To celebrate the Chinese New Year Davidoff has once again added to its Zodiac Series. 2022 is the Zodiac year of the Tiger and this cigar uses a unique method of naturally treating the wrapper to give the appearance of the stripes on a tiger. I don’t know the process as well as Davidoff of course, but I’ve heard it involves pressing the stems of tobacco leaves onto the wrapper leaf, leaving the impressions you see on the photo above. The size is dominating in its ring gauge and powerful piramides shape. I’ve smoked most of the Chinese New Year releases and they’ve all smoked well which certainly helps justify their high price tags. Technically I smoked this cigar blind but of course there was never any question as to the identify of the cigar.
Blend Specifics
- Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Year of The Tiger 2020
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian/Connecticut
- Binder: Dominican
- Filler: Dominican
- Size: 52” x 5 ½ (Piramides)
Appearance & Construction
The wrapper on this cigar is meticulous and stunning to the eye. There are dark lines draped smoothly across it resembling almost a camouflage like appearance. To the touch it feels like silk and as I roll in my hand the cigar moves effortlessly. I give the smoke a squeeze and its packed full of tobacco. The foot smells of barnyard, earth, and white truffle. The construction alone is some of the best out there.
Taste & Smoking Characteristics
I take a short clip off the tip using my Xikar cutter. The dry draw gives off toast, cedar, and sandalwood. I take my Lamborghini lighter and as I torch the cigar, I take a puff which delivers full-bodied earth driven flavors with fresh tobacco rounding it out. The mouthfeel is dense and chewy with almond and cherries as I take another relaxed draw. With a retrohale there’s fresh roasted espresso coming through and the exhale is nutty with a long finish. The cigar is in the medium to full range at present.
The draw is excellent and at midway the nutty characteristics seem to dominate and linger long after the smoke wafts out of my mouth. I’m getting some sweetness directly from the tip of the wrapper and cinnamon with another puff that tingles the sides of my mouth. The burn line is razor sharp with a solid white/gray ash. I take a retrohale where I pick up mustard seed followed by leather and cedar. What began as a medium to full bodied smoke is now lying steadily in the medium range. As I take another draw toffee and cashew become a bold new take on the complexity of the smoke.
The cigar burns fast even though I’ve been taking it slow, however it has not been hot at any time. In the final third the smoke has progressed with notes of tea and honey. The sweetness combines with oak and leather which lingers on my palate. Taking a retrohale, vanilla and sweet tea tingle my sinus along with white pepper on the exhale. The burn remains excellent and the smoke billows in the air while I take a long draw that brings almond and toast on my tongue then surrounds the sides of my mouth. The finish is a bit short at present however the flavors remain intense upfront. With a final puff there’s earth, forest floor that ends with truffle and honey. A sweet and savory experience.
Conclusion
Along with its eye-catching appearance this cigar delivered a pleasurable medium bodied smoke throughout. What began with a full blast of dense earth and fresh tobacco, transitioned into leather, cherries almond and espresso. The finish lingered up until the last third where it ran a bit short. All the flavors such as the honeyed and tea notes yielded a complex profile. Finding out this was Davidoff’s Year of The Tiger I was not surprised by the excellent construction, draw, and burn line. Most of the Davidoff New Year cigars have been quite tasty and if you can find them and are willing to pay you will be in for a treat.