No. 4 Limited Edition Cigar of the Year 2018 - The Gent

In 2018, Cornelius & Anthony Premium Cigars broke form, introducing a pair of limited edition cigars for the first time at the 2018 IPCPR trade show. These cigars were only made available to retailers that attended the convention, offered on a first come, first served basis. The cigars would then ship to these retailers in the second half of the year.

The Gent and The Mistress, as they are known, showcase dramatically different profiles, with the former using a box-pressed format and being geared towards offering “legendary refinement,” while the latter introduces C&A’s most powerful smoking experience to date. But it was The Gent that captured our attention best, using an Ecuadorian Rosado wrapper over a diverse interior, including a U.S.-grown binder and fillers of Nicaragua and Honduras. This blend will feel quite familiar for fans of Erik Espinosa’s boutique-style La Zona factory (where the cigars are produced), only capturing a more refined quality—coming off like an Espinosa Habano wearing a tuxedo. Flavors are are classic and refined, showing aromatic cabinet spices, bright cedar, a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and loads of freshly ground coffee. Altogether, The Gent lives up to its name, combining the best elements of the brand’s previous releases and dressing them up with added complexity. Enthusiasts should expect a medium to medium-plus body, providing a familiar La Zona profile with a few unexpected twists.