The Cigar Selections
How a Cigar Becomes “Cigar of the Year”: Blind Tasting, Hard Evidence, and a 60th-Anniversary Perfecto
That No. 1 for 2025 was the Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto, scoring 97 points. Its backstory reads like a compressed history of modern premium cigar.
The 2026 Cigar Reality Check: Who Won 2025—and What Can You Actually Buy?
Every January in the cigar world, two forces collide. One is curation: lists, awards, “best of” roundups that crown winners and shape what people think they should smoke. The other is scarcity: limited releases, allocation games, and “blink and it’s gone” drops that shape what people can actually smoke. In 2026, that collision is getting louder—and more consequential.
Introduction to Cigars: How to Enjoy a Premium Smoke
This episode provides an introduction to cigars and offers a personal guide on how to enjoy a premium smoke.
"Elegance is not standing out, but being remembered."
- Giorgio Armani
Dress by @racy_henrystreet Hairstyle by @butcherotoko Hat by @tedbaker Earring by @dolcegabbana Photo by @tessy_photography
“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life—and travel—leaves marks on you.”
— Anthony Bourdain