Ultimately, the Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Dave’s 20th Anniversary delivers a lively and engaging first half followed by a more restrained but still enjoyable finish. It’s a cigar that rewards smokers who appreciate distinct bursts of flavor early on, grounded by earth and minerality throughout, and wrapped in Aganorsa’s characteristic bread-and-spice signature.
I don't have a lot of experience with Karen Berger cigars but after smoking this Karen Berger Ixtelli Toro, I can say this was a decent offering but it does leave some things on the table. It would have been great to keep upping the level from the first third, but unfortunately it fell flat for the remaining two thirds. Given this, I will pass.
Take a look at our 2025 Cigar of the Year list, which consists of new cigars released between November 2024 and October 2025.
The Angel Cuesta Shade Toro is a good cigar. The draw and burn were perfect from start to finish. It doesn’t have a lot of transitioning, but it has a lovely profile and nice bit of depth. It is on the lighter side of the spectrum, but the wrapper helps in gravitating the blend and the presentation. The honey, cedar, cream and tobacco were very good from start to finish, I just wish it had a little more as a cigar.
The Brick House Bricktoberfest 2025 had an average flavor profile throughout. There was a fair amount of transitioning, but the overall profile never was all that exciting even though the flavor list was complex. This is a big cigar that gives a long smoking time at a good price point, but it isn't something that has me eager to return to.
The Micallef Green Robusto feels like a cigar built on a strong opening statement that gradually transitions into a dependable, if quieter, performance. It doesn’t fall apart, and it never becomes unpleasant, but it also doesn’t fully capitalize on the promise established in its opening act. It’s a cigar I’d reach for when I want comforting sweetness and soft structure rather than drama or evolution. Pleasant, measured and ultimately dependable in a modest way.
The Drew Estate Nica Rustica Shade Toro has an enjoyable flavor profile from start to finish that has a nice level of complexity, and while there may not be a lot of transition and depth, the cigar is very affordable. This is a cigar I would come back to in the future, and it is a cigar I would recommend and hand out to many smokers. This is a nostalgic cigar in the sense that it reminds me of cigars I smoked not early on in my cigar smoking experience, but near the beginning. Affordable, good and share worthy.
The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Mi Querida Gorila Gordo had a nice start with a good combination of flavors. It took a step down in the second third as the supporting notes mellowed and maintained that level for the rest of the way. I've really enjoyed this blend in the past, but I think this vitola is the least enjoyable expression of the blend that I've tried. I'd probably go for the Gordito or Ancho Largo instead of coming back to this size.
In the end, the Alec Bradley Do Not Disturb Robusto settled into an “Average” performance overall, pleasant and balanced early on, but gradually overtaken by dryness that limited its depth and complexity.
The La Flor Dominicana Suave Natural Maceo delivered a profile that had complexity in the first third, but never fully broke past its own limitations. The early combination of sweet tobacco, baking spices and toasted wood created a classic start and I was hoping more depth would be revealed. By the end, the Suave Natural Maceo proved itself to be a cigar best appreciated for its simplicity and its early moments of harmony. It may not be a standout in the broader LFD catalog, but there may be value to the consumer in a more subdued blend.