Rated from experience rather than theory, these cigars earned their place through repetition, emotion, and the moments they created.
Hello, dear reader,
Every year when December ends I post a list of amazing cigars you should try, or maybe choose as your New Years Eve cigar. I decided to do something different this year and I hope it will be of more use to you.
This is not a list of the best cigars in the world, it’s not a technical ranking, and it’s definitely not an attempt to declare winners and losers, not even close.
What follows are the ten most memorable cigars I smoked in 2025, ranked from least to most impactful for me, shaped by where I was, how I felt, and what the cigar gave back in that moment.
This year, I’ve also decided to begin rating cigars on a 0–100 point scale. Not because cigars need scores, but because context matters. I often say that a cigar is “wonderful,” “beautiful,” or “special,” and while that’s still true, numbers help manage expectations and the 0-100 points scale is something you are already familiar with, I’m sure
That being said, let’s be clear about one thing. My scores are not purely technical, they can’t be. They are influenced by experience, memory, emotion, and repetition. If you’re expecting me to say a cigar “lost points because the second third lacked transition,” you might want to check out a different blog. I’ve often said I don’t believe in rigid thirds. I’ve smoked incredible cigars that were exactly the same from start to finish and I was grateful they didn’t change.
Let’s begin.
10. H. Upmann Magnum 56
Vitola de galera: Magnum 56, 56 × 150 mm
Score: 90 points
This was a surprising cigar for me in the best possible way. Not a typical H. Upmann profile, and that’s precisely why it stood out. Dark, leathery, and complex, it delivered one of the most pronounced leather-driven profiles I’ve had from a Cuban cigar in quite some time.
There was depth here, dark spice, earthy undertones, and a seriousness that felt comforting rather than heavy. It challenged my expectations of the brand without abandoning balance. A cigar I didn’t rush through, and one I still think about.
9. Montecristo No. 2 (2012 box code)
Vitola de galera: Piramides, 52 × 156 mm
Score: 93 points
Classic Cuban cigars will always have my attention and this has been in production since before 1960. No matter how many new releases I try, I find myself returning to profiles built on cedar, cinnamon, sweet tobacco, and polished woods. This Montecristo No. 2 delivered exactly that, and then some. Time has softened its edges, rounded the flavors, and allowed the cigar to develop confidently. It didn’t try to impress, oh…but it did. It simply reminded me why this vitola became iconic in the first place.
8. Cohiba Siglo IV
Vitola de galera: Coronas Gordas, 46 × 143 mm
Score: 93 points
I love this vitola. In many ways, it’s the Cohiba I could smoke daily without hesitation. Smooth, elegant, and endlessly approachable, the Siglo IV had a particularly strong year for me in 2025.
While the Siglo VI often steals the spotlight, my experiences with the Siglo IV this year were consistently spectacular. Clean flavors, refined texture, and that unmistakable Cohiba balance that never feels forced.
7. Punch Nectares (Edición Regional Irlanda)
Vitola de galera: Magnum 50, 50 × 160 mm
Score: 94 points
Habanos and J.J. Fox absolutely nailed this one. Compact, expressive, and deeply satisfying, Punch Nectares delivered more character than its size suggests.
What impressed me most was its potential. Even now, it’s already enjoyable, but it’s impossible not to imagine what time will do to these flavors. A cigar that feels thoughtfully designed rather than just turned out to be good.
6. Trinidad Cabildos
Vitola de glaera: Ilustres, 46 × 162 mm
Score: 95 points
I’ve never smoked a Cabildos that didn’t demand my attention. Even mid-conversation, even distracted, there’s always a moment where my mind interrupts itself and says: damn, this is a very good cigar. I haven’t had this happen to me since I met the H Upmann Royal Robusto
Elegant, precise, and quietly captivating, Cabildos has a way of pulling you back into the smoke. A spectacular feeling.
5. Cohiba 55 Aniversario
Vitola de galera: Victoria, 57 × 150 mm
Score: 95 points
The only way this cigar wouldn’t be on this list is if I hadn’t smoked it, but I did.
Complex, beautifully balanced, and leaning more toward flavor than strength, the Cohiba 55 Aniversario is already benefiting from time. The age is beginning to knit everything together, smoothing transitions and deepening the delicious vanillic profile.
If you have one, light it. Don’t wait too long. It’s entering a very rewarding phase.
4. La Gloria Cubana 35 Aniversario
Vitola de galera: Rodolfo, 54 x1 80
Score: 95 points
This was a marvel. Simply put, the best La Gloria Cubana I’ve ever smoked.
Unfortunately, it will remain rare, tied to special humidors and limited availability. But if you ever find a way to try one, it is absolutely worth it. Layered, refined, and quietly powerful, this cigar showed what La Gloria Cubana can achieve at its very best.
3. Cohiba Behike 54
Vitola de galera: Laguito no 4, 54 × 144 mm
Score: 95 points
There’s a reason this cigar is so sought after. Rich, complex, and beautifully textured, the Behike 54 delivered amber sweetness, cocoa powder, cedar, and noble spices in perfect harmony.
It was luxurious yet composed. It feels like the cigar knows exactly what it is, and never strays from that identity. A miraculous experience.
2. Trinidad Robusto Extra
Vitola de galera: Dobles, 50 × 155 mm
Score: 95 points
This cigar impressed me every single time I smoked it. And this year, when I used it in my cigar club pairing, it completely blew me away.
It’s not your average Trinidad. There’s a unique sweetness here, one I wish I could find in more Cuban cigars. Balanced, expressive, and memorable, this was a standout across multiple experiences.
1. Montecristo 80
Vitola de galera: Maravillas no2, 55 × 165 mm
Score: 98 points
This is my celebration cigar, without a doubt. It’s the kind of cigar that makes you want to celebrate alone. After the party has ended. After the guests have left. When there’s no distraction left, only time and reflection. That’s when I will reach for a Montecristo 80 again. I don’t want any distractions.
Already carrying years of age, 10 to be exact, this cigar is deeply complex and beautifully rounded. The retrohale is pure joy, and the finish lingers long after the smoke fades out.
For me, nothing came close in 2025.
An Honorable Mention.
I also couldn’t leave out the Montecristo Carmen (Paco 49x180 mm, 90 points). Honestly, I didn’t expect much going in, and that’s probably why it caught me off guard. The Montecristo DNA is very much there, but the length of the cigar gives the flavors time to breathe, stretch, and shift naturally. I remember thinking, halfway through, that I could easily build two or three completely different pairings around a single Carmen.
And that’s really the point of this list. I’m not chasing perfection. I’m chasing moments.
The cigars that stay with us aren’t always the most technically flawless ones. They’re the ones we remember because of where we were, who we were with, or maybe because we were completely alone.
Wishing you rich flavors and good company, until we meet again... in 2026
Happy Holidays.