December 2008
Share it!

Oliva Serie V Torpedo

To continue our “best cigars of the year” series, here goes the list of top non-Cuban cigars of 2008 (you can see the best Cuban cigars of 2008 here). This time, it is a group project – I did a simple survey among my followers on Twitter. The results were as follows:

  1. Oliva Serie V. It got the most votes and I completely agree on the fact that this is one of the best non-Cuban cigars I smoked this year.
  2. Rocky Patel Decade. Exceptionally elegant. Again, this one would be on my own top 5 list as well.
  3. La Riqueza. I definitely have to familiarize myself with Pete Johnson’s cigars… It seems like La Riqueza line is the one that really deserves some attention.
  4. Cubao. Can’t imagine a “best of” list without Don Pepin Garcia’s creations. Cubao finished in front of DPG Blue which also got a decent score.
  5. Padron 1926. This Nicaraguan classic is still a great smoke.

Runners-up: Rocky Patel Sun Grown, Ashton VSG, Illusione, Cruzado, Tatuaje Taino & Noella.

What are your non-Cuban cigars of 2008?

12 thoughts on “Top Non-Cuban Cigars of 2008

  1. Yer killin’ me: I gave away my Oliva V’s in a bomb!

  2. Here is my list:
    1.Oliva Serie V (figurado)
    2.Rocky Patel Sun Grown
    3.Arturo Fuente Anejo 77
    4.RP Decade
    5.Ashton VSG

    And if we go to year 2006… No doubt to mention as No.1 all over any one, the God of Fire Carlito 2006 doble robusto tubo!!! Something special…

  3. At least my favorite smoke (RP Sun Grown) got a mention.

  4. Doesn’t it always come down to money, Kal? At least for us blue-collar guys, we may be able to buy a box of mid-line cigars, but only a few top-shelf singles for the special occasions.

  5. The 26 and Decade are two of the best cigars I have ever had. I keep decades stocked. I wish I had the money to do the same with the 26.

  6. Of 2008, there’s been a boom in the availability of great non-cuban cigars. Some of my favorites, in no particular order:

    Tatuaje Havana VI
    Illusione MK and CG:4
    Oliva V maduro
    Casa Magna gran toro
    Cusano LXI Sun Grown Habano
    Perdomo Habano maduro
    Perdomo 10th Anniversary Reserve maduro
    Cruzado Dominicos
    Alec Bradley Tempus

  7. I have found the special v figurado to be the best of the Oliva “V”… more bang for the buck…also the Illusione 88 is similar but more complex than the cubao.

  8. MY TOP 5 WOULD BE
    1.ROCKEY PATEL RENASAINCE
    2.ILLUSIONE #88
    3.PADRON 1926
    4.OLIVIA V DOUBLE ROBUSTO
    5.GRAYCLIFF G2

    WITH A GHURKA GRAN RESERVE TO TOP IT OFF

  9. Thanks for the recommendations. I must try the La Riqueza and Cubano. Now, I will be on the look out this holiday season. Thanks.

    Happy Holidays!!!

  10. What about the Nub Habano? It’s a good cigar plus it made its debut this year.

    I haven’t smoked numbers 3 & 4 but the others are very good. Great list.

  11. Can’t argue too much with this. I’d put La Riqueza above the Decade, but that’s about it.

Leave a Reply