Highest-Rated Cigars of All Time (Real Scores, Real Winners)

When a cigar earns a score in the high 90s from a respected panel of critics, it means something real: dozens of blind tastings, consistent construction, and flavors complex enough to stand out from thousands of competitors reviewed that year. The highest-rated cigars in history didn't get there by accident.

Here's a guide to the cigars that have genuinely earned those top marks, what the scores mean, and where to start if you want to smoke something legendary.

What does a high cigar score actually mean?

Cigar Aficionado — the publication whose ratings carry the most weight in the premium cigar world — uses a 100-point scale. Their critics smoke every cigar blind, meaning they don't know the brand when they score it. That process keeps the ratings honest.

Their scoring tiers break down like this:

• 95–100: Classic. Rare and exceptional.
• 90–94: Outstanding. Excellent quality.
• 80–89: Very good to good. Worth trying.

When you see a 95+ cigar, you're looking at something that passed a genuinely rigorous test. Learn more about how this system works in our Cigar Aficionado ratings explained guide.

The Cigar of the Year: the ultimate seal of approval

Each year, Cigar Aficionado reveals its Top 25 list, with the Number 1 cigar earning the title of Cigar of the Year. These are the most highly-rated cigars in the world for that year — and some of them are scoring in the 97–98 point range, territory most cigars never reach.

A few standout winners you can actually buy:

• Padrón Serie 1926 No. 9 (2007 COTY, 97 points): One of the most celebrated Nicaraguan puros ever made. Rich, complex, beautifully balanced. See it on our Padrón Serie 1926 No. 9 page.
• My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo Box Pressed (2015 COTY, 97 points): A masterwork from the García family — full-bodied, layered, and deeply satisfying.
• Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado (2014 COTY, 96 points): Elegant and spicy, a go-to for serious enthusiasts.
• E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel (2020 COTY, 98 points): One of the highest scores ever awarded, from a Nicaraguan powerhouse.

For a deeper look at all the winners year by year, read our Cigar of the Year explained guide.

Brands that consistently score at the top

Some makers appear on Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 list so often they've become benchmarks for quality. If you want a reliably high-rated cigar, these are the names to know:

Padrón

Nicaragua-based and family-owned, Padrón has claimed the Number 1 spot a record five times. Their 1926 Series and 1964 Anniversary Series are practically guaranteed to score in the outstanding-to-classic range.

Arturo Fuente

The Dominican Republic's most iconic name. The Fuente Fuente OpusX line routinely earns 95+ ratings, and their Don Carlos Eye of the Shark took the 2017 Cigar of the Year title with a 97-point score.

My Father Cigars

Cuban-born Pepe García brought his family's craft to Nicaragua and built one of the most decorated brands in the world. The Le Bijou 1922 line is where they peak.

Oliva

The Serie V Melanio earned the 2014 Cigar of the Year title and put Oliva firmly in the conversation as a top-tier maker. Their Serie V line consistently hits 90+.

How to find highly-rated cigars for yourself

You don't have to memorize scores. Browse our cigar pages — many feature critic ratings directly on the page — and use them as a filter when you're deciding what to try next. Or, better yet, track your own experiences in the Casa DNC app. Your personal rating is the one that matters most.

The bottom line on highest-rated cigars

The highest-rated cigars in history — the Padrón 1926s, the Fuente OpusXs, the My Father Le Bijou — earned their reputation through blind tastings, consistent quality, and genuine flavor complexity. They're not just marketing. If you want to understand what premium cigars are capable of, one of these is the place to start.

For a look at every official Cigar of the Year winner, see our Cigar of the Year winners rundown.