Top 10 Cigars of 2018 According to ‘Cigar Aficionado’

By Chase McPeak Updated December 12, 2019

Since 1992, Cigar Aficionado has been the go-to guide for all things tobacco, which is why we pay attention when the magazine releases its picks for the top 10 cigars of the year.

“Each and every cigar that made it to the top 25 is truly outstanding — with an impressive level of artistry, build quality and craftsmanship — and their producers should be proud,” said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Cigar Aficionado in 2018. “We are thrilled to present these cigars, which we are sure our readers will thoroughly enjoy.”

Recommended Videos

To reach the top 25 list, Cigar Aficionado‘s tasting panel took the highest rated cigars from the publication throughout the year and subjected them to another round of blind taste testing. From there, they continued to whittle down the list of only the best cigars, round after blind round, until they arrived at the top 25 cigars.

Below are Cigar Aficionado‘s picks for the top 10 cigars of 2018. Click the links to see tasting notes, scores, and a video of the taste tests.

If you’re unsure of how exactly you should be smoking a cigar, we’ve got a whole guide for that. We can also tell you how to get rid of the stink after you’ve figured out how to light up. Unfamiliar with different cigar varietals? Learn more about those here.

Now, on to the cigars!

10 Best Cigars of 2018

10. Montecristo Nicaragua Series Robusto

Image used with permission by copyright holder

9. Alec Bradley Black Market Estelí Torpedo

Image used with permission by copyright holder

8. Oliva Serie V Melani0 Churchill

Image used with permission by copyright holder

7. JFR Lunatic Habano Short Robusto

Image used with permission by copyright holder

6. Arturo Fuente Hemingway Work of Art

Image used with permission by copyright holder

5. H. Upmann Sir Winston

Image used with permission by copyright holder

4. Padrón Family Reserve No. 44 (Natural)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

3. The Wise Man Maduro Robusto

Image used with permission by copyright holder

2. My Father La Opulencia Toro

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Winner Cigar of the Year: E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic

Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to Cigar Aficionado, E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic’s tobaccos are “…from Nicaragua’s three primary growing regions — Estelí, Condega and Jalapa — and all of it comes together in the Majestic, a robusto of immaculately detailed flavor that ranges from oak and tea to caramel sweetness with tangy citrus pops of candied orange peel. It’s elegant, refined and nuanced from first puff to last …”

Check out Cigar Aficionado‘s full Top 25 list is available online here.

All images courtesy of Cigar Aficionado.

Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual

Chase McPeak is the former Lifestyle Editor. Chase regularly appeared on Beards, Booze, and Bacon: The Manual Podcast where…

Topics

Cigars

Culture

Is it OK to relight a cigar? Yes — here’s how to bring it back to life

Relighting cigars is NOT sacrilege—Here's how to do it like a pro:

cigars in an ashtray

Okay, so you're puffing away on a cigar, feeling good, when life happens. You leave it for a bit, and then bam! You come back to find it has gone out. Happens to the best of us. You look down at this expensive stick, and you wonder if you just blew a chunk of change on something you can't even finish.The thing is, we've all heard those cigar rules, whispered around like secrets: Never let it go out! Or a good cigar burns perfectly to the end! It's like some old tradition passed down.But come on, those rules are bunk! Relighting a cigar isn't some kind of crime. Well, as long as you do it right. And the thought that only inexpensive cigars go out? Total lie. Even the fanciest Cubans sometimes need a little help staying lit; wind, weather, and everything else can affect it.Look, it's not about whether you can relight it. It's about not letting an outdated idea hold you back from getting the most out of what you've paid for. When you buy a good cigar, it’s all about chilling out. So why waste it if it goes out?

Myths and misconceptions about relighting cigars

Culture

The hidden dangers of fake cigars and how to avoid them

Your essential guide to authentic cigar shopping

Hand holding a cigar

Imagine this: you’re celebrating something great, maybe a promotion or an anniversary, and you light up what you think is a premium Cuban Cohiba. But then it hits you—something’s not right. The draw is awful, and it tastes like burnt cardboard mixed with rotten chemicals. That $50 you spent on it? Down the drain.Welcome to the annoying world of fake cigars. It’s not just some shady business anymore; it’s a huge industry that’s great at mimicking everything from the gold bands on Cohibas to the cedar boxes used by Padrón.Once you know what to look for, though, spotting a fake isn’t too hard. It’s not about becoming a cigar expert all at once; it’s about trusting your gut to save both your money and your smoking experience.

Why fake cigars are a problem

Culture

The NBA’s ultimate celebration tool: The victory cigar

A look at the players and coaches who smoke to celebrate

Jordan smoking a cigar image on a bag

Sports are synonymous with celebration. After winning the biggest trophy of their lives, athletes want to indulge in the payoff that comes with seeing their dreams realized. Teams go into the locker room, where a waterfall of champagne hits them in the eyes, and swimming goggles seem to be a requirement, lest you walk around on the best night of your life half blind. While drinking is often the activity of choice after winning a championship, the NBA has an alternative symbol of greatness that other sports don't use nearly enough: the victory cigar.

Basketball is a team game, but it's also an individual canvas for solo superstardom. After winning an NBA championship, the coaches and players who sit atop the throne have long smoked a cigar in the locker room, during the parade, or even on the bench before the clock has hit zero. There's nothing quite like a good stogie to signify the ultimate win over the rest of the league, but how did the victory cigar get so ingrained in NBA championship celebrations? We want to take a walk down memory lane and look at some of the historical moments and people who made the cigar what it is within the NBA today.
Red Auerbach's victory cigar on the bench