Connoisseur’s Corner: H. Upmann Dunhill Selección Suprema No. 222 (circa 1963)
Pudgy, pressed and absolutely gorgeous, one look at this 55-ring-gauge cigar and you know why it’s better known as the Flying Pig. This Cuban perfecto was fat for its time and has retained considerable power over the decades. It’s quite minty at first, with lots of dark, chewy wood. Later, it takes on some gingerbread notes, but also has some herbal qualities and considerable minerality, with some black pepper power. Such a fun piece of history to smoke. —David Savona
For an 18-year-old cigar, this Miami-made figurado is still a powerhouse. It’s big and earthy, with notes of leather, cocoa and a balanced, woody spice on the finish. The “RC” stands for “Retro Cuban” as this cigar is half wrapped in foil like old Havanas. The cigar is daunting at 9 1/8 inches long, but smokes like a smaller cigar with a perfect draw and burn. —Gordon Mott
Made to celebrate 30 years of the Don Carlos brand, the anniversary edition is a Don Carlos blend with a Dominican OpusX wrapper. Bursting with spice on first puffs, this cigar makes a powerful, dramatic entrance, but it calms to show a complex smoke of gingerbread, nutmeg, dates and dried fig. —Gregory Mottola
This well-aged Dominican cigar comes from a discontinued brand that consisted only of figurados, but this size has always been the darling of the line and appeared in our Top 25 list twice. It’s creamy and nutty, with a splendid mix of baking spices and a persistent nutty flavor. Elegant, toasty, rich and rewarding. —David Savona
