Serie V Melanio Maduro.

4.) Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut

Manufacturer: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Robusto; Physical size: 5 1/4 x 50
MSRP: $7.69
Rating: 93

It’s not often that a Connecticut wrapped cigar reaches these heights on our annual list; these blends typically lack the depth and complexity to duke it out with the heavier, stronger cigars. The reason is that if you pack a lot of flavorful and strong tobacco in the filler blend but cover it with a mild wrapper like Connecticut Shade, most often the wrapper’s flavor gets lost, and in the worst cases the blend goes completely off balance. The team at Aganorsa was able to navigate this dilemma thanks to its enviable stockpile of aged tobacco. Simply put, they’ve taken strong and flavorful tobacco but let it age to the point that it mellows enough to not overpower the delicate Connecticut Shade wrapper. What you end up with is this beautifully balanced and complex smoke, complemented by the nuanced notes of the Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper.

5.) Mi Querida Triqui Traca

Manufacturer: Nicaragua American Cigars (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic
Vitola: No. 648; Physical size: 6 x 48
MSRP: $11.75
Rating: 93

The Mi Querida Triqui Traca is an offshoot of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust’s original Mi Querida line. You can tell them apart by the band color, as the original Mi Querida is navy and gold while the Triqui Traca is garnet and gold. Brand owner Steve Saka has employed catchy and memorable names for all of his DTT brands, although many are difficult to pronounce for non-Spanish speakers. Mi Querida (pronounced me kay-ree-dah) is a term commonly used to mean “my mistress” while Triqui Traca (pronounced tree-key trah-kah) is Nicaraguan slang for firecrackers or fireworks. Nicaraguan closing ceremonies often involve setting off a string of firecrackers; “triqui traca” is a reference to the sound they make when they pop.

6.) Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro

Manufacturer: Tabacos Cubanica (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Imperial; Physical size: 6 x 54
MSRP: $16.80
Rating: 93

Even for the venerated Padrón family, back-to-back top ten finishes on this list speaks to their otherworldly level of consistency. The 1964 Anniversary Series commemorates the year that the late José Orlando Padrón started Padrón Cigars in Miami, FL.

7.) Casa Cuba – Divine Inspiration

Manufacturer: Tabacalera A. Fuente (Dominican Republic)
Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Dominican Republic; Filler: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Divine Inspiration; Physical size: 6 1/8 x 47
MSRP: $8.99
Rating: 93

The story behind the blend for the Casa Cuba Divine Inspiration is the stuff of legend but when our panel smokes for ratings and Top 25 rankings, they do so blind. There’s no story, no branding, no legend, they just smoke the cigar and this cigar delivers an Old World profile that sets it apart from everything else on this list.

8.) Rocky Patel Quarter Century

Manufacturer: Tabacalera Villa Cuba (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Honduras; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro; Physical size: 6 1/2 x 52
MSRP: $13.50
Rating: 93

Back in 1995 Rocky Patel made his first foray into cigars when he partnered with Phil Zanghi to start Indian Tabac Cigar Company. Twenty-five years later, Rocky Patel’s cigars can be found in just about every corner of the world. This cigar celebrates Rocky’s quarter century in the cigar business. Here’s to twenty-five more!

9.) Liga Privada T52

Manufacturer: La Gran Fábrica Drew Estate (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut; Binder: Brazil; Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro; Physical size: 6 x 52
MSRP: $14.33
Rating: 93

The Liga Privada T52 has been a favorite at Cigar Snob HQ since its release back in 2009. It is covered with a stalk-cut Habano wrapper sun grown in Connecticut. This tobacco, while more costly because of its provenance, harvesting and curing method, unquestionably makes the T52 a unique blend worthy of this lofty ranking.

10.) Warped La Colmena

Manufacturer: El Titan de Bronze (USA/Miami)
Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Ecuador; Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic
Vitola: Amado No. 44; Physical size: 5 1/2 x 44
MSRP: $15.95
Rating: 93

Translates to “The Beehive.” La Colmena is manufactured at the famed El Titan de Bronze in Little Havana and is only available in this classic Cuban size. The Cuban influence doesn’t end there; the rollers at El Titan use traditional Cuban methods that make La Colmena a cigar deserving of this coveted Top 10 ranking.

11.) HVC Edición Especial 2015

Manufacturer: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro; Physical size: 6 x 52
MSRP: $8.96
Rating: 93

Established in 2011 by Reinier Lorenzo, HVC Cigars is one of the more exciting young cigar companies of the last ten years. Reinier’s unapologetically high standards when it comes to flavor, aroma, and balance in his blends has helped HVC’s cigars earn consistently high marks in our ratings.

12.) AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Maduro

Manufacturer: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Brazil; Binder: Mexico; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Lancero; Physical size: 7 x 38
MSRP: $8.99
Rating: 92

The original AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes, released in 2016 with a gorgeous hybrid Connecticut/Habano wrapper, impressively took the number 5 spot on our Top 25 that year. While we did not rate the original blend this past year, we have fallen hard for the Bellas Artes Maduro lancero that you see here.

13.) Joya de Nicaragua Número Uno

Manufacturer: Joya de Nicaragua (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Le Premier; Physical size: 6 7/8 x 48
MSRP: $16.60
Rating: 92

In 1970, then-Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle visited President Nixon at the White House. After pleasantries, Nixon offered Somoza a cigar and much to Somoza’s surprise, the cigar that the White House had been sharing with global leaders after the Cuban embargo was this blend from Joya de Nicaragua.

14.) Aging Room Pura Cepa

Manufacturer: Plasencia Cigars (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Rondo; Physical size: 5 x 50
MSRP: $12.68
Rating: 92

The Aging Room brand originally launched with the M356 line at the end of 2011. The brand was known from day one for its very Dominican-dominant blends, but today the majority of its releases come from Nicaragua, including this one. The Aging Room Pura Cepa is manufactured by Plasencia Cigars in Estelí.

15.) Super Fly Maduro by Oscar Valladares

Manufacturer: Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co. (Honduras)
Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Honduras; Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras & Dominican Republic
Vitola: Super Corona; Physical size: 5 1/4 x 45
MSRP: $9.00
Rating: 92

Oscar Valladares’ story of perseverance and triumph should be an inspiration to the next crop of aspiring cigar makers. But this list is not about the story behind the brand; it’s about how the cigar performs when you don’t know what you’re smoking. And it is in that arena that the Super Fly Maduro shines brightest.

16.) Tatuaje Reserva Miami

Manufacturer: My Father Cigars (Miami)
Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Reserva J21; Physical size: 5 x 50
MSRP: $12.00
Rating: 92

This beautifully constructed robusto is made at the Miami factory of My Father Cigars. Its surprisingly strong profile has made the Tatuaje Reserva Miami a post-lunch favorite at Cigar Snob HQ. To be clear: While we love them both, this Top 25 spot was given to the Tatuaje Reserva Miami, not the Tatuaje Reserva Broadleaf.

17.) Plasencia Alma Fuerte

Manufacturer: Plasencia Cigars (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Generacion V; Physical size: 7 x 58
MSRP: $22.00
Rating: 92

Another No. 1 from the past returns to the list in the form of a perfecto! The Davidoff Nicaragua, especially in this figurado size, enchants us with its flavors, aromas, and complexity as much today as it did back in 2013, when it took the top spot in a robusto format.

18.) Davidoff Nicaragua

Manufacturer: Davidoff Cigars (Dominican Republic)
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Diadema; Physical size: 6 1/2 x 50
MSRP: $20.20
Rating: 92

Another No. 1 from the past returns to the list in the form of a perfecto! The Davidoff Nicaragua, especially in this figurado size, enchants us with its flavors, aromas, and complexity as much today as it did back in 2013, when it took the top spot in a robusto format.

19.) Aladino Maduro Box-Pressed

Manufacturer: Fabrica de Puros Aladino (Honduras)
Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Honduras; Filler: Honduras
Vitola: Robusto; Physical size: 5 x 50
MSRP: $10.50
Rating: 92

Late in 2020, in the midst of this pandemic, the Eiroas’ warehouse was burglarized and sadly, the bandits made off with the entire inventory. We’d be remiss if we didn’t reiterate that you should seek out this fantastic flavor bomb of a cigar, but you should do so only from an authorized reseller.

20.) Viva La Vida

Manufacturer: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Torpedo; Physical size: 6 1/2 x 54
MSRP: $13.00
Rating: 92

Brothers Billy and Gus Fakih put their years of retail experience serving New York City cigar lovers to good use in their Viva La Vida brand. It is strong, flavorful, and meticulously made at AJ Fernandez’s factory in Nicaragua. This is Viva La Vida’s debut on our Top 25 list, but we predict you’ll see much more of this growing brand.

21.) San Cristobal Revelation

Manufacturer: My Father Cigars (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Legend; Physical size: 6 x 52
MSRP: $8.50
Rating: 92

The original San Cristobal brand was launched in 2007. The Revelation came in 2013 and like all other San Cristobal lines is made at Don Pepín García’s My Father Cigars factory in Estelí. This soft-pressed toro is creamy and smooth while simultaneously bringing plenty of power to the party.

22.) La Aurora 107 Nicaragua

Manufacturer: La Aurora (Dominican Republic)
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Robusto; Physical size: 5 x 50
MSRP: $8.50
Rating: 92

La Aurora has always been known for being super-Dominican. They even released a cigar in 2017 asserting their Dominican DNA. Last year the factory embarked upon a journey to find the best tobaccos from all over the globe in a collection they call Tobaccos of the World. The 107 Nicaragua is the first installment of this set.

23.) Gurkha Nicaragua Series

Manufacturer: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro; Physical size: 6 x 54
MSRP: $9.95
Rating: 92

The Gurkha Nicaragua Series scored a 92 in the Jan/Feb 2020 issue making it the highest rated Gurkha in Cigar Snob history. The cigars are made for Gurkha by Aganorsa at their Tabacos Valle de Jalapa factory. The factory is no stranger to this list; it has produced cigars that make our Top 25 every year since we began doing it.

24.) Perdomo 20th Anniversary Maduro

Manufacturer: Tabacalera Perdomo (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Epicure; Physical size: 6 x 56
MSRP: $9.50
Rating: 92

This is the 2nd time that the Perdomo 20th Anniversary Maduro makes our Top 25 list, the first being 2018 when it came in at #18. What makes this particular blend so special is that Perdomo finishes this wrapper an additional 14 months in ex-bourbon barrels after its initial 8 years of aging.

25.) Diamond Crown Black Diamond

Manufacturer: Tabacalera A. Fuente (Dominican Republic)
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut; Binder: Dominican Republic; Filler: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Marquis; Physical size: 5 1/4 x 56
MSRP: $19.00
Rating: 92

The original Diamond Crown was launched by JC Newman in 1996 to commemorate the company’s 100th anniversary. Twenty years later the Diamond Crown Black Diamond made its debut and our panel has been loving its dark, oily wrapper and flavorful profile ever since.

Calvino, E. (2024a, April 9). Top 25 Cigars of 2020 (1-5) | Cigar Snob Magazine. CigarSnob. https://www.cigarsnobmag.com/top-25/2021/01/22/top-25-cigars-of-2020-1-5/

Calvino, E. (2024b, April 9). Top 25 Cigars of 2020 (6-15) | Cigar Snob Magazine. CigarSnob. https://www.cigarsnobmag.com/top-25/2021/01/21/top-25-cigars-of-2020-6-15/

Calvino, E. (2024c, April 9). Top 25 Cigars of 2020 (16-25) | Cigar Snob Magazine. CigarSnob. https://www.cigarsnobmag.com/top-25/2021/01/20/top-25-cigars-of-2020-16-25/