Cigar of the Year Journal
Championship analysis and official tournament insight from Cigar of the Year — written for the competition, not republished from elsewhere.
New series
Top Cigars of the Past: 2001–2025
Twenty-five unranked editorial retrospectives — ten cigar selections for each year. These are historical editorial choices, not awards issued in those years.
How the Competition Works
September 14, 2026
How to Choose a Cigar from Award Results
A practical guide to turning cigar award results into a short list that reflects your own preferences.
How the Competition Works
September 13, 2026
What Does “Cigar of the Year” Really Mean?
Discover how CigarOfTheYear.com reviewed 103 cigars, selected a 32-cigar tournament field, and named the Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto the 2026 champion.
Competition Journal
September 7, 2026
Why CigarOfTheYear.com Uses Head-to-Head Competition
Founder John Burton explains the 2026 Cigar of the Year tournament, Ashology™ and the consumer-voted Connecticut Cigar Bracket Challenge.
How the Competition Works
September 4, 2026
How Is Cigar of the Year Chosen? Inside a Head-to-Head Cigar Championship
Learn how CigarOfTheYear.com reviews 103 cigars, selects an Official 32, and uses group play, Ashology™ scoring and head-to-head rounds to crown a champion.
Competition Journal
August 26, 2026
Why the Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto Won the 2026 Cigar of the Year
Discover why the Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto earned a perfect 7-0 record and became the official 2026 Cigar of the Year.