Cigar of the Year Winners: Every Number 1 Since 2004
The complete verified list of Cigar Aficionado Cigar of the Year winners from 2004 to 2024. Real scores, real cigars — the most celebrated picks in the hobby.
The short answer
Cigar Aficionado's expert panel tastes hundreds of cigars throughout the year in blind tastings — they don't know the brand when scoring. The cigar with the highest blind-tasting score earns the Number 1 spot on the annual Top 25 list.
Every year, the cigar world counts down to one announcement: the Cigar of the Year. Cigar Aficionado's Number 1 pick is the result of months of blind tastings — critics smoke every candidate without knowing the brand and score it purely on merit. Earning the top spot is one of the most coveted honors in the industry.
Here's the verified list of every winner since Cigar Aficionado launched the modern Top 25 format in 2004. For context on how the selection process works, see our Cigar of the Year explained guide.
The complete Cigar of the Year winner list
2004 — Padrón 1926 40th Anniversary Torpedo
Nicaragua. The cigar that launched a dynasty. Padrón's aged Nicaraguan puro kicked off the modern Top 25 era in dominant fashion, scoring 93 points — exceptional for the time. It set the template for what a Cigar of the Year looks like.
2005 — Fuente Fuente OpusX Double Corona
Dominican Republic. The legendary OpusX line returned to the top spot, reinforcing Arturo Fuente's position as the Dominican Republic's most prestigious maker. Rated 95 points.
2006 — Bolivar Royal Corona (Cuba)
One of the rare years a Cuban cigar claimed the Number 1 position. The Bolivar Royal Corona earned 94 points — a striking endorsement of Havana's classic heritage during a period when Cuban quality was often inconsistent.
2007 — Padrón Serie 1926 No. 9 (97 points)
Nicaragua. One of the highest scores ever recorded at the time. The Padrón Serie 1926 No. 9 is widely considered one of the finest cigars Nicaragua has ever produced — rich, complex, and remarkably consistent. Padrón's second COTY win.
2008 — Casa Magna Colorado Robusto (93 points)
Nicaragua. An unexpected winner from a lesser-known maker at the time. The Casa Magna showed that blind tastings could elevate an underdog above bigger names.
2009 — Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Natural (97 points)
Nicaragua. Padrón's third COTY win. The Family Reserve line is aged even longer than the 1926 Series, and the results showed — critics awarded it one of the highest scores of the decade.
2010 — Cohiba Behike BHK 52 (97 points)
Cuba. A historic moment: one of the most celebrated Cuban cigars in modern memory claimed the top spot. The Behike line was made with a rare third leaf called "medio tiempo" that adds extraordinary complexity. Still considered one of the greatest cigars Cuba has ever produced.
2011 — Alec Bradley Prensado Toro (96 points)
Honduras. Another underdog story. Alec Bradley wasn't expected to beat the giants, but blind tastings don't care about brand history. The Prensado remains a fan favorite.
2012 — Flor de las Antillas Toro (96 points)
Nicaragua. My Father Cigars' sister brand took the top spot with a medium-bodied cigar that impressed critics with its balance and complexity.
2013 — Montecristo No. 2 (96 points)
Cuba. A Cuban icon — arguably the most famous cigar shape (torpedo/piramide) from Cuba's most famous brand — earned the Number 1 spot. The 2013 vintage was praised as the best production of the Monte No. 2 in years.
2014 — Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado (96 points)
Nicaragua. Oliva's finest hour. The Serie V Melanio became one of the defining cigars of the decade, still widely available and still earning strong scores.
2015 — My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo Box Pressed (97 points)
Nicaragua. Pepe García's masterwork. Rich, full-bodied, and layered with cocoa, leather, and pepper — the Le Bijou 1922 is considered one of the greatest Nicaraguan cigars ever made. My Father's first COTY win.
2016 — La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull (96 points)
Dominican Republic. A bold, unusual shape in a limited release — LFD's victory surprised many, but the blind process speaks for itself.
2017 — Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark (97 points)
Dominican Republic. One of the most hyped cigars in the hobby, and one of the few that lived up to it. The Eye of the Shark is a perfecto with an unusually long aging period and rich, complex Dominican flavor.
2018 — E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic (96 points)
Nicaragua. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo brought back the type of construction he perfected at La Gloria Cubana and earned the top spot with a balanced, refined Nicaraguan.
2019 — Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro
Nicaragua. A boutique brand's biggest moment. Aging Room built its reputation on excellent blending, and the Quattro Nicaragua took it to the very top.
2020 — E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel (98 points)
Nicaragua. One of the highest scores in Top 25 history. The 98-point rating placed the Pledge Prequel in a category almost no cigar has reached. Carrillo's second Number 1.
2021 — Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Torpedo Natural (97 points)
Nicaragua. Padrón's fourth COTY win. The 1964 Anniversary line has been a cornerstone of their lineup for decades — this recognition was a long time coming.
2022 — H. Upmann No. 2 (98 points)
Cuba. A Cuban torpedo earns one of the highest scores in Top 25 history. The H. Upmann No. 2 is a classic format and a landmark year for Cuban cigars.
2023 — Fuente Fuente OpusX Reserva d'Chateau (97 points)
Dominican Republic. Arturo Fuente returned to the top spot with a limited release from their OpusX line — one of the most watched and talked-about releases of the year.
2024 — My Father The Judge Grand Robusto (98 points)
Nicaragua. My Father's second COTY win and a 98-point score — an extraordinary achievement for the García family.
Why these cigars matter
Cigar of the Year winners represent something real: the best cigars in the world as determined by blind experts who don't know what they're smoking. No amount of branding or marketing gets a cigar to Number 1. Browse our cigar pages to find many of these winners with ratings and tasting notes, or use the Casa DNC app to log your own scores after you try them.
For the full story on award-winning brands, see our most awarded cigars guide.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the Cigar of the Year chosen?
- Cigar Aficionado's expert panel tastes hundreds of cigars throughout the year in blind tastings — they don't know the brand when scoring. The cigar with the highest blind-tasting score earns the Number 1 spot on the annual Top 25 list.
- What score does a Cigar of the Year typically receive?
- Most Cigar of the Year winners score between 95 and 98 points on Cigar Aficionado's 100-point scale. Anything 95+ is classified as 'Classic' — the top tier. A 98 is exceptionally rare.
- Which brand has won the most Cigar of the Year awards?
- Padrón holds the record with multiple Number 1 finishes across different years, cementing their status as the most decorated brand in Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 history.
- Can I still buy past Cigar of the Year winners?
- Most of them, yes. Many are still in production or available at well-stocked retailers. Some limited releases are harder to find, but established brands like Padrón, My Father, and Oliva keep their award-winning lines available.
- Are Cigar of the Year winners worth the hype?
- Generally yes. The blind-tasting process filters out marketing and reputation — a cigar earns the top spot on flavor, construction, and consistency alone. That said, taste is personal, and a cigar that one expert rates 98 points may not be your personal favorite.
Keep reading
Best 94-Plus Rated Cigars: What That Score Really Means
A 94+ score from Cigar Aficionado means outstanding quality. Here's what that rating signals, how it's earned, and which 94-plus cigars are worth trying.
Highest-Rated Cigars of All Time (Real Scores, Real Winners)
Discover the highest-rated cigars ever scored by Cigar Aficionado — from Cigar of the Year winners to 97-point legends. Real scores, verified facts, no hype.
What Makes a Cigar Highly Rated: Construction, Flavor, Consistency
Why do some cigars score 95 points while others land at 88? Here's what cigar critics actually evaluate — construction, flavor complexity, draw, and more.