November/December 2022
In this issue

30 Years Of Cigar Aficionado • November/December 2022

In this special issue of Cigar Aficionado, we celebrate this magazine's 30th anniversary and highlight those who have made it all possible. This issue includes an exclusive interview between the founder, publisher and editor of Cigar Aficionado magazine, Marvin R. Shanken and executive editor David Savona, in a Q&A that covers the untold origin story of this magazine and more. We also look into some of the biggest Cigar Aficionado super fans over the years, our most notable interviews, the highest scoring cigars we've rated and take a look at some of our most popular covers. Plus, we introduce our new class of inductees for the Cigar Aficionado Hall of Fame, as well as a remarkable story of cigars and the unlikely, but pivotal, role they played in the Civil War. We also share 72 expert cigar reviews, the favorite cigar of a few notable celebrities and so much more in this special anniversary package. 

Features

High Hopes For Jai Alai

High Hopes For Jai Alai

The song is blaring, loudly, through the speakers at Miami’s Magic City Casino during an intermission between jai alai games on a Friday night. “Do you remember ... the 21st night …

Golf's Biggest Fight

Golf's Biggest Fight

Whoever thought that the greatest battles the golf world has ever seen wouldn’t be on the golf course? The Ryder Cup’s War by the Shore in 1991, which spurred similar friendly …

The Sherry Factor

The Sherry Factor

The mention of Sherry may conjure images of little old ladies surrounded by dollies sipping from dainty glasses. Or more sinisterly, the fortified wine used to lure Fortunato to …

Hunter's Prey

Hunter's Prey

His advice is simple: “make peace with the chair”—the chair your butt fits in every day. Stephen Hunter has used his ethic of dogged persistence to great success—both as the …

Cigars And The Turning Of The Civil War

Cigars And The Turning Of The Civil War

Union Gen. George McClellan could barely contain himself in a telegram sent to President Lincoln. It was September 13, 1862, and the president had wired the day prior, concerned …

Cigars

The Magazine That Almost Didn’t Happen

The Magazine That Almost Didn’t Happen

The untold story of Marvin R. Shanken’s original cigar plan, and how it would have kept him from founding Cigar Aficionado 30 years ago.

Remembering The Interviews

Remembering The Interviews

Marvin R. Shanken has interviewed a host of fascinating people from all walks of life throughout the magazine’s 30-year history, here are all of his interviews that have become …

The Year Was 1992

The Year Was 1992

The world was quite a different place when Cigar Aficionado magazine was launched 30 years ago, here’s a look back at key events that took place in 1992. 

The Cigar Aficionado Super Fans

The Cigar Aficionado Super Fans

The Cigar Aficionado Super Fan Contest produced such great responses that Marvin R. Shanken decided just one winner wasn't enough. Take a look.

The Very Best

The Very Best

Thirty cigars, all of them classics, the very best from 30 years of reviews.

Cigar Prices, Then And Now

Cigar Prices, Then And Now

Looking back at 30 years of cigar pricing, and the days of quality $2 cigars.

10 Covers To Celebrate

10 Covers To Celebrate

We've had an amazing arrary of covers during our 30-year history. Here are 10 of our favorites.

Cigar Aficionado Hall Of Fame Class Of 2022

Cigar Aficionado Hall Of Fame Class Of 2022

We welcome five new inductees to the Cigar Aficionado Hall of Fame, honoring the people who have truly made their mark on the world of fine cigars.

My Favorite Cigar

My Favorite Cigar

The legendary middle linebacker shares his go-to smoke. 

Connoisseur’s Corner: Davidoff Dom Perignon (circa 1988)

Connoisseur’s Corner: Davidoff Dom Perignon (circa 1988)

This discontinued Cuban Dom Perignon performed remarkably well decades after it was first released. 

Ratings from this Issue

95
points

E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic

Issue Date: December 1, 2022
E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic
94
points

Davidoff Nicaragua Diadema

Issue Date: December 1, 2022
Davidoff Nicaragua Diadema
93
points
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Churchill
93
points

Cohiba 55 Aniversario Edición Limitada 2021

Issue Date: December 1, 2022
Cohiba 55 Aniversario Edición Limitada 2021

Up Front

The Untold Story Of Cigar Aficionado

The Untold Story Of Cigar Aficionado

David Savona, the executive editor of Cigar Aficionado and a member of the editorial team for the past 27 years, badgered me to give him an interview to help  celebrate the …

The Good Life

Harris Tweed Cigar Cases

Harris Tweed Cigar Cases

It’s been around for years as a uniform for outdoorsmen and scholars. Now, Scotland’s most prized tweed fabric has made its way to the cigar world, covering a series of handsome …

Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari

Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari

When Richard Mille kicked off its Ferrari partnership last summer, it took the checkered flag for ultrathin watches with the RM UP-01 Ferrari, clocking in at a record-breaking …

Espresso Martini

Espresso Martini

Since a certain spy first requested his Martinis with vodka, in place of gin, the name of that classic cocktail has been erroneously applied to just about anything served neat in …

Leather Weekend Bag

Leather Weekend Bag

In the 1970s, luggage maker American Tourister ran a TV commercial in which a gorilla savagely beats up on one of the company’s hard-sided suitcases to show its durability. Such a …

Nantucket Bay Scallops

Nantucket Bay Scallops

“We call them the candy of the sea,” Peter Ramsden, the head fishmonger of Foley Fish Co., says about Nantucket bay scallops. The fourth-generation leader of the New Bedford, …

Home Golf Simulators

Home Golf Simulators

Imagine hosting your foursome at a get-together in your garage or man cave on a winter’s night and teeing up for a round of golf at Pebble Beach or St Andrews while sipping whisky …

Backgammon

Backgammon

Among the excellent ways to pass time during a blizzard— or just inclement weather—is the unpredictable, ages-old game of backgammon. It also affords the luxury of a smoke. Just …