Blind Review: Davidoff Robusto Intenso Limited Edition 2020

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In 2005 Davidoff released what is now the original Davidoff Robusto Intenso in a limited run. That cigar was touted as providing intense flavor while maintaining balance and complexity. What I recall from smoking a few was that the power was indeed evident and stronger than most Davidoff releases, though at times I felt it overshadowed the flavors.  

This year, one of Davidoff’s numerous limited re-releases is Davidoff Robusto Intenso Limited Edition 2020. Built on the same premise of providing a fuller bodied cigar balanced by nuanced flavors, this blend is intended to deliver the experience of the original Robusto Intenso.

Blend Specifics

Cigar Review: Davidoff Robusto Intenso Limited Edition 2020
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic
Fillers: Dominican
Length: 5 1/8″ x 52 (Robusto)

Appearance and Construction

When inspected, the David Robusto Intenso wears an attractive chocolate wrapper with few veins and is silky and smooth. A squeeze shows it is filled solid with tobacco and has a nice weighty feel to it. The foot smells of  hay, a bit of mushroom and mustiness like an old wine cellar.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

Using my Lamborghini guillotine cutter I draw a quick straight cut. The dry draw gives off raisins, mushroom and mustiness. Using a short taper, the first dry puff starts off chary which quickly transitions into graham cracker and nutmeg on the tongue. Once lit, the Robusto Intenso comes off full bodied with earth, almond paste and baking spices in large amounts. On the retrohale I get more mushroom, truffle and oak which then coats the palate with an unexpected creaminess.

At midway, the Robusto Intenso becomes slightly sweeter on the lips with cedar and a blast of oak. The burn line wavers slightly, but it doesn’t burn hot and sports a beautiful white ash. Lots more spice comes through almost touching on Asian spices with some pepper and cedar on the retrohale. The profile settles in to a more medium-full style with some dusty cocoa, oak and forest floor on the long finish. Some nuttiness returns but is overshadowed by peppery notes.

As the final third approachs, the Robusto Intenso’s sweetness and some tropical fruit push forward in an unexpected fashion.  Another retrohale sorts out truffle, oak and a hit of pepper which offers additional power, with pepper and oak interplaying into a long finish. Much like its beginning, the final stages of the Davidoff Intenso bring back some raisins and mushroom along with cream and wood. An easy smoking robusto.

Conclusion 

It goes almost without saying that with Davidoff you can count on the quality of the cigar. The Robusto Intenso lives up to its moniker as it starts off fuller flavored and even when it dipped into a medium body it always bordered on some intensity. Although the flavors were easy to note and the finish was long I do think it could use a bit more complexity. Overall, I enjoyed the Robusto Intenso throughout and would certainly recommend picking up a few to keep in the humidor. Just do it quick because with only a few thousand boxes produced, these won’t be around long.

Final Rating: 90

Blind Review: Cohiba Royale Gran Royale

6 1 4.6k

From General Cigars—the makers of the non-Cuban Cohiba brand and others like Macanudo—comes another high end premium cigar in the Cohiba Royale Gran Royale. This Cohiba is covered in a wonderful Nicaraguan Broadleaf wrapper and is said to have extra-aged filler tobaccos. I’ve smoked some of the more ultra-premium lines lines such as the Comador, Macassar and both Spectre blends with some of the blends being better than others, though all enjoyable smokes. I’m a fan of quality broadleaf—when it is done right it can bring great flavor and balance to a cigar.  

As you’ll ready below, with this being a blind review I was pleasantly surprised with the results.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Cohiba Royale Gran Royale
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Broadleaf
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Dominican, Honduara, Nicaraguan
  • Size: 4.5 x 52 robusto
  • Price: ~$24

Appearance and Construction

The Cohiba Royale is draped in a dark, reddish, veiny wrapper with a nice oily sheen to it. The cigar is rolled solidly full of tobacco and dense to the touch. From the foot there are aromas of cocoa and earth. A fine looking robusto at first sight.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Utilizing my Xikar cutter, I clip a straight cut. The dry draw has just the right amount of resistance, with espresso and balsa wood coming through. As I draw with flame the first few puffs deliver rich tobacco notes along with cherries and leather. The additional spice that comes through is balanced by a creaminess left on the palate. The cigar transitions from spice to leather while remaining nuanced and composed, and the ash that develops with the straight burn is light gray and rather firm attesting to the packed tobacco in the filler.

Through the Cohiba Royale’s progression into the second third, the espresso returns along with dried fruits on the retrohale. Additional notes of graphite and almond emerge while the smoke delivers a long creamy finish. The Cohiba Royale continues with a medium to full flavor without overwhelming and hitting just the right amounts of strength and flavor.

As the Cohiba Royale reaches its last third, there is a swath of chocolate and cream in the smoke with some citrus hitting the tip of the tongue. The Cohiba Royale’s complexities continue, with coffee coming through on the sides of the mouth while floral notes play on the retrohale. These are intriguing sensory flavors that round out the cigars profile well. A thoroughly enjoyable robusto.

Conclusion

This cigar in no way compares to the flavors of a Cuban Cohiba. They are, after all, completely different tobaccos and taste, and I do not believe that was ever General Cigars intention.

In General’s ultra-premium lines the Cohiba Royale Gran Royale easily justifies the high price point for me. The wrapper and filler blend work together in generating a fuller flavored smoke without overpowering the palate. The combination of rich tobacco, earth, cherries, spice and a creamy finish gives this cigar a complexity I enjoyed throughout the entire smoking experience.

I believe that when you pay a higher price for a cigar—especially when it’s highly touted—you should walk away satisfied. In the case of the Cohiba Royale Gran Royale, it delivered that level of flavor for me and I would absolutely recommend picking a few up.

Final Rating: 93

Blind Review: Southern Draw Rose Of Sharon

8 0 4.9k

Southern Draw is a brand of cigar makers based out of Texas. In addition they are military veterans that formed a cigar company and have achieved success with various lines they’ve put forth.  The ones I’ve smoked have been impressive with their different flavor profiles in each brand.  The Rose of Sharon line is a tribute to Robert Holt who is the founder of Southern Draw’s wife. This particular cigar in its perfecto form takes a skilled hand to work and the vitola is a limited edition created for certain retailers. The most gracious part of this release is that Southern Draw is taking a percentage of the profits and donating them to aid veterans in need.  Not knowing what I was smoking save for it being a perfecto vitola I was surprised with the outcome.  

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed : Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Perfecto
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
  • Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
  • Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
  • Size: 6 x 56 Perfecto

Appearance and Construction

The Rose of Sharon is a well rolled shapely perfecto and as such has tapered pointed ends on both the head and foot. I notice there are minimal veins on the café au lait colored wrapper. I also observe that there is a slightly lighter shade of tobacco leaf at the foot where the cigar tapers off. I’m not sure if this is intentional to the vitola or not. With the exception of a soft spot at the foot the Rose of Sharon is packed full of tobacco.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

After a swift straight clip with my Lamborghini guillotine cutter, I take a dry draw that is airy and delivers wood and raisinated flavors. Using my single flame lighter I gently torch the foot and the draw catches immediately with toast and soggy graham cracker coming through.  As the cigar burns past the taper, some grittiness and earth hit my lips and the smoke comes off rather mild in these notes. As the ember progresses, the burn runs slightly off which doesn’t seem to affect the flavors as floral accents of rose petal emerge with an underlying woodiness on the finish. The Rose of Sharon continues with an overall mild profile with all these flavors more subtle than pronounced.

The ash on the Rose of Sharon Perfecto at midway is a lovely dark/gray and the burn line straightens out rather nicely. The cigar produces ample smoke which brings forth some sweetness intermixed with oak in a seamless balance. The retrohale is of pencil lead and oak notes which linger in the nose. Then, on a surprising turn, the cigar picks up a bit with a medium body and in your face graphite and cedar. The Rose of Sharon shifts between mild and medium with a nuttiness hitting my palate on the finish. Overall the blend still maintains an average mildness to the smoke.

Towards the final third, the mild profile offers toasted almond and butterscotch and a steady stream of smoke with a continuously easy draw. The body once again dances around a medium profile with some black pepper and an oaky finish. But that doesn’t not last long as the mildness and floral notes enter with wood in the background. At its end, nuttiness along with clotted cream wafted through the cigar in a delicate fashion that needs to be concentrated on in order to appreciate.

As I take my last few puffs, the wood and nuts became the main flavor that accent the profile. A mild easy-smoking perfecto.

Conclusion

I’ve smoked several Southern Draw lines and I give the company a lot of credit, especially for bringing so many different flavor profiles to their lines. This was my first Rose of Sharon I’ve smoked and now knowing they were going for a milder profile I’d say they certainly achieved it. I enjoyed the wood, pencil lead, nuttiness and the floral notes that came through and the craftsmanship was top notch. It can be a challenge to create a mild cigar that delivers nuanced flavors and although I wish the Rose of Sharon had more of it, for the novice and aficionado its worth picking up a stick especially to support a great cause.

Final Rating: 89

Blind Review: Drew Estate Undercrown ShadyXX

6 0 3.2k

I’m sure all are familiar with the rap sensation Eminem so there is no need to school you on those particulars. However in case you don’t know, Paul Rosenberg is the president of Shady Records which is Eminem’s record label. Rosenberg is a cigar enthusiast who collaborated on two projects with well known Jonathan Drew of Drew Eastate. The first project was a 15th anniversary cigar for the record label with a tweaked blend of the Undercrown brand. Once again these two giants of their respective industries came together for a 20th anniversary cigar which is the same size and blend as their initial release. Not knowing any of this prior to smoking I was I extremely satisfied to see how well the project went.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Drew Estate Undercrown ShadyXX
  • Wrapper:  Mexican San Andres
  • Binder:  Stalk Cut Habano 
  • Filler:  Nicaraguan, Brazilian
  • Size: 5” x 50 Belicoso

Appearance & Construction

The ShadyXX is a box pressed cigar that wears a dark toothy wrapper with minimal veins. It’s an impressively rolled belicoso with an excellent capped pointed head. As I squeeze the cigar, it is packed with tobacco with no soft spots to be found. The overall size and appearance is inviting to smoke.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Using my Palio cutter I clip a small cut on the head of the cigar and take a few dry puffs. Flavors of dried fruit and earth resonate on the draw. As I light the ShadyXX, the resistance is just right and delivers black pepper quickly followed by cocoa powder. Shortly into the cigar, a creaminess emerges along with espresso and a minty finish. On the retrohale there is wood, earth and anise. The ShadyXX produces a nice amount of smoke and the interplay of oak and cocoa play strong at this point.

About halfway through the ShadyXX the creaminess returns with espresso echoing on the palate. Another retrohale gives a blast of pepper with citrus that is surprising considering the taste and mouthfeel at first. At this point there are some interesting complexities to the cigar. The white and gray ash is not too firm but it holds on. As the smoke progresses, more coffee notes along with cream and vanilla resonate to a long finish.

In the final third of the ShadyXX, flavors of maple, nutmeg and creamy espresso begin to develop. Unfortunately even with the nuances picked up the Undercown yields a short finish which becomes almost bitter. And despite smoking the cigar slow the bitterness persists. The black pepper returns, albeit in not as intense a fashion as in the beginning of the smoke.

As the ShadyXX reaches its end some oakwood and vanilla finish it up on a fine note. A pleasant little cigar with a medium to full profile all the way through.

Conclusion

After finding out what the cigar was it’s exciting to hear it was a project that went so well. Having had the pleasure of meeting Jonathan Drew on many occasions for near two decades I can say he is a generous soul and an innovator, so I can see why people would want to collaborate and create a cigar with him. Many collaborations from persons outside the cigar industry can come off as more of a status symbol than a quality undertaking. This is not the case with the Undercrown ShadyXX as the blend is well crafted and the tobaccos top notch. They are sold out most places but if you can get your hands on some you will be fortunate and pleased with the experience.

FINAL RATING: 91

Blind Review: Davidoff Signature 2000

5 1 11.7k

Davidoff has always represented an understated elegance and refinement in the cigar industry.  Their conservative approach to cigar releases, the subtle flavor nuances of their cigars and even the sophisticated decor in their beautiful lounges.  This cigar is no different.  The Davidoff Signature 2000 is one of Davidoff’s best sellers. Consistent with the Davidoff pedigree, this cigar celebrates a long lineage of Davidoff master craftsmanship and expert blending.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Signature 2000
  • Wrapper: Ecuador
  • Binder: Ecuador 
  • Filler: Domincan Republic
  • Size: Petit Corona 5 x 43

Appearance and Construction

As per the ancient ritual, after receiving a package of cigars in the mail, an immediate  and thorough inspection was in order.   Most of the time, I am well aware of which cigars to expect.  However, this particular package had the original bands detached to remove some partiality from the review process.  Heavy biases and crude judgments aside, by removing the band as barbaric as it may seem, lessens the distractions and focuses attention on the contents of the book and less on its cover.

It was late in the evening, the Davidoff Signature 2000 with its graceful poise caught my eye.  It’s unpretentious vitola, tight flawless bronzed Ecuadorian wrapper and triple cap flair made a great impression.  The wrapper and its construction was just about perfect, with no visible veins or lumps, and a soft sandalwood luster.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Taking a smell of the foot of the Davidoff Signature 2000, tantalizing aroma of walnuts, dry leaves and fresh Costa Rican coffee greet the nose.  After a straight cut, a dry pull reveals vegetal and fresh grass on the palate.  Soft dry hay and white pepper flavors wrapped in thick and creamy combination provide a luscious well balanced medium body.  Once the heat settles, the ash starts to build and a comforting sharp burn reveals itself. 

The retrohale (gateway to the next dimension of cigar appreciation) is a soft delicate floral twang reminiscent of finely aged Cuban seed tobacco takes this cigar to the next level.  Careful throttling of the pull is consistent with most cigars where spice picks up with heat and a leveling off once the heart dissipates.

In the second third of the Davidoff Signature 2000, the white pepper softens up, soft velvet texture, cedar, razor sharp burn, no relights. By the middle of the cigar, the flavors have settled quite nicely.  I am able to throttle the intensity of the retrohale by manipulating the frequency and strength of the draw.  This wave of flavors is what takes this cigar to the next level. It’s enticing, provocative and mysterious.

As the cigar gets near the end, the heat picks up and so does the intensity of flavors, the white pepper gets stronger, the dry hay makes a sneaky return, the retrohale boldens. Noticeable white ash and no relights.  If one was to ease off a bit and feather the draw, graham crackers and vegetal lingers in the background.

Conclusion

A fine example of great tobacco, years of experience and mastery to create a mild mannered masterpiece. I suspect this cigar will age gracefully, This cigar being readily available, will allow anyone to find and experience what in my opinion is a great cigar.  It’s not overpowering, bold or pretentious.  Instead, the Davidoff Signature 2000 is refined, balanced and well tempered (medium strength), The true magic of this cigar is behind the curtains or more accurately hidden behind the retrohale.  A true gem in the Davidoff lineup.

Final Rating: 91

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