This list is composed of my top 25 ranked cigars based on scores given in the 147 reviews I did this year (2025). But as you’ll notice many have similar scores, I based their ranking on the level of enjoyment I got out them. I compile this list each year to celebrate my favourite cigars of the year, hope it encourage you to try out new cigars.
You the reader expect me to give an honest and truthful opinion in each review, so I try to abide by that to my utmost capability. In the cigar industry I’m known for being very outspoken and questioning everything, so I pride myself to deliver you the truth. Out of the 147 cigars I reviewed this year, 69 cigars I bought myself, 55 where gifted by brands and 23 friends gave me. All this information I declare in each review but also in the list down below.
Out of my 1093 cigar reviews done so far and all going forward I will always be honest with my opinions regardless if I have any partnerships or friendships with any brands. Up until this point I’ve had no paid partnerships, ads or generated any income from my reviews or this website. If a brand decides to gift me any products to try and share, I’ll always state that. I WILL NEVER give a higher score due to a brand pushing their products, YOU WILL ALWAYS get my honest opinions and transparent reviews. This website is purely a passion project for me.
Out of 147 reviewed cigars there was a total of 76 different brands were represented, here are the top 5 most frequent ones.
- Principle (13 reviews)
- SLC Exclusive (9 reviews)
- Dapper (8 reviews)
- Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (6 reviews)
- Davidoff (6 reviews)
55 were gifted by brands, 23 gifted by friends and 69 I bought myself.
Now to my list of TOP 25 CIGARS OF 2025:
No. 25 – SLC Exclusive Year of the Anus Devil’s Donut
Owner: SLC Distributors LLC
Factory: Undisclosed
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Body/Strength: A full bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6×50, Toro
Released: 2025
Production: Limited Edition.
Bought from Sir Louis Cigars, USA.
No. 24 – Padron Family Reserve No. 50 Years Maduro
Owner: Padrón Cigars
Factory: Tabacos Cubanica S.A.
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 5×54, Robusto (Boxpressed)
Released: 2014
Production: Regular Production
Gifted by César A. Gadea, Marketing Director for Padrón Cigars.
No. 23 – EGM Diademas
Owner: EGM Cigars
Factory: Undisclosed
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a mild strength profile.
Size: 9.2×55, Diademas
Released: 2024
Production: Regular Production
Gifted by Ettore Moraschinelli, CEO of EGM Cigars.
No. 22 – Principle Boy Band Volume 1 Legendary “Henkie”
Owner: Principle Trading Company, Inc
Factory: Kelner Boutique Factory
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Hybrid
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: 3x Dominican Republic & USA
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6×50, Toro
Released: 2024
Production: Limited Edition of 5000 boxes of 5 cigars.
Bought from Sir Louis Cigars, USA.
No. 21 – Mbombay Kesara Toro 2020
Owner: Bombay Tobak
Factory: Tabacos de Costa Rica
Origin: Costa Rica
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Deas Florado
Binder: Dominican Republic Viso
Filler: Dominican Republic & Peru (16 year aged)
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a mild strength profile.
Size: 6.5×54, Toro Extra
Released: 2014 (2020)
Production: Regular Production
Bought from Sir Louis Cigars, USA.
No. 20 – George Rico El Enemigo El Insulto
Owner: Gran Habano Cigars
Factory: TabaDom
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua & Colombia
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a mild strength profile.
Size: 5×52, Robusto
Released: 2023
Production: Limited Production
Gifted by George Rico, owner of GH Cigars.
No. 19 – Davidoff Limited Edition 2025 Year of the Snake
Owner: Oettinger Davidoff AG
Factory: Cigars Davidoff
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Dominican Republic San Vicente Hybrid seed 98 & Mexican Negro San Andrés
Body/Strength: A full bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 7×43, Lancero
Released: 2024
Production: Limited Edition of 17.500 boxes of 10 cigars.
Bought from Cubano, Sweden.
No. 18 – Rojas Unfinished Business Robusto
Owner: Rojas Cigars
Factory: Rojas Cigar Factory
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua & Mexico
Body/Strength: A full bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 5×50, Robusto (Soft Boxpressed)
Released: 2022
Production: Regular Production
Gifted by Noel Rojas, owner of Rojas Cigars.
No. 17 – Cavalier Genève Project Broadleaf Skywalker
Owner: Cavalier Premium Cigars
Factory: Fábrica Centroamericana de Tabaco S.A.
Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: USA Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Mexican San Andrés
Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua
Body/Strength: A full bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6×48, Corona Gorda
Released: 2025
Production: Yearly Limited Edition of 100 boxes of 50 cigars.
Bought from Sir Louis Cigars, USA.
No. 16 – Avowed The Vow Higher Calling Limited Edition 2025 Toro
Owner: Small Batch Cigars & Avowed Cigar Company
Factory: Kelner SAS
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Dominican Republic Cotuí Corojo 99, Criollo 98, Piloto Cubano & San Vicente
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6×50, Toro
Released: 2025
Production: Limited Edition of 450 boxes of 10 cigars.
Gifted by Andrew Considine & Dave West of Small Batch Cigars & Avowed Cigar Company.
No. 15 – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Overseas No. 1 (Pre release)
Owner: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Mexican San Andrés Negro
Filler: Nicaragua & USA Pennsylvania
Body/Strength: A full bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6×50, Toro
Released: 2025
Production: Regular Production Exclusively for the International market except the US. (This cigar just doesn’t have the final production bands on, otherwise regular production cigar).
Gifted by Steve Saka, owner of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust.
No. 14 – Principle Boy Band Volume 1 Legendary “Jochy”
Owner: Principle Trading Company, Inc
Factory: Tabacalera Palma
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: USA Connecticut
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: 3x Dominican Republic
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6×50, Toro
Released: 2024
Production: Limited Edition of 5000 boxes of 5 cigars.
Bought from Sir Louis Cigars, USA.
No. 13 – Tatuaje Monster Series The Mummy Redux 5
Owner: Tatuaje Cigars
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Body/Strength: A full bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 7.5×47, Churchill (closed foot)
Released: 2025
Production: Limited Edition of 5000 boxes of 13 cigars.
Bought from Sir Louis Cigars, USA.
No. 12 – Diamond Crown Tampa
Owner: J.C. Newman Cigars
Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: USA Connecticut Shade Grown
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: USA Florida Sun Grown & Undisclosed
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6×52, Toro
Released: 2025
Production: Regular Production
Gifted by Drew Newman, 4th Generation Owner & General Counsel at J.C. Newman Cigars.
No. 11 – Tatuaje Avion 13 Double Perfecto Corojo
Owner: Tatuaje Cigars
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a medium to full strength profile.
Size: 6.9×52, Double Perfecto (Soft Boxpressed)
Released: 2025
Production: Limited Edition of 2000 boxes of 25 cigars.
Bought from Sir Louis Cigars, USA.
No. 10 – Essenze Zodiaco Habano Lancero Collection Ophiuchus
Owner: Essenze Cigars
Factory: N/A
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Seco
Filler: Dominican Republic Ligero Seco (10 year aged), Ecuadorian Habano & USA Pennsylvania Double Ligero
Body/Strength: A full bodied cigar with a medium to full strength profile.
Size: 7.5×38, Lancero
Released: 2024
Production: Limited Edition of 5000 boxes of 13 cigars.
Gifted by Essenze Cigars.
No. 9 – Dapper La Madrina Shade Robusto
Owner: Dapper Cigar Company LLC
Factory: Nicaragua American Cigars S.A
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Desflorado CASJUCA A.S.P. (Perez)
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Nicaraguan Estelí Guadalupe, Jalapa Cofradía Relleno, Dominican Republic Habano 92 & USA
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a mild strength profile.
Size: 5×50, Robusto
Released: 2021
Production: Regular Production
Gifted by Ian Reith, owner of Dapper Cigars.
No. 8 – Principle Cocktail Collection The Tiki Mai Tai Companion Toro
Owner: Principle Trading Company, Inc
Factory: Kelner Boutique Factory
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic Monte Plata
Filler: Dominican Republic & USA
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6.5×50, Toro
Released: 2023
Production: Limited Release of 3000 cigars.
Gifted by Darren Cioffi owner of Principle Cigars.
No. 7 – Mbombay Gaaja Toro 2020
Owner: Bombay Tobak
Factory: Tabacos de Costa Rica
Origin: Costa Rica
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Hybrid Connecticut Desflorado & Mejorado 2004
Binder: Ecuadorian HVA Mejorado Seco
Filler: Dominican Republic HVA Mejorado Ligero, Criollo 98 Viso, Ecuadorian Criollo 98 Viso, Peruvian Hybrid Habano, Paraguayan Hybrid Habano 2000 Viso
Origin: Costa Rica
Body/Strength: A medium to full bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6.5×54, Toro Extra (Box pressed)
Released: 2016
Production: Regular Production
Bought from Sir Louis Cigars, USA.
No. 6 – Brick House Bricktoberfest Limited Edition 2024
Owner: J.C. Newman Cigars
Factory: J.C. Newman PENSA
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Jalapa
Binder: Nicaraguan Condega & Estelí
Filler: Nicaragua
Body/Strength: A medium to full bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6×52, Toro
Released: 2024
Production: Limited Edition.
Gifted by J.C. Newman Cigars.
No. 5 – La Ley Reserva 2018 Exquisito
Owner: DH Boutique Cigars
Factory: Tabacalera A.J. Fernández Cigars de Nicaragua
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua & Honduras
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 4.9×48, Robusto
Released: 2023
Production: Limited Edition of 573 boxes of 21 cigars.
Gifted by a friend.
No. 4 – Cavalier Genève Inner Circle Green Jacket 2025
Owner: Cavalier Premium Cigars
Factory: Fábrica Centroamericana de Tabaco S.A.
Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Honduran Jamastran Valley Claro
Binder: Honduran Habano
Filler: Honduras, Indonesia, Nicaragua & Paraguay
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 7×47, Churchill
Released: 2025
Production: Limited Release
Bought at Cigarworld, Germany.
No. 3 – Principle Boy Band Volume 1 Legendary “Manolo”
Owner: Principle Trading Company, Inc
Factory: TABADEX
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: 2x Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Body/Strength: A medium bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6×50, Toro
Released: 2024
Production: Limited Edition of 5000 boxes of 5 cigars.
Bought from Sir Louis Cigars, USA.
No. 2 – The American Diplomat
Owner: J.C. Newman Cigars
Factory: J.C. Newman El Reloj Factory
Origin: USA
Wrapper: USA Florida Sun Grown, grown by Jeff Borysiewicz in Clermont, Florida
Binder: USA Connecticut Broadleaf, grown by John Foster in South Windsor, Connecticut
Filler: USA Pennsylvania Type 41, grown by Mennonite family farmers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania & Connecticut Havana, grown by John Foster in South Windsor, Connecticut
Body/Strength: A full bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 6.5×42, Lonsdale
Released: Never been released, first time I got one was in 2024.
Production: This cigar is only gifted to very important people to the J.C. Newman Family. They don’t sell it in this size, but the blend can be enjoyed in 6 other regular production sizes.
Gifted by Drew Newman, 4th Generation Owner & General Counsel at J.C. Newman Cigars.
No. 1 – LeRoy Neiman 2024 Collectors Edition
Owner: J.C. Newman Cigars
Factory: J.C. Newman El Reloj Factory
Origin: USA
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado
Binder: USA Florida Sun Grown
Filler: Nicaragua & USA
Body/Strength: A full bodied cigar with a medium strength profile.
Size: 7×50, Churchill
Released: 2024
Production: Limited Edition of 600 cabinets of 20 cigars.
Gifted by Drew Newman, 4th Generation Owner & General Counsel at J.C. Newman Cigars.
