No. 1 spot goes to Padrón, which was named by 48 percent of retailers as the brand they sell the most of by volume. One of the industry’s quintessential Nicaraguan cigars, Padróns consist of tobaccos grown out in the open sun, which results in thicker, stronger leaves. But there’s something for everyone in the Padrón portfolio. The Dámaso line is on the milder side; the core line is a bargain; and brands like the 1964 Anniversary Series and Family Reserve are made with some of the company’s oldest tobaccos.
Fuente took a close second at 44.4 percent. Two cigars tied for the No. 3 spot: Davidoff and Oliva, with 22 percent of retailers naming these as their best-selling brands. My Father ranked fifth. Perdomo ranked sixth; Ashton and La Flor Dominicana tied for No. 8, leaving Romeo y Julieta in the tenth spot.
Although the rankings for the best-selling cigars and hottest cigars differ, you’ll notice that they largely include the same players, and this is not surprising.