Coming in at #3 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Casa Magna Colorado Lancero LE by Quesada Cigars. The story of the Casa Magna Colorado is well known. It started as a collaboration between two legendary names in the world of cigar making – Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plasencia. Since then, the Casa Magna Colorado has garnered many accol…

Coming in at #3 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Casa Magna Colorado Lancero LE by Quesada Cigars. The story of the Casa Magna Colorado is well known. It started as a collaboration between two legendary names in the world of cigar making – Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plasencia. Since then, the Casa Magna Colorado has garnered many accol…

Coming in at #4 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Kristoff Tres Compadres Toro. The name Tres Compadres means “three friends.” In this case, it is a tribute from Kristoff owner Glen Case to two of his close friends who recently passed away, Chuck Finch and Rolando Villamil. Case would often refer to the three of them as the three amigo…

Coming in at #4 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Kristoff Tres Compadres Toro. The name Tres Compadres means “three friends.” In this case, it is a tribute from Kristoff owner Glen Case to two of his close friends who recently passed away, Chuck Finch and Rolando Villamil. Case would often refer to the three of them as the three amigo…

On Prime Time Episode 328, we begin the year 2025. It’s our ninth season of the Prime Time Show, and once again we kick things off with Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars. Things are never slow over at Tatuaje Cigars, and we will catch up with Pete on the latest happenings and look back at 2024. We will also have our FSG Beef, Alec Bradley Live True, E…

On Prime Time Episode 328, we begin the year 2025. It’s our ninth season of the Prime Time Show, and once again we kick things off with Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars. Things are never slow over at Tatuaje Cigars, and we will catch up with Pete on the latest happenings and look back at 2024. We will also have our FSG Beef, Alec Bradley Live True, E…

Coming in at #5 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Conviction by Rocky Patel. With its well-publicized $100.00 price point, Conviction is Rocky Patel Premium Cigars’ most ultra-premium offering. The name Conviction was inspired by Rocky’s commitment and passion for the cigar industry. There were several elements which went into making t…

Coming in at #5 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Conviction by Rocky Patel. With its well-publicized $100.00 price point, Conviction is Rocky Patel Premium Cigars’ most ultra-premium offering. The name Conviction was inspired by Rocky’s commitment and passion for the cigar industry. There were several elements which went into making t…

Coming in at #6 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Domain Neutron Toro. Domain Cigars is part of a partnership between Esteban Disla and Daniel Lance. Disla is widely known for his tenure at the Nica Sueno factory, while Lance is an entrepreneur from the cigar business’s retail side. While the two own Domain Cigars, they are also partne…

Coming in at #6 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Domain Neutron Toro. Domain Cigars is part of a partnership between Esteban Disla and Daniel Lance. Disla is widely known for his tenure at the Nica Sueno factory, while Lance is an entrepreneur from the cigar business’s retail side. While the two own Domain Cigars, they are also partne…

Coming in at #7 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Perdomo 30th Anniversary Connecticut Epicure. The Perdomo 30th Anniversary line was easily one of the most anticipated cigar lines to hit the market in recent memory. It’s hard to believe that about 18 months the world first got a look at the Perdomo 30th Anniversary line at the 2023 Pr…

Coming in at #7 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Perdomo 30th Anniversary Connecticut Epicure. The Perdomo 30th Anniversary line was easily one of the most anticipated cigar lines to hit the market in recent memory. It’s hard to believe that about 18 months the world first got a look at the Perdomo 30th Anniversary line at the 2023 Pr…

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 148 features our 18th installment of our Album Archaeology Series, Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd. This album won our 2024 Battle of the Bands – 1970s Tournament, and was the album drafted by Espinosa Cigars’ Hector Alfonso. To celebrate Wish You Were Here‘s win, we devote an Album Archaeology to this album. We are also…

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 148 features our 18th installment of our Album Archaeology Series, Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd. This album won our 2024 Battle of the Bands – 1970s Tournament, and was the album drafted by Espinosa Cigars’ Hector Alfonso. To celebrate Wish You Were Here‘s win, we devote an Album Archaeology to this album. We are also…

Coming in at #8 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Tatuaje 20th Anniversary Reserva RL22. As a part of its 20th-anniversary celebration in 2023, Tatuaje Cigars had several cigar releases to commemorate the occasion. Late in 2023, Tatuaje unveiled a pair of limited edition cigars made at the Garcia family's El Rey de los Habanos factory …

Coming in at #8 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Tatuaje 20th Anniversary Reserva RL22. As a part of its 20th-anniversary celebration in 2023, Tatuaje Cigars had several cigar releases to commemorate the occasion. Late in 2023, Tatuaje unveiled a pair of limited edition cigars made at the Garcia family's El Rey de los Habanos factory …

Coming in at #9 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Las 6 Provincias ZDT by Espinosa Cigars. The ZDT is the fifth installment of Espinosa’s limited-edition Las 6 Provincias series. This annual limited edition series pays homage to the pre-Castro era of Cuba. The name Las 6 Provincias means “six provinces,” – and it refers to the six prov…

Coming in at #9 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Las 6 Provincias ZDT by Espinosa Cigars. The ZDT is the fifth installment of Espinosa’s limited-edition Las 6 Provincias series. This annual limited edition series pays homage to the pre-Castro era of Cuba. The name Las 6 Provincias means “six provinces,” – and it refers to the six prov…

Coming in at #10 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Casa Cuevas La Mandarria Oscuro. La Mandarria Oscuro is the second blend by Casa Cuevas under the La Mandarria line. The La Mandarria line is a lemon-to-lemonade story for Casa Cuevas Cigars. La Mandarria translates to “The Sledgehammer.” The inspiration for La Mandarria came from the …

Coming in at #10 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Casa Cuevas La Mandarria Oscuro. La Mandarria Oscuro is the second blend by Casa Cuevas under the La Mandarria line. The La Mandarria line is a lemon-to-lemonade story for Casa Cuevas Cigars. La Mandarria translates to “The Sledgehammer.” The inspiration for La Mandarria came from the …

The Asylum Sensorium Asen 60 from C.L.E. Cigar Company is ranked 11th on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown. Asylum Sensorium is a limited edition super premium offering from C.L.E Cigar Company, which was founded by Christian Eiroa. Notably, the blend is highlighted by tobacco grown by Christian's father,Julio R. Eiroa, known as Piñareno. Piñare…

Coming in at #12 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Aladino Limited Edition by JRE Tobacco Co 2023 edition. Since Julio and Justo Eiroa launched JRE in 2016, much of the focus has been on building up the regular product offerings in its portfolio. This is a limited-edition offering, as indicated by the name. The Aladino Limited Edition …

Coming in at #12 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Aladino Limited Edition by JRE Tobacco Co 2023 edition. Since Julio and Justo Eiroa launched JRE in 2016, much of the focus has been on building up the regular product offerings in its portfolio. This is a limited-edition offering, as indicated by the name. The Aladino Limited Edition …

Coming in at #13 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown 601 La Bomba Warhead X by Espinosa Cigars. One of the most popular annual limited-edition cigar series to hit the market over the past decade is the 601 La Bomba Warhead Series. This series has an excellent track record of success, landing on the Cigar Coop Countdown eight times. Warhead is a…

Coming in at #13 on the 2024 Cigar of the Year Countdown 601 La Bomba Warhead X by Espinosa Cigars. One of the most popular annual limited-edition cigar series to hit the market over the past decade is the 601 La Bomba Warhead Series. This series has an excellent track record of success, landing on the Cigar Coop Countdown eight times. Warhead is a…

On the Smoking Syndicate Roundtable 19, the Cigar Coop Coalition tackles the 2024 version of Foundation Cigar Company’s Wise Man Maduro in the Toro size. Foundation Cigar Company announced earlier this year that its El Güegüense and Wise Man Maduro lines would no longer be produced at Aganrosa Leaf. The company announced the cigars El Güegüense wou…

On the Smoking Syndicate Roundtable 19, the Cigar Coop Coalition tackles the 2024 version of Foundation Cigar Company’s Wise Man Maduro in the Toro size. Foundation Cigar Company announced earlier this year that its El Güegüense and Wise Man Maduro lines would no longer be produced at Aganrosa Leaf. The company announced the cigars El Güegüense wou…

On the Smoking Syndicate Roundtable 18, the Cigar Coop Coalition tackles the Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) Orthodox in the Toro size. Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) has certainly been known for its bold blends. In recent years blender James Brown has truly expanded his horizons becoming very successful at creating cigars across the spectru…

On the Smoking Syndicate Roundtable 18, the Cigar Coop Coalition tackles the Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) Orthodox in the Toro size. Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) has certainly been known for its bold blends. In recent years blender James Brown has truly expanded his horizons becoming very successful at creating cigars across the spectru…

On Prime Time Jukebox Episode 147, it’s our annual year in review. In Jukebox style we look back at both music and cigars for the year 2024. This includes Jukebox classic segments such as Now or Never and Crystal Ball. On this show, Dave smokes the Curivari Buenaventura Favoritos Maduro while Coop smokes the Rocky Patel Emerald. Episode 147 Playlis…

On Prime Time Jukebox Episode 147, it’s our annual year in review. In Jukebox style we look back at both music and cigars for the year 2024. This includes Jukebox classic segments such as Now or Never and Crystal Ball. On this show, Dave smokes the Curivari Buenaventura Favoritos Maduro while Coop smokes the Rocky Patel Emerald. Episode 147 Playlis…

The Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 3 Toro by Altadis U.S.A. is ranked #14 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown. Back in 2019, the Trinidad brand celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Trinidad brand traces its roots back to Cuba, but Altadis U.S.A. has owned the Trinidad brand in the U.S. for quite some time. For a while, the brand was al…

The Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 3 Toro by Altadis U.S.A. is ranked #14 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown. Back in 2019, the Trinidad brand celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Trinidad brand traces its roots back to Cuba, but Altadis U.S.A. has owned the Trinidad brand in the U.S. for quite some time. For a while, the brand was al…

The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Bull comes in at #15 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown. The Eye of the Bull debuted at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, but if you looked closely at the Fuente booth at the 2022 PCA Show, you might have seen it tucked away. The Eye of the Bull has two distinguishing charac…

The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Bull comes in at #15 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown. The Eye of the Bull debuted at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, but if you looked closely at the Fuente booth at the 2022 PCA Show, you might have seen it tucked away. The Eye of the Bull has two distinguishing charac…

Coming in at #16 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown is the E.P. Carrillo Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of Allegiance is the first limited-edition installment of E.P. Carrillo's Perez-Carrillo series. The name is derived from the third and fourth installments of the Perez-Carrilo line, the Pledge and Allegiance, respectively. The idea…

Coming in at #16 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown is the E.P. Carrillo Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of Allegiance is the first limited-edition installment of E.P. Carrillo's Perez-Carrillo series. The name is derived from the third and fourth installments of the Perez-Carrilo line, the Pledge and Allegiance, respectively. The idea…

Coming in at #17 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante Toro by Altadis U.S.A. In 2020, Rafael Nodal and Altadis U.S.A. teamed up with AJ Fernandez to release a cigar commemorating 85 years of the Montecristo brand, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua. The cigar proved to be bo…

Coming in at #17 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante Toro by Altadis U.S.A. In 2020, Rafael Nodal and Altadis U.S.A. teamed up with AJ Fernandez to release a cigar commemorating 85 years of the Montecristo brand, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua. The cigar proved to be bo…

Coming in at #18 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Liga Privada 10 Aniversario by Drew Estate. In 2018, Drew Estate celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Liga Privada brand by introducing two cigars: The 10 Aniversario and the H99 Connecticut Corojo. These two releases were groundbreaking because they incorporated uncommon…

Coming in at #18 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Liga Privada 10 Aniversario by Drew Estate. In 2018, Drew Estate celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Liga Privada brand by introducing two cigars: The 10 Aniversario and the H99 Connecticut Corojo. These two releases were groundbreaking because they incorporated uncommon…

Coming in at #19 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Vintage 1960’s in the Sophisticated Hooker size. Pink is a color associated with breast cancer awareness. With the Rare Pink Vintage 1960s, Fuente is raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research by donating a portion of the sales to support …

Coming in at #19 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Vintage 1960’s in the Sophisticated Hooker size. Pink is a color associated with breast cancer awareness. With the Rare Pink Vintage 1960s, Fuente is raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research by donating a portion of the sales to support …

Coming in at #20 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Aramas A55 from Oz Family Cigars. The “Oz” stands for Ozgener and its the company founded by Tim Ozgener. If the name sounds familiar, the Ozgeners are the same family that owned CAO Cigars. It was at CAO where Tim worked alongside his father, the late Cano Ozgener. Eventual…

Coming in at #20 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Aramas A55 from Oz Family Cigars. The “Oz” stands for Ozgener and its the company founded by Tim Ozgener. If the name sounds familiar, the Ozgeners are the same family that owned CAO Cigars. It was at CAO where Tim worked alongside his father, the late Cano Ozgener. Eventual…

The #21 Cigar of the Year for 2024 is the Black Works Studio S&R (2023) Corona Larga from Oveja Negra Brands. S&R made its debut in 2018 as a limited edition small batch line under the Black Works Studio brand. At the time, it was a significant release for owner and blender James Brown because it marked his first release with a Sumatra wrapper and …

The #21 Cigar of the Year for 2024 is the Black Works Studio S&R (2023) Corona Larga from Oveja Negra Brands. S&R made its debut in 2018 as a limited edition small batch line under the Black Works Studio brand. At the time, it was a significant release for owner and blender James Brown because it marked his first release with a Sumatra wrapper and …

The #22 Cigar of the Year for 2024 is the Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown Epicure. As the name indicates, the cigar commemorates 30 years of Perdomo Cigars. The Sun Grown is one of three blends that make up the Perdomo 30th Anniversary line. The cigar was unveiled at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show. For the final packaging, Perdomo…

The #22 Cigar of the Year for 2024 is the Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown Epicure. As the name indicates, the cigar commemorates 30 years of Perdomo Cigars. The Sun Grown is one of three blends that make up the Perdomo 30th Anniversary line. The cigar was unveiled at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show. For the final packaging, Perdomo…