#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 276th Take - 2023 Top Ten Cigars with George Brightman

WELCOME BACK! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 
The day is near! The time is right! It's time for the #ELOsoFumarTakes Top 10 Cigars of 2023!

 
Once again, the legendary George Brightman joins us for the Top 10 Countdown for the ages!  I've sent George my top ten cigars for him to sample and taste test blind.  He gives an honest breakdown alongside my own assessments, Enjoy!
 

Criteria:

1) It's vitola based.

2) I had to have smoked the cigar for the first time in the last year and a half.*

3) It must not suck.

4)No limited edition cigars (i.e. TAA, shop exclusive) are eligible.

5) A previous number 1 cigar winner (blend-specific, i.e. 2017 Winner Espinosa Habano) cannot be on this year's Top 10 or repeat as winner.*

6) A company cannot have more than 1 cigar on the Top 10, however, may be considered for honorable mention.*

7)THE BIG ONE: frequency of smoke. Basically, I had to have the means AND opportunity AND did, in fact, smoke the cigar frequently.

 

Just to review, here is last year's list:

Top 10 2022:

:

1) Espinosa Crema Box Press Toro
2) Artista Cigars Buffalo Ten Connecticut
3) St. Luis Rey Carenas Toro
4) Howard G Magic Stick Cameroon Toro
5) CAVALIER GENÈVE BII Japala Viso Robusto Gordo
6) Crux Bull & Bear Double Corona
7) Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Brulee Blue
8) Rocky Patel Disciple Robusto
9) The Arrival Robusto
10) Luciano Cigars (ACE Prime) The Seargeant

 

Honorable Mentions 2023:

Macanudo Flint Knoll Churchill

Black Label La Madonna Negra

Atabey 10th Anniversary

601 La Bomba Warhead VIII

Ferio Tego Timeless Limited 10 Years

 

 

Top 10 Cigars of 2023 (this year):

1) Gran Habano 20th Anniversaro Edicion Limitada El Sueno

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo Shade Wrapper
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler Nicaraguan, Colombian, and Peruvian
Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: GR Tabacaleras Unidas SA

2) Luciano Cigars Maria Lucia

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binders (Double): Sumatra Ecuador / HBN 92 Ecuador
Fillers: Nicaragua, Dominican, and Peru
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Luciano Cigars S.A., Maria Lucia

3)Black Label Trading Co Deliverance Porcelain Robusto

Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica Oveja Negra

 

4) Alec Bradley Double Broadleaf Gran Corona

Wrapper: Honduran Broadleaf
Binder: Honduran Broadleaf, Nicaraguan
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: Tabacos de Oriente

5) Casa Cuevas Sangre Nueva Double Perfecto

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Cameroon
Binder: Honduran Corojo
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Pennsylvania Broadleaf, Kentucky Fire Cured
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Las Lavas

6) Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Short Churchhill

Factory: San Lotano Factory
Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

 

7) Quesada Cigars Liga F toro

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo (Sun Grown)
Binder: Dominican
Filles: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: TABADEX (Quesada Cigars Factory)

8) HVC Selección No. 1 Natural Poderosos

Wrapper: Habano ’92 Ecuador
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos HVC S.A.

9) United Toro Maduro

Wrapper:  Mexican San Andres (Maduro)
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican Broadleaf, Quisqueya, Dominican Seco, Dominican Olor
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera Magia

10) Kristoff Cigars Guardrail Robusto

Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Burma Valley Zimbabwe, Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera Von Eicken (Charles Fairmorn)