Best Cigars of 2022

2022 has been a great year for cigars. Not only did the FDA get slapped down for overstepping and misrepresenting cigars, but we got to see some amazing new blends hit the market. AJ Fernandez has partnered with everybody. William Ventura had a devastating fire in Nicaragua. YouTube doubled down on its disdain for cigars.

Regardless of what's happened in the rest of the world, 2022 has been an eventful year for cigars. So today, I thought I'd look back over the last twelve months and see which cigars have earned the highest CigarScore ratings and left me with the most favorable impressions. Today we've come up with the Best Cigars of 2022.

NOTE: These cigars have all been smoked and reviewed here on CigarScore.com this year. With a single exception*, all cigars were purchased, and none were donated, given, or gifted – so our reviews are as objective as possible. If you'd like more information about our rating system, click here.


Best Cigars of 2022

#1: Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Demi

I bought a box of these tiny cigars on a whim. I'd heard good things about them and took a chance. Since then, I think I've bought three more boxes! This little cigar was one of the many collaborations done with AJ Fernandez, and what you'll get is a 45-minute smoke that brings tons of flavor. We also loved the toro, but the Demi, in our opinion, is the best blend and earns the top spot as one of the best cigars of 2022.

Brand: Montecristo
Line: 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua
Size: 5 1/2 x 46
Price: $11.02

Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Smoke Time: 45 minutes


#2: Drew Estate Year of the Rat 2022

There's something about the Drew Estate Year of the Rat 2022 that when you smoke it, you know, without a doubt, that it's a premium cigar. These cigars are oily, thick, and rich. And if you wonder if a corona can be worth over $17, the answer is yes. If you can find one of these cigars, grab what you can; they won't be around forever.

Brand: Drew Estate
Line: Year of the Rat 2022
Size: 5 1/2 x 46
Price: $17.12

Wrapper: United States Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Brazil
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras
Smoke Time: 80 minutes


#3: J. London Gold Series Queen's Guard

J. London does something interesting with their cigars. Instead of using one wrapper leaf in their cigars, they use two, with one used as the binder. The result? A super-premium cigar that has double the amount of that wrapper-level flavor. And while the Queen's Guard only smokes for 28 minutes… it's a really good 28 minutes!

Brand: J. London
Line: Gold Series
Size: 4 1/8 x 38
Price: $5.00

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Filler: Dominican Republic
Smoke Time: 28 minutes


#4: RoMa Craft BAKA Acephalous

In my review of the RoMa Craft BAKA Acephalous, I called it a f**king delicious cigar. And it is. The BAKA is a blend that RoMa Craft makes only every once in a while; it's not a regular production cigar. The African Cameroon wrapper on this cigar brings a nice sweetness to the RC signature bold cigar. The BAKA I reviewed was so good I got a box as soon as I found them in stock. These are box-worthy, for sure.

Brand: RoMa Craft
Line: BAKA
Size: 5 x 56
Price: $11.50

Wrapper: African Cameroon
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Smoke Time: 54 minutes


#5: H. Upmann Nicaragua AJ Fernandez Heritage Toro

As I mentioned before, and as you might've noticed with the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary, AJ Fernandez has been up to amazing and delicious things. Brands like H. Upmann and Montecristo have brought him in to breathe new and bold and tasty life into their cigars. This AJF Heritage blend is really good. It's bold but well-blended, and I think you'll really enjoy it.

Brand: H. Upmann
Line: Nicaragua AJ Fernandez Heritage
Size: 6 x 54
Price: $10.35

Wrapper: Brazilian Mata Fina
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Smoke Time: 58 minutes


#6: Blackbird Crow San Andres Robusto

This isn't the first time we've put the Blackbird Crow San Andres on a Top 10 List. If like me, you're a fan of a San Andres wrapper, you should try this cigar. On the retrohale, that's when the sweetness of that leaf really shines. The Corojo and Criollo binders bring a great balance to the cigar. A nice, quality, and complex cigar for well under $10.

Brand: Blackbird
Line: Crow
Size: 5 x 50
Price: $7.85

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaragua, United States Pennsylvania, Nicaraguan Corojo & Criollo
Smoke Time: 66 minutes


#7: Room 101 Namakubi 2021 LE Ranfla

When I first unwrapped this cigar from its purple wrapping paper, I was pretty skeptical. $25 for a robusto? Ouch! But within seconds of lighting up the Room 101 Namakubi 2021, I knew I was smoking something special. Matt Booth really knocked it out of the park with this delicious cigar. The Honduran binder and fillers temper down the Habano wrapper, and you're left with a cigar that's sweet and tasty.

Brand: Room 101
Line: Namakubi 2021
Size: 5 1/2 x 50
Price: $25.00

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras
Smoke Time: 53 minutes


#8: Drew Estate Factory Smokes Maduro Toro

You might be wondering why a medium-filler cigar with an MSRP under $2 is on this list, and you'd be right to do so. When I reviewed the Factory Smokes Maduro, I was skeptical too. But this cigar delivers! The burn was almost perfect. The draw was excellent. And the flavors were better than you’d expect for a cigar that costs less than $2. And, as I mentioned in the review, I’ve definitely spent more on cigars that delivered significantly less. Try this one. Trust me.

Brand: Drew Estate
Line: Factory Smokes Maduro
Size: 6 x 52
Price: $1.87

Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Indonesia
Smoke Time: 60 minutes


#9: Stolen Throne 3 Kingdoms Toro

The only boutique cigar on this list, the Stolen Throne 3 Kingdoms was a surprise. My main complaint about this cigar is that it ended. This cigar starts strong with flavors that are syrupy and rich. Overall, the Stolen Throne 3 Kingdoms offers a smooth, creamy, and rich smoking experience.

Brand: Stolen Throne
Line: 3 Kingdoms
Size: 6 x 52
Price: $10.50

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua, Undisclosed
Smoke Time: 65 minutes


#10: Plasencia Cosecha 149 La Vega Robusto

When the Plasencia Cosecha 149 was released, I was like, “Eh. I already have my favorite Plasencia cigar; I don't need this one.” But I was wrong. The Cosecha 149 (which means “harvest” #149) is a tasty and bold addition to the brand. This cigar looks, feels, and tastes much more premium than its approachable price point would suggest.

Brand: Plasencia
Line: Cosecha 149
Size: 5 x 52
Price: $13.00

Wrapper: Honduran Olancho San Agustin
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras
Smoke Time: 72 minutes


Over to You

What cigars were left off this list? What brand was slighted? Who deserves to be one of the best cigars of 2022?

Let me know your favorites! Tell us what you think were the best cigars of 2022 in the comments section below!

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