Every couple of months, we send out 8-10 cigars to our Blind Review Panel.  They send their unfiltered and uncut thoughts on one cigar each week, and we combine them for a comprehensive review every Friday.  It is our absolute pleasure to present the Top 10 Cigars of 2023 as judged by our Panel with 100% blind reviews. We hope you enjoy this process as much as we do!

• You can read the 2018 Top 10 Blind Reviews here. 
• You can read the 2019 Top 10 Blind Reviews here.
• You can read the 2020 Top 10 Blind Reviews here.
• You can read the 2021 Top 10 Blind Reviews here.
• You can read our interview with the Blind Review Panel here. 
• You can read about some behind-the-scenes info on the process here. 

NOTE: There was a break this year due to personal issues and we didn't complete 52 total reviews like we have in the past.

#10 Lost & Found 22 Minutes to Midnight Criollo

Dom Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

Rich Purchase Recommendation: Single

Ben Purchase Recommendation: Box

Ted Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

If you like that, you might like this: Skyrockets in flight 

Quote from the Review: I can't deny the substantial smoke output. Light peppercorn lining the outside of my tongue followed by a sweet and savory moment; more salty than sweet. Finished up with ballgame peanuts. Not complicated but an enjoyable cigar. 

#9 EPC Short Run 2023

Dom Purchase Recommendation: Single

Rich Purchase Recommendation: Box

Ben Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

Ted Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

If you like that, you might like this: A steak dinner with mash and asparagus on the side

Quote from the Review: This cigar brings a whole lot of earth, coffee, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, umami, and oak. There’s some bitterness to it, but in this cigar it works perfectly.

#8 Caldwell Long Live the Queen

Dom Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

Rich Purchase Recommendation: Single

Ben Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

Ted Purchase Recommendation: Box

If you like that, you might like this: Predicting your team right into the final four

Quote from the Review: Further in it was still rolling smoke heavy and thick.  The profile remained nutty, leathery, and peppery with mild wood notes and more cereal grain.  No real changes in the mixture but I really didn’t care, it was fantastic.  It remained that way right to the nub!

#7 Crowned Heads Azul y Oro

Dom Purchase Recommendation: Single

Rich Purchase Recommendation: Box

Ben Purchase Recommendation: Box

Ted Purchase Recommendation: Single

If you like that, you might like this: Tomahawk steak

Quote from the Review: All those fruit notes along with the chocolate were delicious. This cigar passed the 'would I smoke it in winter?' test - I didn't want it to end in 24-degree weather.

#6 Diesel Vintage

Dom Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

Rich Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

Ben Purchase Recommendation: Box

Ted Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

If you like that, you might like this: Good ol’ fashioned pepperoni pizza 

Quote from the Review: Super intimidating dark wrapper but looks can be deceiving; once you make it past the first 5 puffs, you won't be disappointed. Enjoyed the size of this.

#5 Somm BDX

Dom Purchase Recommendation: Box

Rich Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

Ben Purchase Recommendation: Box

Ted Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

If you like that, you might like this: Hittin the front nine on a Sunday morning

Quote from the Review: The final third returns to norm-form with dark chocolate and coffee.  At the nub, red pepper and peanut butter hit the spot for fans of a spicy and creamy finish.

#4 La Gloria Cubana 8th Street

Dom Purchase Recommendation: Box

Rich Purchase Recommendation: Box

Ben Purchase Recommendation: Single

Ted Purchase Recommendation: Box

If you like that, you might like this: Chocolate of any kind

Quote from the Review: The flavor profile contained a whole lot of chocolate, and it was joined by citrus, raisin, sweet earth, hay, anise, black tea, apple, graham cracker, and dry cocoa. Smoke output was significant on this bad boy. It burned well and the draw was spot-on. Sold yet? I am. Looking forward to finding out what this one was.

#3 Valacari Nobility

Dom Purchase Recommendation: Box

Rich Purchase Recommendation: Box

Ben Purchase Recommendation: Box

Ted Purchase Recommendation: Single

If you like that, you might like this: Tony Hawk highlight reels

Quote from the Review: Delivering less strength than the dark wrapper forebodes, the second half starts with a basket of fruit—namely fig.  Chocolate joins hands with black pepper and the duo walks into the sunset just as the nub and night heat up. Sexy. 

#2 HVC Hot Cake Golden Line CT

Dom Purchase Recommendation: Box

Rich Purchase Recommendation: Single

Ben Purchase Recommendation: Box

Ted Purchase Recommendation: Box

If you like that, you might like this: Hitting all green lights through downtown

Quote from the Review: Cayenne spices out the gate; it's warm and it lingers. It gets a tad salty with heavy cedar but the creaminess was a nice touch. Man, the smoke production is wild on this one!

#1 Lampert 1593 Edición Oscura

Dom Purchase Recommendation: Box

Rich Purchase Recommendation: Box

Ben Purchase Recommendation: 5-pack

Ted Purchase Recommendation: Box

If you like that, you might like this: Kicking your feet up after a hard day's work and heading into your happy place
Quote from the Review: Entering the middle portion and still fantastic. I’m tasting a warm mixture of toast, baking spices and leather with a finish I can only describe as kettle corn. Very interesting and enjoyable. This stick is still performing perfectly.

A few Observations and a Recap

The average MSRP of the Top 10 Cigars reviewed for 2023 averaged out to $13.97, breaking the 11/14 trend since we started recording the data points. 

• 2018: $11.49 per cigar in the Top 10
• 2019: $14.87 per cigar in the Top 10
• 2020: $11.75 per cigar in the Top 10
• 2021: $14.37 per cigar in the Top 10
• 2023: $13.97 per cigar in the Top 10

Due to personal issues with the Coordinator, only 37 cigars were reviewed last year instead of our usual 52 (with the exception of one period during Covid.) Interestingly, all of the brands in our Top 10 this year were only allowed one blend to be reviewed and still made the cut. Caldwell, Crowned Heads, Diesel, EPC, HVC, Lampert, La Gloria Cuban, Lost & Found, Somm, and Valacari each only had one cigar reviewed for 2023. 

Two cigars tied for various positions in our Top 10 but were not included since they were limited editions and long gone. The Patina Anniversary scored very well with three 5-pack recommendations and one Box recommendation. The West Tampa Tobacco Company’s Attic Series scored exceptionally well, tying for first place at three Box recommendations and one 5-pack recommendation. 

To date, only two cigars have received all Box recommendations from our panel in almost 300 cigar reviews. That would be Atabey and the Crowned Heads’ Four Kicks Capa Especial. Last year, however, we added a fourth reviewer to the panel. Might we ever see a quadruple Box recommendation? Only time will tell! 

To score the cigars at the end, I award each rating a value. A Single recommendation earns 1 point, a 5-pack recommendation is awarded 5 points, and a Box recommendation is valued at 10 points. For the first time, I’ve tallied each reviewers’ total score for the year: 

Dom: 168 points awarded (seven box recommendations)

Rich: 152 points awarded (seven box recommendations)

Ben: 185 points awarded (eight box recommendations)

Ted: 206 points awarded (nine box recommendations)

Cheers to a wonderful 2024!