Cigar Preview: Davidoff Yamasa

Vitola: Toro
Size: 6″ x 52 ring gauge
Price $22.70 MSRP
IPCPR Show Sample

Background

The last three new lines from Davidoff have showcased tobacco from different regions.  First the Nicaragua, then the Escurio (Brazil), and now the Yamasa (Dominican Republic).  This cigar contains a wrapper and binder from the Yamasa region of the Dominican Repulic, with fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican.  Yamasa is a region, that from what I can find, isn’t the most conducive to growing tobacco, however through some hard work and some ingenuity they were able to get a small amount of tobacco for cigars.  They released this new blend at the most recent IPCPR show.  They come in 4 sizes: Robusto (5 x 50, $19.70), Toro (6 x 52, $22.70), Piramides (6 1/8 x 52, $23) and Petit Churchill (4 x 48, $12.90).  The first three come in boxes of 12, while the smallest size comes in boxes of 14.  This was my first experience with this cigar.

Prelight

The top band is the familiar black and silver one found on the Nicaragua and Escurio, and the red bottom band making it very clear that it is a different blend.  The wrapper was a medium-dark brown in color with a good amount of oils and tooth to it.  When I gave it a squeeze I noticed a slight lumpiness to the cigar with a slight amount of give and no soft spots.  Putting my nose to the wrapper I got the aroma of leather with barnyard coming from the foot.  After clipping and taking a cold draw I got a taste of wood with a good draw.

Flavor

It starts off with a blast of red pepper spice on the tongue and retrohale.  Not something you would expect from a Davidoff cigar.  After taking a few more puffs on it I could taste leather, wood, cinnamon and hints of marshmallow and copper.  It started off at the upper end of medium strength.  As I moved into the second third the spice started to mellow out quite a bit.  The second third saw similar flavors to the first except I started to get more sweetness from the cigar.  The strength stayed the same as the first third.  Once I got into the final third the strength had built a bit and I did get a slight nicotine hit from it.  The flavors changed to leather, earth, wood with a salty finish.  The spice did come back as well.

Construction

While not up to the normal Davidoff perfection, the draw was great and the burn was only slightly wavy.  It’s a show sample so that plays into it.

Value

I know it’s Davidoff, and I know the FDA are bastards, but $23 seems a little high to me.

Conclusions

While it didn’t blow my socks off (and for $23 it should have at least wow’d me) I can see some potential there.  I think I’ll give one that has been stored and cared for properly a try and see how that one goes.