Having been in the cigar industry for more than a quarter of a century, and having started this lifelong hobby by pilfering some choice machine-made dog rockets from my dad’s glove compartment at the ripe old age of 13, I have qualified myself as somewhat of a cigar expert. Therefore, I have chosen the informative task of picking out (what I think) are the 10-best Full-Bodied cigars being made today. I must say this was a rather arduous task considering there seems to be a new cigar hitting the store shelves just about every week, many of them are full-bodied, and most are pretty darn good! Please remember that taste is subjective, and this is my personal choice. If you happen to disagree with my selections, well, that’s too bad … Go write your own damn list then! To make things interesting (or less tedious), I will be listing my choices backwards from number ten to number one. I hope that by the time, you get to number three; the suspense will be killing you… Sorry, I like to flatter myself.
Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 1 • 5 × 54
The first thing that you will notice about this popular cigar is its eye-catching good looks. The Juan Lopez Seleccion No.1 is a Nicaraguan puro that is solidly packed, and has a stunning, soft to the touch, reddish-brown wrapper. Immediately upon lighting, strong black pepper and spice notes enliven the palate. This initial burst quickly subsides and gives way to a very enjoyable nuttiness. As the smoke progresses, a mosaic of tantalizing taste components that include sweet spice, cedar, cocoa, and coffee join the mix. These main flavors remain dominant throughout, and the cigar burned very slowly and held its balance and complexity right down to the last puff.
Buy Now La Gloria Cubana Serie R No. 4 Maduro · 4.88 × 52
This fat little premium stick made by cigar legend Ernesto Carillo, features a licorice black wrapper that is noticeably thick and very oily to the feel. Upon opening the box, the rich aroma of earthy dark tobacco comes wafting through. Those first few puffs reveal a nice airy draw, thick volumes of smoke, and notes of musky tobacco and heavy spice. The first third slowly introduces an amazing complexity as the essence of raisins, leather, and espresso take charge. Towards the end, the No .4 became sweeter and slightly milder with licorice, cocoa, and creamy caramel joining the finish. Overall, the La Gloria Cubana Serie R No. 4 Maduro offers a top-quality smoking experience.
Buy Now Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona · 6.75 × 48
Handcrafted in Cofradia, Honduras, this Cuban marque has become a legend in its own right. From the very first puff, and without hesitation, the famous Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona, offered a plethora of tastes that include leather, sweet spice, coffee and cream. This Doble remained remarkably flavorful right down to the nub, thanks to its seamlessly rolled Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and well-balanced blend of perfectly aged long-fillers from Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. For those venturing into the world of full flavored cigars, this brand is a perfect place to start!
Buy Now Joya de Nicaragua Antano Gran Perfecto · 6 × 60
Joya de Nicaragua Antano Gran Perfecto is truly a work of art. Outfitted in a strikingly beautiful Rosado colored Nicaraguan Habano Criollo wrapper, this is a premium cigar just begging to be smoked. The initial flavors provide the palate with robust, yet sweet flavors of raisins and exotic spice, all while giving off plentiful volumes of thick aromatic smoke. A precise slow and even burn remains throughout as a second wave of coffee, cream, cedar and cocoa notes present themselves. The Gran Perfecto finishes with a dash of spiciness that adds even more complexity to the blend. Powerful, yet smooth, this one of the best full-bodied offerings that money can buy.
Buy Now Camacho Triple Maduro Robusto · 5 × 50
Brought to you by renowned cigar artisan, Christian Eiroa, the popular Camacho Triple Maduro Robusto is not a cigar for the faint of heart! Immediately upon lighting, a blast of hot pepper will knock the unsuspecting smoker on his proverbial ass! However, as the Triple Maduro burns and you regain your senses, the flavors mellow out, and a delightful spicy sweetness takes over, making the initial somewhat shocking experience worth the wait. At the midway point, this stogy really begins to shine, as flavors of chocolate, dark coffee, raisins, and licorice engulf your palate. This devilishly delicious Robusto ends with a bit of a bang as the complexity once again intensifies for a fabulous grand finale. Those seeking the very best maduro experience will find this cigar irresistible.
Buy Now El Rey del Mundo Flor de Llaneza Maduro (Pyramid) · 6.12 × 54
With so many new brands flooding the market, the El Rey Del Mundo is one of those premium cigars that may be overlooked. Well, it’s time to stop “overlooking”, because this beauty is a true classic! The dark Connecticut broadleaf wrapper that covers the El Rey del Mundo Flor de Llaneza Maduro (Pyramid) is so smooth and oily, that your mouth will begin watering before you light the darn thing up! Beyond aesthetics, this Cuban style Figurado really delivers in taste. Starting with a very easy draw and a mellow buttery essence, it quickly opens up with dominant notes of leather, sweet spice, coffee, and chocolate. The bottom third of the cigar introduces a very creamy complexity that makes it hard to put out, even though you are ready to burn your thumb. If you’re looking for a solid and consistent stick that remains yummy till the very last puff, you can’t overlook the El Rey Del Mundo Flor de Llaneza Maduro.
Buy Now JR Ultimate No. 1 · 7.25 × 54
The JR Ultimate No. 1 sports a beautiful dark brown Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper with a very oily sheen. Under the hood reside a tantalizing blend of well-aged Honduran filler tobaccos. One of the oldest and most consistent cigars in the JR lineup, this big Churchill is as close as you will ever come to a genuine Cuban without visiting the forbidden Island. Nothing fancy here, just solid full-bodied taste with notes of earth, leather, coffee bean, and spice. This gem really puts out thick volumes of musky smoke while retaining its delightful complexity throughout. Those looking for old school Honduran quality without the bells and whistles will certainly enjoy this timeless classic.
Buy Now Montecristo Epic Toro 6.0 x 52
The wrapper of the Montecristo Epic Toro is a nice deep reddish brown with minimal veins and an oily sheen. This stunning leaf sits atop specially aged Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. A strong blast of pepper from the first few puffs gives the impression that this cigar is going to be overpowering, but this initial blast quickly subsides, as flavors of caramel, cocoa, coffee, spice, and hints of earth settle in. The cigar finishes beautifully with the addition of some light floral notes and a sweet molasse taste that lingers on the palate. Impeccable construction, amazing flavor, and a delightfully sweet bouquet places the Montecristo Epic Toro in my top three.
Buy Now Liga Privada No. 9 Toro · 6 × 52
Drew Estate turned the industry upside down with their flavored line of cigars; however, they continue to raise the premium cigar bar even higher with the incredible Liga Privada No. 9 Toro. A true masterpiece, its dark chocolate Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is stunning. Smooth, oily to the feel, and almost seamless, wrappers don’t get any nicer than this. Underneath, a thick and spicy Brazilian Mata Fina binder covers choice Honduran and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. An ever-changing slew of complex flavors that include pepper, leather, roasted nuts, coffee bean, and sweet spice will make every puff a unique experience. This cigar can be summarized in one word: outstanding! Just smoke one and you will quickly realize why the Liga Privada is one of the most sought after and best-selling cigars on the planet.
Buy Now Arturo Fuente OPUS X Perfecxion No.2 (Torpedo) 6.38 x 52
When you create the best offering from one of the leading cigar families in the world, Arturo Fuente Cigars, you have perfection, in the name of OPUS X Perfecxion No.2.
The Opus X legend starts with its unique Cuban-seed Rosado wrapper. When first planted on the Fuente estate in 1992, it was a daring experiment to see if premium wrapper could be grown in the Dominican Republic. Until then, this daunting task was never successful. Thanks to this pioneering accomplishment, a few other brands on the market now feature all Dominican tobacco.
The Opus X line uses 100% Dominican tobacco (wrapper, binder, and filler), cured in rum barrels prior to being rolled, then aged for at least a year before being boxed and shipped.
Upon lighting, Perfecxion No.2 starts very mellow. Two or three puffs later, this baby explodes into a high-octane full-bodied beast! Talk about complexity, this smoke is off the charts! A symphony of flavors that include leather, cocoa, roasted nuts cedar, pepper, caramel, raisin, and earth will swirl around your palate and surface individually for the duration of the smoke. With intensity beyond description, flavor beyond reproach, and quality off the charts, this, in one man’s opinion, is the best full-bodied cigar ever made!
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