2017 Cigars of the Year

About

The 2017 Cigars of the Year list created by Cigar Aficionado was topped by a unique cigar known as the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos blend. Specifically, the Eye of the Shark vitola was chosen, and the name is a reference to the appearance of the cigar when viewed from above. Seriously, it looks like a tiny shark body! The open foot and tapered belicoso-style head create a silhouette that we would recognize anywhere. The flavors were considered exquisite by fans of Cameroon tobacco. If you haven’t acquired the taste for this exotic and woody leaf, you may want to try and get into it just to experience this outstanding blend from Arturo Fuente. The 2017 Cigars of the Year ranking continued on with the Padrón Serie 1926, a blend that is one of the most consistently excellent cigars on the market. The earthy coffee bean notes are a signature flavor that many smokers could pick out blind if they had to. Padrón, along with several other leading companies, is a big part of why Nicaraguan tobacco is so popular these days. Speaking of which, the #3 cigar on the 2017 Cigars of the Year list was the Oliva Serie V, another Nicaraguan puro. At 95 points, this strong, full-bodied blend showcased another way to mix Nicaraguan tobacco to create a surprisingly different flavor profile. Sweet and spicy, this was a ligero-powered blend not to be missed. The #4 spot belonged to a Cuban Bolivar blend, and it preceded the #5 cigar, the Alec Bradley Tempus Natural. The Tempus Natural combined a variety of rich tobaccos from around the world – mainly Honduras – but also Indonesia and Nicaragua. The experience of smoking it was likened to the satisfaction you might get from a hearty stout. That’s a pairing suggestion, as far as we’re concerned. At #6 on the 2017 Cigars of the Year rankings, we find the Ashton Symmetry. Using a wealth of tobacco, you get a complex and balanced set of flavors that will have you relishing each puff. But many people will find this smoke eclipsed by the My Father Th