#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)