Davidoff

Blind Review: Davidoff Grand Cru Robusto

5 0 7.4k

I’m no stranger to Davidoff cigars as I’ve been fortunate enough to smoke nearly all of their lines including the old Cuban vitolas. With Henke Kelner at the helm of blending after Davidoff ceased making cigars in Havana, the tobaccos seem to have distinct tastes in some of the blends. A mustiness, earth, wood, forest floor and mushroom make them unique smokes. Davidoff cigars are extremely well crafted with outstanding quality control and the Davidoff Grand Cru series is no exception. With an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and Dominican fillers these cigars can be a real treat albeit with a price tag to match. 

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Grand Cru Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Dominican
  • Size: 5 1/4 x 52 Robusto

Appearance & Construction

The Davidoff Grand Cru robusto has a smooth claro wrapper that’s silky to the touch. When given a squeeze it is firmly packed with tobacco and extremely well rolled. I noticed a unique nipple on the cap which is a skillful addition to implement on a cigar. There are minimal veins and the roll is perfect in hand.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Using my V-cutter, I clip the cigar and proceed to take a dry draw that brings mustiness and damp forest floor. I light up and the first few puffs are drying on the palate and portray a medium bodied experience. As the Grand Cru gets going, graham cracker hits the top of my mouth, followed but woody notes and cinnamon. I take a retrohale early on and the mustiness comes through along with slight earthy tones.  The wood increases along with secondary notes of  mushroom and dampness.  The smoke coming from the cigar is ample at this point and the body continues on the medium level.

As the cigar progresses, the Davidoff Grand Cru robusto’s smoke billows and the foot showcases a lovely white ash. There are lots of toast and cedar notes that make their way through. The burn line is razor sharp. I detect a fleeting cherry and wine note which quickly becomes overshadowed by some white pepper, but both flavors leave as quickly as they appear. The cigar smokes rather hurriedly, although it’s not harsh with the tobacco seeming to burn uniformly while I puff at a conservative pace.  Then, the Grand Cru picks up a bit more strength, teetering on the medium to full bodied side of the spectrum. At this time I detect some bitterness developing on the finish with celery and vegetal notes alongside. 

In the final third, the wood becomes more like graphite and toast followed by a short mineral finish. The Davidoff recedes into the medium bodied range and with that the cedar takes hold resonating with a hearth of tobacco and wood.  The burn continues to be excellent, and as the cigar develops orange peel along with floral notes interplay with a bready coating on the palate.

As the Davidoff Grand Cru reaches the last few puffs, it yields damp earth and pencil lead which I wished lastied longer on the mouthfeel. A tasty medium bodied cigar.

Conclusion

I enjoyed the medium bodied experience the Davidoff Grand Cru Robusto portrayed with its earth, wood, toast and mushroom notes. My biggest issue is that I wished the flavors lasted longer and stood firmer on the palate. It seemed the finishes where short and the bitterness midway along with the vegetal notes hurt the score. I would surmise some more aging in the humidor could even things out and help the cigar develop where it lacked. I would suggest picking one up to smoke and perhaps buying a few more to rest to compare over time.

Final Score: 90

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Review: Davidoff Cigar Storage and Bar Tool Set

2 0 7.7k

As a lover of all things cigars, including accessories and adjacent interests like whisky and cocktails, I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to obtain the Davidoff Cigar Storage and Bar Tool Set. It’s one of the more unique Davidoff accessories I’ve come across and is both beautiful and functional.

The box itself is made of a beautiful light wood exterior with light gray fabric interior. It has slots for six cigars, two vertical slots for a cigar cutter and cigar lighter, and of course the bar tool slots which include a jigger, wine key, champagne stopper and 4oz. cup. The last slot holds a “Pairing Suggestions” booklet which suggests drink pairings for Davidoff’s core line of cigars.

The bar tools themselves are high quality as evidenced by their substantial weight, which is great. And once you’ve populated the box with your choice of cigars, a cutter and a lighter, you can consider yourself prepared to show up in style to any social cigar gathering.

The only suggestion I’d make for future iterations of this product is for the surface inside the box to be a bit more deeply inset. When the 4oz cup is stowed in its slot, it takes up quite a bit of vertical space and can come into contact with the lighter strapped in above it under the lid, making it difficult to close the box back up.

All things considered, still a beautiful and functional accessory to have on hand. Here’s the description from the Davidoff website:

For those who plan their libations with their cigars.

The perfect kit for every occasion. A wooden carrying case with a secure closure latch, equipped with storage for cigars, a lighter and cutter, along with necessary bar tools, a beautiful gold-satin wine key, champagne stopper,  jigger for cocktails and a small steel restaurant grade drinking glass.

The kit itself is priced at $99, but can be obtained from some official Davidoff retail shops as a complementary gift for cigar purchases over $250. For more info about purchasing, visit the official Davidoff website.

Davidoff Small Batch No. 7 Review

3 0 5.0k

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

The Davidoff Small Batch No. 7 is a nearly flawless looking cigar and has a nice weight in the hand. The outer wrapper is a light chocolate brown with a somewhat basic looking secondary band. There’s only a slight give when squeezed, with no soft spots. Off the foot are notes of light black pepper, barnyard, and cedar planks. The draw is similarly unassuming, with just a bit of tingling spice, and sweet earth.

Davidoff Small Batch No 7 Review

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.

Final Rating: 92

Davidoff Nicaragua Robusto Review

2 0 6.5k

Davidoff Nicaragua Review

Up for review today is the Davidoff Nicaragua, a blend that when I first smoked it after its initial release I found to be about what I expected, but still underwhelming. I decided to give the cigar another chance and give it a formal review, and I’m glad I did because the experience this time around was a complete reversal of what I experienced my first few times smoking the cigar.

Here’s some background info on the cigar from the Davidoff website:

Inspired by Zino Davidoff’s pioneering spirit, Davidoff Master Blenders went on an exploration for a new type of blend that would stimulate both the bitter and sweet taste buds. Finally, they found it in Nicaragua, where the earth is infused by the fiery activity of some of the country’s forty volcanoes. The elegant Nicaragua Toro is spicy and peppery at the beginning, before evolving into a pleasant smoke with the familiar delight of the dual Davidoff sweet and dark bitter chocolate notes.

The 100% Puro Nicaraguan blend combines a 10-year-old Habano Seed Nicaragua Rosado wrapper in a beautiful colour, with a binder from Jalapa and a filler blend of tobaccos from Esteli, Condega and Ometepe. The range comes in three sizes: Toro (5 1⁄2 inches; 54 RG); Robusto (5 inches; 50 RG) and Short Corona (3 3⁄4 inches; 46 RG).

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Nicaragua Robusto
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Rosado
  • Binder: Jalapa
  • Filler: Esteli, Condega, and Ometepe
  • Size: 5 x 50 Robusto
  • Retail Price: ~#20

Appearance & Construction

The outer wrapper of the Davidoff Nicaragua is marbled dark brown and rugged, with some very noticeable seams and veins running the length of the cigar. 

When squeezed, the cigar has a moderate amount of give, more than I’m used to on most Davidoff cigars. In addition, the softness seems most substantial at about halfway down the cigar. The aroma off of the foot is very gentle and unassuming, a mix of light earth, mixed berries, and slight spice that tingles the nose. The draw is good, though a bit loose (about a 6.5/10 in terms of restrictiveness). 

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics 

The Davidoff Nicaragua Robusto opens much stronger than I remember it being. Body and strength are both at medium on lift off, though there is a spice that’s surprisingly strong and frankly out of character for Davidoff. Flavors on the palate and aroma include toasted oak, black pepper, bitter sweet espresso, granola and grilling spices. The overall balance is between sweet, savory, and spicy, and, true to Davidoff form, it’s all balanced expertly. This gives the Davidoff Nicaragua an elegance that is rare on Nicaraguan blends with similar flavor profiles. The first ash holds well past the inch, and the cigar continues producing an excellent amount of cool (though spicy) smoke. 

By the second third, I’m picking up some distinctive cocoa on the draw, followed by toasted wood, black pepper, and savory grilling spices. The retrohale is full of hot spices and peppers, but isn’t overly aggressive. This adds a great additional layer to the experience, and I’m loving this cigar so far. 

At halfway, that great chocolate note gives way to a semi sweet, dry wood. Although the body of the smoke remains at medium, the strength of flavor (and the spice) settles below medium. This is reflected on the retrohale as well, which is now very smooth and woody. The construction of the cigar remains almost perfect, with a nearly straight burn and great smoke production. 

This doesn’t last long, because in the final third, the pepper and charred wood come roaring back, unencumbered by almost any other flavors. It’s not the most enjoyable end, but it does seem to be somehow fitting given what came before. A thoroughly enjoyable smoke. 

Conclusion 

An altogether different experience than when I first smoked this cigar in 2014. So different that it may as well be a different blend (though of course in reality it is not).  The Davidoff Nicaragua is a wonderfully crafted medium to full bodied smoke that combines sweet, spicy, and savory flavors expertly. If you’re a fan of Davidoff or of Nicaraguan tobacco, this is a must smoke cigar. 

Final Rating: 93

Davidoff Florida Selection Review

4 2 4.1k

Davidoff Florida Selection Review5

What’s better than a cigar and a book?

Answer: a Davidoff cigar, and a fantastic piece of religious writings (Wellsprings of Faith: The Imitation of Christ / The Dark Night of the Soul / The Interior Castle pictured above).

Today we review a very special cigar: the Davidoff Florida Selection, a 2018 Davidoff release that features Floridian tobacco. Before you too excited, you should know that contrary to what the name of this cigar might suggest, this isn’t a cigar that utilizes much Floridian tobacco. No Floridian wrapper or binder – just a bit of Floridian seco in the filler. More on that from Tobacco Business:

Made with a blend of Ecuadorean Habano 2000 wrapper, Nicaraguan binder grown in the Jalapa Valley and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and including Florida Sun Grown from Jeff Borysiewicz’s Clermont, Florida, farm, Florida Selection 2018 presents a flavor profile that is intense, spicy and sweet that offers notes of licorice, fruit, oak, honey and spices.

To me, a bit disappointing that the name of the cigar bears such small proportional significance. Still, it is Davidoff, which means it demands attention, especially since production is limited to just 2,500 boxes of 10 for 25k total. So let’s get to the review.

Product Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Florida Selection
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
  • Binder: Nicaragua (Jalapa)
  • Filler: Dominican (piloto viso, San Vicente seco, Yamasa ligero) / Floridian seco
  • Size: 6 x 52 Belicoso

Appearance & Construction

The Davidoff Florida Selection features a rustic, textured Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with a few very prominent veins and a marbled brown color. On closer inspection, the cigar is packed pretty tightly and seems to be packed consistently, with very little give when squeezed.  The aroma off the foot of the cigar is divided evenly between hay bales, dry grass, oak, light coffee and assorted nuts. The pre light draw is packed with long lingering spiciness, cayenne pepper, and Oak.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Davidoff Florida Selection opens very much like a standard Davidoff.  Excellent smoke production, cool temperature, with notes of dominant cedar, mild white pepper, touches of cream and an overall dusty sort of texture on the nose. But four or five puffs later, the flavor on the palate shifts substantially, favoring heavy leather, cedar, and red and white pepper activating the tip of the tongue. Overall, the profile at the beginning leans toward bitter and spicy, with the retrohale split between wood, grass and white pepper.  It’s enjoyable, but noticeably out of balance. Flavor and strength here are both above medium, and it’s apparent that I’ll need a glass of water on hand for this cigar.

At half an inch in, a building cream note begins (thankfully) to balance out the dry wood and pepper, though spice still lingers on the tongue. The burn has begun to stray, requiring a touch up with a match. By an inch in, the cigar has found an excellent balance between notes of cooking spices, cedar, and cracked pepper and sweeter notes of cream, floral, and grass. Smoke temperature is cool and production remains voluminous. The ash, on the other hand, is pretty flaky and can’t seem to hold longer than 3/4 of an inch.

As the Davidoff Florida Selection moves into the second third, the burn wavers again and more substantially, requiring two more touch ups with soft flame. The flavors develop nicely, with lemon peel, toasted bread, and black pepper on the palate.

It’s in the beginning of final third though that the Davidoff Florida Selection finally hits its stride. Strength and body remain just above medium, and the dry cedar shifts to a creamy, sweet oak note which reduces the bitterness substantially. Alongside is black pepper, toasted bread, lemon meringue, and leather. Unfortunately, and the final inch and a half sees the heat of the smoke increase, and the flavor is reduced to just pepper, cedar, and burnt bread.

Not the ending I was hoping for.

Conclusion

The Davidoff Florida Selection has a lot going for it, but it doesn’t achieve the level of quality I expect from Davidoff cigars. Construction is lacking, as is balance for much of the smoking time.

Don’t get me wrong. The Davidoff Florida Selection smokes like a good $15 – $20 cigar. But no way does it smoke like a $35 cigar.

I’ll grab something a bit more interesting (and less expensive) for my next reading session.

Final Score: 86

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