10 Spring Smokes to Light Up the Season
Spring is officially here, bringing better weather, more hours of sunlight and brilliant rows of blooming tulips. It also brings us to our must-smoke list for the season. These 10 cigars rose above the rest in our November/December 2020 issue of Cigar Aficionado (and issues of Cigar Insider). From a handful of Cubans and familiar names that have made our Top 25 to milder cigars you can smoke all day long, here are 10 selections that are perfect to enjoy during the spring season as the trees go green again.
Juan Lopez Selección No. 2, was the No. 14 cigar of 2019 as well.
H. Upmann Magnum 50 (93 Points, Cuba): The chocolate-hued wrapper of this toro speaks to its medium body, which is typical of this storied Cuban brand. At 6 3/8 inches by 50 ring gauge, the Magnum 50 imparts flavor in rich, luxurious layers of honey and gingersnap cookie—a true delight.
Matilde Quadrata Torpedo (93 Points, Dominican Republic): Beneath the Ecuadoran wrapper of this softly pressed pirámide, is an interesting blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco. At medium- to full-strength, the malty qualities call to mind a freshly poured stout beer. An exceptional cigar from a smaller brand.
volcanic island of Ometepe. This delicious toro is medium-bodied.
A.J. Fernandez in Nicaragua, the medium-bodied Highclere Castle Victorian is a cigar fit for kings of spring.
Cigar of the Year. Years later, the widely loved Cuban robusto still delivers with its toasty, nutty smoke, floral intonation and woody, earthy finish. It may be only medium-bodied in strength, but it is certainly full of flavor.
original La Aroma de Cuba line, but it makes its own statement with a dark, Mexican wrapper. Made at the My Father Cigars factory in Estelí, the medium- to full-bodied, box-pressed robusto imparts bold, straightforward notes of black coffee and earth that intensify as it burns. Plus, it’s another budget-friendly smoke that will only cost you around $7.50.
girthy gordos, the A.L.R. Second Edition Sixty delivers notes of wood, cocoa and coffee bean before a long, toasty finish.
