Vitola: Toro- 6” x 52 ring gauge
- MSRP $32
- Purchased from Burns Tobacconist
Background
I had to take a second look at the date of this cigar’s release…June 2018? Really? I thought it was out in 2019. Just shows how all the time in the last couple years is getting compressed in my mind. So, the Paragon is part of the Davidoff Vault program, wherein one of the world’s most exclusive cigar companies releases a limited number of cigars to a limited number of shops, making the exclusivity factor that much higher.
This is a 3-country blend using a wrapper from the Dominican Republic called a “Hybrid 253,” a Mexican San Andres binder, and five different fillers: “four from the Dominican Republic: piloto viso, viso Villa Gonzales, San Vicente mejorado ligero and Hybrid 133 viso from Yamasá. The final filler is habano viso from Estelí, Nicaragua.” (Quoted from halfwheel’s news report on the release.)
I didn’t see a note about how many of these were made or distributed, but there are some left at Davidoff retailers who got them. I bought mine at Burns Tobacconist in Chattanooga. Leaf Enthusiast sponsor, Small Batch Cigar, has a Robusto size in stock.
Prelight
The bands are the same as used on other Vault releases, basic Davidoff White Label with a secondary label that has the name of the cigar and signature of Eladio Diaz, the master blender that produces so many different blends. The wrapper leaf was a medium brown with a very reddish tinge to it; in other words, an almost perfect Colorado color. There was some slightly darker mottling, but it was beautiful and reminded me that it’s a color of wrapper you don’t see everywhere these days when everyone wants either golden Connecticut Shade or Maduro or the red-free medium brown of a Habano leaf.
I got notes of hay and Davidoff funk from the wrapper. The outer leaf is an unusual place to get the funk, but it may have just come from being aged an extra long time, so I didn’t find it completely out of place. On the foot, there was more funk, along with earth and cedar and just a little leather.
Once cut, the cold draw was perfect. It had flavors of citrus and hay and baking spice, all of which showed up clearly just a few moments later.
Flavor
The Davidoff Paragon fired up easily and evenly with no drama. I immediately got flavors of bread, baking spice, and citrus on my tongue, in a smoke that I would not rate more than mild-plus. The retrohale had hazelnut and white pepper. I got a woodiness and lingering sweet orange note on the finish. As the first third burned along the smoke picked up body and settled comfortably into the milder side of “medium.”
Getting into the second third, I got more of a tangy citrus note while the sweetness was almost a caramel. There was a steady white pepper on palate and nose, along with hints of cedar and leather, while the bread notes faded quite a bit.
The last third was mostly a continuation of the same, moderate sweetness with mild pepper and more wood and leather.
Construction
I had a great draw, fairly even burn line, and ash that held on for about a quarter to half an inch before flaking apart when I tapped off.
Value
There’s no mistaking that this is an expensive cigar, with a retail price over $30. It does offer a very nice experience, although I’d be hard-pressed to say it really fulfills the full value like some of the other Vault releases.
Conclusions
The Paragon was definitely a very good cigar and I did enjoy it from end-to-end, but I couldn’t really find any “wow” factor in it. Yes, it’s a Davidoff and a nice, special blend from Eladio Diaz…I just didn’t find it to be one of his most compelling special blends. Of course, that’s why he made more than one…because some people will gravitate to some, other people will enjoy something else. Ultimately, like all cigars, you have to decide for yourself, and while I think the Davidoff Vault Paragon is worth smoking once or twice, it’s not something I would buy a 10-pack of.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 8.5/10
