Top 5 of 2011

[danreeve]

I'm copying and pasting my blog post here because I'd love to hear what other peoples top 5 are and start a discussion. (plus some honorable mentions if you want). If this is inappropriate mods please del.




Every year most blogs put out a end of the year "best of" list. I myself haven't ever done one before, so this is my first attempt. All of the opinions in this list are my own and do not reflect my partner's favorites of the year. Maybe I can talk Mario into making his own list but I can't make any promises. So here we go...my top five cigars of 2011.

#5 - My Father El Hijo

The My Father El Hijo was the third release in the Smoke Inn's Micro Blend series made exclusively for their shops in Florida. I was completely blown away by this cigar and I will write it again like I did in my full review: in my opinion, this is the best cigar ever made with the My Father brand name attached to it. Lots of spice, cedar and a robust caramel flavor fill this cigar's taste profile making it flavorful and unique.

#4 - Emilio Cigars Grimalkin

I smoked two different blends from Emilio Cigars this year and, while both were decent sticks, the second one I tried (Grimalkin) gave me what probably was my biggest surprise of the year. I had heard about this cigar and the rumblings of who may or may not have made it, but I never felt any real urgency to smoke the samples I had. If I only knew then what I know now. The Grimalkin had a distinct vegetable-like flavor profile mixed with more traditional black pepper. My smoking partner and I both nubbed these and were equally stunned by our findings.

#3 - Padron SI 15 Maduro

Just like my #5 cigar of the year, the Padron SI 15 comes from the Smoke Inn Micro Blend series. This stick proved just how wrong I could be about my constant proclaiming that smaller ring gauge cigars are always better. Coming in at a 6 x 60 vitola the Padron SI-15 is every bit as massive as it sounds, not only in physical size, but also in flavor. Dark chocolate and coffee notes dominate the flavor profile (and with a lot of strength to back it up.) I would put this stick up against any Padron Family Reserve release and say it would beat it.

#2 - Illusione Epernay Le Taureau

For the last few years, every time I smoked any size of the Illusione Epernay I always asked myself, "Why don't I smoke more of these?" Well in 2011, I did just that and put the Epernay line into the front of my normal rotation of cigars. Toward the end of this year, New Havana Cigars got a small shipment of new sizes of the Epernay and I think one of them (the Le Taureau) is the best vitola yet in the line. This 56 ring gauge cigar has a ton of power, but even more than that, it has a ton of flavor. I will still hold to my statement in the review that the Epernay is the single-most balanced blend on the market today in premium cigars.

#1 - Tatuaje La Vérité 2009

Taking the number one spot for me this year (and on my first ever top 5 list) will come as no surprise if you have talked to me about cigars in the last 6 months, have seen some of my twitter updates when people are talking "best of", or if you happened to catch my guest spot on Kiss My Ash Radio. I've not been able to stop praising this cigar and I honestly think it is well deserved. The Tatuaje Vérité 2009 is clearly the stand out cigar of the year. The blend is extremely complex in flavor and the experience of smoking one of these makes you feel like you are enjoying something special. Pete Johnson and the team at My Father cigars outdid themselves on this one and I am very happy that I have a decent supply. I can't begin to express how much I am looking forward to the 2010 version.


Well that's it. Thanks for reading my top five cigars for 2011. I hope that you agree with some and maybe disagree with others. Please leave a comment and tell me what you think. I'll wrap up this post with a few honorable mentions that just barely missed the list.


Honorable Mentions:
Surrogates Cigars Bone Crusher - Very strong cigar that is perfect when looking for something heavy. Not in limited quantities like a lot of other releases this year, which is a plus.

Subculture Studios MY UZI WEIGHS A TON - Another 6 x 60 sized cigar, but another easily enjoyed. Easy to smoke and solid medium strength, flavorful cigar.

Illusione MK Ultra - This is the cigar I was most excited to be released this year and it delivered. Classic Illusione taste ramped up into a more powerful cigar.

for pictures please go to http://tinyurl.com/7fx8nqp

Dan


ok, what's everyone else list?

[Taki]

Awesome list brother!!! Love any Illusione and I am definitely working on getting my hands on the entire line up but never had the Illusione Epernay Le Taureau...Thanks for sharing

#1- Ramon allones Special select
#2-RYJ short churchill
#3-Montecristo Edmundo
#4-Behike 52
#5-Trinidad Reyes

Honourable mention is the Partagas Series D #4 & just about any Bolivar

[Blak Smyth]

I haven't had the El Hijo, but the Le Bijou was amazing!
Kristoff Maduro I think could be mentioned.
The Illusione CG:4 is a great one too.
Tat Black Lancero is a favorite of mine.
Of course the LP9 and the Undercrown seems to be a great 2011 release.
WOAM.

RASCC is currently one of my favorite CCs.

[Bill86]

I couldn't do any order or "top 5" but here is some sticks I really enjoyed this year.

CC
'08 CoLa
'05 CoLa
'06 Dip No.2
'98 Punch Corona
'10 Por Larranaga Encantos
'08 Montecristo Sublime
'09 Montecristo Tubos
'02 Punch Black Prince
'07 Bolivar Gold Medal
'05 Hoyo Epicure No. 2

NC
Anejo Shark
Illusione HL Candela
Tatuaje Pork Tenderloin

[SteelCityBoy]

Originally Posted by Blak Smyth

Kristoff Maduro I think could be mentioned.
The Illusione CG:4 is a great one too.
Of course the LP9 and the Undercrown seems to be a great 2011 release.

RASCC is currently one of my favorite CCs.

Couldn't agree more with this statement!

[Taki]

I'm still working on my list...I will be back shortly but I must agree with most that have been posted already!!

[icehog3]

Haven't smoked a lot of '11 cigars yet, but from the ones I have, highlights are:

'11 RASCC
'11 PLPC
'11 H. Upmann Half Corona
'11 Bolivar PC
'11 Montecristo Edmundo Dantes Conde RE
'11 Juan Lopez Supreme RE

and looking forward to trying the Ramon Allones Extra EL

[kelmac07]

1. Lou Rodriguez Edicion Reserva
2. Tatuaje Fausto
3. Illusione 88 Maduro
4. San Lotano Oval
5. NHC Surrogates Bone Crusher

[danreeve]

That Lou rodriguez Edicion Reserva was damn good too. nice choice.

Dan

[DaBear]

1. Liga Privada Undercrown
2. Illusione 888 Maduro(really any of the lines, but I'm partial to the 888s)
3. EPC Dark Rituals
4. Cain Daytona
5. Toss up between the Room 101 Namakubi and the MUWAT

[Flounder]

My List

1 - Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary
2 - Perdomo Lot 23
3 - Maker's Mark 650
4 - Corona Gold Series
5 - Padilla 1932 Signature

Much cheaper of a list than all y'all's I'm sure... And I don't know if you guys were just naming sticks that you've smoked this year or were released this year, these are just my favorites that I have smoked in 2011.

[Adriftpanda]

I'm assuming this is an nc top of 11'

Don't have a top 5 but these are the sticks I've enjoyed this year, no order.

Four Kicks
Tatuaje la Verite 09
Tatuaje 7th Capa

[irratebass]

No top 5 for me, but some I have tried and liked this year

Macanudo 1997 Vintage
Liga Privada Undercrown
Macanudo Cru Royale

I am not even sure if these are even new releases or not.

[maninblack]

Here ya go Dan.
1. Liga Privada Undercrown
2. Tat Fausto
3.La Casita Criolla
4. Cain Daytona
5. NHC Surrogates Bone Crusher
And I'm sure if I get my LP Feral Flying Pigs before the end of the year those will be my #1. We shall see.

[Blak Smyth]

Oh I forgot to mention the NHC Skull Breaker!!!

[danreeve]

Originally Posted by maninblack

And I'm sure if I get my LP Feral Flying Pigs before the end of the year those will be my #1. We shall see.

ya, I'm looking forward to trying that one. I'm also looking forward to the viaje holiday blend because it's my favorite line he makes. I think those hit the web tuesday. I probably would replace the MUWAT with the bait fish, but I had already written this post up before I smoked one. Both deserve some recognition.


thanks for participating all. I guess I didn't think about CCs for this list. I smoke so few of them that I don't have a top 5 for sure.

keep the lists coming!

Dan

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by maninblack

Here ya go Dan.
1. Liga Privada Undercrown
2. Tat Fausto
3.La Casita Criolla
4. Cain Daytona
5. NHC Surrogates Bone Crusher
And I'm sure if I get my LP Feral Flying Pigs before the end of the year those will be my #1. We shall see.

Yeah, just from this year's releases the Undercrown and Cain Daytona would have to be listed somewhere in my top five. Possibly the Oliva V #4 as well.

[Buckeye Jack]

1. 00' Partagas 155 Salomones Espanola
2. 10' Por Larranaga Regalias De Londres
3. 03' H. Upmann Magnum 46
4. 03' Bolivar Belicosos Finos
5. 00' H. Upmann Super Corona

My honorable mentions will be the only two NC's I remember smoking this year, both happen to come from the same company, and I actually really liked them....just too expensive for me to buy more.....

1. Drew Estates Dirty Rat
2. Drew Estates Flying Pig

[Doctorossi]

I'll let you know in about 3-5 years what I've enjoyed that was made in 2011.