Cigar Reviews — burning cigarillo with a short tip of grey ash resting on a wooden rail

Reviews

Cigar Reviews

Twelve well-known cigars assessed against one open scorecard, with no samples, ads or affiliate links.

Photo: Frettie (Czech Wikipedia) / Public Domain

Our cigar reviews are structured critical assessments, not adverts. Each one scores a single, named cigar against the same open scorecard. It also explains how the cigar is made and what most smokers can expect from it. This page sets out exactly how we score, so you can judge our judgements.

How our cigar reviews are scored

Every review rates five things out of 10. Then we combine them into an overall score out of 100. The weighting reflects what matters most when you actually smoke. Flavour carries the most weight, because a perfectly built cigar that tastes flat is still a dull cigar.

Criterion Weight What it covers
Construction 20% Roll, firmness, wrapper quality, cap, soft spots
Draw 15% Resistance when you puff, and how even it stays
Burn 15% Burn line, relights, ash, canoeing or tunnelling
Flavour 30% Quality, richness and balance of the taste
Complexity 20% How the profile layers and changes over the smoke

The maths is simple. We multiply each sub-score by its weight, add them up, multiply by 10 and round to the nearest whole number. For example, scores of 9, 9, 9, 9 and 9 give 90. A cigar with a 9.5 for flavour and 8.5 for burn lands a little differently. We allow half points, so the sub-scores can show small differences.

What each criterion means

Construction is the build. We look at how evenly the filler is packed, how neatly the cap sits and whether the wrapper is smooth and intact. Soft spots, lumps and cracked wrappers all lose points.

Draw is how much air passes when you puff. A good draw feels like sipping through a straw with slight resistance. Too tight, and you work hard for little smoke. Too loose, and the cigar burns hot.

Burn covers the burn line and the ash. A sharp, even line with a firm ash scores well. On the other hand, constant touch-ups, canoeing and early relights do not.

Flavour is the quality of the taste itself. We ask whether the notes are clean, rich and balanced, and whether the strength suits the blend.

Complexity asks whether the cigar changes. A complex cigar shows new notes across its thirds and has a long finish. Our guide on how to taste a cigar explains this vocabulary in more detail.

What the overall score means

Score Band In plain words
95–100 Classic A benchmark of its style
90–94 Outstanding Superior in almost every way
85–89 Very good Well made, with real character
80–84 Good Solid, with a few weaknesses
70–79 Fair Noticeable flaws
Below 70 Poor Hard to recommend

In short, the 80s mean very good and the 90s mean outstanding. Because we chose famous, long-running cigars, most of our scores sit between 86 and 95. Still, we keep them spread out. Two cigars in the same band are not equal, and the sub-scores show why.

How we verify specifications

Before we score anything, we check the facts. For Cuban cigars, we confirm the commercial name and the factory name, or vitola de galera, against Habanos S.A. data. We also cross-check length in inches and millimetres and the ring gauge. For non-Cuban cigars, we use the maker’s own published blend: wrapper, binder and filler origins. Where a source disagrees, we follow the maker and note the difference.

We also cross-reference respected references such as Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 archive and halfwheel for release dates and sizes.

How we compile each profile

We do not invent tasting sessions. Instead, each profile combines three things. First, the cigar’s documented characteristics, such as tobacco, size and wrapper. Second, published tasting reports from several reputable sources. Third, our editorial team’s evaluation framework, the scorecard above. As a result, the reviews describe what most smokers report and what you should expect, with strengths and weaknesses side by side.

Our independence

We take no free samples in exchange for coverage. We carry no advertising, use no affiliate links and sell nothing. Malaysia’s Act 852 bans tobacco advertising, promotion and online sale, so our reviews are criticism, not endorsement. See our editorial policy and the Act 852 explainer.

Using these reviews in Malaysia

A review describes a cigar in good condition. However, the cigar you meet in Malaysia may have travelled a long way. Availability varies between cities, and so does storage quality. A cigar kept in a warm shop without a proper humidor can taste harsh and burn badly.

Humidity matters most. Outdoor air here often sits between 70 and 90% RH, while air-conditioned rooms can be much drier. Most cigars smoke best at about 65–69% RH. Our guide to the best humidity for cigars explains how to hold that level. If you own a Cuban cigar, check its seals too, since our counterfeit cigars guide shows the warning signs.

Finally, no score makes a cigar safe. Smoking any cigar carries real health risks, and the law limits where you can smoke.

The reviews

Below are our twelve current cigar reviews: six Cuban and six from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Each links to its brand profile and origin guide, so you can read the wider story behind the band.

In this section