Cigar of the Year, part 2: Runners-Up & COTY

So now we're down to the final 3...my favorite 3 cigars of 2011. There is nothing scientific about this process and your choices may very well differ from mine. As I've looked through some of the other blogger year-end lists, though, I've been amazed at how many of the same cigars showed up on all the lists...

RUNNERS UP

Tatuaje Black, Petite Lancero
I missed out on the Tat Black when it made its first appearance some years ago; my first one was actually the Black Tubo a couple years back. I liked it, but hardly loved it. I had some others in smaller sizes and began to see the potential. When this Petite Lancero size came out, after two puffs, I just said, "Wow!" And that has continued...every time I light one up, the same word in on my lips..."Wow." This stick epitomizes to me the classic Tatuaje experience...full and powerful with tons of earth and pepper spice, along with underlying sweetness, coffee and leather. It begins fantastic every time, but I've found myself not loving the last third as much. That, along with a couple samples that have had slight draw problems, is the reason this did not become Cigar of the Year for me. I do love them, though, and still intend to invest in a box soon.

Emilio Cigars, Grimalkin
My first reaction to these was to grimace at the Cheshire grin on the band. That was followed by immensely enjoying the cigar, even though I thought the packaging was silly. In the intervening time, I've had discussions with brand owner, Gary Griffith, about the concept, but I still wonder if it holds the cigar back. Packaging will not necessarily make or break a cigar any more than some blogger's opinion of it, but it can help or hurt initial sales. At this time, Emilio Cigars are extremely popular...among those who have tried them...but there seems to be some resistance to them outside the world of online cigar geeks. And that is very unfortunate. The Grimalkin starts off with a nice mix of earth and cedar with touches of molasses (did someone say syrupy) sweetness and a peppery retrohale. This is truly a great cigar and one of the best out of the factory that makes it (can we say who yet?). Seek it out.

 

CIGAR OF THE YEAR

Crowned Heads, Four Kicks
The story of this cigar's creation is practically legendary already...from the way the Crowned Heads principals were left by a company they helped build, to the partnering with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo for the creation of this first cigar, and everything in between. Of course, the fact that Huber, Conder and company put it all online for us all to see didn't hurt. The fact that their first cigar as a new company is a no-questions home run makes it all the better. This medium-bodied, full-flavored cigar has notes of earth, pepper spice and a wonderful molasses sweetness running through it. I bought a box of Robustos on the first day they were available and I practically can't stop smoking them. Good enough to be Cigar of the Year? Absolutely! Sometimes a scale of 1 to 10 doesn’t seem like enough...this cigar practically goes to 11.