Blind Review: Davidoff Special 53 Capa Dominicana (2020)

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In 2002 Davidoff released a limited edition cigar with a 53 ring gauge using aged tobaccos and in a perfecto format.  What made this cigar unique was the utilization of a Dominican wrapper. Davidoff has now rereleased the vitola in another limited run with 10 year aged tobacco and another Dominican wrapper. I was able to smoke the original version back then and this made for an interesting comparison. Smoking blind I could only see the cigar itself was very well made and I was looking forward to checking out what it had to offer.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Special 53 Capa Dominicana
  • Wrapper: Dominican Republic
  • Binder: Dominican Republic
  • Filler: Dominican Republic
  • Size:6 1/8 Perfecto
  • Price: $32

Appearance and Construction

The Davidoff Special 53 Capa Dominicana is draped in a semi-dark, slightly slightly veiny wrapper with a pointed foot. The cigar is extremely well rolled and is packed full of tobacco. The foot smells of cocoa and strong cedar and the roll is solid which attests to the craftsmanship of the cigar.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

After a straight cut, I take a dry draw from the Davidoff Special 53. It’s airy and gives off impressions of raisin and wood notes. I light the cigar with a strip of cedar and the first few puffs are drying rather than leathery with some saltiness. I encounter some chary characteristics that become immediately bitter on the finish. As the cigar progresses a bit, there’s an emerging pencil lead followed by earth and cedar. The Davidoff Special 53 is medium bodied at this point with less than pronounced flavors.

At midway, what began as paper turns into oak and sweet cedar delivering a short bitter finish. The burn line is sharp and the ash somewhat flaky at its peak. Sweet and salty dominate the cigar with crema on the sides of the mouthfeel, albeit in short supply when it reaches the back of the tongue. As the Davidoff Special 53 progresses, it gives off a pencil lead note and a charry smell in its smoke production. I am drawing the cigar at a fine pace, but burns a bit hotter than I want. Despite this the medium body smoke remains the same and a bit of spice resonates on the retrohale.

Toward the final third of the Davidoff Special 53, sharp oak–almost like a bourbon–hits my throat in a surprising fashion. The flavor smooths out to become less woody and adds a bit of cinnamon spice. All the while there is the same underlying bitterness that makes the cigar unpleasant. 

Happily the bitterness is later rounded out with a slight sweetness that tames the smoke. With the medium bodied profile continuing on, the interplay between paper and airiness creates a milder body that is lacking in depth. As I take the last few puffs of the Davidoff Special 53, cedar and bit of crema emerge, but with a short finish.

Conclusion

Not knowing what I was smoking, I wasn’t surprised when I later found out it was Davidoff. The construction, tobacco and roll was spot on. I was disappointed overall though. I’ve smoked the original Davidoff Special 53 and I recall it being a medium bodied, nuanced smoke with a tasty wrapper. While this cigar fell into the medium bodied range the flavors were either papery, arid or bitter. Even when salty, sweet and wood notes emerged they were short on the finish. The bitterness that came through especially midway hurt the smoking experience as well. Davidoff produces some excellent quality cigars and quite enjoyable blends. However for the price point I would look to other lines in their portfolio.

Final Rating: 87

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Perfect Pairings III – Spirits Editor Review

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“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!”
William Shakespeare – Henry V, Act III, Scene 1.

Again, we lucky few get to explore the sensory overload of cigar and spirit. This time it’s rum and two graceful Nat Sherman cigars. 
Per my process, I first taste the samples on their own, then again with each of our smokes. The surprise this time was how the smoke/sip sequence made so much of a difference. Read on for the adventure! (All photos courtesy Ron Diplomatico)

Ron Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva – 40% ABV

Color: A deep maroon red shade that shouts out: “Let’s get ready to Rum – ble!!!” (Heh Heh!!)

Nose: At first, the scent is quite phenolic despite its low ABV. Then it gives way to spices, honey and molasses. Classic rum scents. So let the first whiff from your glass blow off. Then you’re ready to start the journey.

Palate: Sweet, WOW! Power in a goblet! Yet this is as smooth as any whisky with a full mouthfeel. The flavor is consistent through the mid-palate and finishes with a smooth texture, almost port like. This is how aged rum tastes in its purest form. If you never had that experience, here’s your starting point. But it can be more than a drink. I thought Pour this over vanilla ice cream or as a topping on your standard Piña Colada.

Summary: If you seek strength with no distractions or deviations from the flavor, this is your signature bottle.

Aroma & Flavor
Appeals To:		Optimal Client
Type:		Great For:
Subtlety AficionadoApprenticeCocktails
Power Flavor AdmirerEnthusiastNeat Before Dinner
Balanced DevoteeAdventurerWith Food
Uni-Directional FanMountain ClimberDessert or Afterwards
Chameleon LoverHedonistWith a Cigar (Strong)

With Our Evening’s Cigars

Nat Sherman Epoca – What a cigar! The cold draw was easy with coffee tastes throughout. Lighting up was simple, and the intake held the same gentility. I kept saying great cigar. But then the Exclusiva overpowered the Epoca’s grace. When you sample each, smoke first, then drink. You’ll get both quick sensations before the rum raises its flag forever. I would prefer a stronger cigar to stand up to the sugar cane. There are some spirits that demand a stick of power. This is one of them.

Nat Sherman Timeless – Another star. Kudos to Fearless Leader Matthias for this choice. The cold draw was spicy pepper with a bit more vigor than the Epoca. Lighting up brought forth tobacco and Latin espresso flavors galore, but it’s not too forceful. Quite refined. The lit draw required a pull early on, but then settled into its rhythm. Moving on to the Especial, the rum’s intense sweetness requires that the smoke go first on the palate, otherwise you might lose the benefit of the cigar’s flavor.

Summary, if you like and crave distinct taste sensations, this works well. Otherwise, seek one of the five cigars that will certify you as a badass! Then pair it with the Exclusiva! That’s a UFC cage match Smackdown! https://www.smallbatchcigar.com/5-strong-cigars-that-will-certify-you-as-a-badass

Ron Diplomatico Vintage 2005 – 43% ABV

Color: The same lovely dark red color of the Exclusiva but with a shade of mahogany. Beautiful!

Nose: Oh my, the sense of Oloroso sherry mixed with American white oak. Beware; it might lure you into not drinking! This is as complex a nose as rum can be. I’m ready for the deep-dive.

Palate: Now there’s a surprise. This is lighter and more nuanced that I suspected. Such a great stability as coffee, delicate pepper, chocolate and vanilla flavors combine for a wonderful pre-dinner drink. It’s a great mood and table setter for whatever food follows. This is your second stop on the rum journey. You already know the genre’s signature sweetness. Now you’re ready for a novel experience.

Summary: Sophisticated Enthusiasts will enjoy this balanced offering. It’s not your father’s rum! Make it your own!

Aroma & Flavor
Appeals To:		Optimal Client
Type:		Great For:
Subtlety AficionadoApprenticeCocktails
Power Flavor AdmirerEnthusiastNeat Before Dinner
Balanced DevoteeAdventurerWith Food
Uni-Directional FanMountain ClimberDessert or Afterwards
Chameleon LoverHedonistWith a Cigar

With Our Evening’s Cigars

Nat Sherman Epoca – A delightful encounter. The cigar tamped down the sugar quality and brought out the woodiness of the rum with just a hint of pepper. There were distinct flavors here. But it wasn’t a struggle for survival. Rather, depending on the sequence of smoke and dram, one taste politely ceded its place to the other, then returned at the finish to remind you where you started.  

Nat Sherman Timeless – Well now, remember that slight pepper tinge of the 2005 I mentioned? This cigar brings out every fragment and adds its own to the mix. Ahhh… there’s the sweet alcohol. Try the rum first, then the cigar. You’ll discover an increasing lushness in both. It turns the Timeless into a nice contemplative smoke with a myriad of sensations to occupy your mind. Terrific.

Ron Diplomatico Ambassador – 47% ABV

Color: Deep, rich cherry red. You know you’re going to sample luxury!

Nose: Ooohh, nice and smooth with swirling butterscotch, molasses and honey. It’s enthralling.

Palate: Sophisticated, as you’d expect. Maturation in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks will evoke deep notes of tobacco laden warm spices. Then the delicate sweetness of cinnamon ice cream rises, only to give way to some heat. After all, it is 94 proof. But don’t worry. The fire fades, leaving burnt caramel in its wake. 

Summary: This is a balanced jewel with high ratings from many critics. The Enthusiast / Adventurer will enjoy a superb after dinner dessert in their glass or with a light cigar.

Aroma & Flavor
Appeals To:		Optimal Client
Type:		Great For:
Subtlety AficionadoApprenticeCocktails
Power Flavor AdmirerEnthusiastNeat Before Dinner
Balanced DevoteeAdventurerWith Food
Uni-Directional FanMountain ClimberDessert or Afterwards
Chameleon LoverHedonistWith a Cigar (Light)

With Our Evening’s Cigars

Nat Sherman Epoca – Like the 2005, the Epoca brings out the wood cask of the rum. But this time it’s the super sweet staves of the PX.  It’s an erudite combination with the same genteel yielding of the cigar and spirit. Try them in any order. While it’s not a true combination, you’ll enter parallel universes emerging on the other side all smiles each time.

Nat Sherman Timeless – Hmmm. Not what I expected. I thought the experience would mirror the Epoca, albeit with a stronger flavor. Not true. There’s a bit of a battle going on here. But in the end, you’ll benefit from the distinct nature of each flavor profile. Just remember to double down on whichever you want to remember most. If it’s the smoke, two puffs, then the drink. If the rum, two sips sandwich the cigar. Either way, you’re bound to remember the evening.

Blind Review: Davidoff Aniversario Special ‘R’

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From traveling to Central and South America for his rites of passage as a tobacconist in the 1920s to smuggling Cuban cigars out of France in the 1940s, Zino Davidoff had a thrilling and adventurous story behind his success. If the entertainment industry takes an interest in the history of tobacco, he takes the top prize as a success story in the industry. As for me, understanding the hardships he went through and the difficult decisions he had to overcome make me appreciate Davidoff cigars that much more.

Under normal circumstances, I would only smoke a Davidoff cigar when celebrating or for a special event, not a regular Tuesday smoke. To my surprise, I had the pleasure of doing a blind review on the Davidoff Aniversario Special R.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Aniversario Special ‘R’
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
  • Binder: Dominican Republic
  • Filler: Dominican Republic
  • Size: Robusto (5” x 50)

Appearance & Construction

Without knowing the brand, I can tell this cigar is rolled with perfection in mind. The soft honey-colored wrapper feels very smooth all around. There are no noticeable veins or blemishes, just the right amount of tobacco packed, and there are no soft spots in the roll.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The cold draw is very pleasing with a taste of sweet and tart of dry apricot. The draw resistance is perfect, about a 6/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness.

Once I introduced a laser-sharp flame to the foot of the cigar, a scent of sweet caramel emits from the smoke. About another twenty seconds in, the cigar is lit and I’m able to take my first puff. The smoke is creamy with notes of cedar, dry hay, and light caramel accompanied by an undertone of red pepper.

On retrohale, red pepper spice sizzles through my nasal passage. Just when I think the burning sensation is about to become overwhelming, it mellows out and the scent of light caramel and vanilla wash over. Also interesting is that unlike any other Davidoff I’ve had, the Aniversario Special ‘R’ starts as a nicotine bomb.

An inch in, the ash holds sturdily in the wind. The smoke profile becomes sweeter and toastier, and it also introduces flavor notes of lily petals and fresh almonds.

Arriving at the second third of the Davidoff Aniversario Special R, the red pepper transforms to black pepper and the sizzling sensation moves from the back of my tongue to the tip. The overall flavors lighten up, and the smoke is sweet and floral with a citrusy tart aftertaste. The nicotine lets up a bit halfway through as well.

In the final third, the pepper spice dissipates on the palate. All that’s left are fresh almonds and cedar in the smoke, and pepper spice and barnyard in the retrohale. As the last bit of smoke dries out my tongue, I can’t help but compare it with the texture of sandy graham pie crust.

Conclusion

The Aniversario Special ‘R’ is a complex and nub-worthy smoke. The flavors are well balanced between the palate and the retrohale. As good as this cigar was to smoke, the unexpected nicotine bomb during the first third of the cigar was just a bit much. If shifted to the final third, then I think this would have been a near-perfect smoke.

Final Rating: 88

Blind Review: 601 La Bomba Warhead VI

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For years Erik Espinosa has created from his 601 line the La Bomba Warheads. The bands and packaging are always cool to look at and the perfectos are crafted beautifully. The flavor profiles of the Warhead blends have typically been in the medium to full range and have been flavor “bombs” and strong smokes. I’ve smoked them since their beginnings and this was the first time having the Warhead VI. I have to say, smoking this blind was quite an adventure as I was able to be more analytical in its tasting which I always feel is beneficial. This 601 La Bomba Warhead was not the experience like the others and I was quite surprised when I found out what the blend was after finishing the review.

Blend Specifics

Cigar Review: 601 La Bomba Warhead VI
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Fillers: Nicaraguan
Length: 5″ x 58 (Perfecto)

Appearance and Construction

The La Bomba 601 Warhead VI is an extremely dark ,bulbous cigar with a toothy Nicaraguan wrapper. There are very few veins and squeezing the cigar makes it evident that there is copious amounts of tobacco inside. The nipple foot smells of barnyard and giving off little else in terms of aroma. The construction on this figuardo is visually impressive, and the cigar is weighty in my hand.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

To start, a small straight cut is made, and a cold draw offers old cellared wine boxes to the taste with a slight musty aroma. As I light the La Bomba Warhead VI, there are notes of baking spices on the tongue with a bit of sour bitterness. When the nipple foot opens up, I’m greeted with maple, earth and cocoa on the finish. The underlying bitterness is still present along with notes of graham cracker and wood.  The draw is semi firm, and a retrohale of the smoke brings with it some sweetness and an intense wood character.

At midway, the 601 La Bomba Warhead VI becomes gritty and sour with some added nuttiness. More of the cocoa returns with some winter spices coating the sides of the mouth.  The ash is a solid white and holds on rather nicely, and there is an ample amount of smoke coming from the cigar, with peanut and cashew wafting through. Despite these flavors there is still a persistent underlying sour note that resonates on the finish. Body wise, the smoke is in the medium to full range as this point.

The Warhead VI takes its time to smoke which I appreciate in a cigar. Most of the time this allows me to hone in on the flavors better. Unfortunately the persistent bitterness and sour notes along with the slow burn actually make for a less pleasurable smoking experience. The last few puffs though surprise me with sweet chocolate followed by a sharpness that cut said flavors short.

Conclusion

I have enjoyed previous 601 La Bomba Warheads a lot more in terms of their flavor and strength. What really hurt Warhead VI for me was the bitter and sourness that haunted the entire smoking experience. Having those flavors linger with each puff made smoking the cigar more a chore at times.

I have known and hung out with Erik Espinosa and he is a passionate and fun cigar man. This type of project held a lot of potential, and though I won’t speculate as to what gave the cigar those sharp notes, I was never quite satisfied with the smoke. If you can find the older version of the Warhead I would recommend seeking them out instead.

Final Rating: 86

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Blind Review: My Father Fonseca Robusto

10 4 5.0k

In 2019 My Father Cigars and the Garcia family acquired the rights to the non-Cuban Fonseca brand. Prior to this acquisition the Quesada family owned the brand, making various lines of the brand for the larger conglomerate S.A.G imports. Of the many versions I’ve smoked from this outfit I found a lot of them unimpressive and inconsistent. When I heard it was being purchased and revitalized I was excited but also concerned that My Father’s interpretation might bastardize the Fonseca brand.

Thankfully, with the Garcia family controlling the production, tobaccos, and blends, all signs point to a positive outcome. Having not known what I was smoking until I was finished I was happy to see such promising results from this cigar. Read on.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: My Father Fonseca Robusto
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size: 5 1/4 x 52 Robusto

Appearance and Construction

The My Father Fonseca robusto’s milk chocolate wrapper is silky to the touch and the roll is excellent and full of tobacco when squeezed. Smelling the foot of the cigar, the chocolate notes are in line with the color of the wrapper. An attractive robusto to behold.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

For a change of pace on this smoke I use my Palio single blade cutter which slices a clean straight cut off the cap of the cigar. As I take a few dry puffs, the draw is loose and sugary. Then as I toasted the My Father Fonseca with my Xikar single flame lighter there are earthy and spicy notes that cleanly hit the tongue and sides of the cheeks. In the next puffs, some sweetness and spice hits the lips and the cigar starts to build up in strength. I take a retrohale which releases hay and balsa wood through the nose. The tobacco appears to be well processed as these flavors linger on the palate every time I take a pufff.

When the My Father Fonseca hits its stride at midway, the hay and sweetness return with a solid medium body. As the smoke develops, floral notes come through with hints of oolong tea on the finish. The tannin that I pick up is nicely balanced with milk chocolate and subtle earth tones. Construction wise, the ash is white with a solid burn line. Excellent smoke production too. The My Father Fonseca eases right into a comfortable medium range still with consistently pronounced flavors.

In the final third of the My Father Fonseca, milk chocolate and maraschino cherries zip through the palate with a lengthy finish. Another retrohale brings wood, rose petal and cedar all at once. As the ash grows longer (showing that the tobacco and roll are above average quality), there is a creaminess that resonates, giving a wonderful ending to where this cigar began. A comprehensively flavorful smoke all the way through.

Conclusion

Prior to My Father acquiring the Fonseca brand I found the non-Cuban incarnations lackluster and generic at best. The Garcia family has breathed new life into this namesake with a flavorful robusto compounded by sweet, spice, tea and floral notes that develop nicely throughout. The tobacco is well curated and the craftsmanship of the cigar is evident. This combination delivers a medium bodied experience with plenty of flavors to keep you interested. I recommend picking up several of these or a box to hold onto as you should be quite pleased.

Final Rating: 93

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