Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown with a slight reddish tint. There are a few veins present and the seams are easily visible due to a darker outlining at the edges of the leaf. The head is finished off with a very well applied triple cap. There are two bands, with the primary band having a diamond shape and the initials of the line name in it. The foot band has the line name spelled out. Both bands have a silver and black color combination. The look and feel of the bands are very reminiscent of Sobremesa. The aroma from the wrapper is very much like pipe tobacco while the foot is a mix of hay, wood and slight white pepper. The pre-light draw is a mix of the same aromas I got from smelling the tobacco with pipe tobacco, hay and wood along with a slight spicy tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Todos Las Dias Toro has a beautiful Colorado red wrapper shade. Veins are well pressed and seams tight. Bunch and roll feels spot on as there is a uniformed firm give throughout. The cap is finished off with a well adhered triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives cedar, toasted wood and bbq. Smelling the foot tells strong white pepper, spicy cedar and slight plums. Cold draw reveals cedar and hay.

First Third

Initial draws bring a good dose of cinnamon, similar to Hot Tamale candy. There is also a bit of wood that comes in shortly after the cinnamon hits on the draw. At a quarter inch in, the wood moves slightly ahead of the cinnamon while the retrohale carries a very creamy cinnamon note. At a half inch in, some cream joins the wood and cinnamon making for a nicely complex profile. At an inch in, the retrohale still carries a spicy cinnamon along with the cream. At an inch and a half, the cinnamon picks up some and is even with the wood while the cream is still in the background. There is a long spicy finish with it. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

First third reveals mouth draw flavors of dry red pepper reminiscent of cayenne pepper, dry cocoa and slightly gritty dirt. The red pepper is most engaging as it is sitting on the rear palate towards the top of my throat. Retrohaling gives deep red pepper, sharp cedar and toasted dried nuts. The finish layers the entire palate with dry red pepper and slightly gritty dirt. Strength quickly ramps to full just 1.5 inches into the cigar. Body a tad above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the wood, now better defined as oak, is back up front with the cinnamon and cream in the background. At a half inch in, the oak gains a damp note and char which drowns out the cinnamon and cream. At an inch in, the dampness fades back a bit so that it is in the background with the char note. As the third comes to a close, the dampness and char have gone away and the oak is left with a darker profile. The strength in this third moved up to medium-full.

Second Third

Second third maintains the same core flavors but creates a better melded profile. Dry red pepper, dry cocoa, gritty dirt are all still in full effect. Retrohaling brings intensities in red pepper, sharp cedar and toasted dried nuts. The finish shifts to more gritty dirt and minerals with less dry red pepper. Strength and body is unchanged at full and medium, respectively.

Final Third

The final third begins with more of the dark oak note and some slight bitterness has joined in. At a half inch in, the dark oak is becoming even fuller and there is a slight mintiness in place of the early bitterness. The retrohale is also carrying the full dark oak. The full dark oak and slight mintiness is how the cigar finishes out. The strength in this third remained at medium-full.

Final Third

Last third becomes more dry cocoa and gritty dirt oriented. The dry red pepper is still there but it’s more of a compliment to the aforementioned flavors. The pepper however is still deep and intense on the retrohale. The finish continues to be minerals and gritty dirt focused with less dry red pepper. Strength and body has no changes being full strength and medium bodied.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy through the first third and then straightened out. I did have to do a re-light in the final third. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Burn

Burn performance was very good. Just a minor touch required within the first third. Aside from that, solid ash marks averaging 1 inch increments, relatively straight burn and a cool smoking experience.

Draw

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

Overall

The start with a dominant cinnamon note was right up my alley. That got lost getting into the second third and beyond as the oak note was primarily what was presented the rest of the way in different fashions. This is definitely a cigar for the fuller strength smoker as it was at medium-full most of the way. I wish the complexity of the first third had gone longer. I’m interested in trying the different vitolas in this line to see where the sweet spot is. With that said, fans of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust would do well in picking some of these up as would others that are fuller strength smokers. I am looking forward to smoking more of these.

Draw

Perfect draw with just the right amount of resistance and air flow to take in all the flavors.

Overall

No doubt the strongest Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust cigar to date. But this isn’t strength just for strength’s sake. It’s far from that. It is a spicy, earthy and cocoa forward delivery matching well with the intense strength. Definitely pick some up if you want to know how flavor and strength should taste and feel.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.82

Cost/Point

$1.83

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.07

Cost/Point

$1.76

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Todos Las Dias Toro