Cigar Reviews

Blind Cigar Review: Davidoff Year of the Rabbit Limited Edition 2023

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The eleventh edition of Davidoff’s tribute to the signs of the Chinese Zodiac is the Year of the rabbit. It’s a large double perfecto with an Ecuadorian wrapper Mexican binder with Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers respectively. I’ve been able to smoke all the editions thus far and they have all be well received in their size and tasting profile. Having to smoke this blind, I was excited to smoke what looks like a well-made cigar with its pigtail cap. 

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed:  Davidoff Year of the Rabbit Limited Edition 2023
  • Wrapper: Ecuador
  • Binder: Mexican San Andres
  • Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan 
  • Size: 5” 15/16 x 54 (double perfecto)

Appearance and Construction

This perfecto sports a squat pigtail cap with a few noticeable veins across the wrapper. It’s a bit dry as I run my figures across, and to the touch its firm with sufficient tobacco inside. Rolling in my palm I see how well-crafted the cigar is. The small opening to the foot gives off faint barnyard and wood notes. 

Taste and Smoking Characteristics 

I clip just enough to remove the pigtail cap which allows me to get a nice draw. As I take an unlit puff there’s leather and prune coming through. Using a long match I take flame to the tapered foot and I’m greeted with a salty and gritty start. The perfecto begins to develop leather and pepper with roasted nuts on the end. As the foot opens wider the smoke builds and with a retrohale I get honey and leather that clings to the sides of my mouth as I exhale. The pepper takes on a stronger role although does not overwhelm. The smoke is billowing now and the cigar is in the medium bodied range. 

About midway the leather dominates and the finish becomes metallic. I get wood and roasted nuts with its progression and an unfortunate tinny impression. The retrohale gives coffee and nuts with a dry dusty finish. The grit returns from the wrapper as I take a slow draw with cocoa and a creamy finish that develops which is quite pleasant. The ash is grayish and long marking the quality of the roller. There’s some dried red fruits appearing while the metallic finish returns. The body of the smoke does not sway from its medium style despite the pepper and increased smoke production I get with another draw. 

The final third gives more honeyed sweetness with toasted oak and dryness on the palate. Another puff delivers more fruit with leather and a short finish. Taking a retrohale the pepper returns along with cedar, almond and another metallic taste as the smoke wafts through. The ash continues to be solid and light gray with an ever present dead even burn. There’s some nice complexity to the cigar although not as pronounced as I’d like. Smoke production is consistently high with a noticeable aroma of oak and notes of cream and leather once again. Taking a final draw the wood profile and leather are in the forefront with a pleasant long finish. 

Conclusion

Seeing this was a Davidoff cigar I was not surprised by its construction nor the way it burned and handled itself. The profile was spot on the medium style. I enjoyed the leather, nuts and dried fruits the cigar produced as well as its complexity as the cigar moved on. The metallic taste I got hurt the overall balance of the smoke and really off put my palate. I wish the flavors were a bit more intense and the finishes a bit longer. I would revisit this cigar in a few months as I’d like to see how it rounds out. As I said I’ve enjoyed the Davidoff Zodiac cigars and if you’ve smoke them already I would continue to check them out.

Final Score: 89

Blind Review: Zino Nicaragua Robusto

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The Zino Nicaragua Robusto is produced in Honduras at Davidoff’s Diadema Cigars de Honduras S.A., the same factory that is best known for making Camacho cigars. The Zino brand is under the Davidoff cigar umbrella with the Zino Nicaragua Robusto being a “brand-revamping” of sorts. Over the last decade, Davidoff has issued makeovers for their Camacho, Avo, Cusano, and Winston Churchill brands, etc… The Zino brand has always been associated with a premium cigar reputation and price-point. The Zino Nicaragua Robusto would be marketed more as a value smoke sold not only through tobacconists, but convenience stores as well.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Zino Nicaragua Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut)
  • Binder: Nicaragua (Semilla 56 Seco)
  • Filler: Dominican Republic (San Vicente and San Vicente Mejorado Secos), Honduras (Olancho and Jamastran Visus) & Nicaragua (Ometepe Visus)
  • Size: 5×54

Blind Review Notes: Zino Nicaragua

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a spongy Connecticut wrapped Robusto with a triple cap.  It has a very lightweight feel in hand. The wrapper leaf is very striated but there is still this high quality silkiness and sheen to it.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cigar wrapper smells like hay bales and the foot is heavy on the cedar. The cold draw has some resistance with more heavy cedar on the breath. Some dankness there as well.

The cigar toasts and lights effortlessly.

First puff is all cedar and leather. White pepper and some sweetness growing on the finish as the smoke progresses.  Even burn line.  Great smoke production.  Good heat maintenance. Chocolate and leather aroma. The retro hale is the same, just with some added pepper. Ash build up is flaky and delicate.  A lot of tangy sweet notes dominating a good bodied smoke.

Takes awhile to reach the second third.  The cigar is a slow burner.  Flavors remain singular.  The smoke has some great body to it and is the perfect after breakfast smoke so far.  Lots of leather and sweetness.  Fantastic construction. It’s a sweet and spicy retrohale and aroma throughout. I’m really enjoying it.

Last third has a spicy toast that coats the palate.  Still lots of leather. My favorite.  Some hazelnut and coffee notes as expected. Heat trouble going into the nub as expected from lighter tobacco leaves.  I still keep returning though as the cigar proves to be a great start to my morning.

Conclusion

In conclusion the Zino Nicaragua Robusto was a great smoke to start my day with.  I’m not a mild cigar smoker, but the Zino Nicaragua Robusto made up for that by providing a thick body which carried great flavors.  The construction was also decent and I would have no problem recommending this cigar to any smoker at any level. Enjoy!

Final Score: 85

Blind Review: Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I

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The Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I is made by Plasencia Cigars at Plasencia’s factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I is an extension to Plasencia’s regular Alma Fuerte line, changing the original’s wrapper to a lighter leaf that has been aged for 10 years.  The toro vitola we are reviewing today is named for Eduardo Plasencia, who was one of the first family members to grow tobacco after leaving the Canary Islands for Cuba in 1865. This new extension blend is also offered in Plasencias’ trademark hexagon vitola as well.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I
  • Wrapper: Nicaragua (Jalapa Colorado Claro)
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: 6 1/4 x 54

Blind Review Notes: Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a triple capped box press toro. The cigar is graced with a light chocolate wrapper that resembles a cracked sidewalk.  The body and foot of the cigar smell of sweet cedar.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cold draw is loose with alot of cedar on the breath.

First puff is very light and sweet, with the slightest spice on the backend.  Ideal smoke production! Retrohale is hot and spicy. Flavors progress to leather, sweet cream,  and more spice then at first.  Theres also a flavor that reminds me of NYC tap water with ice. Perfumey retrohale with a salty mouthfeel.  Then a marshmellow retrohale, with fruity notes.  Lots of mini-transitions, as you can see.

By the second third, I realize the cigar reminds me a lot of vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone.  So good I have to slow my pace down. The cigar is burning too hot! Billowing smoke production.  Ash build-up looks like a stack of coins. Lots of lingering sweetness and cedar.  Hot leather retro with a continued vanilla nuance.

Last third needs a touch up.  The cigar is burning a little wonky.  What a shame! The cigar needs more then one touch up.  The flavor profile stays sweet with the spice picking back up.  Leather, cedar, vanilla, pepper. Tingling baking spices on the tongue. A sea of nuanced flavors, but I am dissapointed in the construction issues that keep distracting me. The retrohale is toasty hazelnut.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I, was a light strenght/medium body cigar with layers of different flavors.  If not for the combustion issues on the last third, this cigar would have easily achieved a 90+ score.  Unlike the maduro version of this cigar, which was released before the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I, it has a lingering sweetness.  I find this same flavor to be present on the Plasencia Alma del Campo cigar.  I still prefer the maduro version of this stick, regardless of the situation. Plasencia in my mind is the undistibuted champ of tobacco farming and his aging and fermentation process take his cigars to the next level, seperating them from the rest of the market place.  All that said, give the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I a try, and let us know what you think.

Final Score: 86

Blind Review: Camacho Factory Unleashed 3

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Camacho Cigars was founded in 1962 by Simon Camacho. In 1995 it was aquired by the Eiroa family. In 2008, Camacho and its Rancho Jamastran factory in Danlí, Honduras were sold to the Oettinger Davidoff Group, and that is how we arrive today at the present manufacturers of this Camacho Factory Unleashed 3. The Camacho Factory Unleashed 3 is once-a-year release and the third of its kind, hence, the number “3” on the band. They are annually released in one size format only and of course in a limited quantity.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Camacho Factory Unleashed 3
  • Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas
  • Binder: Honduras
  • Filler: Dominican/Honduran
  • Size: 6×50

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a double capped toro with a rustic-toothy wrapper and a light weight feel. The cigar has a shaggy foot and is packed on the looser side. The body smells of hay and incnece. The foot smells of chocolate and cedar.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cold draw is snug with leather, spice, and salt on the breath. First puff is popcorn, salt, and leather. The retrohale is the same just toasty and spicy. The cigar progresses to a chocolate spice cake, however, the snug draw calls for a double puff on every draw. Smoking on a soppy humid day also doesnt help the experience.

Second third is more of a camp fire/ mesquite profile but still very spicy and sweet. The retrohale is hot. The draw is still struggling. Humidity is killing me.

Last third is coffee taken light with one sugar. Retrohale is a spicy campfire profile. There is also a distinct Nilla Wafer nuance throughout the whole experience. The finish is bitter-sweet. Damp atmosphere did this smoke no help.

Conclusion

In conclusion the Camacho Factory Unleashed 3 is just as good a last years release. Its also probably my favorite cigar of theirs to-date. However, I would just recommend you smoke the Camacho Factory Unleashed 3 on a drier day. Before this blind review I had smoked a lot of Camacho Factory Unleashed 3’s. Its a great cigar for the price and complexity it delivers. I haven’t had any construction issues with it until now. Im going to simply blame the heat wave for the lower score.

Final Score: 86

Blind Cigar Review: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Black Sakakhan

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In late 2022, Steve Saka well known cigar maker and blender released the Mi Querida Black SakaKhan from his Dunbarton and Tobacco & Trust company. This is a large imposing dark Churchill with a pigtail cap. The name Sakakhan is said by Steve himself to be a nickname of his. Smoking this blind, I set aside a healthy amount of time to sit and experience this cigar. Read on.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed:  Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Mi Querida Black SakaKhan
  • Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
  • Binder: Mexican San Andres’
  • Filler: Dominican, Honduran, Nicaraguan 
  • Size: 7” ¼ x 54 (Churchill)

Blind Review Notes: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Mi Querida Black SakaKhan

Appearance & Construction 

This is one large dark maduro cigar with a tight pigtail cap. It’s rather veiny and firm to the touch. As I roll the cigar in my palm, I can see how well crafted the smoke is. The foot smells of cocoa, biscuit, and hay. 

Taste & Smoke Characteristics

With my Xikar I make a straight cut just below the pigtail which leaves a clean impression. The dry draw is airy and dusty with little flavor coming from it. Using a single flame, I take a I light and there’s leather and a grittiness to start. Notes of vanilla bean and brioche come forward as the cigar develops. Thus far the smoke is in the medium bodied range with a wavy whitish gray ash. With a retrohale I pick up coffee and earth with a sharpness on the finish.

The second half picks up with pepper on my lips and hitting the back of my throat. There’s more vanilla sweetness mixed with tea and wood with a short finish. Plenty of smoke is produced while taking a slow cool draw off this large Churchill.  I take another retrohale which delivers roasted nuts and oolong tea. There’s a bit more fullness in the body however I still feel it’s on the latter end of medium. The wavy burn line has corrected itself and is looking sharp. 

Reaching the final third there’s a transition in flavor with more earth notes followed by dry cedar. The drying sensation intensifies as I puff away bringing strong leather, wood along with black pepper. I’m finding the retrohale delivers the most strength from this cigar as I pick up spices and forest floor which lingers on my palate. This is one of the longer finishes of this smoke. As I take a final draw there’s a pleasant sweetness that rounds out this Churchill. 

Conclusion

For such a large cigar I was pleased that it was not too strong as to saturate my palate by the end of it. The leather, vanilla and wood notes were pleasing if not just a bit short on the finish. The middle of the smoke offered tea and roasted nuts that added to its complexity. Towards the end the cigar became drying on the sides of my mouth however the sweet finish redeem itself. I’ve enjoyed a few of Steve Saka’s blends and if you enjoy a long smoke and dedicate your time, SakaKhan is worth your time. 

Final Rating: 89

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