Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a consistent medium brown with a few raised veins. The seams are very well blended and only slightly visible while the head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. There are two bands with the first being the traditional Davidoff band and the second is a strip band in white with the line name in black. The aroma from the wrapper is a dank barnyard while the foot brings a slightly sweet raisin note. The pre-light draw is a light, sweet hay with a pretty full red pepper note which brings an abundance of spice to my lips and the tip of my tongue.

Pre-light Experience

The Davidoff The Master Selection 2010 has a nice chocolaty brown wrapper and it is oily throughout. There are veins present from head to foot and they are medium in size, very noticeable. The cap is quite pronounced and while it is not the prettiest application I have come across it is not bad. The cigar is firm throughout and there are no soft spots to the touch. There is a slight bit of tooth present on the cigar, nothing major but just enough to notice. The wrapper is giving off notes of chocolate and rich earth, and there is some charred wood with that. The foot is similar, showing those earth qualities but I am also getting some raisins and stone fruit notes. There is some leather and a nice red pepper finish.

Pre-light Experience

The Davidoff The Master Selection 2010 has an espresso bean brown wrapper shade. Major veins are well pressed and seams tight. Bunch and roll feels well executed providing a uniformed give throughout. The head is finished off with a deep triple cap. Nosing the wrapper tells strong barnyard, wet earth and baking spices. Nosing the foot gives deep white pepper, cedar and barnyard. Cold draw reveals cedar, musk, white pepper on the tip of the tongue and dried nuts.

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of cinnamon, wood and mustiness. At a half inch in, the cinnamon mellows and mixes really well with the wood and mustiness. At an inch in, the cinnamon is now very faint, but the musty wood is quite full. The retrohale is a very full spicy cedar. As the third comes to a close, the cinnamon has completely left and the mustiness has mellowed some while the wood is more of a cedar note. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

Upon lighting, I am greeted with a blast of black pepper notes. It is very pronounced and is driving the flavor profile right now. As the cigar progresses though, it begins to show some rustic earth, mineral and dry wood notes. I am picking up some faint cocoa powder flavors and with that are some nutty qualities on the finish along with some red pepper notes. It is a strong flavor profile and does not smoke like your standard Davidoff. I would classify the cigar as being medium-full to full in body and strength, and as I just said, the flavors are there as well. The draw so far has been cool and with that is a nice bit of smoke being produced. The ash has this dark charcoal coloring and it really has this Cuban cigar ash to it which is quite entertaining. Not your typical Davidoff, this is an evening cigar for many.

First Third

First third’s flavor provides a mixture of coffee beans, hay and palate coating balanced white pepper spice. Inch in, a creamed slightly sweetened bread note appears. Retrohaling gives fuller flavors of creamy bread, white pepper and rich roasted nuttiness. The finish is fairly clean with lasting notes of layered white pepper and dried nuts. Strength and body within the first third is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the mustiness picks back up as the cedar gains a bit of spice to it. At a half inch in, the slightly spicy cedar and mustiness continue on and are a bit drying. The retrohale carries the same mix of spicy cedar and mustiness. At an inch in, a slight creaminess and pepper join the cedar and mustiness. As the third comes to a close, some mintiness joins the cedar and mustiness. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Second Third

I am in the second third of the cigar now and there has been some transition from the first third. It is still showing those woody notes from before but the pepper notes have dialed back some. There are a few red pepper notes present but more of a subtle black pepper vibe that is pairing with those dry rustic earth notes. The cocoa powder profile has become more pronounced and the cigar has become creamier as well. It is still a full flavored cigar, but some transitions here and there. I would still classify the cigar as being medium-full in body and strength and as I said before, it is not your standard Davidoff. It really touches on some of the more modern Davidoff qualities. The construction is still solid in this third and I am getting a cool draw that is easy with a nice bit of smoke. The ash is remaining that dark charcoal color and it is not holding on that firmly. It it is a loose ash and falling off quite frequently.

Second Third

Second third shows the flavor intensities picking up, providing full and distinct notes of creamy bread, roasted nuttiness, white pepper, hay and coffee beans. Retrohaling gives greater depths of white pepper, bread and roasted nuts. The finish continues to be clean with lingering creamed nuttiness, baking spices, and layered dry wood. Strength is moving towards medium-full and body stays medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the mintiness ramps up and is at the front while the cedar and mustiness are in the background. At a half inch in, the mintiness fades way back and lets the cedar and mustiness move back up front. At an inch in, the mintiness and mustiness are completely gone and a lot of cream joins in with the cedar. As the cigar comes to a close, a little mintiness rejoins the profile along with the creamy cedar. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Final Third

When I get into the final third of the cigar, I find the cedar and wood notes become more pronounced and with that are the cocoa powder notes from before. The spice has faded away completely and it has a smooth and creamy finish. There is a faint earth and nutty flavor profile present but it is not what it once was. Overall, the flavors have dialed back quite dramatically and it is a simpler and smoother finish. It is not lacking in terms of flavors, just more focused on certain aspects and not as complex. I would classify the cigar as being medium-full in the flavor department and the same goes for the body and strength. The construction remains solid to the end and the cigar is smoking evenly with a nice bit of smoke. Like before, the ash has that dark charcoal coloring and it is falling off the cigar quite easily. It’s a smooth finish and it leaves the smoker pleased with the experience and able to enjoy another one right away.

Final Third

Last third shows a gradual increase in rawness of tobacco as the cigar progresses. Core flavors are still present, but harshness easily takes over. Luckily, it’s not just a one note harshness which makes the cigar still enjoyable and engaging (just not as enjoyable as the first two thirds).

Burn

There were some slight waves, but overall, the burn was very straight. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Burn

From beginning to end the cigar had a nice burn line and presented no problems while smoking. The ash was not as pretty as some would like but that is not a factor for me. It was a loose ash as well and was falling all over the place when smoking.

Burn

Burn performance was overall very good. Great 1.5 inch ash retention, sharp burn line and a cool burn. The only downside was the flaky ash.

Draw

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

Overall

Based on the status of this cigar, I was interested to see what it presented and it didn’t disappoint. It brought some traditional Davidoff flavors including the signature mustiness that I get and enjoy in them. The flavors were very up front while the strength hovered around medium. Cost doesn’t factor into our rating, but it’s worth noting that this carries a premium price tag. You do get a long and enjoyable experience for your money. This was a very enjoyable experience and has me looking forward to smoking the other years offered. I would gladly smoke this cigar again.

Draw

I thought the draw was solid throughout. It was not as snug as I typically care for in a cigar but it was not too loose. I would say it was perfect for a majority of the cigar smokers out there.

Overall

I have yet to smoke all of the Master Selection releases but as of right now I think the 2013 is the best. I feel it has the best complexity and flavor profile of the ones I have smoked. I think it is years ahead of the 2010. The Davidoff The Master Selection 2010 is not a bad cigar but it is lacking in terms of complexity and depth from beginning to end. It is a fuller body and strength cigar which is nice, but I wish it had more flavors present with that. It started off well but went downhill from there. I want a cigar to progress and improve with each third. At least remain constant. If you are looking for a flavorful and complex cigar, this is not it. With that being said, if you are looking for a consistent flavor profile with a stronger body and strength offering this one is for you.

Draw

Ideal draw. Cutting the cap in line with the ring gauge of the cigar yielded the perfect draw.

Overall

A truly enjoyable smoking experience providing building complexities and strength. The fullness in flavors and at the same time balance of flavors was a treat to experience. Last third shows a gradual increase in harshness, which to me means there is aging potential. With enough patience, further aging should be rewarded on the palate. This Davidoff release is one not to be missed.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.92

Cost/Point

$5.06

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

5.85

Cost/Point

$5.98

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

8.13

Cost/Point

$4.30

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Davidoff The Master Selection 2010