Top 10 Cigars 2011
I tend to do these things a little bit later on than everybody else (see my lists for 2010 and 2009 to see what I mean). Now, glossing over the fact that we’re closer to February than 2011, here is my Top 10 Cigars 2011 List.
10. Padron 1964 Anniversary SI-15 Maduro
When I smoked this cigar it didn’t come as a shock that I liked it seeing as I have liked every Padron 1964 Anniversary I have smoked before. The maduro, however, is just a little better than the natural for these Smoke Inn specials. Get some while you still can (although, they appear to be out of stock right now, which is a bummer).
9. Joya de Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo
The only reason why this highly rated cigar is so low on the list is because it had the benefit of resting in my humidor for quite a bit longer than most of the other cigars listed here. That helped it out a great deal and I’m sure would help out all the cigars ranked higher. Still, amazing cigar.
8. La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Natural
I prefer the maduro version but this one is definitely not a slouch. While it definitely is a strong cigar strength-wise it is also a strong cigar flavor-wise with flavors ranging from the spicy spectrum to the savory. Can’t go wrong with this one.
A dash of leather, a hint of sweetness and some spice round out this addition to my Top 10 List from a little cigar company out of Texas. It’s a really nice cigar that I’m sure would age well. It’s strong, especially the first one of these I smoked, but there’s a load of flavor working its magic in the background to make it a must try.
Personally, I tend to go for the more full bodied cigars but this cigar has rekindled some of my passion for medium bodied cigars. With a good deal of complexity and flavors ranging from earthy to chocolate this is a must try cigar.
The first one of these I smoked didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. But I smoked another and a couple more after that and I realized that this cigar is something special. Loads of spice and strength, for sure, but there were a number of other flavors that joined the party. (Spoiler Alert: I like the Tatuaje Avion more; review to come shortly.)
The Oliva Serie V is one of my all-time favorite brands and I find myself going for the bigger vitolas more and more, which is counter to my normal operating pattern. With amazing chocolate, earth, leather and bitter spice flavors filling the flavor profile it’s no wonder I like the bigger vitolas – who would want this cigar to end?
Not just another full bodied cigar, the Liga Privada T52 is an amazing example of restrained intensity. The Liga Privada No. 9 is a great cigar and all but I prefer this offering from Drew Estate more.
Like this list, I was late to the La Sirena party as well. This, my friends, is an awesome cigar. Meaty and earthy with some spice and sweetness. It was like a kaleidascope of flavors that just would never end. Two drawbacks: sparkly crap on the wrapper and the band is a bit ridiculous.
I don’t know what it is about perfectos but some of my favorite cigars come in this vitola. This Padilla Miami is the best specimen from the line because all those creamy and nutty and spicy flavors are enhanced to their full extent. This was, barely, my favorite cigar of 2011.
There were a few great cigars that were left off of this list but, overall, I am happy with it. Hopefully you are able to get some ideas from this list for your next purchases.
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Natural Cigar Review
A while ago I did a review of the La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro and I loved it. In fact, it was my favorite cigar of 2010, which says something. So then I decided to try the one with the natural wrapper.
The cigar is undeniably cool. The chiseled head is unique and the cigar has some heft to it. It’s lighter than it’s maduro-clad brethren and there are a number of superficial veins that run the length of this cigar like some kind of miniature superhighway system. It cuts nice and the prelight draw is good with a hint at what’s to come: spice.
Cigar Stats
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Price: $155.00/Box of 20 | $8.75/Single
Best First Lines Fire!
It starts out admirably well in the flavor department. There is the perfunctory spice, which every LFD DL should have, and there is dry, salted meat with a little bit of hickory thrown in for good measure. Honestly, this is beating most cigars in the flavor department at this early stage, the first third, but it’s not beating out it’s maduro-ed brother.
While the burn line takes it’s sweet time advancing onto the second third I have to comment on the wonderful draw I get from every Chisel. Out of every cigar I have ever had it is this cigar I would go to if a perfect draw was absolutely necessary for me. The tapered head of the cigar produces a combination of flavor concentration and ease of draw that kicks these cigars up a notch or two.
This is also a fairly strong cigar. But it’s that good kind of strength, the mellow kind that shouldn’t knock you on your backside if you are a seasoned cigar smoker. If, on the other hand, this was the first cigar you ever smoked… well, you get the idea.
The second third of the cigar does see some movement away from the spiciness of the first third. Now, the best way to describe it would be that there is a dusty texture to the smoke and the flavors center mainly around meat, leather and sweet hickory. Actually, it’s a very good mixture and it’s gaining on the maduro version in my estimation.
This cigar really comes into itself during the final third. Spice picks back up a little with leather in the lead. Hickory is still there and, above all of that, the flavors just seem to be purer and more alive.
There never was a harsh moment for this cigar and both the burn and the draw were excellent throughout. But, in the end, I would still go with the maduro version of this cigar. Barely though.
93 points
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro Cigar Review
A very impressive cigar to behold. Oily, dark wrapper. Probably a bit too hard to the touch. There are some veins that run throughout. But, even though it does have some negative aspects to its appearance it is just looks like a cool cigar. Plus, it smells like one. It smells aggressive.
The prelight draw gives off a distinct chocolate flavor along with some spice, which was to be expected. For the couple of Chisels that I have smoked their draws have seemed a little tight before I lit them up. But after I have lit the cigars the draw for each cigar has been perfectly fine.
Cigar Stats
pyramid
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Ecuador Maduro
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Price: $75.00/Box of 10 | $8.50/Single
Smoke
Sure enough, this cigar starts out very aggressive. Spice and a grassy earthiness. The chocolate flavor is there as well. They mix together wonderfully well and the flavors are fantastically alive. And the draw is great as well. All is good!
In addition to the aforementioned flavors there are some sweet flavors. Toffee, anise and some leather as well. There are a ton of flavors going on in this cigar and they mix together very well.
Full bodied? Sure – but the strength makes sense with this cigar. In no way is it harsh or obnoxiously strong. Exquisitely smooth cigar. Oh, and the burn is even. Yeah!
Slow burning gem of a cigar. A little over an inch in and the flavors are still wonderful. Leather and meat are taking over as the major flavors but all those other flavors are still there and they are great.
While the flavors do not match up perfectly there is a smoky-woody flavor grouping that seems right for this LFD. But just because the flavors do match up perfectly I do not see that as a problem. This is a very complex cigar, there’s bound to be a flavor or two that I don’t think matches up perfectly.
At the halfway point now and meaty/salty flavors are taking the lead. Really complex cigar.
Somewhere around the two-thirds mark the flavors do begin to lose some of their luster. It’s still a very good cigar but just not as much. And that, unfortunately, brings this cigar down a notch. A very, very small notch since this cigar after losing a bit of its “luster” is still better than most anything out there in my book.
94 points
Another View from Cigar Jack.
