It’s that time of the year again, gentlemen. So, here are the Top 10 cigars I smoked in 2023:

10. La Flor Dominicana La Nox

LFD is one of my favorite brands out there, and La Nox was one of the top cigars I smoked this year. I paired it with different whiskies, and I was satisfied with all the pairings. My preference: I would smoke this cigar on a cold day and pair it with a peated whisky like Laphroaig 10.

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9. Oliva Serie V Melanio Double Toro

The Serie V Melanio line is top-notch. I smoked this Double Toro at Whisky Live Beirut 2023, and I paired it with many whiskies. The one that went with it best was the Chivas 13 Tequila Cask. But don’t take my word for it. I could have been drunk.

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8. PDR A. Flores 1975 Gran Reserva Maduro Toro

I burned this one outdoors. I smoked it while grilling. I had Johnnie Walker Black Label with it. And I was in great company. As the saying goes, “Enjoying cigars isn’t just about smoking cigars.” The whole set up made it a wonderful experience.

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7. Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 55 Pyramid

I don’t smoke a lot of Arturo Fuente cigars, but when I do, I enjoy them very much. For some reason, I’ve always loved pairing my Arturo Fuente cigars with coffee, especially espresso. But I’ve successfully paired some with whiskies as well as rums.

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6. Ramon Allones by AJ Fernandez Torpedo

One of the best cigars I smoked this year happened to be at one of the best weddings I’ve attended in my life. It is safe to say that I got wasted soon after I lit the cigar. The wedding took place in Armenia; naturally, my best pairing option was vodka. So much vodka was consumed that night. Getting drunk, however, did not stand in the way of me smoking the Ramon Allones until my fingers burned.

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5. Liga Privada No. 9 Toro

The No. 9 is my favorite Liga Privada cigar, and I like to pair it with espresso and sparkling water. It is a near-perfect cigar, faultless and beautiful.

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4. Rocky Patel Disciple Sixty

The wife and I relaxing by the pool. The sun is shining, I’m reading an excellent book, and smoking a great cigar. The Rocky Patel Disciple Sixty left a good impression on me. I loved it.

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3. Nica Rustica El Brujito

Strong, powerful, and affordable. Very generous smoke. Just like I like them. This cigar is not for the weak. I smoked quite a few of them throughout the year, most of them at the cigar lounge.

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2. AJ Fernandez New World Navegante Robusto

This came out of a friend’s humidor. After a wonderful dinner, my friend opened his humidor, picked this cigar, and gave it to me. “If I know you, I know you’ll love this cigar,” he said. And he was right. My preference: I would pair the New World with full-bodied wines and Irish whiskies like Jameson, Teeling, and Bushmills.

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1. EP Carrillo Pledge Sojourn

I only smoked one EP Carrillo Pledge Sojourn this year, and it was the best cigar I smoked in 2023.

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