A cigar award gives you a reason to look more closely. The next step is deciding whether the cigar belongs on your own short list. That takes a little more reading than the winner’s name: the exact version, the reasons behind the result, and the qualities you enjoy all deserve attention.
Our 2026 Cigar of the Year is the Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto. Its champion profile identifies the cigar and records its tournament performance. Use that information as the beginning of your research, then consider what you want from the experience.
Start with the exact cigar
A manufacturer’s name can cover many different blends and sizes. Even a familiar line name may leave an important detail unresolved. Read the complete cigar name, wrapper designation when provided, and size before assuming that a review describes the cigar in front of you.
If you are discussing the Padrón winner with a retailer, bring the full name rather than asking only for “the award-winning Padrón.” The same habit is useful for any ranked cigar. It gives the retailer a specific reference and helps you recognize when an offered alternative is a different product.
Read what earned the result
Look for explanations you can use. A comment about draw tells you something different from a description of flavor. A discussion of balance may explain why several characteristics worked well together. Ask what the review actually observed and whether those observations matter to your preferences.
Choose two or three qualities to follow through the article. Perhaps you care most about a dependable burn and a particular flavor character. Someone else may value gradual changes during the experience. Reading with a purpose makes a detailed review more useful than collecting scores without context.
Explore more than the champion
Our Official Field contains 32 selected cigars. The wider review project covers 103 cigars, including 71 in the unranked Evaluation Pool. Those distinctions matter: an Evaluation Pool listing is not a numbered championship finish.
A tournament result answers how a cigar performed in that competition. Your short list can also include a cigar whose description closely matches your taste, even if it did not win the title. Read its profile on its own terms and keep its actual result attached to its name.
Give the retailer something specific to work with
Bring one familiar cigar as a reference and explain what you liked about it. “I enjoyed its flavor but would prefer a smaller size” is more useful than “I want something good.” Mention your budget and ask whether the exact cigar you researched is available.
When the recommended alternative differs from the award entry, ask why it is a suitable match. Is the similarity in flavor, size, or overall character? That conversation can help you make a considered choice without treating two different cigars as interchangeable.
Keep your own judgment
Afterward, write a short note about what met your expectations and what surprised you. You do not need to repeat the reviewer’s vocabulary. A clear sentence about your experience will be easier to use on your next visit than a score you cannot explain.
For a structured way to record those observations, explore Test Your Palate on Ashologist.com. Award results and your own notes can work together: one directs your attention, while the other helps you decide what you would choose again.