09/03/2026
Review: Top 10 Ci**rs in America
No single official list exists. This ranking was created by using 25 data points that blended reviews in Cigar Aficionado, Cigar Snob, Halfwheel (own list + Consensus 2025 across ~50 outlets), Cigar Dojo, retailer surveys, lounge/podcast talk, and enthusiast communities. Cuban award ci**rs that are not sold in U.S. shops are noted separately.
1. Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto (Nicaragua)
Cigar Aficionado Cigar of the Year 2025, 97 points. Richer and stronger than many Padróns: malted milk, café au lait, chocolate. About $75, limited.
If you cannot find the 60th, 1964 Anniversary and 1926 Serie are the everyday Padróns shops restock. Halfwheel separately named Padrón A Hammer & A Dream Maduro its 2025 Cigar of the Year.
2. My Father Blue (Honduras)
No. 1 on Halfwheel Consensus 2025. Cigar Snob Cigar of the Year. Readers’ Choice runner-up. Connecticut-wrapper toro: cream, cedar, nuts, spice. About $12.
House staple still named in lounges: My Father Le Bijou 1922.
3. Fuente Fuente OpusX (Dominican Republic)
Hottest brand in America per the 2025 retailer poll. Angel’s Share Reserva d’Chateau was CA No. 9 (95). Scarce Dominican puro.
Weekly-buy Fuentes: Hemingway, Don Carlos, Añejo.
4. Sobremesa Solita Red (Nicaragua)
Halfwheel Readers’ Choice winner. Consensus No. 2. Cigar Dojo Top 10. Stronger red-banded Sobremesa, lonsdale-only. Ecuador Habano over Mexican San Andrés and Nicaraguan/PA filler.
5. Tatuaje Black Petite Lancero (Nicaragua)
CA No. 3 of 2025, 96 points, about $8.50. 6×38: oak, cocoa, black pepper.
6. Plasencia Alma del Cielo (Nicaragua)
Consensus No. 3. Readers’ Choice No. 3. Cigar Snob Top 10. Nicaraguan puro, Condega wrapper, roughly $26.
7. Liga Privada T52 (Nicaragua)
CA No. 11 of 2025 (T52 Corona Viva, 95). Drew Estate was No. 3 best-selling brand in the retailer survey. Dark, oily, coffee/earth/pepper. Liga No. 9 is the sister staple.
8. Oliva Serie V Melanio (Nicaragua)
Top-selling brand by quantity at some major U.S. retailers. CA still had Serie V Melanio Maduro Robusto in the 2025 Top 25 (No. 18, 94). Prior CA Cigar of the Year résumé on Melanio Figurado.
9. Rocky Patel Emerald (Nicaragua)
CA No. 6 (Emerald Robusto, 95). Cigar Snob No. 8. Ecuador wrapper, Nicaraguan core, about
10. Trinidad Espíritu Series No. 3 Belicoso (Nicaragua)
CA No. 5, 95 points, about 11$. AJ Fernandez–made and widely stocked.
Just off the cut: Padrón 1926 Serie Maduro, Aladino 85 Aniversario Reserva, Perdomo Legacy Shade Grown.
Cuban footnote: CA No. 2 Cohiba Ámbar and No. 8 Diplomáticos Genios Exclusivo Phoenicia won magazine awards. They are not part of the American retail market.
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