Cigar: Muestra De Saka
Size: Nacatamale (6×48)
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
MSRP: $15.95 per cigar
Samples provided by the manufacturer
Finishing up the last of the cigars that I was not able to get to before the end of 2017 comes a refined offering from Steve Saka and Dunbarton & Trust. The name loosely translates to “Samples of Saka”, which given that each of the seven vitolas come with different blends of tobacco. This makes each vitola its own unique smoking experience.
No construction issues were found on the remaining Muestra De Saka (I received two). The box and plastic wrapper did well to protect the cigar. In taking the cigar out of its respective containers, it was perfectly humidified. The pre-light aromas gave me notes of tobacco, sweet baking spices and pepper while the cold draw (using a standard guillotine cut) brought faint hints of fruit. The draw had just a light amount of resistance to it but not enough to hinder the smoking in any way. The opening flavor notes consisted of mild spice, roasted nuts and wood. This isn’t nearly as strong as the Todos Las Dias but I would categorize it in the medium-to-full bodied range of strength. The cigar stayed as described for a time until the 32 minute mark I began noticing stronger notes of spice and wood. The strength of the cigar began moving toward full bodied territory at the hour mark, while letting the spice, wood and roasted nut flavors rise with it. By the last inch of the cigar, the wood became the pre-dominant flavor while it was joined with black coffee notes. The total smoking time on the Muestra De Saka was 1:18.
Besides a minor burn correction and one relight, the cigar was a perfectly behaved for the review. As I come to expect from all the cigars I have smoked from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, this one is another winner for them.
By-The-Numbers
Pre-light: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 0.5/1
Total: 9/10
To recap the Muestra De Saka:
- While the Todos Las Dias would be considered a cigar for the ‘salt of the earth’, I find that the Muestra De Saka has a certain air of luxury and elegance to it. It’s a controlled medium-to-full bodied cigar that would do well in my opinion to be an accompaniment to a high end whiskey at an upscale cigar bar or lounge.
- I think most ranges of cigar smokers could enjoy this cigar but I think because of the price, it’s going to scare some folks away. I know for me this is well out of my comfortable range of everyday or once in awhile smokes.
- This is certainly a great cigar but for my palette and money, my heart belongs to the Sobremesa and Mi Querida. With that being said, I would never turn one of these down.
Thank you once again to Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust for the samples and thank you very much for reading. I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you.
