Quesada 50th Anniversary Toro Prensado

Quesada

• Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
• Factory: Tabacos de Exportación
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Dominican Republic & Peru
• Length: 6 1/4 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 56
• Shape: Pressed
• MSRP: $17 (Box of 10, $170)
• Release Date: April 2024
• Number of Cigars Released: 2,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
• Original Score: 91

In 2017, the Quesada Reserva Privada Barber Pole Corona Gorda finished #1 on our Top 25. Since then, Quesada has not been part of our Top 25. Now, Quesada is back on the list and in a big way.

As is made quite clear, this cigar celebrates the 50th anniversary of Quesada, which the company celebrated in 2024. Under just about any other circumstances, the 50th anniversary would be the thing that I’d remember about a company’s year, but in the fall, Quesada announced that the company had made ownership changes. Manuel “Manolo” Quesada Jr.—who has long been the face of Quesada—and his family are now 100 percent in charge. It’s put to end some family drama that seems to have caused Quesada to sputter, especially here in the U.S. market. But as I wrote in the Ten Questions editorial—I left 2024 wondering if Quesada could get back to its glory days.

But I start 2025 by remembering that Quesada introduced at least one great blend in 2024. It was offered in two vitolas: the one featured here and a very limited perfecto vitola.

As it so often is when looking at the data that separates our #1 and #2—the margins were small. In order to end up at the top of the list, a cigar needs to score very well in every single category with more or less no room for mistakes. The Quesada 50th Anniversary Toro Prensado did that with excellent flavor and construction scores from each reviewer. And yet, I’m still unsure what this cigar’s singular best trait was.

Patrick Lagreid’s review noted a creaminess and nuttiness that added campfire and toasty notes as the cigar developed. Brian Burt found hints of plum and cayenne in the rich profile, perhaps one of those two things is related to the Peruvian filler. Brooks Whittington said that the construction was “absolutely phenomenal,” and I noted that the worst moments of the cigar were still “very good.”

“While I certainly like where the blend is now, I am really inclined to think that it will get even better in the near-term future as the tobacco continues to mellow, the blend continues to mesh together, and the complexity continues to evolve,” is how Patrick concluded his review. Given where it finished on the Top 25, it’s difficult to think there’s much room for improvement, it’s already that great. — Charlie Minato.