Every couple months, we send out 8-10 cigars to our Blind Review Panel. They send their unfiltered and uncut thoughts on one cigar each week, and we combine them for a comprehensive review every Friday.
Below is a compilation of the Top 10 Cigars that they reviewed blind in 2018. We hope you enjoy this process as much as we do!
#10 Casdagli (Formerly Bespoke) Basilica A
Oregon: Fiver
Wisconsin: Box
California: Fiver
If You Like That, You Might Like This: "If you like lemonade, you'd probably like this cigar. And who doesn't like lemonade?"
Quote from the Review: “Imagine a little orange zest, some mild cinnamon, a dash of pepper all mixed with a teaspoon of cream...that was the profile early one.”
Unfortunately we are out of this cigar and it isn't available in the sampler below
#9 Crux Epicure
Oregon: Box
Wisconsin: Fiver
California: Fiver
Pairing Suggestion: "I’d pair this with a latte at sunrise or a sweet highland scotch like Dalwhinnie in the evening."
Quote from the Review: “Torched up and this one is interesting immediately. Cedar, cinnamon, sugar cookie and a small amount of pepper spice roll out the gate.”
#8 Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 18
Oregon: Fiver
Wisconsin: Box
California: Fiver
If You Like That, You Might Like This: "If you like being the smoothest bold guy around, you'll dig this cigar."
Quote from the Review: “If you're looking for a well-made cigar that will make you say 'oh man, now I understand what people mean when they say a cigar was chocolatey', look no further than this smoke.”
#7 Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas
Oregon: Fiver
Wisconsin: Box
California: Fiver
Pairing Suggestion: "Rum."
Quote from the Review: “Lots of cocoa, bread, cream, hay, peanut, slight sourness, slight saltiness, wood, occasional mint, occasional floral, slight spice, and cinnamon flavors danced together in my mouth to make an interesting whole.”
#6 r/Cigars Exclusive Sombrero de Copa
Oregon: Box
Wisconsin: Single
California: Box
If You Like That, You Might Like This: "Cracking open a cold one on football Sunday."
Quote from the Review: “I light up and get hit with savory-spicy-sweet flavors all at once. Lots of floral notes and yet there's enough pepper and cloves to give it some gumption.”
#5 Punch Rare Corojo
Oregon: Box
Wisconsin: Single
California: Box
If You Like That, You Might Like This: "When your favorite song comes on the radio during your commute home and ends just as you're pulling into your driveway."
Quote from the Review: “This weeks cigar reminds me of a WW2 M17 grenade with its shape. Pretty unique. Initial flavors include some light floral notes, natural tobacco, a definite dry earthiness, a really light leather, and coffee note at the very end.”
#4 Crowned Heads Le Careme Limited Edition
Oregon: Box
Wisconsin: Box
California: Single
Pairing Suggestion: "I would pair this with a light red wine, a highland scotch or a sweet bourbon."
Quote from the Review: “It was a smooth smoke that had my mouth watering from start to finish. Construction was right on point. The flavors weren't all that complex, but they did go nicely together.”
#3 Casdagli (formerly Bespoke) Traditional Cotton Tail
Oregon: Single
Wisconsin: Box
California: Box
If You Like That, You Might Like This: "Keeping in your first-string team and running up the score on your rivals."
Quote from the Review: “Anyone ever give a girl a Spider-Man kiss? Unless you have a set of monkey bars in your house, it's very difficult to accomplish. That's how I felt lighting this cigar. Awkward, but worth the payoff.”
#2 JSK Red Knight
Oregon: Box
Wisconsin: Single
California: Box
Pairing Suggestion: "A body shot of your favorite whiskey off of Cleopatra."
Quote from the Review: “All of the sudden this cigar goes postal with an arsenal of flavor pistols: sweet rose, spicy Thai chicken, hickory, mint, and everything else I've already mentioned.”
#1 La Gran Oferta
Oregon: Box
Wisconsin: Box
California: Fiver
If You Like That, You Might Like This: "If you like this then you probably like cigars that challenge your palate."
Quote from the Review: “Oak, coffee, molasses, and rye bread make up the initial profile. It’s deep and intriguingly complex. In the retro-hale there is a sweet citrusy note and a combination of black and white pepper spice with a long red pepper flake finish on the palate”
Recap Thoughts
The last time we did a recap was in May of 2018, and both Casdagli (formerly Bespoke) cigars maintianed their position in the Top 10. I guess I jumped the gun with that recap, but we'll be able to look at these year over year from now on.
This year also sees two Crowned Heads' cigars making the list, with the Las Calaveras line making back to back wins for 2017 and 2018.
One of our Reviewers mentioned that this is a really odd list. And how great is that!? When cigars are stripped bare of identification and preconceived notions, they must stand on merit alone to rise to the top. If you've not tried one of the cigars in this list because of past experiences or preconceived notions, I highly suggest you give 'em a try without bias.
My Father is awarded the title of Blind Cigar of 2018, being the only cigar reviewed this year that received two box recommendations and one fiver recommendation. That's harder than it sounds, pleasing all three members of our Blind Review Panel at once.
Suffice it to say, we're all patiently waiting for the day that a cigar gets three box rec's at once! Maybe 2019 will be the year?
