Top Zen (10) Cigars

Please note that these can change at any time and reflect my mood, my disposition at the time… so here we go!

10.   Cohiba Siglo VI (2006) – Embodies everything a Cohiba should be.  Present is the elusive “tea note” on the palate.  Such a good cigar.

9.   Davidoff Millennium Blend Lancero (2009) – May be one of the best single fresh cigars I have ever smoked.  The thin format of this cigar is perfect for the Millennium Blend.

8. Partagas Lusitania (2006) – Wow.  This is why Hemingway moved to Cuba.

7.  Seleccione Robusto (2002) – A nice little 5 pack of specially blended robustos.  One each of Montecristo, HdM, Cohiba, Partagas and RyJ.  Couldn’t pick just one!

6.  Partagas Serie P No. 2 (2005) – amazing fresh out the box, even better with age.  Tobacco, leather, espresso, and a roundhouse kick.

5.  Davidoff Vintage 2000 Panetela Extra (2003) – Amazing cigar, rich and powerful even after all this time.  And this was complex, so very complex, changed every 1/2″.

4.  Fuente Fuente Opus X Perfexcion A (1999) – I was lucky enough to get to try a a seriuosly aged Opus and it was amazing!  I am the first to say that I am not a huge Fuente fan, but this cigar shows what the “old” Opus were all about.

3.  Padron Family Reserve No. 44 Natural (2009) – this extremely limited cigar was only available at store events for the Family Reserve, it features 10-year old tobacco and is stunning.

2.  AVO LE 5 (2005) – was once the best cigar I have ever smoked.  Even better with age.

1.  Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva 2003 (2009) – the most complex and rich cigar I have ever smoked.

Recently Removed

Mar 10 – AVO LE 09 Companero (2009) – This cigar was better fresh than the AVO LE5.  The most un-AVO AVO ever made.  Rustic and rich, this was an intense experience.  Let’s see where this cigar goes with age!

Jan 10 – Padron 1926 Anniversary 80 Years – This beautiful perfecto tasted like the whole cigar, not just the wrapper, was aged for 5 years.  Woot!

Aug 09 – AVO 22 LE European Release (2002) – This was a wonderful creamy rich cigar.  I enjoyed the thinner Euro version better than the chunkier US release.

Apr 09 – Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 (APR 05) – Good grief this is one excellent creamy, leathery and coffee tasting cigar.  So good with some time in the humidor.

Apr 09 – AVO Legacy LE (2004) – Almost as good as the LE5, but not quite.  Still have one last box left of these.

Feb 09 – Griffin’s Special XXI Edition (2005) – What a honey of a cigar.  Excellent after aging, what a small-batch release is all about.

Aug 08 – Casa Fuente Corona (2006) – These are stupid expensive.  But it’s the best Cameroon on the market.

July 08 – Camacho Face-Off (2002) – Made by Litto Gomez with Eiroa tobacco.  Excellent cigar with age, I wish Litto would make more mild-medium smokes, this is his strength.

June 08 – Griffin’s XXIII Limited Edition (2007)– Great cigar, complex with awesome aging potential.  Best Kelner-made cigar that year.