Davidoff Small Batch No. 7 Review
It’s December, and that means we’re wrapping up our reviews of new cigars released in 2019. Of course, we can’t get to all of them, partially due to time, and partially due to the spotty availability of many cigars released each year. So we have to be choosy, and that often means prioritizing blends from companies like Davidoff.
So today we’re reviewing the Davidoff Small Batch No. 7, just one blend in the new “Small Batch” line from the company that features nine new blends made with small batches of rare tobaccos. And they’re priced that way too, with the range running from $32 to $38 before taxes.
Blend Specifics
- Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Small Batch No 7
- Wrapper: Ecuador
- Binder: Dominican Republic
- Filler: Dominican Republic
- Size: 6 x 55 Toro
Appearance & Construction
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
Once lit, the Davidoff Small Batch No 7 delivers an unmistakably Davidoff profile. Light on entry and gentle on the tongue, there are notes of dusty wood, fresh bread, grass, slightly bitter oak, and a very light, creamy cocoa that rounds the oak and grass out. Overall, it’s a profile balanced between bitter, sweet, and spicy (in that order). The retrohale is up next for evaluation, and its a mix of black/white pepper and paper. The strength and body of the smoke sit just above mild, though I sense (and hope) there might be more strength up ahead. Construction wise, the cigar is effortless to smoke, delivering copious amounts of cool smoke.
By the end of the first third, the Davidoff Small Batch No 7 is the first cigar I’d label an oak bomb. Very light on the palate, non aggressive, but very woody and round. There’s even a slight caramel note that creeps in on a few puffs which is quite nice. That said, I’m hoping for some more complexity as the smoke continues (it is nearly $40 after all).
It isn’t until halfway that my hopes are answered, but they are. The balance of flavors finally begins to shift, with sweetness replacing bitterness as the dominant flavor category and the smoke creeping past mild. Up first is oak, followed by creamy coffee and powdered sugar, with a nutty spiciness hitting last. The change is evident in the retrohale as well, with sugared toast and black pepper. Construction remains flawless, with the ash hanging on for well over two inches.
In the final third, the Davidoff Small Batch No 7 continues building in strength all the way up to medium. And the flavors are delicious, with a slightly sweeter oak followed by toasty black pepper, charcoal, sweet grass, and a light vanilla.
Conclusion
As much as I enjoyed the first half of the Davidoff Small Batch No 7, the second half stole the show. Not only did it dish out some much needed strength (the lack thereof in the first third is my only critique), but the transition from a mostly bitter profile to more sweetness was masterful, especially given that the cigar never fell out of balance.
Throughout the smoke, flavors range from bitter and sweet oak to coffee, powdered sugar, black pepper and spices. They’re flavors you can get with other cigars, but it’s the way they are woven together that make the flavor profile overall something special.