Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Davidoff Colorado Claro Special R is light brown, has a couple of decently raised veins and a fair amount of lumpiness to it. The seams are raised in some areas while the caps are fairly well applied. There are two bands, with the primary being the traditional white label design while the secondary is a strip band that is reddish-brown, white and gold and denotes the line name. The aroma from the wrapper is a light mix of mustiness and cedar while the foot brings a fuller and more detailed version of the same along with some light sweetness and spice. The pre-light draw brings all of the same components that I got from the foot aroma along with a mid-level spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with mustiness, cedar and baking spice. The retrohale brings mushroom mustiness, cedar and mild baking spice. At three quarters of an inch in, the mustiness and cedar are paired up while the baking spice is pretty mellow. At an inch in, the baking spice has morphed to black pepper and is just behind the musty cedar. The strength in this third was mild-medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, some baking spice returns to the profile in combination with the black pepper. The retrohale still has a light amount of mushroom in the mustiness, but the cedar and baking spice are so integrated with it that it doesn’t stand out as much. At a half inch in, the cedar gains a bit of toastiness. At an inch in, the black pepper/baking spice combo is fairly mellow. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front with the mustiness just behind and the pepper/spice combo in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly below medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the toast on the cedar becomes fairly heavy. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, with black pepper a bit behind and light mustiness. At a half inch in, the heavily toasted cedar is dominating the profile with the mustiness and black pepper just supporting notes. The cigar finishes with this same profile. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Burn

The burn line was slightly wavy at times, but never needed any intervention. The ash held on in inch and three quarter increments.

Draw

The draw was slightly looser than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The cigar has a nice combination of cedar, mustiness and baking spice and the delivery is pretty full which is nice. Things fell of a bit in the last third as the toast level of the cedar became pretty high. When it comes to the White Labels, this Davidoff Colorado Claro Special R is where my attention leads to as this blend hits for me. The price point on the line is fairly high, but it is worth reaching for from time to time and I would recommend that anyone who hasn’t tried one yet, do so.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.57

Cost/Point

$3.20

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Davidoff Colorado Claro Special R