My Top Cigars of 2025

Jon Schipp
23 hours ago
3 min read

A year of deep flavor, pepper bombs, and unforgettable smokes

This article was written by AI from my cigar journal entries and then reviewed and edited by the author.

2025 was a phenomenal year for cigars. I smoked everything from classic Dominican elegance to full-throttle Nicaraguan pepper monsters, with a clear through-line emerging: I gravitate toward richness, depth, pepper evolution, and cigars that change character as they burn.

Below is my personal ranking of the top 10 cigars I smoked in 2025, based on overall enjoyment, flavor complexity, construction, and how memorable each experience was.

🥇 #1 — Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Presidente (Cameroon)

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

This was the benchmark cigar of my year.

The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Presidente delivered everything I love: nutty almond richness, elegance, balance, and a long, luxurious evolution. The Cameroon wrapper brought sweetness and finesse, while the Dominican core kept things refined and layered.

This cigar didn’t try to overwhelm — it seduced.I f I had to name one cigar that defines my 2025 palate, this is it.

🥉 #2 — Padrón 1926 Series No. 1 Maduro

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

This cigar is power, precision, and pedigree.

The Padrón 1926 No. 1 Maduro delivered cacao, cherry on the retrohale, earth, and escalating pepper, especially toward the end. It smoked flawlessly and felt unmistakably premium.

This wasn’t just a cigar — it was an event.

🥈 #3 — Ashton Aged Maduro No. 40

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

This cigar cemented itself as one of my all-time favorites.

The Ashton Aged Maduro No. 40 hit with dark chocolate, almond, maple sweetness, and black pepper, all wrapped in impeccable construction. It’s bold but smooth, rich without being aggressive.

Every puff felt intentional. A masterclass in aged maduro balance.

#4 — Trinidad Espíritu Series No. 3

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Dessert perfection.

This cigar stood out for its toast and cocoa notes, medium body, and seamless pairing with sweets. Smooth, flavorful, and extremely approachable, it punched above its weight and left a strong impression. This cigar was also ranked number 5 from Cigar Aficiando for 2025.

A sleeper hit of the year.

#5 — Foundation Cigars Tabernacle Night Commander

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Dark, brooding, and unapologetic.

The Foundation Cigars Tabernacle Night Commander brought deep cacao, chocolate, spice, and a dense, oily mouthfeel. This was a cigar that demanded attention and rewarded patience.

One of the richest Connecticut Broadleaf expressions I smoked all year.

#6 — West Tampa Tobacco Company Red (Toro)

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

The surprise powerhouse of 2025.

The West Tampa Tobacco Company Red Toro evolved dramatically:

Early: damp earth
Mid: red & black pepper with cocoa
Final stretch: intense, dominating black pepper

Not balanced — but thrilling.This cigar proved that dynamic evolution can be more exciting than perfect harmony.

#7 — Foundation Cigars Olmec Double Corona

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Bold and unapologetically dark.

The Olmec Double Corona leaned hard into dark coffee, cacao, and earthy richness, with a San Andrés wrapper delivering weight and texture. Full-bodied but controlled, this cigar showcased tobacco depth at its finest.

A favorite when I wanted intensity without chaos.

#8 — Arturo Fuente Hemingway Natural Masterpiece

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

A marathon worth running.

This 9-inch figurado offered nuts, earth, cherry, and molasses over a three-hour smoke. The construction was impeccable, and the flavor evolution stayed interesting without fatigue.

Classic Fuente elegance stretched to the extreme.

#9 — Wise Man Maduro (Toro)

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Comfort food in cigar form.

The Wise Man Maduro delivered leather, coffee, cream, and natural sugar, with excellent draw and consistency. Not flashy — just deeply satisfying.

A cigar I could return to anytime.

#10 — Macanudo Emissary France (Churchill)

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

An elegant curveball.

With oak, leather, earth, and a pepper-forward final act, this cigar proved that Macanudo can still surprise seasoned smokers. The ending alone earned its place on this list. This cigar was also ranked number 12 from Cigar Aficiando for 2025.