This past year has been filled with positive and negative happenings, luckily I’ve managed to stay healthy and haven’t got the corona, which so many of my friends all over the world sadly got. I hope everyone stays healthy for the year to come and R.I.P to all friends who sadly have passed away, you will forever be remembered by us.
This pandemic have been hard for a lot of people, with wide restrictions and lockdowns everywhere travel and shipments have become a bigger problem than we could ever have imagined, we here in Europe have most certainly felt it when it came to getting shipments of cigars. The shipment problems started in December 2019, around Christmas it’s always problematic, the only problem was it never managed to get back to normal again as the pandemic hit the world. So what brands decided to do, was to focus on the most profitable markets and in the case of cigars it’s always been the US market. Then the lumber crisis hit and the prices sky rocketed and the factories struggled to get lumber to make the boxes for the cigars, so that made everything even more backlogged. And remember now I haven’t mentioned the problems Cuba have been dealing with either. 2020 was a problematic year for many and it didn’t really get much better during 2021. In the first quarter of the year the cigar shop (Mellgrens Fine Tobacco & Great People Since 1823) I worked at for 7 year’s closed it’s doors for good, we just couldn’t stay open any longer with no products arriving and dwindling customers buying cigars as more and more people worked from home. Me and some friends tried to start it up again but the environment to do so during a pandemic showed itself far to hard even for us. Perhaps in the future we might get back into selling cigars again, but until then I’ll just be a cigar reviewer.
Now to the meat and potatoes of the cigar blog!
During 2021 we had an amazing array of people coming in to read the blog, an astonishing 123 different nationalities, viewing the site 28.122 times from 11.108 individuals. A growth of 15% in amount of views and visitors, which is amazing! Many thanks to all new readers. In total I made 85 posts, out of these 69 were reviews, I also started a new blog series of My Journey with: different brands I’ve interacted with over the years, more to come in 2022.
All time stats (since July 2017) for the page 677 post (655 being reviews), 79,248 views from 30,365 people in 145 nations.
Top 25 Most Viewed Countries of 2021
1. Sweden (7282 views)
2. United States (7201 views)
3. United Kingdom (2335 views)
4. Finland (626 views)
5. Honduras (585 views)
6. Greece (581 views)
7. Germany (575 views)
8. Spain (556 views)
9. Italy (551 views)
10. Norway (464 views)
11. Indonesia (448 views)
12. France (435 views)
13. Lebanon (352 views)
14. Netherlands (351 views)
15. Canada (341 views)
16. Japan (319 views)
17. Portugal (298 views)
18. Australia (238 views)
19. Poland (225 views)
20. Belgium (217 views)
21. Ireland (210 views)
22. United Arab Emirates (190 views)
23. Hong Kong (168 views)
24. Hungary (158 views)
25. Russia (154 views)
Top 25 Most Viewed Reviews of 2021
1. Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Line Enigma (386 views) [608]
2. Ramón Allones King of North Regionales Paises Nórdicos-Bálticos 2021 (368 views) [650]
3. Casdagli Club Mareva Beirut The Origins Exclusive Lebanon Toro (177 views) [607]
4. Casdagli Club Mareva Line Spalato No. 2 (143 views) [602]
5. RYX Toro by Blanco Cigars & YXTobak (142 views) [586]
6. Casdagli Basilica Line “A” (141 views) [600]
7. La Estrella Polar Robusto (141 views) [620]
8. E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel (123 views) [601]
9. Casdagli Villa Casdagli Line Pigasus (114 views) [649]
10. Casdagli Cabinet Selection Rosetta Maduro (109 views) [599]
11. La Flor de Cano Elegidos (107 views) [628]
12. Casdagli Villa Casdagli Line Robusto (102 views) [648]
13. Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Line Dahman (94 views) [614]
14. Quai D’Orsay Senadores Edicion Limitada 2019 (91 views) [596]
15. Flor de Selva Year of The Ox 2021 (89 views) [595]
16. Empress Robusto Perfection (89 views) [593]
17. Lampert Ocean Breeze Magnum 54 (83 views) [612]
18. Cohiba Siglo IV (83 views) [617]
19. Plasencia Alma Fuerte Sixto I Hexagon Colorado Claro (82 views) [619]
20. Steffo 7×70 (80 views) [591]
21. Joya de Nicaragua Número Uno L’ambassadur (79 views) [589]
22. Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Connecticut Toro (74 views) [588]
23. Tektor Lojsta Hed Harvest of 2017 (71 views) [598]
24. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Brûlée Robusto (71 views) [587]
25. Ramon Allones Specially Selected (69 views) [616]
Top 25 Highest Scored Reviews of 2021
No. 25 – Casdagli Villa Casdagli Line Robusto
Owner: Stirling International OÜ
Factory: Tabacos de Costa Rica
Origin: Costa Rica
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: 2x Peru, Dominican Republic, Ecuador
Strength: 7 (of 10)
Size: 5 x 52
Released: 2021
No. 24 – Cumpay Piramide Limited Edition Vintage 2005
Owner: Maya Selva Cigars
Factory: Tabaco Segovia
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Jalapa Habano 2000
Binder: Nicaragua Esteli Chinandega
Filler: Nicaragua Jalapa & Ometepe
Strength: 5 (of 10)
Size: 6 x 50
Released: 2005
No. 23 – E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel
Owner: E.P. Carrillo Cigar Company
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza S.A.
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: USA Connecticut Habano
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: 8 (of 10)
Size: 5 x 50
Released: 2020
No. 22 – Rocky Patel Quarter Century Robusto
Owner: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars
Factory: Rocky Patel
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: 6 (of 10)
Size: 5.5 x 50
Released: 2019
No. 21 – ADVentura The Navigator Vespucci
Owner: ADV & McKay Cigars Co. S.R.L.
Factory: Tabacalera William Ventura
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Indonesian Sumatra
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua & Ecuador
Strength: 6 (of 10)
Size: 5.25 x 52
Released: 2017
No. 20 – Zino Platinum Scepter Chubby
Owner: OETTINGER DAVIDOFF AG
Factory: Oettinger Kelner Cigars
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: USA Connecticut
Filler: Dominican Republic & Peru
Strength: 2 (of 10)
Size: 4.9 x 54
Released: 2005
No. 19 – Padron Damaso No. 8 Aged 2016
Owner: Padrón Cigars
Factory: Padrón Cigars
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: 4 (of 10)
Size: 5.5 x 49
Released: 2015
No. 18 – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Brûlée Robusto
Owner: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
Factory: Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Shade G2BW
Binder: Mexican San Andrés Negro
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: 4 (of 10)
Size: 5.25 x 52
Released: 2019
No. 17 – Partagas Añejados Coronas Gordas Vintage 2007
Owner: Habanos S.A.
Factory: Habanos S.A.
Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba
Strength: 4 (of 10)
Size: 5.6 x 46
Released: 2016
No. 16 – Plasencia Alma Fuerte Sixto I Hexagon Colorado Claro
Owner: Plasencia Cigars S.A.
Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A.
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Colorado Claro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: 6 (of 10)
Size: 6 x 60
Released: 2020
No. 15 – La Ley Reserva 2017 Exquisito
Owner: DH Boutique Cigars
Factory: AJ Fernandez S.A.
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua
Strength: 3 (of 10)
Size: 4.9 x 48
Released: 2017
No. 14 – Davidoff Robusto Intenso Limited Edition 2020
Owner: OETTINGER DAVIDOFF AG
Factory: Oettinger Kelner Cigars
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano 702
Binder: Dominican Republic San Vicente Seco
Filler: Dominican Republic Semilla 254 Visus / Yamasa Visus / Piloto Visus / San Vicente Mejorado Ligero
Strength: 6 (of 10)
Size: 5.25 x 52
Released: 2020
No. 13 – Davidoff Dominicana Robusto 2014
Owner: OETTINGER DAVIDOFF AG
Factory: Oettinger Kelner Cigars
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dominican Republic Hybrid 257
Binder: Ecuador Hybrid 151
Filler: Dominican Republic Corojo 99 Seco, San Vincente Mejorado Seco, Piloto Viso, San Vincente Seco & Yamasa Viso
Strength: 8 (of 10)
Size: 5.1 x 52
Released: 2021
No. 12 – Ramón Allones King of North Regionales Paises Nórdicos-Bálticos 2021
Owner: Habanos S.A.
Factory: Habanos S.A.
Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba
Strength: 4 (of 10)
Size: 6.1 x 50
Released: 2021
No. 11 – Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Connecticut Toro
Owner: Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Factory: Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: 2 (of 10)
Size: 6 x 50
Released: 2019
No. 10 – Casdagli Villa Casdagli Line Pigasus
Owner: Stirling International OÜ
Factory: Tabacos de Costa Rica
Origin: Costa Rica
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: 2x Peru, Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Strength: 7 (of 10)
Size: 5 x 54/58
Released: 2021
No. 9 – Flor de Selva Year of The Ox 2021 Toro
Owner: Maya Selva Cigars
Factory: N/A
Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Honduran Jamastrán
Binder: Nicaraguan Jalapa
Filler: Honduras
Strength: 9 (of 10)
Size: 6 x 56
Released: 2021
No. 8 – Casdagli Basilica Line “A”
Owner: Stirling International OÜ
Factory: KELNER BOUTIQUE FACTORY
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dominican Republic Cotui
Binder: Dominican Republic Bonao (11 years)
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, USA Pennsylvania Broadleaf, Peru Pello D’Oro
Strength: 4 (of 10)
Size: 6 x 52
Released: 2016
No. 7 – Casdagli Cabinet Selection Rosetta Maduro
Owner: Stirling International OÜ
Factory: KELNER BOUTIQUE FACTORY
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo Natural Maduro
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: 7 (of 10)
Size: 4 x 46
Released: 2021
No. 6 – Rocky Patel Edicion Unica May 28th, 2011
Owner: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars
Factory: Plasencia El Paradiso
Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Honduras Jamastrán
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras
Strength: 4 (of 10)
Size: 6 x 52
Released: 2013
No. 5 – Cavalier Genève Limited Edition 2020
Owner: CAVALIER GENÈVE PREMIUM CIGARS
Factory: San Judas Tadeo
Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: N/A
Binder: N/A
Filler: N/A
Strength: 4 (of 10)
Size: 6 x 54
Released: 2020
No. 4 – Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Dahman
Owner: Stirling International OÜ
Factory: IGM BOUTIQUE FACTORY
Origin: Costa Rica
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Costa Rica
Filler: Peru & Dominican Republic
Strength: 6 (of 10)
Size: 7.1 x 56
Released: 2018
No. 3 – Casdagli Club Mareva Spalato No. 2
Owner: Stirling International OÜ
Factory: KELNER BOUTIQUE FACTORY
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Strength: 6 (of 10)
Size: 6 x 49
Released: 2020
No. 2 – Casdagli Club Mareva Beirut The Origins Exclusive Lebanon Toro
Owner: Stirling International OÜ
Factory: KELNER BOUTIQUE FACTORY
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
Binder: Dominican Republic Cotui
Filler: Dominican Republic, Peruvian Pelo D’Oro
Strength: 5 (of 10)
Size: 6 x 56
Released: 2020
No. 1 – Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Enigma
Owner: Stirling International OÜ
Factory: IGM BOUTIQUE FACTORY
Origin: Costa Rica
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: N/A
Filler: N/A
Strength: 6 (of 10)
Size: 7.5 x 49
Released: 2020
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