Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is light brown and has a few fine veins present. The seams are visible but very smooth. The head wears a very well applied quadruple cap. There is a single band that is gold, black and white with some silver artwork and lettering. The aroma from the wrapper is a bright and sweet hay with a bit of leather while the foot brings the same aroma just with more leather present.The pre-light draw brings the same notes of sweet hay and leather.

Pre-light Experience

The Atabey Divinos has a silky smooth claro shade wrapper. Veins are well pressed and seams are tight. A uniformed firm give is present throughout the length of the cigar with no soft spots. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. Nosing the wrapper tells rich nuttiness and sweetened bread. Nosing the foot gives a mixture of balanced black pepper and rich almond like nuttiness. Cold draw reveals cedar, bread, dry nuts, construction paper and lip and tongue tingling white pepper spice.

First Third

Initial draws bring some mellow wood and baking spices. After a few draws, an intense black pepper floods in and dominates the profile which only lasts about 3 draws. After that, the profile settles into an even mixture of wood and pepper. At three quarters of an inch in, some cream joins in which causes the pepper to mellow a bit. As the third comes to a close, the wood, cream and pepper have created a very nice combination of flavors. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

First third gives good depth of toastiness, tongue layering black pepper spice, subtle sweet bread and mixed nuts. I’m a bit surprised by the amount of spice present. It is by no means overpowering but it does stick to the palate as a primary note. The retrohale is full of deep flavors providing more intense black pepper, cedar and sweetened toasted bread. The finish is namely comprised of a lingering cedar note. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As this third begins, the nice mix of wood, cream and pepper continues. The retrohale is a peppery wood. At a half inch in, the pepper picks up a little bit while the retrohale drops the pepper and is now creamy wood. At an inch in, the cream goes away and the profile is primarily wood with some pepper in the background. As the third comes to a close, the wood becomes more defined as oak and remains in the forefront with some pepper in the background. The strength remains right at medium.

Second Third

The second third’s main change is the sweetness in the form of bread is increased, while the other notes are at the same levels. There is still full and distinct black pepper spice and toastiness present. The retrohale continues to be full of sharp black pepper and cedar, but less of the sweetened toasted bread. The finish is a long and lingering cedar and black pepper spice. Strength is almost in the medium full category, while body stays at the medium mark.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the oak continues up front while some bitterness joins in with the pepper in the background. At a half inch in, the pepper goes away and the bitterness is very faint while the oak gains a bit of a toasty note to it. At an inch in, the bitterness leaves and the oak loses the toasty note and gains some char. This is how the cigar finishes. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Final Third

Last third loses out on the sweetness and reverts to namely cedar and black pepper. The sweetened bread note is still there but it’s now in the second tiered notes. The retrohale is still the same as the second third, with sharp black pepper and cedar. The finish continues to be long and lingering with palate sticking cedar and black pepper. Strength is still somewhere in between medium and medium-full, and body at medium.

Burn

There were some slight waves, but for the most part the burn was pretty straight. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Burn

The burn was overall very good. One minor gripe was the ever so slightly flakey ash. Aside from that, sharp burn line, self tapped ashes averaging 1.5 inch increments, and never a need to use my lighter.

Draw

The draw started off a bit loose through the first half of the cigar, but then tightened up closer to where I prefer it.

Overall

This vitola didn’t wow me like some of the others I’ve tried, but it is still a good experience. The flavor is primarily centered around wood and carried some baking spice, black pepper and cream as accompanying notes. Strength stayed right around medium. Price doesn’t factor into our scores, but it’s worth noting that this carries a hefty price tag, especially for such a small size. I’d recommend a larger vitola if you want to try the line, but this still provides an enjoyable experience.

Draw

The draw was perfect. I cut the cigar right around the second layered cap, which resulted in the perfect resistance.

Overall

With a premium priced cigar, I expect the experience to be nothing short of fantastic. In the case of the Divinos, it was short of fantastic but still good. I’m surprised by the amount of spice in this vitola. Although not overbearing, the spice made the cigar unbalanced. When smoking the other bigger sized Atabey vitolas, there was spice but the profile was more intact and harmonious. With my money, I would shell out the extra bucks and go with its larger sized siblings.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.47

Cost/Point

$3.09

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.20

Cost/Point

$2.78

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Atabey Divinos