***Since doing this episode, I came to realize a huge oversight on my part. I managed to leave off the Herrera Biography from my list. I smoked more of this cigar than any other for 2013….even including Fuente products. This should have made the list, and actually would likely rank #1 for me if there was an order. I guess this comes with getting older and losing my memory by the minute…..****
1. These are not necessarily new cigars for the year (although some were), but the cigars we simply enjoyed the most throughout.
2. We limited the selection to cigars that were either Cigars of the Week for Half Ashed Episodes, or were discussed enough to have been made mention in the show notes. If we did not talk about it during at least one episode, it was not considered for our lists.
3. I (Kip) purposefully removed the Fuente cigars we smoked (858 Sungrown, Unnamed Reserve (2012), and Casa Cuba) from consideration out of my known affinity (sheer bias) for Fuente products.
4. There were a number of cigars that probably should have made the list, and were discussed in the show as honorable mentions/best values/”we just couldn’t narrow it down” cigars. These were: Miami Cigar/Nestor Miranda Casa Miranda Chapter Two; Drew Estate Nica Rustica; illusione ECCJ; Reinado Grand Empire Reserve; Michael Stewart’s Fire Cured #7
Half Ashed Top Ten Cigars for 2013 (in no particular order)
Craig | Kip |
Davidoff Nicaragua | Tatuaje Belle Encre |
Fuente Unnamed Reserve (2012) | 2005 Padron Aniversario Natural corona |
EPC Short Run 2011 | TL Johnson Tempio |
TL Johnson Tempio | KILO (Barry Stein) |
La Tradicion Cubana Corona | Oliva Serie V Maduro |
Ezra Zion Tantrum | Leccia Tobacco Black |
Bolivar Gold Medal | 2005 Ramon Allones Eminencia |
Gran Habano #5 | RoMaCraft Intemperance BA |
RoMaCraft Aquitaine | Ezra Zion Jamais Vu (Inception) |
Tatuaje Belle Encre | Cuenca 5 Anniversary |
My bout with influenza has now passed entirely, and I should be back in a normal reviewing schedule beginning this upcoming week. Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward to hearing from you guys – what are some of your favorites from the past year?