Another year is in the books, and that calls for our top cigars of 2025! Every year since 2019, we've put together a list diving into our favorite cigars from that year — though not necessarily those released that year, but ones that we found ourselves returning to time and time again. It's an entirely subjective list, and we certainly recognize that this isn't an exhaustive compilation of the world's best cigars ever created. Here's our list from a panel of dedicated, avid, and highly knowledgeable cigar connoisseurs. We hope that our choices introduce you to some new favorites and help guide you along your cigar journey to even greater smoking heights.

The format remains simple and unchanged: Together we compiled a list of our most memorable smokes from 2025; we each individually smoked every cigar on the list and then ranked them according to the following criteria:

• Construction: the quality of the roll, draw, and burn consistency
• Flavor: how enjoyable the flavor profile is overall*
• Presentation: the overall aesthetic appeal of the packaging, band, and branding
• Value: the ratio of overall quality to price

*In the case of equal scores, the Flavor ranking acted as tie-breaker.

This year's participants featured the usual characters — Shane Ireland, Andy Wike, Steve Mawby, Alan Britt, Tyler Caldwell and James Shores — joined by Chris Herath, the creative mind behind our video content and social media.

Top Cigars of 2025

• 20. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: StillWell Star Holiday 2025
• 19. Gran Habano: Corojo #5 Lunch Break
• 18. Caldwell Cigar Company: The King is Dead Escape Plan Autopilot
• 17. Tatuaje: T110 Corojo
• 16. Warped: Corto Maduro X46
• 15. Lost & Found: The Layover
• 14. Aganorsa Leaf: Arsenio Corona
• 13. Arturo Fuente: Hemingway Signature
• 12. Casa Carrillo: Endure Robusto
• 11. Foundation Cigar Company: The Wise Man Maduro Lancero
• 10. Caldwell Cigar Company: Long Live The King Mad MoFo Habano Belicoso
• 9. Arturo Fuente: Don Carlos #3
• 8. Curivari: Socrates 550
• 7. RoMa Craft: Volstead 1920 Fiorello La Guardia
• 6. La Flor Dominicana: Suave Natural Maceo
• 5. Foundation Cigar Company: Charter Oak Especiales Pasquale
• 4. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: Sombremesa Solita Red
• 3. Blackbird: Superb Lancero
• 2. Warped: Gellis Family Piece Unique
• 1. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: Red Meat Lovers Fritanga

Cigars 20 through 11

20. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: StillWell Star Holiday 2025

Earning the number 20 spot on our list, the Y2025 Holiday cigar from Steve Saka is a 5" x 48 Parejo with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Mexican binder, and filler of Nicaraguan leaf along with pipe tobacco from C&D that boasts sweet and aromatic flavors and aromas to satisfy well past the holiday season. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust's Stillwell Star cigars are the first luxury cigars to feature premium pipe tobacco, pairing the cigar-blending skills of Saka with the pipe-tobacco prowess of Cornell & Diehl.

• Price: $15.35
• Length: 5"
• Ring Gauge: 48
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper Type: Connecticut
• Wrapper Country: Ecuador
• Filler Country: Nicaragua, Other (Pipe Tobacco)
• Binder Country: Mexico

19. Gran Habano: Corojo #5 Lunch Break

Next up on our list is Corojo #5 Lunch Break from Gran Habano. It's a 4.5" x 40 boasting a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and fillers from Costa Rica and Nicaragua. This rich and robust smoke is medium-to-full-bodied and satisfies cravings, much like a lunch break can satiate your hunger right when you need it most during a hectic day. It's also a quicker smoke to enjoy while on a break, ideal for when you don't have much time for long smokes.

• Price: $6.81
• Length: 4.50"
• Ring Gauge: 40
• Country: Honduras
• Wrapper Type: Corojo
• Wrapper Country: Nicaragua
• Filler Country: Costa Rica, Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Nicaragua

18. Caldwell Cigar Company: The King is Dead Escape Plan Autopilot

Ranking at number 18 is The King is Dead Escape Plan in the 7" x 48 Autopilot vitola. This blend is a bold evolution of the original KID, offering a limited, box-pressed edition of the line, featuring all the same tobaccos, only with different primings and unique fermentation processes. With a Dominican Negrito wrapper and Dominican Republic binder and fillers, it's a rich, full-bodied cigar layered with complexity and a creamy finish.

• Price: $18.83
• Length: 7"
• Ring Gauge: 48
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Wrapper Type: Negrito
• Wrapper Country: Dominican Republic
• Filler Country: Dominican Republic
• Binder Country: Dominican Republic

17. Tatuaje: T110 Corojo

If you're a fan of a full-bodied stick, Tatuaje's T110 Corojo is a strong choice (pun intended). It was originally launched in 2009 in a limited release for R. Field Wine Co. in Hawaii. However, it has since expanded with several wrapper versions, this one showcasing a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper, dual Nicaraguan binders, and Nicaraguan fillers. This particular T110 cigar stays true to the bold profile of the OG, while also adding the signature spice and richness that has come to be expected of Corojo leaf.

• Price: $12.00
• Length: 4.38"
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper Type: Corojo
• Wrapper Country: Nicaragua
• Filler Country: Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Nicaragua

16. Warped: Corto Maduro X46

Warped Cigars are known for their boutique, Cuban-style smokes, by founder Kyle Gellis. Ranking 16th on our list this year, the Corto Maduro fully encapsulates the level of craftsmanship and blending prowess at Warped, featuring a Mexican San Andrés wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. It also utilizes Medio Tiempo — a rare and coveted tobacco that grows at the very top of the plant, and only under certain conditions. The addition of this varietal adds depth, enhances the strength, body, and overall richness of the cigar. It's crafted at the NACSA factory in Nicaragua, this particular edition being a 4.5" x 46, or "X46," vitola.

• Price: $13.66
• Length: 4.50"
• Ring Gauge: 46
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper Type: Maduro
• Wrapper Country: Mexico
• Filler Country: Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Nicaragua

15. Lost & Found: The Layover

Just squeaking into our top 15 this year is a recent release from Lost & Found Cigars: The Layover, which was created to be Robert Caldwell's ideal travel-friendly smoke, offered in an easily portable 4.25" x 54 vitola. It features a Dominican Negrito Añejado wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, and delivers the same flavor to be expected from a full-sized stick, only condensed to enjoy while journeying to your next travel spot.

• Price: $12.60
• Length: 4.25"
• Ring Gauge: 54
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Wrapper Type: Negrito
• Wrapper Country: Dominican Republic
• Filler Country: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Nicaragua

14. Aganorsa Leaf: Arsenio Corona

Our number 14 spot has been earned by Aganorsa Leaf's Arsenio Corona, which pays tribute to the late Arsenio Ramos, an esteemed figure in the tobacco industry and a longtime blender for the brand. This limited-edition cigar features a Corojo wrapper, two Nicaraguan binders, and Nicaraguan fillers grown on Aganorsa's farms in Condega and Jalapa. For a medium-to-full-bodied, richly balanced smoke, Arsenio in the 6" x 44 Corona vitola is an excellent choice.

• Price: $14.98
• Length: 6"
• Ring Gauge: 44
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper Type: Corojo
• Wrapper Country: Nicaragua
• Filler Country: Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Nicaragua

13. Arturo Fuente: Hemingway Signature

Next up we have Arturo Fuente's Hemingway Signature, a 6" x 47 Perfecto. Arturo Fuente's grandson, Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr. created the Hemingway series to pay homage to Arturo's skills in hand-rolling Perfecto cigars in the 1920s through the '40s, requiring deft skill and a distinctive profile. The Hemingway line features Perfectos rolled in various sizes, and also adds a more non-traditional blend to the Arturo Fuente lineup with a Cameroonian wrapper, and binder and fillers featuring Dominican tobaccos.

• Price: $10.50
• Length: 6"
• Ring Gauge: 47
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Wrapper Type: Cameroon
• Wrapper Country: Dominican Republic
• Filler Country: Dominican Republic
• Binder Country: Dominican Republic

12. Casa Carrillo: Endure Robusto

Nearing the middle of our top cigar rankings for 2025, Casa Carrillo's Endure Robusto is a cigar that honors the enduring strength of two families: Perez-Carrillo and Meerapfel, and that features a legendary Cameroon wrapper from Meerapfel, who revived this tobacco when the leaf was near extinction, over Nicaraguan binders and fillers. It's a 5" x 50 cigar with medium-to-full-bodied strength that pays tribute to two impactful families in the industry.

• Price: $18.00
• Length: 5"
• Ring Gauge: 50
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Wrapper Type: Cameroon
• Wrapper Country: Cameroon
• Filler Country: Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Nicaragua

11. Foundation Cigar Company: The Wise Man Maduro Lancero

Foundation Cigars was founded in 2015, the very same year as El Guëguënse, a cigar whose name translates into English as "The Wise Man." That cigar pays tribute to the culture and art of Nicaragua, named in honor of the eponymous Nicaraguan satirical folk play written in the 16th century, one of the oldest theatrical performances of the Americas. Come 2024, this cigar joined The Wise Man Maduro to create a united series known as The Wise Man. The Maduro Lancero ranks at the number 11 position in our list, a 7" x 40 with a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper, an all-Nicaraguan blend of binder and filler tobacco, a double binder of Estelí and Jalapa, and fillers from Condega, Estelí, and Jalapa. Also a bold choice for those who enjoy full-bodied smokes, flavor notes include cocoa, pepper, and espresso.

• Price: $14.50
• Length: 7"
• Ring Gauge: 40
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper Type: Maduro
• Wrapper Country: Mexico
• Filler Country: Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Nicaragua

Top 10 Cigars

10. Caldwell Cigar Company: Long Live The King Mad MoFo Habano Belicoso

Starting off our top 10 this year is Caldwell's Long Live the King Mad MoFo Habano Belicoso, rendered in a 5.5" x 52 vitola and featuring a Habano wrapper over a Sumatran binder with fillers from Pennsylvania, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. This cigar is one of the strongest and boldest blends that Caldwell has to offer, and it delivers a healthy dose of spice and full body for those searching for a little extra oomph.

• Price: $16.54
• Length: 5.50"
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Wrapper Type: Habano
• Wrapper Country: Dominican Republic
• Filler Country: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, United States
• Binder Country: Indonesia

9. Arturo Fuente: Don Carlos #3

Our ninth spot is occupied by another Arturo Fuente cigar: Don Carlos #3, in a 5.5" x 44 vitola. The Don Carlos series honors the company's founding patriarch, Carlos Fuente Sr. Don Carlos, and they are among the most limited and rarest cigars produced by the iconic brand. They feature exceptional flavors and construction, comprised of vintage Dominican Republic tobaccos in the binder and filler and delicious wrappers from Cameroon.

• Price: $14.10
• Length: 5.50"
• Ring Gauge: 44
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Wrapper Type: Cameroon
• Wrapper Country: Cameroon
• Filler Country: Dominican Republic
• Binder Country: Dominican Republic

8. Curivari: Socrates 550

Coming in at number eight, Curivari's Socrates 550 is one 5" x 50 cigar in honor of Andreas Throuvalas' Greek heritage in his regular line. The binder and fillers consist of Curivari's Cuban-seed, Nicaragua-grown tobaccos and a dark San Andrés Maduro leaf from Mexico. This tasty standout in their portfolio features notes of cinnamon, earth, oak, leather, spice, and sweetness.

• Price: $9.00
• Length: 5"
• Ring Gauge: 50
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper Type: Maduro
• Wrapper Country: Mexico
• Filler Country: Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Nicaragua

7. RoMa Craft: Intemperance Volstead 1920 Fiorello La Guardia

RoMa Craft's Volstead 1920 blend is named after the law that established alcohol prohibition in the United States. Ranking seventh this year, this cigar utilizes an Ecuadorian Sumatran wrapper and Mexican San Andrés binder in combination with the same Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers seen across the Intemperance series. It's a light smoke offered here in the 6" x 54 Fiorello La Guardia vitola.

• Price: $11.00
• Length: 6"
• Ring Gauge: 54
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper Type: Sumatra
• Wrapper Country: Ecuador
• Filler Country: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Mexico

6. La Flor Dominicana: Suave Natural Maceo

In the number six spot is the Suave Natural Maceo from La Flor Dominicana, a brand offering bold and full-bodied cigars. The Suave is part of the nuanced and refined Reserva Especial line, rebranded from the brand's mildest cigar, the Premium. It features Dominican long fillers and an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper, resulting in a flavorful yet mellow profile.

• Price: $8.40
• Length: 5"
• Ring Gauge: 48
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Wrapper Type: Corojo
• Wrapper Country: Ecuador
• Filler Country: Dominican Republic
• Binder Country: Dominican Republic

Top 5 Cigars

5. Foundation Cigar Company: Charter Oak Especiales Pasquale

In fifth place this year is the robust and full-bodied Charter Oak Pasquale cigar. This cigar from Foundation Cigar Company honors founder and master blender Nicholas Melillo's grandfathers, who shared the love of handmade cigars with him. The blend features a Nicaraguan binder, fillers from the Estelí and Jalapa regions of Nicaragua, and a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, affording an earthy flavor profile with notes of sweetness.

• Price: $13.60
• Length: 5.50"
• Ring Gauge: 48
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper Type: Connecticut Broadleaf
• Wrapper Country: Nicaragua
• Filler Country: Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Nicaragua

4. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: Sombremesa Solita Red

Taking the number four placement on our list, Sobremesa Solita Red from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust celebrates the experience of sobremesa, the experience of languidly spending time with friends and family. Debuting in 2015, the line was revamped in 2024 with new packaging, and the original Sobremesa was redubbed the Sobremesa Solita, which translates into English as "little sun" in reference to its sun-grown Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper. The Red is a bit stronger than the original, highlighting notes of cocoa, cinnamon, and anise, complete with Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf ligero fillers and a Mexican San Andrés binder.

• Price: $19.25
• Length: 6.25"
• Ring Gauge: 46
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper Type: Habano, Rosado
• Wrapper Country: Ecuador
• Filler Country: Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Mexico

3. Blackbird: Superb Lancero

Nearing the top of the list, receiving bronze, is Blackbird's Superb Lancero. This cigar is the first blend with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper to join the brand's core line, boasting medium body and rich flavor through undisclosed filler and binder components. The packaging, as with Blackbird's other avian-inspired cigars, features vibrant box art and the color scheme of the bird of the same name.

• Price: $9.50
• Length: 7"
• Ring Gauge: 38
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Wrapper Type: Habano
• Wrapper Country: Ecuador
• Filler Country: Undisclosed
• Binder Country: Undisclosed

2. Warped: Gellis Family Piece Unique

In second place, receiving silver, is Warped's Gellis Family Piece Unique, a singular work of art years in the making, featuring a distinctive blend never to be crafted the same way again. This particular release showcases tobacco from bales personally selected by Kyle Gellis, with a Grade 1 Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The entire cigar was aged for a year after being rolled, and is a one-of-a-kind smoke you won't want to miss.

• Price: $40.00
• Length: 6"
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Wrapper Type: Connecticut
• Wrapper Country: Ecuador
• Filler Country: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Nicaragua

1. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: Red Meat Lovers Fritanga

*Drum roll, please* Our number-one, gold-earning cigar for 2025 is Red Meat Lovers Fritanga from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. This unique smoke was blended specifically for the meat lover, to be paired with a tasty steak. As a result, the cigar is robust and full-bodied to pair well with a juicy meal. It's comprised of a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over a Mexican San Andrés Negro binder and fillers from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania.

• Price: $16.95
• Length: 6"
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper Type: Connecticut Broadleaf
• Wrapper Country: United States
• Filler Country: Nicaragua, United States
• Binder Country: Mexico

Category Finalists:

• Construction: Warped: Gellis Family Piece Unique
• Flavor: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: Red Meat Lovers Fritanga
• Presentation: Warped: Gellis Family Piece Unique
• Value:: Blackbird: Superb Lancero

Honorable Mentions:

• ADVentura: The Royal Return: King's Gold Tooth Petite Corona
• Warped: Smokingpipes El Oso Primo
• Crowned Heads: Broadway Epicure
• Fratello: Arlequin Corona

Personal Favorites:

• Shane Ireland - Caldwell Cigar Company: Long Live The King Mad MoFo Habano Belicoso
• Andy Wike - Tatuaje: T110 Corojo
• Steve Mawby - Curivari: Socrates 550
• Alan Britt - Casa Carrillo: Endure Robusto
• Tyler Caldwell - La Flor Dominicana: Suave Natural Maceo
• James Shores - Powstanie: SBC 2024
• Chris Herath - Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: Sombremesa Solita Red

Thank you to all of these brands for another great year of cigars! We hope this compilation introduces you to some new cigars and encourages you to start 2026 with a tasty smoke! What were some of your favorite cigars of this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!