Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a medium tan and has a pretty drastic color variation where it is darker nearest to the foot from the rest of the wrapper. There are some easily visible veins as the wrapper color is lighter surrounding them. The seams are well blended as are the caps, except for the top one as it is lifting on one side. The aroma from the wrapper is a slightly sweet, dry hay. The aroma from the foot is sweeter with a slight spice. The pre-light draw has a bready characteristic with a bit of spice on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed Robusto has a silky smooth Colorado red-like wrapper. The primary and secondary bands as expected from Davidoff, delivers a classy yet bold presentation. The box press is well pressed and rolled showing a good even give, well adhered triple cap, well pressed veins and seams fairly flawless. Pre-light wrapper aroma tells dry wood, slight barnyard and white pepper. Foot aroma tells an abundance of sweet hay and white pepper. Cold draw reveals natural tobacco notes, sawdust and lip tingling white pepper.

First Third

As the cigar begins, I am getting a nice dose of cinnamon along with some drying woodiness. After a half dozen draws, the woodiness is not as drying and a light chocolate is now mixing in with the cinnamon and wood. The retrohale carries a very nice full black pepper experience. About half an inch in, the cinnamon has mellowed and there is now some coffee mixing with the chocolate and wood. About an inch in and the flavors mellow. Still a light wood, chocolate and coffee. The cinnamon has now made its way to the retrohale and mixes with a bit of wood. Further in, all of the flavors are really melding together well. Nearing the end of the third, wood becomes the primary flavor with a bit of coffee and the chocolate has gone away. The retrohale is also woody with a slight coffee bitterness. The strength in this third was medium-full.

First Third

First thirds flavor profile starts with bold and rich flavors of oily white pepper, hay, black coffee, sweet and creamy bread and medium charred wood. The flavor profile is fairly dry, calling for many drinks of water. Halfway through the first third, intensity of the hay, sweet and creamy bread and oily white pepper ramps up. Also, introduction of bitter dry roasted nuts enter. Through the retrohale, powerful eye tearing white pepper balanced by sweet hay. The finish is namely charred wood, bitter roasted nuts and sweet cream. The body is at a steady medium throughout the entire first third. The strength starts off with a solid medium but towards the last few draws of the first third, increases to a medium plus.

Second Third

This third begins the same way the first finished with wood and some coffee. A quarter of an inch in and the wood has taken over and has become drying again. Wood also dominates the retrohale. A few draws further in, the coffee picks up a bit to give some better balance to the profile. As the cigar continues, it is still drying with the level of coffee that is mixing in fluctuates in and out. As the third continues, some minerality comes into play in the mouth and on the retrohale which decreases the dryness slightly. As the third comes to a close, the dryness has nearly subsided with the flavors still being primarily woody with some minerality. The strength in this third remained medium-full.

Second Third

Second thirds flavor profile continues to be dry, bold and rich. Still flavors of charred wood, sweet and creamy bread, bitter roasted nuts, oily white pepper and hay. The black coffee note is no longer tasted. A new flavor note of baking spice is introduced into the mix. The body and strength continues to be medium and medium plus, respectively.

Final Third

As this third begins, there is a slight char with the woodiness along with a little bitterness. The bitterness slightly increases as the third progresses. As the third continues, some sweet cream comes into play to break up the bitterness and completely takes the dryness out of the profile. Nearing the end of the third, some mustiness comes into play as the sweet cream fades away. There is still some charred wood in the mix. The retrohale is still creamy and also carries some of the mustiness. The strength in this third continues at medium-full.

Final Third

The last thirds first half mimics the end of the second thirds notes. Flavors of charred wood, sweet and creamy bread, bitter roasted nuts, oily white pepper, hay and baking spice. Roughly at the second half of the last third, the oily white pepper transitions to an oily red chili often found as a condiment at Asian restaurants. In addition to this, sweet hay/grass replaces the sweet and creamy bread note. The oily red chili and sweet hay/grass is compounded by the same aforementioned flavors. Just like the second third, body is at a medium and strength at a medium plus.

Burn

The burn was very good. It did go out once during the second third and required a re-light, but other than that, the burn line was straight. It also produced volumes of smoke.

Burn

The burn rate was great as I was able to enjoy the cigar in one and a half hours. The burn line and ash is where the cigar failed. The burn line was very uneven at all times, leaving chunks of un-burnt wrapper. The ash was quite flowery and flaky.

Draw

The draw was perfect, allowing me to meter each draw just how I like it.

Overall

The first third was the star here while the remainder of the cigar dropped down a peg. Performance was great which is always a plus. With the strength level being on the higher end, I would recommend this to more experienced smokers. Some of the flavors were a bit nuanced as well, so those may be lost on a newer smoker. I think this cigar would pair well with coffee, just not sure I would recommend that pairing in the morning. It would also pair well with a bourbon or whiskey which would align more with an evening smoke. Based on my experience, I would say that this is a step up from the original Davidoff Nicaragua.

Draw

The draw overall was good. A bit loose for my liking but the cigar stayed nice and cool the entire smoking time.

Overall

Davidoff has another winner in their portfolio, showing once again, the bolder side of what they can do. The dark and rich notes worked very well in unison. This is a post meal type of cigar, as the strength will definitely make its mark. A cigar well worth putting into your rotation.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.87

Cost/Point

$2.11

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.27

Cost/Point

$2.31

Scoring System