It doesn’t seem like 2017 should be ending but it is almost over. The year went by very quickly and in reflection of what was accomplished over the year (just in the general state of life), I would say I’m pleased overall. Add to that the variety of cigars I have been able to smoke this year and life improves even still. I recently looked back on what I have smoked this year and realized I had forgot several fantastic cigars over the course of the year. For 2017, I did not award a single Perfect 10 and no one cigar stood out for me as being the ‘Cigar of the Year’. What I have decided to do this year is give my favorites from this year, coupled with a selection of cigars that would be in the next tier (honorable mentions) and close out the year with a few remaining notes. I used a similar criteria as David did for his selection process:
- The cigar has to have been reviewed by me during this calendar year (obviously).
- All cigars from this list are rated 9/10 or higher.
- Past scores do not guarantee overall end of year rating.
Honorable Mentions
The cigars listed here made a positive impression on me but didn’t quite have enough pull to have them considered in the Favorites of 2017. With that being said, I would as happy as can be to smoke one of these cigars at anytime and would recommend them to anyone. In no particular order:
Frank Herrera Biography
I wish I would have found this one years ago when it released. Full bodied, full of flavor and strong.
Joya Black
This and the Biography above were my favorite full bodied cigars from 2017.
La Flor De Yn Clan
One of my favorite medium bodied Dominican cigars that I spent several evenings enjoying earlier in 2017.
Sticks Cigar Company Dominican Churchill
Yes – a value bundle made my honorable mention. And it’s that good for me to warrant the mention. A bundle is going to the winner of the Pick’em League this year. And I’ll be trying its maduro cousin very soon.
Favorite Cigars of 2017
Caleanoch 50
This is the cigar for the smoker who prefers their Scottish Whiskey from Islay…which just happens to be me. The perfect cigar for drinking scotch, especially those made from Islay (smoky, peaty, full bodied Scotch).
Crux Epicure
The Epicure, while coming in at the end of the year, was hands down my favorite milder smoke of the year and could easily compete in the same strength category as cigars twice its price.
Drew Estate Undercrown Sun Grown
With its great balance of flavors and depth of strength, the Undercrown Sun Grown became my favorite Undercrown in 2017.
Island Jim # Two
This cigar ended up being a big hit on my weekend trip to Las Vegas back in May. After the trip, a friend of mine asked me to do a formal review on it and it continued to shine in its formal review.
Le Carême by Crowned Heads
In reviewing cigars from the year, this one I missed from 2016. I was able to smoke a couple of these later in the year and they continued to impress.
Favorite Libations of 2017
I realized that I reviewed a fair number of libations on the year as well as cigars. The one stood out this year among the many tried, and that one was the Jameson Caskmates. Between the low cost and the unique flavor profile of it, it’s one whiskey that I have recommended to many since having it.
Coming in 2018…
While I was pleased with the variance of cigars reviewed in 2017, there was still a few that I could not work in. Expect to see reviews of cigars from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, Fratello, Sticks Cigar Company, and a few others early in 2018. I’ve had fun this year running the Pick’em League and will either do that again next year or go one step farther and run a FanDuel league for readers of the site. Stay tuned on information on those things later next year.
A persons time is their most precious gift and if you are reading this, then you are sharing that time with the work I have done. Thank you so much for that opportunity. Please enjoy a safe and happy New Years in the coming days and a prosperous 2018.
