Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a deep reddish brown with a shade lighter color surrounding the veins. The veins that are visible are fairly thin. The seams on the cigar are nearly invisible and the triple cap is expertly applied. There are two bands, the primary being a crown and the foot band denoting Sobremesa. They are primarily gold in color with brown backgrounds and the brown is very close to the wrapper color which I would guess is to almost give a floating effect to the gold portions. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of leather and hay. The foot aroma is a mildly sweet raisin. The pre-light draw is an even milder sweet raisin as well as a bit of leather.

Pre-light Experience

The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Short Churchill has a gorgeous silky smooth rosado wrapper. Veins are well pressed and seams tight. Bunching and roll feels well done as there is a nice and even uniformed give and no soft spots. The parejo head is finished off with a well adhered triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives spicy cedar and barnyard. Nosing the foot gives dry red chili, dry nuts and sweet natural tobacco. Cold draw tells spicy cedar, dry cardboard and faint musk.

First Third

Initial draws bring a heavy dose of cinnamon with some wood in the background. A quarter inch in, the cinnamon mellows and becomes even with the wood which is now more defined as oak. At three quarters of an inch in, some cream comes in to join with the cinnamon and oak. The retrohale is creamy oak with a little bit of cinnamon in the background. At an inch in, the creamy oak really pushes to the front and the cinnamon is now just a background note. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

The first third has generous portions of full and distinct flavors. Great balance of creamy chocolate, dry white pepper spice, barnyard and oak in spades. Roughly an inch in, a residual heated spice enters the palate. Through the nose, spicy oak, bread and creamy nuts (perhaps de-skinned dry almonds). The finish is long and lasting providing spicy oak, bread and de-skinned dry almonds. Body is at the medium full mark. Strength is somewhere in between medium and medium full.

Second Third

As this third begins, some cinnamon comes back to the profile along with the creamy oak. After a few draws I begin to get a bit of a vegetal note to go along with the creamy oak and cinnamon finish. After a few more draws the vegetal note goes away. At a half inch in, the cinnamon goes away and the creamy oak remains. At an inch in, a little bitterness joins in with the creamy oak. The retrohale is primarily oak with some cream and pepper in the background. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Second Third

The most noticeable transition from first to second third is the strength. The strength is now medium full, providing a relaxing, cloudy head. The flavors are still full and distinct, having balanced notes of creamy chocolate, dry white pepper spice, barnyard and oak. Through the nose, still spicy oak, bread and de-skinned dry almonds. The finish continues to be long and lasting with spicy oak, bread, de-skinned dry almonds and an introduction of slight wood bitterness. Body stays at the medium full mark.

Final Third

As this third begins it is primarily oak both in the mouth and on the retrohale. A quarter inch in, some cream comes back to the profile to go along with the oak. At three quarters of an inch in, some mintiness joins the creamy oak profile. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third was medium-full.

Final Third

Main difference between the second third and last third is the slight increase in wood notes. Still, full and distinctive flavors of creamy chocolate, dry white pepper spice and barnyard. Through the retrohale, still spicy oak, bread and de-skinned dry almond. The finish is still long and lingering with spicy oak, bread, de-skinned dry almonds and wood bitterness. Both body and strength is still at the medium-full mark.

Burn

The burn was pretty razor sharp the entire time. Ashes held on in about three quarter inch increments.

Burn

Burn was very good. Total smoking time clocked in at 1 hour and 35 minutes. Burn line was a bit wavy the entire time, but not a major issue as all leaves burned in unison. Ashes held on fairly tight and sturdy, averaging 1 inch increments.

Draw

The draw had just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

There were two cigars that I smoked at IPCPR in 2016 that caught my attention and this was one of them. It is a very nice addition to the Sobremesa line and gives a unique experience with some additional strength. For those that enjoyed the original releases and are OK with the additional strength, this is a must try. Being a smaller vitola, it helps those that need a shorter smoke but still brings great flavors and nuance. It also helps with a lower price compared to some of the larger vitolas. I highly recommend that people seek this out.

Draw

The draw was perfect. I had just the right amount of resistance to draw in all the flavors.

Overall

I find the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Short Churchill to be a more robust cigar in comparison to the other Sobremesa vitolas. More robust in the sense of increased spice and strength levels. I love smaller cigars like this (although smoking time was long for the size) because it does the job and keeps me satisfied before my cigar A.D.D. kicks in. The hype surrounding this one is warranted.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

7.67

Cost/Point

$1.36

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

8.53

Cost/Point

$1.22

Scoring System