Have you ever splurged on a highly rated cigar, expecting perfection, only to feel… underwhelmed? It’s easy to assume the rating was wrong, but the reality is more complex.
Cigar enjoyment is highly personal. What one reviewer finds exceptional may not align with your preferences. Marketing researchers call this negative disconfirmation – when the experience doesn’t live up to your expectations. Studies show this can lead to disappointment and reduced trust in recommendations. What’s behind these feelings is something called the experiential gap.
Why ratings can feel ‘right’ for some and ‘wrong’ for others
The experiential gap is what explains that no two people experience a cigar in exactly the same way. A 95-rated cigar described as bold and spicy may excite someone who loves intense flavors but overwhelm someone who prefers creamy and mild cigars.
Ratings can’t account for everything that shapes your smoking experience.
At Cigar Sense, we believe that, instead of telling you what’s ‘best’ based on someone else’s experience or motive, we show you how each cigar matches your personal preferences – so your expectations and experience align.
What’s behind our rankings?
Our rankings are built from the ground up using real sensory data. Here’s how it works:
1. Sensory analysis: each cigar we evaluate undergoes rigorous sensory analysis based on key attributes like aromas, tastes, tactile sensations, and nicotine strength.
2. Preference matching: when our members create their profiles, they share their taste preferences with us. For every cigar, we calculate how well it matches their unique preferences and are transparent about that. Our members manage and can modify their profile anytime.
3. These rankings: each member’s individual matches are aggregated to form a “compatibility index” that reflects the preferences of thousands of members worldwide.
This means that every cigar’s ranking in our list is determined by how consistently it resonates with real cigar lovers.
What makes this list different?
When you see a cigar ranked highly in our list and in our recommendation system, it’s a reflection of real preferences. Here’s what sets our rankings apart:
Objective and unbiased: our algorithm treats every cigar equally, regardless of brand relationship or other bias.
Flavor first: our rankings reflect what matters to our members – whether it’s flavor, price, format, or other specific preferences.
Transparent: we give you insights into why a cigar might (or might not) be a great match for you.
We’re not here to replace other lists – we’re here to help you derive more pleasure from the cigars you smoke.
Your cigar yourney, your choice
No list can predict everyone’s preferences. Our top rankings help you make more informed choices by showing how each cigar resonates with diverse cigar lovers, based on aggregate data.
Cigar Sense’s Top Cigar Rankings for 2024
Explore the links below to learn more about each cigar and what makes it stand out:
| Ranking | Cigar Name | % of our members to whom this cigar is recommended |
| 1 | Warfighter Night Shift Toro | 84% |
| 2 | L’Atelier Surrogates Closing Time | 82% |
| 3 | Villiger 1888 Nicaragua Churchill | 82% |
| 4 | EP Carrillo Essence Series Sumatra Robusto | 80% |
| 5 | Macanudo Emissary España Robusto | 77% |
| 6 | CAO FASA Sol Toro | 75% |
| 7 | Fonseca (USA) Edition MX Robusto | 74% |
| 8 | Rocky Patel Gold Label Robusto | 73% |
| 9 | Room 101 Hit & Run Redux Robusto | 72% |
| 10 | Luciano Underrated Corona Gorda | 69% |
Cigar Sense top rankings explained
These cigars are in the winner’s circle. The table shows the percentage of members who see these cigars among their top personalized matches. If a cigar aligns 80% or more with someone’s preferences, it’s considered a reliable recommendation.
The % doesn’t reflect any mainstream rating system. It shows how likely a cigar is to be enjoyed by other smokers. A higher % means it appeals to a broader audience. A lower % suggests the cigar is more of a niche pleasure.
According to our latest mid-of-2024 metrics, 98% of recommended cigars were a hit, proving the accuracy of our personalized approach.
The cigars listed above were released in 2024, and our evaluations are ongoing. As we continue testing 2024 releases, this list will be updated. Curious about how our sensory panel evaluates cigars? Learn more here.
Important note:
This list gives you a snapshot of the cigars we tested, which were released in 2024 and that are most compatible with our worldwide members. But remember, this list isn’t personalized to you. For example, David checked the top 3 cigars on this list and realized they didn’t align with his preferences at all – luckily, he double-checked before buying some of those!
The takeaway? To truly be delighted, see how each cigar matches your unique specific preferences. It’s simple: if you have a Cigar Sense profile, just click on the links and see your personalized fit instantly.
This list is continually updated as new cigars are tested – so stay tuned for the latest updates!
The featured image has been generated by AI for Cigar Sense Inc.
Dear Franca, I want to thank you for your invaluable insight. Using CigarSense has been an incredible tool in refining my knowledge about cigars—how they are “ranked,” their compatibility with my preferences, and most importantly, the accuracy of CigarSense’s recommendations.
Every time I visit a cigar shop, I enjoy going through the list of recommended cigars and sharing the information with the cigar specialist. They are always impressed with the selection.
Thank you once again for this amazing resource.
Rodrigo
Thank you so much, Rodrigo!
It’s feedback like yours that is incredibly rewarding and keeps us motivated to deliver the best possible service!