Another year, another hundred smokes (give or take)!  How many high quality international cigars have you smoked?  Have you tried them all?  Highly unlikely, considering there’s a fascinating new cigar coming out every year.  In fact, there are many cigars designed and sold for the first time whenever a new year arrives.  What were some of the best cigar products for the year 2012?

Alan Rubin’s cigar, the Alec Bradley Prensado Churchill, was beautifully made, sporting a finely wrapped exterior and a unique flavor of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos.  It is said to taste like leather and chocolate.  Ashton Distributors Inc. offered the La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor, a beauty made with Mexican leaf (San Andrés Negro) as well as Nicaraguan tobacco inside.  Flavors are woody, but accompanied by nut and nougat.  The Illusione Epernay Le Taureau is notable for its lack of ligero tobacco, which gives good cigars their strength; but has gained acclaim for its chocolate flavors and leather-like aftertaste.

Other brands mentioned favorably in 2012 included Padron Cigars (with series like the Padron Family Reserve) and Opus X Cigars, which are Dominican in origin.  Viaje cigars earned favorable press, as did Oliva cigars, with their Serie V and its full flavors.  La Aurora and Perdomo also got a lot of ink for its brilliant design, and that’s not just us blowing smoke!  Well we are…but excuse the pun.  Of course, 2012 is not quite history yet, which is why some publications like Cigar Aficionado are still talking about 2011’s winners, like La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Belicoso.

The year 2012 was certainly exciting, but what about 2013?  The most exciting event is the Procigar Festival of 2013 and this event promises to deliver some of the best smokes in the world, as it will take place in the Dominican Republic.  All of the major players will be represented, as well as tours provided to some of the top cigar maker facilities in the world, including Davidoff and La Aurora.  Some of the most eagerly anticipated cigars include Headley Grange Eminentes, Tatuaje Black Label Corona Gorda 10th Anniversary, Tatuaje Chucky & the Bride of Chucky and Viaje Exclusivo Super Lance, which is notable as it is not from Nicaragua or the Dominican Republic, but Honduras.

Cigar smoking is a wonderful hobby and there is always something new and innovative coming on the scene.  Why not keep track of the winners, movers and shakers this year and next year?  It will give you a chance to sample all the latest developments, the culture, and the marvelous tastes.  Better yet, you can share your thoughts with fellow cigar aficionados across the globe!