Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a light chocolate brown with some darker marbling in a few places. The veins are easily visible as some are raised while others carry a darker color to them. The seams are also easily visible due to the color variations on the wrapper. The head is finished off with a well applied double cap. The cigar does carry a distinct square press to it. There is a single band that is primarily white with gold accents. There is some orange in the logo and on the sides while the lettering is all black. It is very simple but classic looking. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of hay and leather while the foot brings a mix of plum sweetness and hay. The pre-light draw brings a very faint plum sweetness and hay with medium level spiciness on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Dapper El Borracho Natural Toro has a silky smooth darker brown wrapper. The shape is very unique as the cigar is essentially a square press. Veins are perfectly pressed, seams nearly invisible and head finished off with a well adhered double cap. Nosing the wrapper gives namely a faint cedar. Nosing the foot tells hay and pungent white pepper. Cold draw gives primarily hay and cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of cocoa, dark wood and baking spice. At a quarter inch in, each of the flavors mellow a bit and create a better overall profile. A little further in, the cocoa goes away and is replaced by a bit of creamy coffee to go along with the dark wood and baking spice. At an inch in, the cream bumps up a bit while the coffee, dark wood and baking spices are at even levels. At an inch and a half, I begin to get a graham cracker note right at the beginning of the draw as the creaminess has almost completely left the profile. The retrohale is contributing a spicy oak note. As the third comes to a close, the cream comes back in to the profile. The strength in third is slightly above medium.

First Third

The first third’s flavor profile is quite delicate. The flavors are thin and somewhat nuanced providing faint nuttiness, dry wood, bread and sour citrus. Retrohaling, as expected, deepens the flavors, giving an introduction to spice (black pepper) and increased nuttiness. The finish is also fairly thin with a lasting dry wood. Strength is mild and body medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a good dose of earthiness joins the wood note to take front stage while some coffee and baking spice remain in the background. A quarter inch in, the earthiness and wood notes settle back to the pack and create a well rounded profile again with the coffee and baking spice. At an inch in, a pretty large char note joins the wood and drowns out the rest of the profile. A little further in, some cream joins to tame the char and smooth things out again. The retrohale delivers a very creamy wood note. The strength in this third bumped up to medium-full.

Second Third

The second third’s flavor profile moves away from being thin to having more robust flavors. Flavors are centered around baking spices, more developed dry wood and semi-sweet dry roasted nuts. Retrohaling still shows black pepper and nuttiness. The finish is still a lasting dry wood. Strength and body at a consistent medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the cream is out front while a slightly charred oak is not far behind. After a few draws, a coffee note becomes present in the background which adds a nice component to the profile. At a half inch in, the retrohale is carrying a creamy mixture of coffee and oak. At an inch in, the creaminess is still up front as a slight bitterness joins the oak in the background as the coffee exits. This is how the cigar finishes out. The strength in this third dropped back down to just slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third shows the same flavors as the second third: baking spices, dry wood and semi-sweet dry roasted nuts. My favorite part is the mouth feel of the cigar. My palate never dries and is actually mouth watering, rarely needing to take a sip of water.

Burn

The burn was fantastic and stayed straight the entire time. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Burn

Burn performance was flawless. Razor sharp burn, tight and sturdy ashes, slow and cool burn and never a need to use my lighter after the initial light.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer through the first half and then eased up to right where I like it the rest of the way.

Overall

The Dapper El Borracho Natural Toro was a good introduction to the brand for me. The first third was pretty complex and had lots of changes while the second third did get dominated with some char notes. It was nice to see the cigar recover in the final third with a primarily creamy profile with wood and coffee supporting notes. This one has me looking forward to the other lines the company offers. Strength was a bit above medium, so most smokers should be fine with it. I could see this cigar pairing well with a peated whisky. The price point is a little steep, but the cigar is well worth a try to see if you find a new brand that can earn some room in your humidor.

Draw

The draw was a tad tight for my liking even cutting to the last cap. Not a big deal but a notable one.

Overall

As this is my first time smoking Dapper cigars, I had no idea what to expect. In the case of the Dapper El Borracho Natural Toro, it took the initial third of the cigar to hit it’s stride. Given the first third’s delicate profile, I recommend this cigar to be smoked more towards the earlier part of the day / first cigar of the day. The cigar was overall good so I am looking forward to the remaining Dapper portfolio.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.67

Cost/Point

$1.82

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.67

Cost/Point

$1.82

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Dapper El Borracho Natural Toro