Cigar Aficionado

Fifty cigar smokers gathered at the International Cigar Factory Outlet in South Norwalk, Connecticut, last evening to sample a selection of the Top 25 cigars of 2005 from Cigar Aficionado magazine.

The smokers, all members of Club Perfecto, the shop's cigar club, received a bag containing six of the top-rated cigars: an Oliva Classic Olé (the No. 9 cigar on the list), La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel (No. 7), Aurora Preferidos Connecticut No. 1 (No. 6), Tatuaje Cabinet Taino (No. 4), Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Exclusivo (No. 3) and the Cigar of the Year in 2005, a Fuente Fuente OpusX Double Corona.

Cigar Aficionado magazine senior editor David Savona, the evening's guest speaker, described the cigars, explained what made each of them special, and took questions from the audience.

A Web version of the Top 25 will be on www.cigaraficionado.com later this week.