It’s that time of the year again. Where we reflect on all the great sticks we have enjoyed and prepare for a new year of amazing smokes.
So here’s a list that reflects on what we were actually smoking right now. No stiff rankings. No museum talk. Just cigars that showed up in 2025 and stayed in rotation. These sticks blew us away and kept us coming back.
First, Some Honorable Mentions (Because Not Everything Fits in a Top 10)
These didn’t crack the list, but they were close. Like, “one more box and they’re in” close.
- H. Upmann Heritage – the only cigar on this list not from 2025, but man, it is good. It won our top spot in 2023 for a reason, and I fought myself not to add it to the top of 2024. Every year, we encounter the same issue here at B&B HQ: “Where are we putting the heritage?” This year has been a heavy-hitting year, and that sees my beloved stick in the honorable mentions list.
- Aventura The Explorer – The Explorer does exactly what its name promises: it keeps things light on its feet. Expect a clean, citrus-leaning brightness up front, followed by soft cedar and a touch of cream as it settles in. This is a palate-saver. No lingering bitterness, no flavor burnout. It’s the kind of cigar you hand to someone who says, “I want something good.”
- Sweet Jane Day of the Dead – Sweet Jane Day of the Dead isn’t shy visually or flavor-wise. The blend leans sweet and aromatic without crossing into gimmick territory. You’ll pick up notes of baking spice, cocoa, and a subtle sweetness that feels intentional, not added on. The artwork pulls people in, but the cigar keeps them around. It’s approachable, social, and built for lounges where cigars are part of the scene, not the whole personality.
- Gurkha Fat Boy –The Fat Boy is exactly what it looks like: a thick, heavy cigar that’s meant to be taken slow…pause.Is it subtle? No. Is it enjoyable? Absolutely. The Fat Boy shines for smokers who like volume, more smoke, more presence, more chill.
- DC Anillo – When I met the owner of Definition Cigars in early 2025, I asked what cigar was the must-try, and he said anillo, and he was definitely right. A real solid blend. I didn’t love all the dry grittiness that I’m attributing to the PA Broadleaf, but it still hit a lot of the right notes
Alright. Now let’s get into it.
#10 – Blood Medicine Limited Edition 2025
A cult favorite that leaned all the way in
Blood Medicine has always leaned into a gothic, underground identity, but the 2025 Limited Edition tightened everything up. The blend came across darker and more cohesive this year, less chaos, more control.
Flavor-wise, you’re looking at deep cocoa, roasted espresso, and a dry spice that lingers without coating your palate. The body is medium-full, but the nicotine never overwhelms, which makes it easier to smoke than the branding suggests.
This cigar shines late at night. Not a morning smoke. Not a “quick one.” It’s for when conversation slows, and the playlist turns moody. Limited releases often feel rushed; this one felt finished.
#9 – CAO Amazon Basin
Wild tobacco, surprisingly refined
The Amazon Basin is still one of the most over hyped cigars on the market today, but that’s because it’s one of the most unique cigars being produced at scale, and the 2025 release felt more balanced than previous years.
That rare Bragança tobacco brings its signature sweetness, almost tea-like, while the blend keeps things grounded with nutty undertones and soft earth. Early on, it’s gentle. Midway through, it opens up. The finish stays clean, which is impressive given how unconventional the tobacco is. They say this is a cigar you have to age before you smoke it, and that might be a deal breaker for some, but that is your choice to make.
It’s not perfect. Burns can wander. Draws can vary. But that unpredictability is part of the charm. You don’t smoke Amazon Basin every day; you smoke it when you want something that doesn’t feel manufactured.
#8 – West Tampa The Circle of Life
Precision without being boring
Circle of Life feels like West Tampa saying, “We don’t need to yell.”
The Circle of Life is the kind of stick you expect to be good. The hype when this first came out was insane, i couldnt go a day without someone asking if they had seen it or smoked it. Not to mention a couple of prerelease boxes circulating in my area took my FOMO to the next level. When I finally got my hands on it i could tell it was different.
The construction is flawless. Razor-sharp burn, effortless draw. Flavor transitions are subtle but deliberate, with light pepper upfront, followed by toasted bread, soft cedar, and a creamy finish that stays consistent through the last third.
This cigar doesn’t punch you. It guides you. And for smokers learning to appreciate balance over brute force, this cigar quietly teaches restraint. It’s the kind of stick that makes you slow down without realizing it.
#7 – CAO Stokk
Experimental, but not reckless
Stokk feels like CAO having fun again and knowing exactly what they’re doing.
I have been very vocal about my distaste for the Arcana series. The Mortal Coil has always been a dud to me, and the other two in this series are nothing spectacular…then you got this.
The cigar opens with sweetness and mild spice, then shifts into darker, almost molasses-like notes as it warms up. There’s an evolving texture here that keeps your attention. Nothing feels flat. Nothing feels rushed.
It’s not a beginner cigar, but it’s approachable if you’re curious. This is the cigar you smoke when you’re bored of “safe” blends and want something that feels alive.
#6 – My Father Blue
Tradition, cleaned up
My Father Blue proves that classic doesn’t have to mean predictable.
The opening third is smooth cedar, roasted nuts, and mild pepper. As it progresses, strength builds gradually, never spiking. The retrohale brings a clean spice that adds structure without aggression.
This cigar works in almost any setting: lounge, backyard, celebration, or solo smoke. It doesn’t demand attention, but it earns respect. For smokers stepping into fuller profiles, this cigar acts like a bridge instead of a wall.
#5 – Perdomo Legacy Maduro
Reliable doesn’t mean boring
We all remember last year dont we? The Perdomo 30th was announce and chris was scouring the streets looking under every nook and cranny, hoping to find a stick, but sadly, here in Florida, they were extremely hard to come by. when i finally got my hands on one their was no possible way the stick couldnve lived up to the hype i had in my head…after all, im mr Perdomo. so imagine how i felt when the legacy was announce just days after i recelved my first 30th. I WAS TERRIFIED, will I get one in time? Will I get one at all? only time would tell
But I did get one…then another…then 10 more
The Legacy Maduro feels familiar in the best way.
Expect rich chocolate, espresso, and a subtle sweetness that stays consistent from start to finish. The smoke production is generous, and the burn rarely needs correction. It’s comforting. Predictable. And sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
This cigar thrives as a daily smoke for people who like flavor but don’t want surprises. In a year full of bold releases, Legacy Maduro reminded everyone that execution still matters. Perdomos’ legacy is consistency.
#4 – JFR 20th anniversary
Big flavor, zero apologies
I’m going to hurt a lot of feelings here. I am not a big fan of Aganorsa. There, I said it. Their sticks are fine, not bad, not great, fine, and for me, $14+ for a fine stick isn’t really on my to-do list. That being said, when i saw this bad boy i figured, why not its cheap its aged lets give it a shot. and WOW
The JFR 20 Years doesn’t try to be refined. It tries to be memorable.
This cigar comes out swinging with pepper, charred wood, and a gritty earthiness that sticks around. It’s full-bodied, full-flavored, and unapologetically loud. Yet somehow, it never feels sloppy.
Price plays a role here, too. You can smoke this often without guilt. And for smokers who value punch and value, JFR 20 Years delivered both in 2025. This stick might have left the door open for me for aganorsa lets see what 2026 brings.
#3 – E.H. Taylor San Andrés
Whiskey culture meets cigar culture
“The Buffalo Trace cigar is the worst cigar ever made.” That was me on one of my first-ever articles on this site, and I partly still stand by that sentiment now. When I saw them come out with the EH Taylor line i was curious, will it suffer the same fate? Short answer: no it was ok Long awnser it was a corojo, and I have never liked the flavors that leaf brings out, so I chalked it up to personal preference. Then they came out with the San Andres, and that changed EVERYTHING
This cigar rode the bourbon wave perfectly. Not as a gimmick, more like a handshake between two worlds.
The San Andrés wrapper brings density, dark chocolate, earth, and spice, while the blend underneath keeps everything organized. Flavors arrive in layers instead of bursts. Nothing overlaps too much. Nothing feels wasted.
It pairs beautifully with bourbon, but it doesn’t rely on that association to shine. Even solo, it holds its own. For smokers who appreciate intentional blending and clean transitions, this cigar was a standout all year.
And yeah, the name helps. But the cigar backs it up.
#2 – West Tampa The Devil Crab
Bold, regional, unforgettable
Let me set the scene. I walked into the lounge with no plan to smoke anything specific. Just one of those drop-in nights. The room was already buzzin, glow, music, cutters clicking, smoke hanging heavy, and that’s when I overheard it.
“There’s a new cigar. Fifty in a box.”
That alone made me pause. Fifty? Who needs fifty of the same stick?
Then someone else chimed in, almost too quickly, “Yeah… I already bought three boxes.”
Now it had my attention.
People don’t buy three boxes of something they’re unsure about. Not in this market. Not with humidor space being what it is. So I followed the conversation, eyes scanning the tables, until I spotted it. That little NUB-like thing is what everyone is talking about? ok… lit it up and BOOM
Spice hits early, followed by savory notes and a lingering sweetness that balances the aggression. The body is medium-full, but the flavor feels bigger than that. It grabs attention and keeps it.
This cigar became a conversation starter in lounges across the country. Not just because of the name or artwork, but because people remembered how it smoked. The construction was out of this world. Name me another cigar you can smoke down to your fingertips. That’s rare and powerful.
#1 – Cohiba Rubicon
Not hype. Just earned.
Let’s clear something up. Cohiba didn’t win this spot because of the name. It won because Rubicon delivered consistently.
When you think of cigars, you think of Cohiba,
Cohiba doesn’t chase attention anymore and that’s exactly why it still has it. While newer brands fight for shelf space with louder bands and bolder names, Cohiba plays the long game. Slow releases. Tight portfolios. No panic moves.
What makes Cohiba matter, especially now, is restraint. The blends are polished. Construction is predictable in the best way. Flavors are layered, not flashy.
For younger smokers, Cohiba used to feel untouchable. Too legacy. Too serious. and lets be honest…Too expensive. But lately, that perception has shifted. When everything else feels rushed, Cohiba feels… intentional. Like a brand that knows exactly who it is and doesn’t need to remind you.
There’s something almost effortless about the way a Cohiba Rubicon lights up. No theatrics. No dramatic pause. Just a slow, smooth draw that feels like it knows what it’s doing.
This isn’t one of those cigars that tease you before showing its cards. From the first puff, Rubicon sets a tone: refined, composed, measured. And honestly? That calm confidence is refreshing, especially in a landscape where every release feels like it’s trying to shout, “Look at me!”
Smooth draw. Deep flavor. Zero sharp edges. It feels premium without trying to prove it. And in 2025, when smokers are more skeptical than ever, that quiet confidence goes a long way.
Rubicon feels like Cohiba remembering who they are, and younger smokers noticed.
Wrap up
Remember Cigar culture is shifting. Faster. Younger. Less formal but not less serious. People still care about quality. They just want it without the lectures.
This list reflects that. Cigars with personality. With stories. With smoke, you remember the next day.
Honestly? If 2025 proved anything, it’s that cigars aren’t stuck in the past. They’re right here on patios, in lounges, passed between friends. And that’s exactly where they belong.
Before I let you guys go i want to thank all of our readers for supporting us in 2025. It was a rough year for us here at B&B, but we made it, and I want to thank each and every one of you for sticking around with us while we work out all the bugs and the content. It’s you guys that make writing these articles worth it, so thanks again! and we will see you in 2026!
