Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2023   

We have finally arrived at the moment of truth.  The Pipe Professor’s Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023.  Those that follow The Pipe Professor webpage regularly (thank you!) know that there was no Top 5 Pipe Tobacco list for 2022.  Why?  The answer is two-fold.  Firstly, 2022 was without-a-doubt a cigar year for me.  I simply enjoyed many, many more cigars than pipe tobacco last year.  Did that trend reverse back to “normal” for 2023?  YES!  Secondly, in 2022, I purposefully focused on enjoying pipe tobacco blends that are regulars in my cellar and rotation.  Afterall, there’s no point in collecting, or “hoarding” as my wife would say, all these wonderful tobaccos if we are not planning to ever smoke and enjoy them.  That’s precisely what I did in 2022.

With that being said, I indeed managed to relish a fair amount of glorious pipe leaf in 2023.  Below I have outlined my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023 along with my 2 biggest disappointments.  Understandably, as I have often alluded to, taste and enjoyment of fine tobaccos, top shelf spirits, vintage wines, and gourmet foods, are completely subjective.  What I may enjoy in my bowl may be the complete opposite of what you enjoy.  And that’s ok!  In fact, that’s one of the characteristics that makes this hobby so enjoyable.  The variety and options of available pipe tobaccos on the market are more than any one individual could ever smoke in their lifetime (although I believe JimInks I is getting rather close—see tobaccoreviews.com for proof).  The point, if there is one, is to share my experiences in the hobby with each of you, in hopes that we can expand the dialogue around the pastime of pipe smoking that each of us enjoys.  Therefore, if you don’t agree with this list, that’s ok.  If you haven’t tried any of the tobaccos listed below, give them a go. If you’ve had similar or different experiences with each, leave a comment and let me know.  But, no matter what the outcome, please continue to love and support this amazing hobby and community.  If we don’t take care of that which we have been given responsibility, who will?  Someone took the time to protect this pastime, let us continue that sharing and celebration for many years to come.  Merry Christmas and happy new year!   

Without further ado, The Pipe Professor’s Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023! 

Tobacco #5 for 2023

Dan Tobacco Devil’s Holiday

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Dan Tobacco

Category: Aromatic

Blend Components: Black Cavendish; Virginia

Flavorings: Blackcurrant; Fruit

Cut Type: Coarse Cut

Available Packaging: 50g tin or 250g package

Price: $17.50 USD per 50g tin

Tobacco Notes:  Admittingly, I found this blend to be best enjoyed in my bulldog meerschaum pipe.  Smokers will immediately note the fruit/berry topping, which is a quality topping, not a generic cherry found in many OTC blends.  Further, similar to other Dan Tobacco blends, the Virginia tobaccos are of a higher quality than most aromatics on the market.  Essentially, this is a wonderful aromatic that will offer a sweet aroma while providing a savory grass note on the palate.  I’ve smoked several bowls in a single day and never experienced tongue bite.  If you are an anti-aromatic pipe smoker, I would encourage you to take the leap and give Dan Tobacco’s Devil’s Holiday a try.  This is easily an everyday smoke to be enjoyed by pipers and non-pipers alike (the room note is not offensive).  

Tobacco #4 for 2023

Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls 

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Peterson

Category: VaPer

Blend Components: Virginia; Perique

Flavorings: None 

Cut Type: Curly Cut/Coin

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $22.50 USD per 50g tin

Tobacco Notes: Rich grassy sweetness, bready, yeasty, with an undertone of brown sugar and molasses.  Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls is a true treat!  This tobacco is what spirit enthusiasts would consider to be “top shelf” and that is further reflected in the price.  In fact, when it came down to finalizing my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos, price was one of the main reasons this tobacco didn’t find itself higher on this list.  Yes, this tobacco is pricey, but if you can afford adding a tin or two to your next order, do it.  I promise this is a very special blend that will deliver nothing but satisfaction for the rookie and veteran palates.  

Tobacco #3 for 2023

Presbyterian Ordained 

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Sutliff Tobacco Company  

Category: Virginia

Blend Components: Virgina

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $16.07 USD per 50g tin

Tobacco Notes:  To start, the “pop the top” video review of me sampling Presbyterian Ordained can be found here, or, you can read my full review here.  To summarize, this Virginia flake is indeed downright delicious!  The tobacco burns extremely well delivering a memorizing savory room note of vanilla cream, rich baking spices, with hints of a yeasty/fresh bakery sweetness.  Flavors you will experience include a grassy/hay opening, which continues throughout the smoke, a cashew nuttiness, and a finish of toasted vanilla wafer and brown sugar.  Something to note, and understandably one of the major reasons why I could not award a higher rank to this tobacco is its availability.  Although Presbyterian Ordained was in reasonable supply at the beginning of 2023, it is no longer available at the time of this writing.  I am not sure if Ordained was a limited release by Presbyterian or not, however, I would highly encourage Sutliff to not only bring this blend back to market, but also make it a regular production blend.  I was able to hold back about 8 tins total (I have smoked 4 ½ tins of Presbyterian Ordained thus far in 2023) and will be very intrigued to see how some age morphs this amazing blend into further bliss.  If someone from Sutliff happens across this post, from one pipe smoker to another, PLEASE!  PLEASE! PLEASE! Bring back the Presbyterian Ordained and make it a regular in your portfolio.       

Tobacco #2 for 2023

Boswell’s English Biscuit

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: J.M. Boswell  

Category: English

Blend Components: Latakia; Toasted Virginias; Cavendish

Flavorings: None listed, but I suspect a mild vanilla

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: bulk by the oz

Price: $5.35 per oz

Tobacco Notes:  I honestly do not believe Boswell’s tobacco gets enough credit in the pipe smoking community.  It seems that everyone who experiences Boswell’s tobaccos has a positive experience.  Truly, you never hear of anyone not finding a Boswell’s blend they don’t enjoy.  With that being said, I happened across this English (although I suspect it’s an English Aromatic) in September of this year.  Since finding this blend, I can’t get enough as I have almost smoked through a full pound.  I must admit that I have, and continue to, enjoy this blend most in a cob.  Specifically, my Missouri Meerschaum Charlestown Cobbler.  This tobacco is unique in that it has many flavor layers throughout smoking.  You can expect to experience a rich campfire essence, tangy, earthy, and mild sugary cream notes on the palate.  The aroma is mesmerizing and would not overly offensive to a non-smoker.  I do detect slight vanilla and warm baked butter notes on the nose/room note which makes me suspect there is some type of light topping added to the tobacco, however, upon researching the Boswell’s webpage, nothing is noted that would indicate this to be accurate.  Either way, Boswell’s English Biscuit is a very enjoyable tobacco that will be sure to please your palate, regardless of if you are an aromatic junky, VaPer snob, or crotchety English codger.  Pick some up.  I guarantee you will be quick to order more!        

Tobacco #1 for 2023

Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Cornell & Diehl 

Category: Balkan

Blend Components: Latakia; Oriental/Turkish; Perique

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 2oz tin

Price: $11.90 USD per 2oz tin

Tobacco Notes:  Ok, first and foremost, we must bring forward the fact that this tobacco is indeed, not a flake.  Cornell & Diehl is notorious for claiming many of the tobaccos in their portfolio to be flakes, however, Sunset Harbor Flake is not an actual flake (like Dunhill Flake or Samuel Gawith Full Virgin Flake or Presbyterian Ordained Flake).  At some point in the production process, this tobacco very well may have been in flake form, but do not be surprised upon opening a tin, when you are met with very, very broken flake pieces.  Now, does this affect the overall product?  Absolutely not!  But I would ask that C&D stop calling tobaccos flakes that are not in flake form….What is Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor flake?  An exceptionally flavorful, well-balanced smoke.  In fact, C&D Sunset Harbor Flake is indeed downright delicious.  Often wine drinkers will talk about the balance in a wine.  Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake is precisely that, balanced.  The strength, the body, the nicotine, the aroma, and the flavors offered are a delectable harmony for the pipe smoker.  Once again, like many blends listed above, and on my past lists, this tobacco was most enjoyed in my Rusticated/Craggy Peterson Meerschaum straight billiard pipe. 

Since finding this perfect pair of pipe and tobacco, I now exclusively smoke C&D Sunset Harbor Flake in my Peterson Meerschaum.  It truly is a match made in Heaven.  Flavors (Tastes + Aroma) that you can expect from this tobacco are campfire smoke, perique spice, frothy cream cheese, woody/earth, and a ginger citrus zest.  Very complex and best enjoyed with intentionality and focus.  Further, the tobacco burns slow resulting in a cool, dry smoke that lingers on the palate for a long finish well past finishing the bowl.  I honestly took a random chance on this tobacco after seeing Mike, from the Pipe & Tamper Podcast, post a picture of the blend on his Instagram raving about how good.  So, if you happen to read this Mike, thank you for exposing myself and others to a wonderful tobacco.  Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake is an extraordinary tobacco that is much deserving of The Pipe Professor’s #1 tobacco of 2023.         

Top Two Tobacco Disappointments of 2023

Disappointment #1 for 2023

John Cotton’s Double Press Creme

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Sutliff 

Category: Aromatic

Blend Components: Black Cavendish; Virginia

Flavorings: Vanilla

Cut Type: Krumble Kake

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $15.55 USD per 50g tin

Tasting Notes: Full of sweet vanilla cake flavors and wonderful baking fragrance aromas this tobacco is not.  You read that correctly.  Those flavors do not exist in this tobacco.  In fact, not many tastes are apparent at any point.  Further, when I read vanilla to be one of the toppings added, I would at least expect to find hints lingering in the room note.  Nope.  This tobacco is truly not much of anything.  Granted, the tin krumble kake presentation is very eye appealing but similar to women, it’s only looks that are pleasing.  Further, what makes this even harder for me to accept is the fact that I’ve generally had wonder experiences with the John Cotton lines, with John Cotton’s Number1 being my #1 Pipe Tobacco in 2017.  The Double Pressed Crème, not so much.  And for the price, there are many other great tobaccos on the mark to choose from.  Take my failures with this blend as your wisdom in tobacco selection and pass on this blend.  Nothing to be missed.  

Disappointment #2 for 2023

7-20-4 Briary Blends Boston Tea Party

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Cornell & Diehl for Briary Blends 

Category: Burley

Blend Components: Burley, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: 2oz tin

Price: $15.00 USD per 2oz tin

Tasting Notes: Similar to other tobaccos on this list, I came across this blend while swiping through Instagram.  Not having had a Briary Blend tobacco before, I reached out to the Briary Tobacconist store and placed an order for a few tins.  All I can say is, I just don’t get this one?  It’s not that the blend is flawed or has a problem, it’s just….bland.  I have smoked almost an entire tin of Boston Tea Party and have never experienced any amazing flavors or distinctions listed in the description, not even once.  According to the tin, Boston Tea Party “begins with a medium-bodied feel, slowly increasing to a medium-full as you progress down the bowl. Hints of cedar and nuts are accompanied by sweet hay and citrus flavors. A nutty, caramel-like sweetness rounds it out with a pleasant black tea flavor on the finish. A bright and flavorful blend that evokes the spirit of New England.”  Every bit of this sounds right up my alley when it comes to flavor, but none of it exists when smoking.  At least not to my palate.  Maybe I’m missing something, however, this blend just has not hit any of the right notes with me.  Now, I do have a few tins put away in my cellar, and will certainly revisit it in future years, but as for now, 7-20-4 Briary Blends Boston Tea Party is no party at all.  Just another silly “revolution” in the vast world of pipe tobaccos.        

And that’s going to do it for my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023.  Thank you again for visiting The Pipe Professor website.  I hope you have enjoyed my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2023 and please stay tuned for more reviews and exciting content in 2024.  As always, I hope each of you has a blessed new year and until next time, cheers!

* All tobacco/tin pictures and blend information (excluding tobacco notes) were taken from tobaccoreviews.com, tobaccopipes.com, watchcitycigars.com, and smokingpipes.com.  The writer of this post is not the owner of the above photos/blend information related to each tobacco and does not take credit for their creation. 

A Pipe Smoker’s Inquiry: How I Determine my Top 5 Lists

I must admit that I find this time of year both interesting and exciting, not only because of the holidays, but also because of the finality the calendar year brings.  And in the most unique circumstance, this closure prompts individuals and organizations to reflect upon the items, goods, and services most enjoyed over the course of our journey around the sun. 

Although we could question why the end of the year is utilized for such peculiar behavior, I would be regressive in this writing to entertain such inquiries.  Therefore, I will rejoin the conversation topic by stating how much I enjoy seeing and reading these Top 10, Top 25, Greatest of All Time, Best of Year, etc., lists.  Do these “expert” lists influence my own purchasing in any fashion?  Admittedly, sure.  However, I find it somewhat fun to entertain what others have found satisfying over the twelve-month time continuum.

With that being said, I too enjoy creating and contributing to this semi-absurd behavior with my own Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos, Top 5 Cigars, and My Favorite Things columns.  As a side note, if you haven’t read or seen my videos related to these topics, feel free to browse The Pipe Professor website, or visit The Pipe Professor YouTube channel for more content.  

As I currently work to narrow down my selections for each category, I figured it would be fun, to share with each of you, how I go about narrowing my top five choices and explain the process in a smidge greater detail.  Before beginning, I do want to preface that this is my method, and in no shape, form, or fashion do I consider it to be the best or most reliable.  Arguably, all of these lists and awards are no more than opinioned indexes of goods (in which some companies pay to ensure their name brand item appears on the lists).  Do note, that although I have had companies contact me regarding payment for review of their product(s), I have never been paid, or allowed the offer, to influence any of The Pipe Professor Top 5 lists/reviews. I always give my honest opinion.  

Now that we have discussed an overview, and attempted to examine the “why” of this unique pastime, let’s get into the details of how I pick my Top 5.  I came to the determination long ago that if I waited until the exact end of the year to determine my Top 5 lists, the tobaccos, cigars, and spirits that hit the market in late fall, early winter, were not given a fair “shake” as I had not been able to enjoy them throughout the year similar to other products.  Because of this fact, I now make October 31st, Halloween, the cut-off for allowing new tobaccos to be considered for the current year’s list.  To break it down further, any tobacco that is released in November or December becomes a part of the upcoming year’s contender list.  This allows me to enjoy the tobacco for more than a few weeks before making a final assessment.  Yes, there have been exceptions to this rule depending on specific circumstances, however, more often than not, I have a hard stop on adding new tobaccos for consideration after October.  What happens from here?  Great question, and I’m glad you are still interested in reading a piece about how this process works.  Seriously.  You are still reading?  Thank you!

From this point, I utilize the entire month of November, and approximately half of December, to smoke through the tobaccos and blends I found to be very enjoyable throughout the year.  If you keep up with The Pipe Professor rating scales, any tobacco or cigar that scores five pipes or boxes, is automatically placed in the Top 5 running by making the final December cut (more explanation to come).  Pipe tobacco blends and cigars that score four on the rating system (or 4.5 in some cases) are entered into the “first round” of elimination (November round).  These are the tobaccos I smoke first, with the goal of determining which are the best and could stand up to any five-star blends.  On most years there are only two or three blends, if that many, that will move on to the second round (this is a very tough competition – only the strong survive).  From there, I begin to smoke each blend on a rotating basis utilizing a cob, briar, and meerschaum pipes.  Over the course of approximately four weeks, each blend gets smoked a minimum of three times with five total bowls of each blend being the average.  As the blends are smoked in rotation, there are always a few that stand out from the rest of the pack, and easily make it into the top five.  However, as in years such as 2023, there have been several blends fighting for one or two spots in my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos list (same for the cigars).  Here is a breakdown of the numbers from this year for reference:

Pipe Tobacco

Total # of different pipe tobacco blends smoked this year: 36

Total # that made the November cut: 11

Total # of pipe tobaccos that received a 5-star rating this past year: 4 

Total # of pipe tobaccos remaining at the start of December: 7

Note: three blends carried forward from the initial eleven in the first round – four automatically made the final round (five star rating) for a total of seven top five contenders.

Cigars

Total # of cigars smoked this year: 137

Total # that made the November cut: 14

Total # of cigars that received a 5-star rating this past year: 6

Total # of cigars remaining at the start of December: 10 

Note: four cigars carried forward from the initial fourteen in the first round – six automatically made the final round (five star ratings) for a total of ten top 5 contenders. 

In order to clarify things further, if a tobacco blend or cigar received a 5-star rating during the year, it guarantees the product makes the final December cut. However, it does not automatically qualify it for a final Top 5 spot.  In fact, once the final smoking and elimination begins (December round), all previous ratings are disregarded, and the open assessment progress begins.  Secondly, although the final round for determination begins in December(*), the reality is it actually starts the weekend after Thanksgiving.  This allows breathing room in the calendar and more time for me to thoroughly narrow the lists.  

To provide some foreshadowing on this past year’s countdown, there were seven total pipe tobaccos that made the cut to December*.  Out of these seven tobaccos, three were a definite on the list, one was comfortable but not guaranteed, and the other three were all jockeying hard to ensure their name made the Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2023.  If I were to attempt an explanation at the amusement and joy I get from having these blends “battle it out”, the readers of this writing would probably call for a psychoanalysis of my mental stability.  No fear, I only mildly answered and/or responded to myself when talking through ratings aloud.  

Traveling to the cigar side, we find the story to be a bit different from the pipe tobacco showdown.  For the cigars, there were only ten that made the cut into my December* finals.  This should let you know that although there were several really good cigars I smoked this year, a majority of them were just that…good…not great. Out of the 10 making the finals, only two had guaranteed spots on the Top 5 Cigars of 2023 list (spoiler – when the lists publish, they are cigars #1 and #2 of the year on the list) with eight others fighting it out to take the final three spots.  In all honesty, any of these eight cigars would be worthy to be on the list, however, at The Pipe Professor website, we put on the big boy britches and make the final cuts!  

There we have it.  Without going into extremes, this is the general process for how I determine my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos and Top 5 Cigars each year.  Is it a flawless process?  Heck no.  Is it something I find fun to do each year?  Absolutely!  And, for those choosing to follow along, below is a schedule for when the lists will be released on The Pipe Professor website and YouTube channel.     

Top 5 Cigars of 2023: Friday, December 8th

Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2023: Friday, December 15th

My Favorite Things 2023 Edition: Friday, December 22nd (The Pipe Professor website only)

Pipe, Cigars, and Tobacco New Year’s Resolutions: Friday, January 5th

That’s going to do it for this post.  Thank you sticking with it and I hope you will join me in the coming weeks as we celebrate the great gifts of 2023 and prepare ourselves for a vibrant start to a new year.  In the meantime, I hope each of you has a wonderfully fulfilling holiday season and don’t forget to slow down, simplify, and smoke a pipe (or cigar)!

Cheers!

Video explanation of the process can be found here: https://youtu.be/-4rwVhCbmbA?si=S85gUWkmpuIOBs8R

Presbyterian Ordained

I’m not sure if it’s old age memory lapse, or all the drugs I did when I was younger (just kidding, I still do them…. not really).  I don’t remember how I came across this blend, or why it piqued my interests, but I’m glad I did (spoiler).  My experience with the brand Presbyterian, specifically Presbyterian Mixture, was little more than meh/average, so I honestly didn’t have high hopes for Ordained once acquiring a tin upon release.  Let me just go on record saying, I’m very glad I tried this one.

From the tobacco reviews website:

“Matured bright Virginia flakes deliver a bouquet of natural flavors — bread and hay with a subtle citrus undertone and a gentle, amiable spice. This toasty, artfully sweet smoke charmingly showcases what the bright, flue-cured leaf is all about, delivered through an easy, cool burn.” 

Straight Virginia blends have certainly grown on me over the past 2 years; however, I would summarize my experiences with them as definitely hit or miss, no in-betweens.  Let’s take a closer look at Presbyterian Ordained and see what this tobacco all about.

Info & Overview

Brand: Presbyterian (Sutliff Tobacco Company)

Category: Straight Virginia

Blend Components: Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $16.07 USD

On to the review…

If you would like to see my First Impressions review of Presbyterian Ordained from January 2023, please visit The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/IuGOTG3OKiU

From the Tin: Absolutely top-notch presentation from the tin.  Beautiful, thin flakes with a mixture of medium and light brown colors.  The aroma from the tin was truly amazing showing very strong scents of hay, fresh straw, grain cereal, sweet citrus/fruit, and brown sugar.  The flakes were spot on in moisture content and needed no drying time making for ease of rubbing out and loading my pipe. 

Tasting Notes: This tobacco is truly a treat.  Seriously!  Presbyterian Ordained has come out of left field to steal my little pipe smoking heart (or palate if you prefer).  The tobacco burns extremely well delivering a memorizing sweet room note of vanilla cream, rich baking spices, with hints of a yeasty/fresh bakery sweetness.  Flavors noted during the smoking experience include a grassy/hay start which morphs into a cashew nuttiness and finishes with toasted vanilla wafer and brown sugar.  Although the description details spice as a characteristic, I did not experience any type of pepperiness or harshness during any bowls smoked. The smoke remained cool, sweet, and smooth throughout.  This tobacco should be smoked slowly and deserves your full attention for maximum enjoyment. Nicotine level for this tobacco is low, however, body proved to be medium over each smoking experience.  Overall, a delightfully flavorful, clean tasting tobacco.  

Overall Impression: I love it when a tobacco’s taste and performance surprise me.  Even more so, I love it when I am able to find a new tobacco gem.  Presbyterian Ordained is just that, a gem!  No doubt this wonderful Virginia flake will only get better with age.  Further, I am so blown away by the amazing smoking experience this tobacco provides, that I am certain it will be a contender in my Top 5 Tobaccos for 2023.  As of the writing of this review, I have already smoked through two full tins and am contemplating opening a third.  Just wonderful!  Do yourself a favor, grab a tin or two, if you can still find it, and enjoy!  I have no doubt Virginia lovers will find much pleasure in this tobacco.  

Tobacco Score: 5 out of 5 Pipes

Montecristo Espada Guard   

Made at the Plasencia factory in Nicaragaua, the Montecristo Espada Guard is certainly a cigar with style and class. Available in beautiful 10 count boxes, the Montecristo Espada is part of the ever-growing Altadis USA portfolio. From the Altadis USA website: 

“Constructed with 100% vintage Nicaraguan tobaccos specially aged by the Plasencia family and expertly blended by the world famous Grupo de Maestros, Espada by Montecristo offers a bold, spicy and deeply satisfying smoke. Espada, which means “sword” in Spanish, is the first Montecristo with all of its tobacco coming from Nicaragua – a country celebrated for its robust and mellow tobaccos. Espada by Montecristo is a cigar of pure taste and true elegance”.

Being named to Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 (number 20) in 2015, I found this cigar catching my eye while at my local Brick & Mortar store this past week. Let’s find out what this sword swinging stick is all about.

On to the review….

Montecristo Espada Guard Attributes

Size: Toro (Guard)

Length: 6 

Ring Gauge: 50

Wrapper: Habano Jalapa Vintage 2010

Binder: Habano Jalapa Vintage 2009

Filler: Habano Jalapa Vintage 2008; Ometepe 2008; Condega 2008

Country: Nicaragua (Plasencia)

Price: $16.20 USD each

Aesthetics [Construction/Shelf-Appeal/Pre-light]: The Montecristo Espada is almost completely covered with bands, three in total. I’m typically leery of bands covering most of a cigar’s body as you never know what is to be found upon removal (like a Christmas present), however, after removal of foot band and middle band, the cigar showed a nice milk chocolate colored wrapper with several veins throughout. The cigar’s cap was perfectly rounded, and no soft spots were found as I rolled the cigar through my fingers. The foot was jam packed and the pre-light smell was of rich tobacco with feeble woody notes. Cold draw was loose and showed very faint tastes of sweet wood.

Performance [Draw/Burn]: The draw of the cigar was perfect and easy throughout the entire smoking experience showing almost no resistance. The smallest of draws produced a lot of creamy white smoke, and I would classify the cigar as medium/full in body. Burn was wavy throughout the entire smoke and required several touch-ups and one re-light. Ash was a flakey mix of light and dark greys.  I did use a V-Cut for this cigar due to the perfectly rounded cap. The Montecristo Espada was a medium strength smoke.   

Flavor [Tastes/Aroma]: Throughout the smoking experience I mainly encountered heavy black walnut and dry wood characteristics with leather, faith vanilla, a meaty chewiness, and sweet cedar aromas finding their way to my senses.  Not overly complex in the flavors and easily detected tastes were evident throughout smoking the cigar.

Overall Impressions [Value/Experience/Pairing]: My final assessment of the cigar is best summarized as solid. The cigar isn’t amazing, but it’s also far from awful. It’s a market solid cigar that will no doubt be consistent for those finding the flavor profile to fit their wants and needs. The biggest hinderance for me is the price tag. At the higher end of the premium level ($16.00) I can easily find other Nicaraguan puros that will give me a more enjoyable smoking experience. Is this cigar bad? No. Would it be better if the price tag was dropped? Absolutely! In fact, if this cigar were a $10.00 to $12.00 cigar, I would probably smoke it on a regular basis.

For reference, I paired the Montecristo Espada with black coffee and water, therefore, no pairing report was noted. 

Cigar Score: 3 out of 5 boxes

Rating Chart Reference

Top 5 Cigars of 2022

Have you ever felt drawn to one form of tobacco over another?  Or, to put the question straight forward, do you ever find yourself having stretches where you gravitate more toward cigars, or more toward pipe smoking, or even periods of dry nasal snuff use?  Without a doubt, I do.  In fact, 2022, for the most part, has been a cigar smoking year for me.  Why?  I don’t know, however, as of the writing of this piece, I have smoked over 197 cigars since April 2022.  That roughly equates to approximately 5 cigars per week for 37 straight weeks.  Is that too many?  For some folks that may seem extreme, whereas for others, they may enjoy five cigars per day.  

Similar to the subjectivity associated with tasting tobacco, the quantity of tobacco products one enjoys should be their own preference.  With that being said, I do support the belief that moderation must be followed, not just with tobacco, but in all aspects of life.  Regardless, no matter your thoughts on quantity, the question we are addressing with this list is the quality of cigars.  Below, I have presented my Top 5 Cigars for 2022.  Although the list could have easily been extended to include 25 cigars, I feel that anything past five just becomes grouped into a larger pool of good quality smokes.  The five cigars presented below have consistently battled their way into the top spots, or in some cases, held the lead from the get-go to prove their worth, and I highly recommend readers of The Pipe Professor website make it a point to try each stick. 

Before moving on, I will admit that although I have very much enjoyed cigars for the better part of this year, I am now trending back to my pipes and tobaccos.  To be completely forthright, I have been enjoying dry nasal snuff more than any other time in my luxury tobacco journey.  With that being said, I will present my Top 5 Nasal Snuffs on Friday, December 23rd and Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2022 on Friday, December 30th here at The Pipe Professor website.  Stay tuned for the next few Fridays!

Without further ado, here are my Top 5 Cigars for 2022. 

Cigar #5:  Padilla 88 Anniversario Robusto

Manufacturer: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez (Ernesto Padilla) 

LH: 5

RG: 52

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador Havana

County of Origin: Nicaragua

Price: $12.35 ea., $117 Box of 10

Notes:  The Padilla 88 Anniversario Robusto was #21 on the 2021 Cigar Aficionado Top 25, which is where I learned of its existence. The following is from the Cigar Aficionado website, “this cigar was created to honor the 88th birthday of his father Heberto Padilla, a famed Cuban poet who was imprisoned in 1971 for criticizing the Cuban government, sparking what became known as “The Padilla Affair.” The smoke is gorgeous, made in Nicaragua by A.J. Fernandez, with a beautiful Ecuador Havana wrapper and a touch of Pelo d’Oro filler in the blend, a fickle seed varietal that’s tough to grow.” I found that it was not always easy to locate this cigar and just received a restock earlier in December.  Prior to that, I only had the two five packs that I purchased in early 2021 and have had to ration accordingly.  However, the Padilla 88 Anniversario Robusto is a wonderful cigar and worth the hunt.

Tasting Notes: Tasting notes include, earth, dark chocolate, honey, damp forest floor, and leather.  It is to be noted that this cigar does pack a punch in the nicotine department and is not for the faint of heart.  Seasoned cigar smokers should be fine, newbies be warned.   

Cigar #4:  Aladino Queens Perfecto

Manufacturer: Aladino (JRE Tobacco Company, Julio R. Eiroa)

LH: 5 ¼ 

RG: 46

Binder: Honduran

Filler: Honduran

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut 

County of Origin: Honduras

Price: $6.75 ea., $125.00 Box of 20

Notes:  From the 2guyscigars website, the “JRE Tobacco is a family centered company, founded by Julio R. Eiroa and his son Justo M. Eiroa, together they manage all aspects of the cigar growing and manufacturing for your enjoyment. This is a crop to shop operation as we like to call it. As the premier Corojo grower in the industry, Julio Eiroa, Master Cigar Blender and Tobacco grower, guarantees that all their brands will provide you the opportunity to enjoy an Authentic Corojo taste, the same as cigars from the 1960’s.” Making a debut in April of 2019, the Aladino Connecticut line includes four sizes, Churchill (7 x 52), Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), and the Queens (5 ¼ x 46).  To be completely honest, if I had to pick a line of cigars that would qualify as the “line” or “brand” of the year, it would be Aladino.  The Aladino Corojo Reserve #4 was a very close candidate to making this list, but the Queens was able to squeeze in the win at the end.  

Tasting Notes: The Aladino Queens is a very soft subtle smoke that offers notes of rich buttered toast, vanilla cream, mild earth, fresh dried grasses, and wheated graham cracker.  

Cigar #3:  Montecristo Edmundo Tubo

Manufacturer: Habanos S.A. 

LH: 5 3/8 

RG: 52

Binder: Cuba

Filler: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba

County of Origin: Cuba

Price: $38.00 ea., $540 Box of 15 (5 Cartons of 3)

Notes:  According to the Cigar Aficionado website the Montecristo Edmundo, “was introduced in the spring of 2004, but it has only recently begun to come into its own. The cigar measures 5 3/8 inches long by 52 ring gauge and is produced primarily in the H. Upmann factory, which is in the neighborhood of Nuevo Vedado in Havana.” It is true that Cuban cigars carry an inconsistency not typically found in new world sticks, but the Montecristo Edmundo Tubo consistently fired on all cylinders this year and offered its own special smoking experience unlike any other cigars I smoked.    

Tasting Notes: The Montecristo Edmundo showed notes of salted cashews, leather, hay, assam tea, cedar, and sweet cocoa powder. Although there were times when the burn would be wavy on one of the sticks, the overall satisfaction I gained from the cigar was not just enjoyable, it was memorable, and I am glad I now have enough put back in my collection to rotate in these memories for the next few years.  

Cigar #2:  Bandolero Firecracker

Manufacturer: Select Tobaccos (Nelson Alfonso) 

LH: 3 ½ 

RG: 50

Binder: Ecuador

Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Undisclosed

Wrapper: Ecuador

County of Origin: Costa Rica

Price: $9.00 ea., $180.00 Box of 20

Notes:  From The Cigar Authority website, “In 2006, from the creative mind of David Garofalo, the Firecracker line was born. The first cigar on the market with a long piece of tobacco at the head was shaped like a ‘wick’ or ‘fuse’ to capture the name of the line; Firecracker. After a few years on the market, the limited release Firecrackers came to life as United Cigars collaborated with a new manufacturer every year to create a celebration cigar for the nation’s Independence Day.  This year in 2022, United Cigars tabbed Nelson Alfonso and Selected Tobacco to produce the limited edition cigar of which only 1,000 boxes of 20 have been made. The regular production Bandolero is available in three different series, but the Firecrackers pulls from two them to create this unique cigar. The blend for the Bandolero Firecracker is derived from the Clandestino line (Series C) that uses filler leaves from Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and undisclosed tobaccos. The filler is held together with an Ecuadorian binder and a dark Ecuadorian wrapper that is typically used on the Aventureros line (Series A).”  I will admit that I have purchased more boxes of Bandolero Firecrackers than any other brand or line this year.  The cigar is a pure superstar and I wish it would become a regular production stick. Nothing against any of the other cigars in the Bandolero portfolio, however, the Firecracker is a super flavorful, slow smoking stick that is the most consistent cigar I have ever smoked.

Tasting Notes: This little stick yielded big flavors with notes of earth, cedar, mild black pepper, raisins/figs, black coffee, and molasses.   

2022 Cigar of the Year:  Atabey Delirios

Manufacturer: Select Tobaccos (Nelson Alfonso) 

LH: 5 ¾

RG: 55

Binder: Undisclosed

Filler: Undisclosed

Wrapper: Undisclosed

County of Origin: Costa Rica

Price: $32.00 ea., $799.00 Box of 25

Notes:  From the 2guyscigars website, “the name Atabey has ties to the Taino Indians and the cigar culture. It all began with Cohiba which referred to the circle the tribe would gather in to pray. They would offer their prayers to the leader known as Behike who in turn would deliver those prayers to the Goddess Atabey. Atabey Cigars comes to us from Nelson Alfonso and is made in Costa Rica where the blend is only known by a select few.”  I honestly came across this cigar by accident when I was in Liquor Barn picking up some delicious wines and spirits.  Like any good cigar aficionado, I always take a gander at the humidor before heading to the checkout.  The Atabey line was on full display that day, and although carrying a hefty price tag, I decided to pick up three different sizes to give the line a try.  My palate is surely glad I did, my wallet, not so much.  Atabey cigars not only taste incredible, but they also perform/burn phenomenally, and are masterfully crafted with beautiful golden wrappers, offering the seasoned smoker a perfect smoking experience.    

Tasting Notes: The Atabey Delirios are buttered cream, sweet molasses, dried grains, bready yeast, and fresh yellow cake. Fantastic smoke that has truly elevated the bar for what a quality cigar should be. Without a doubt, the Atabey Delirios is The Pipe Professor’s 2022 Cigar of the Year.

That will do it for my 2022 Top 5 Cigars.  If you would like to watch the video presentation of these Top 5 cigars, please visit The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/Ve5XwpQQNv0   

Stay tuned for the Top 5 Nasal Snuffs and Pipe Tobaccos in the upcoming weeks.  As always, thank you for visiting The Pipe Professor webpage and I hope you find you way back soon. 

Cheers!

Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake

To be completely honest, Cornell & Diehl has been very hit or miss with me over the past year or more.  Some of their blends are very enjoyable, however, the ones that miss, tend to miss big.  Specifically, I am referring to most of their Small Batch and special release series.  Understanding this to be the case, I opted for a regular production blend that I’ve been wanting to try since the start of the year.  

This blend came across my radar after seeing the well-known Mike Murphy from the Pipe and Tamper podcast blast rave reviews about it along with showing off the abundance of Sunset Harbor Flake tins he has cellared away.  Of course, anyone who puts away that much of a single blend will raise eyebrows, especially mine.  So, I decided to pick a tin up and see what the hype, if any, is about.  Afterall, my recent luck with Cornell & Diehl has been dismal at best. 

Info & Overview

Brand: Cornell & Diehl 

Category: Balkan

Blend Components: Latakia, Orientals/Turkish, Perique

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake 

Available Packaging: 2oz tin

Price: $11.40 USD

Tin Date: 11/2021

On to the review…  

Watch my first impressions video review here: https://youtu.be/tFLB9nn8GiU

From the Tin: Upon opening, the first thing noticed was the dark color of the tobacco.  Tin aroma was a rich, dark leather, musty wood, and slight hint of campfire smoke.  The tobacco was on the moist side and needed time to dry out before smoking.  Having now smoked 8 bowls, I found 30 minutes to be just about the perfect amount of dry time before packing and lighting.  Although marketed as a flake, this tobacco is far from what I designate a “flake” tobacco.  In fact, there were not even long pieces of “broken flake” to be found in the tin.  I would instead classify this tobacco as crumbled tobacco once being in flake form.    

Flavor Notes (Taste + Aroma): C&D Sunset Harbor provides the smoker with a very rich, flavorful smoking experience.  Tastes consisted of mossy damp forest, wood, mushrooms, leather, and an initial faint spice. Aroma was an antique mustiness with a very prominent sweet cream noted when smoked in a meerschaum.  In fact, I have found I enjoy this blend most in a medium size (group 3 or 4) meerschaum pipe. 

Overall Impression: C&D Sunset Harbor Flake burned cool producing a dark gray gritty ash.  The smoke was thick and cool presenting no bite with the tobacco strength being medium and body medium/plus.  Although very enjoyable, I would not recommend this as an all-day smoke as you run the risk of potential palate fatigue due to the opulence of the blend.  Overall, I find Sunset Harbor Flake to be a solid offering from Cornell & Diehl and will certainly be purchasing more to smoke over the next decade or more (I do think short term aging will show rewards for this blend).  This tobacco is very much recommended and if you’re a Balkan fan you should certainly give it a try.     

Tobacco Score: 4 out of 5 pipes

Warped Cloud Hopper

Created by Kyle Gellis, in collaboration with Cornell & Diehl’s Jeremy Reeves, Warped Cloud Hopper Pipe Tobacco was resurrected from the well-known Warped Cloud Hopper cigar brand, blended and produced by Gellis at the El Titan de Bronze factory in Miami and Casa Fernandez’s Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. in Nicaragua.

Originally coming onto the market in 2109, Warped Cloud Hopper is the pipe smoker’s rendition for the love of travel and adventure Gellis and his brother enjoy embarking on.  According to the smkoingpipes.com website, “Cloud Hopper pipe tobacco features AA-grade Dominican Criollo cigar leaf…married to traditional Italian air-cured tobaccos, yellow and red Virginias, and Perique pressed and cut into flakes. The blend transports pipe smokers to an adventurous flavor profile of complex notes of earth, spice, and citrus, while hints of cream and coffee offer comfort along the road. It’s a mixture free of added flavors, meant to showcase the natural profile of quality tobaccos” (2022).

As I frequently enjoy premium cigars, this tobacco seemed to fit my palate profile from the description, thus, prompting me to purchase a tin and see if this cigar blend is as enjoyable as the actual Warped Cigars (which I do enjoy).

To view the video review of Warped Cloud Hopper Pipe Tobacco, please visit The Pipe Professor YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/CMyr_yB6OJU

Info & Overview

Brand: Warped/Cornell & Diehl 

Category: Virginia

Blend Components: Cigar Leaf. Perique, Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 2oz tin

Price: $11.60 USD

On to the review…

From the Tin: Although listed as a flake tobacco, my tin did not contain a single fully intact flake.  I would easily classify this tobacco as a broken flake, not an actual flake similar to Dunhill Flake, Capstan Gold/Blue, or MacBaren Pure Virginia.  [Side note, I have come to believe the flake designation according to Cornell & Diehl is actually a broken flake.  Buyer beware.]  The broken flakes are very dark in color and have hints of golden Virginia sprinkled throughout.  The tin aroma provided notes of dark chocolate, earth, raisins, and fresh yeasty bread.  Very much enjoyable and reminiscent of a cinnamon raisin muffin.  Extremely enjoyable tin note!  The tobacco is very moist straight out of the tin and I had to allow it a minimum of 50 minutes dry time depending on the drying venue.       

Flavor Notes: When discussing flavor, we must always account for taste and aroma (taste + aroma = flavor).  Tastes I experienced while smoking were earth (similar to a dry truffle), deep rich fruits, mineral/graphite, and light spice.  Aroma was a nice, charred wood, similar to a charred bourbon barrel (without the alcohol).  Tobacco produced a thin, white smoke, with an overall medium body and medium strength profile.  As I smoked just shy of the entire tin, I found I enjoyed Cloud Hopper most in a meerschaum pipe, and when the tobacco was almost bone dry.  The dryer smoke allowed for the cigar leaf to come forward and be a noticeable experience in the smoke.       

Overall Impression: The Warped Cloud Hopper is a very unique blend that offers flavors some pipe smokers may not be familiar with, or typically experience in their pipe tobaccos.  I am glad I took the time to figure the blend out and will purchase another tin or two to measure the aging potential of the Virginia and cigar leaf.  I am hopeful that with an extended period of time (i.e., 10-15 years) this tobacco will become an extremely “fine wine.”

With that being said, I will probably not purchase more tins to be smoked now or be placed in my regular rotation.  Is the blend enjoyable and worth a try? Absolutely! Is it what I seek to experience on a regular basis when enjoying a pipe? No. We will hopefully revisit the blend in 10 years and see if the gamble/investment pays off.  If you’re looking for something to intrigue your palate, pick up a tin of Warped Cloud Hopper and see what you think.  

Tobacco Score: 3 out of 5 pipes

Rocky Patel Sixty

Created to celebrate Rocky Patel’s 60th birthday in 2021, the Rocky Patel Sixty pulls out all the stops to honor the man, myth, and legend in the cigar industry, Rocky Patel.  Aged a minimum of 2 years in the Rocky Patel headquarters after being rolled, these cigars are said to have some of the oldest tobaccos in the Rocky Patel warehouse portfolio.  For detailed information and videos of Rocky and his team creating the Sixty line of cigars, visit the Rocky Patel website at: https://www.rockypatel.com/cigar-campaigns/sixty-by-rocky-patel/  

On to the review….

Video Review: If you would like to watch the video review of the Rocky Patel Sixty, please visit the following link.  While there, don’t forget to like and subscribe!

Rumble: https://rumble.com/v185u62-rocky-patel-sixty-cigar-review.html

Rocky Patel Sixty Attributes

Size: Gordo (Boxed Press)

Length: 6 

Ring Gauge: 60

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres (Maduro)

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Country: Nicaragua (Rocky Patel Factory)

Price: $18.00 USD each

Aesthetics (Construction/Shelf-Appeal):  Three beautifully detailed bands almost completely cover the cigar. Very eye appealing from the consumer’s point-of-view with gold embossing and excellent color scheme.  Very dark, smooth, maduro wrapper, however, the cigar felt light or under filled in my hand. Fantastic square box press with nice tight visible seams. Cap was a triple seam and overall cigar was beautifully made.  

Performance (Draw/Burn): Very, very loose draw, to the point that it was a wind tunnel requiring no effort to smoke. Burn was extremely wavy throughout the smoking experience needing to be touched up several times. Ash was a wonderful white with mixed of gray sprinkled throughout.  Smoke was a thick, soft, creamy white.

Flavor (Tastes/Aroma/Body/Strength): Cold draw was a dark fruit raisin taste accompanied by a small hint of earth and spice. Smoking taste profile noted cereal, buttermilk biscuits, earth, wood, and leather.  Aroma was woody and savory with a creamy, soft texture. Body was full throughout the smoking experience and the strength I would classify as medium.

Overall Impressions (Value/Experience/Pairing): The Rocky Patel Sixty is a very good cigar, however, the size, looseness of the draw, price, and burn issues do not justify a second purchase for me, at least at the Gordo size.  These characteristics make it seem that the cigar was under-filled and a bit expensive in the pricing category. The tastes were nicely refined, and I did enjoy the body to strength smoking ratio. I do plan to try this cigar in the robusto format and hope some of the performance issues are resolved with the smaller size.

I paired my Rocky Patel Sixty with a Versailles Brewing Company (VBC) Legit Kentucky Cream Ale. The beer and cigar paired well together with the beer offering an opposing balance to the heavy flavors and body the cigar presented on its close. The VBC Legit was crisp and refreshing, with nice light malty flavors and plenty or carbonation. It reminded me of a nice refreshing champagne. 

I’m glad I was able to try the Rocky Patel Sixty and was able to confirm that the larger ring gauge cigars are not for me. I do look forward to trying the Sixty in other vitolas but will not be picking up any more of the 60 ring gauge samples.  

Cigar Score: 3 out of 5 boxes

Aladino Corojo Reserva

Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto

Sometimes you happen upon a diamond in the rough.  Indeed, that is the case for me and the Aladino cigar line.  I cannot recall exactly when, or where, I saw the brand for the first time, however, admittedly, the simple labeling and packaging reminded me of some familiar Habanos S.A. brands for a time long gone (old Montecristo bands).  Anyhow, I decided to pick up a few different options of the Aladino line at my local tobacconist and give them a try.  Before going any further, let me be clear, I have yet to be disappointed with the cigars in this brand.    

Aladino cigars are produced by the JRE Tobacco company, a father/son operation dedicated to growing and producing the best Corojo cigars from Honduras.  The following message about the company and their mission can be found on the JRE webpage (https://www.jretobacco.com) and reads as follows: 

“JRE Tobacco is a family centered company, founded by Julio R. Eiroa and his son Justo M. Eiroa, together they manage all aspects of the cigar growing and manufacturing for your enjoyment.  This is a crop to shop operation as we like to call it.  We are fully committed to providing sustained quality and satisfaction on every Aladino, Rancho Luna and Tatascan we make.  This self-impossed standard covers the entire cigar manufacturing process.  Our commitment to quality and consumer satisfaction is never compromised or circumvented.  As the premier Corojo grower in the industry, I, Julio Eiroa, Master Cigar Blender and Tobacco grower, guarantee that all our brands will provide you the opportunity to enjoy an authentic Corojo taste, the same as cigars from the 1960s.  Join us on this journey and be part of a history-making cigar smoking experience like no other.”

The Aladino Corojo Reserva portfolio contains the following sizes and are readily available at your local brick and mortar store or friendly online tobacconist.

  • Corona 5 x 44 (Limited Production)
  • Robusto 5 x 50
  • Toro 6 x 52
  • Box Pressed Figurado 6 ¼ x 54 (Limited Production)

On to the review….

Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto Attributes

Size: Robusto

Length: 5  

Ring Gauge: 50

Wrapper: Honduran Corojo

Binder: Honduran Corojo

Filler: Honduran Corojo

Country: Honduras

Price: $11.50 USD ea./$215.00 Box of 20

Pre-light Inspection: Although the bands are simple in nature, the tissue paper added to the body of the cigar gives the consumer a feel of delicate elegance.  The cigar’s wrapper had a few veins running throughout and the cigar was very firm to the touch yielding no soft spots.  The cigar displayed a Colorado colored wrapper leaf and the cap on this example was an uneven, lumpy, double seam.  The cold smell showed sweet cedar and chocolate notes and the cold draw was medium tight with cold sweet notes of fresh Earth. 

Opening and First Third:  Cigar opened with a bold spice and lots of thick, full, white smoke.  The draw gave almost perfect resistance, and the burn did require a touch up, however, nothing that would negatively impact the cigar’s overall performance.  Tastes in the first third noted an earthy forward taste with touches of cocoa powder and splashes of pepper spice (similar to a clove). Aroma was outstanding, yielding sweet, creamy, bready notes.  Cigar’s strength and body were both medium/full moving to the full range.

Second Third: The second third of my Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto continued to have a magnificent aroma of sweet cream and baked deserts.  Truly wonderful!  The burn on the cigar continued to be wavy but did not require any touch-ups.  The pepper and spiciness of the cigar enhanced during the second third with the chocolate/cocoa tastes fading away.  The earth notes remained solid, and a minor floral note began to appear as the cigar moved into the final third.  Body of the cigar remained medium/full while the strength of the cigar actually pulled back to be straight medium.  

Final Third: The final third of my Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto was nothing short of amazing.  The aroma continued to be memorizing with its creamy, baked sugar sweetness.  The Earthy tasting note persisted throughout the entire smoke and was truly the foundation for the cigar’s flavor profile.  Notes of mint and chocolate splashed in and out during the final third and a very, but pleasant, buttered, nutty sweetness started to stand out near the finale.  Cigar closed more toward full in body with continued mouthfuls of creamy, thick, white smoke, and the strength I would classify as a solid medium.  The burn remained wavy and required two more touch-ups to close out the smoking experience.  

Overall Impressions: Overall, I must admit that the Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto is very much in the running for my 2022 Cigar of the Year.  The cigar has just enough complexity to remain interesting, while offering a very enjoyable smoking experience.  I would be remiss to not tell everyone that I have indeed ordered a full 20 count box of this cigar as it is very much box worthy.  If you are looking to get someone into cigar smoking, or would like to impress a guest with a quality cigar without breaking the bank, the Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto is a perfect match for you.  Pick some up and give them a try for yourself.  It will be a guarantee payback on your investment of time and money.    

Cigar Score: 4 out of 5 boxes

A full video review of the Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto cigar can be found on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/qHXuCzMw5fw

Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Cigar Review

Pappy Van Winkle Tradition

Happy National Cigar Day!  Or at least I think I read that somewhere… Even if it’s not, we have beautiful weather in my part of the world, and a lazy Sunday calls for a good cigar.  

Most of us probably associate Pappy Van Winkle as one of the most sought-after, high-end bourbons in the world.  Admittingly, I have had the fortune of sampling some 10-year-old Pappy and although it was very smooth, it’s by far, not the best bourbon I’ve ever had.  As we will note later in this review, don’t get caught off guard by the hype associated with a brand name.  

With that being said, the Pappy Van Winkle line is rolled and produced by Drew Estate Cigars at La Gran Fabrica in Esteli, Nicaragua.  The Tradition line debuted in 2018 and includes the following vitolas:

  • Corona 5 ½ x 44 (Exclusive-not marketed)
  • Coronita 4 x 46 ($15.00)
  • Robusto Grande 5 ½ x 54 ($22.00)
  • Belicoso Fino 5 x 50 ($25.00)
  • Toro 6 x 50 (Exclusive-not marketed)
  • Churchill 7 x 48 ($24.00)

The Tradition line is the second release in the Pappy Van Winkle Cigar portfolio, with the first being Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented.  I was a bit worried that being produced by Drew Estate, the company would attempt to infuse some type of bourbon flavoring into the cigars, similar to their Acid line, however, this is certainly not the case.  So, let’s jump in and see what the Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Cigar is all about.     

On to the review….

Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Attributes

Size: Robusto Grande

Length: 5 ½   

Ring Gauge: 54

Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano Oscuro

Binder: Indonesia

Filler: Dominican Republic; Nicaragua

Country: Nicaragua

Price: $22.00 USD

Pre-light Inspection: Cold smell yields a nice rich tobacco and earthy barnyard mix.  The wrapper is a medium to light brown in appearance with minimal veins.  Cap is pristine and the large double bands display a picture similar to the bourbon outlined in a cardinal red.  Cold draw did not yield any specific tastes and the draw seemed initially tight. 

Opening and First Third:  The cigar opened with a spicey black pepper and moved its way into a leathery dry toast.  First third was medium in both strength and body.  The burn a bit wavy but needed no touch-ups producing a very pure white powdery ash.  The draw was not tight as I though on the pre-light and instead could be defined as effortless. 

Second Third: Moving into the second third, I had to remove the first, smaller, label identifying the cigar as Tradition.  I was very careful to remove the band, however, the cigar started to split once the band was removed and continued this trend the remainder of the smoking experience.  Tastes continued to show a nice toastiness that was complemented in the room note.  The aroma, coupled with the toast, reminded me of a nice bakery.  There was an awkward metallic taste note that sporadically appeared in the second third.  A mild hint of soft red wine, similar to a pinot noir, appeared at the end of the second third and my hopes were that this continued into the last part of the smoke.  Body and strength continued to be medium and the burn was very wavy due to the split wrapper.     

Final Third: I ended up touching the cigar up heading into the final third in hopes of stopping the split.  This did help initially, but the cigar had to be touched up a few more times in order to make it a successful finish.  The toastiness continued through the end with the aroma reminding me of sweet graham.  The metallic taste decided to show up on a more frequent basis in the final third but was also accompanied by a unique nutty almond paste note.  The body of the cigar finished out medium/full while the strength boasted itself into the full category.  

Overall Impressions: The Pappy Van Winkle Tradition was a nice cigar and I’m glad I had the opportunity to smoke it.  Like the bourbon, I feel this could be a hyped-up line due to its name and tradition.  Would I recommend other folks try the line, absolutely as it is a good cigar.  Would I fill my humidor with a box for aging, probably not.  At a price point of $22.00 each, this is a good cigar but not worthy of a second go in my rotation.  To be clear, there are a lot of other cigars on the market, in the $8 – $10 price range, that I enjoy on a much more regular basis and that I would reach for before the Pappy Van Winkle Tradition.  Would I suggest maybe picking one up to enjoy on the golf course or with some buddies?  Sure!  But for the long term, this will probably be my one and only Pappy cigar.   

Cigar Score: 3 out of 5 boxes

A full video review of the Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Robusto Grande cigar can be found on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/DeNx1DThurs