Top 6 Cigar Companies of 2009

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Below is my first list, the Top 6 Cigar Companies of 2009. This list was especially difficult to produce, as there are many, many cigar companies that could have easily made this list. I’ve tried to be fair and include the companies whose cigars I enjoy the most. Here are my choices. Disclaimer: Tatuaje Cigars is a sponsor of The Weekly Cigar, but that has nothing to do with them being the Number One Cigar Company of 2009. They just make good cigars.

1. Tatuaje - This will come as no surprise to any of you that regularly follow the blog, or communicate with me on Twitter or Facebook. I love Tatuaje cigars, end of story. Pete Johnson is the creative element and Don Pepin Garcia is the man who translates Pete’s ideas into tobacco. This tag team of cigar masters culminates into the brainchild we now know as Tatuaje Cigars. The quality of cigar produced is unparalleled in this industry, at least in my opinion. Pete and Don Pepin produce many of my favorite cigars, including the El Triunfador, La Riqueza, Tatuaje Cabinet or Brown Label, Tatuaje Havana VI or Red Label, Tatuaje Noella Reserva, Tatuaje Cojonu 2003, Tatuaje Black Label and the Tatuaje T110. For this reason, Tatuaje Cigars is my Top Cigar Company of 2009.
2. Illusione - Company founder Dion Giolito has managed to create some incredible cigars out of the Aganorsa leaves he uses. Cigars like his Epernay line, ~HL~, ~mk~, and many more have found their way into the favorite lists of many cigar smokers, including mine. His blends are totally unique, and taste like no other cigars that I’ve smoked before. If you haven’t tried Illusione cigars, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
3. EO Cigars – This was a no brainer for me. I love pretty much everything Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega put out, including the Cubao, Cubao Maduro, Murcielago, and 601 Red, 601 Green, 601 Blue and 601 Black. They are all great cigars, and they are all produced by none other than Don Pepin Garcia. Starting to see a trend?
4. Drew Estate Cigars – Two words. Liga Privada. This new series of cigars from Drew Estate and Jonathan Drew have completely blown me away. I had all but written off Drew Estate as the company that makes Acid cigars, the infused cigars that I smoked when I was just getting into cigars. After introducing the Liga Privada line of cigars, I think that Drew Estate has definitely secured their place in premium cigar royalty.
5. Padron – What’s there to say about Padron Cigars? If you don’t know about Padron and their Anniversary series, go buy a handful of each of the 1964 and 1926 lines, and also the 1945 if you can find them. Padron cigars are, in my opinion, the benchmark in the cigar industry. I don’t know what they do to their tobacco, but their cigars are unlike any other in the industry. The smoothness and richness that you get from their cigars are incredible, and the only thing that keeps them from my top spot is the hefty price tag.
6. Padilla - I had the opportunity to visit Ernesto Padilla in his shop/factory on Calle Ocho in Miami a few weeks ago, and got to sample a few of his cigars while I was there. Before visiting him, I was already a big fan of his Padilla 1932 line, but also became enthralled with his Padilla Miami while at the factory. Ernesto uses Aganorsa leaves from Casa Fernandez, just like Illusione, and creates cigars that are absolutely delicious.