2025 Premium Cigar Review

It is customary to begin a new year by looking back on the previous. 2025 wasn't a bad year for premium cigar enthusiasts, but there have been better. In addition to tariffs and the associated price increases, there were many attempts to increase regulation of premium cigars. Before we look at the top rated/selling premium cigars from last year, we'd like to point out this article from Esquire. You may have seen in it a Cigar Rights of America Newsletter. If you aren't a member, you should be! CRA fights for us, and members get a 10% discount at Bailey's Cigar Room.

The focus of this post, though, is the CA Top 25 of 2025 list. We don't carry everything on the list, and in many cases don't carry the size mentioned by CA. We do carry five of the listed premium cigars, and probably will never carry a $75 Padron. What follows is the cigars from the CA list that you can find at Bailey's and some info on our latest raffle.

La Aroma de Cuba Robusto - A Connecticut Broadleaf Wrapper from the United States covers Nicaraguan Binder and Filler. This is the smaller version of the El Jefe, and smokes just as well (but doesn't last as long). There is also a Connecticut version!

Foundation Olmec Maduro - A Mexican San Andres Wrapper with Nicaraguan Binder and Fillers. We carry the Corona Gorda. It is a rich and complex premium cigar, medium-full bodied. It also comes in a Claro version, which is a shop favorite.

Oliva Serie V Melanio - Oliva's most full bodied series comes with an Ecuadoran Sumatran Wrapper. The Binder and Filler are Nicaraguan. CA prefered the Maduro, but we think you'll like the standard Melanio. It is one of Jaime's favorite premium cigars!

Drew Estate Liga Privada T52 - This was the only member of the Liga line to make CA's list. We carry the T52 and No. 9, as well as the newer H99. You can find all three in a Robusto or Toro. We also carry the No. 9 and T52 Coronets (cigarillos), and the H99 Papas Fritas.

La Flor Dominicana 30 Years Chisel - An Ecuadoran Sumatra Wrapper surrounds Dominican Binder and Filler. While more medium than full bodied, this is by no means a mild premium cigar. It is, though, rich and creamy, well balanced with a long finish. We got sixty of these beauties and the humidor they are shipped in (see photo). We are raffling off the humidor, but you have to buy two of these cigars to enter. That means you have, at worst, a 1/30 chance of winning!