2025 Cigars of the Year: Cigar Aficionado's Top 10

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Each year, the Top 10 Cigars of the Year list serves as a benchmark for excellence, highlighting blends that excel in construction, balance, and flavor. The 2025 rankings feature a global mix of exceptional cigars, and while two Cuban releases appear on the list, the majority of the Top 10 showcases non-Cuban cigars available to U.S. smokers. Below, we explore each non-Cuban cigar that earned a place among the elite, with perspective from the CigarsDirect sommelier team. Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto Recognized as the top cigar of the year with a remarkable 97 rating , the Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto stands as a tribute to generations of Nicaraguan cigar mastery. Crafted entirely from aged Nicaraguan tobaccos, this celebratory perfecto delivers deep complexity, opening with dark cocoa and espresso before unfolding into toasted nuts, warm spice, and a refined natural sweetness that lingers long after the final draw. Dominican Don: “This cigar smokes like a legacy. The transitions are slow, intentional, and deeply rewarding.” Nicaraguan Nick: “That signature Padrón sweetness is perfectly dialed in here.” Vintage Vinny: “A cigar worthy of both its rating and its anniversary.” Tatuaje Black Petite Lancero With an impressive 96 rating , the Tatuaje Black Petite Lancero proves how much flavor can be packed into a slim ring gauge. Rolled in Nicaragua, this cigar delivers a focused and intense profile, offering notes of oak, cocoa powder, black pepper, and a subtle undercurrent of sweetness that keeps the experience sharp and engaging from start to finish. Boutique Betty: “This is precision blending at its finest.” Toro Tommy: “Big flavor without heaviness—exactly what a lancero should be.” Broadleaf Benny: “Lean, bold, and incredibly expressive.” Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino Sungrown Pyramid No. 9 Earning a 95 rating , this modern revival of a historic blend showcases elegance over force. Dominican tobaccos paired with a sun-grown wrapper produce a creamy, dessert-leanin