Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5″ x 52 ring gauge
Price $8.50
Obtained From General Cigars as a sample
Background
This is another one of the cigars Dave sent me to review that I hadn’t heard about. Dave’s review can be found here. I didn’t realize it had been that long (2001) since Dunhill released a blend. The Dunhill brand isn’t one that I’ve had a lot of experience with as they have tended to be a higher priced cigar and one that is normally lighter in body and strength than I prefer. I was very curious to try what looked like a stronger cigar from them. This was my first experience with it. I also extend my thanks to General Cigar for getting to try this cigar.
Prelight
As soon as I took, or rather cut it as it didn’t want to come out, the cigar out of the cellophane I could smell a strong aroma of tootsie roll. The wrapper was a medium dark brown with a greyish-reddish tint to it. It also had a good amount of oils and some scattered tooth to it. When I gave it a squeeze I noted a slight amount of give without any soft spots. When I put my nose to the wrapper the aroma of tootsie roll was still readily present with barnyard coming from the foot. After clipping it and taking a cold draw on it I got a slightly sweet cinnamon flavor with a good draw.
Flavor
The cigar did take a bit of butane to get it lit, as if the tobacco didn’t want to burn. The flavors in the cigar started off with hints of cinnamon along with wood and earth with some bitterness thrown in. Towards the end of the first third I started to get the flavor of leather thrown in the but the bitterness had built in strength. From the smoke coming off the wrapper I could still note the chocolate aroma but couldn’t get any from the smoke I drew into my mouth. The cigar started off in the upper end of medium range in strength. As I moved into the second third the spice started to build with the bitterness started to fade a bit. The other flavors from the first third didn’t really change all that much. The strength was pretty much similar too. As I got into the final third the bitterness started to build back up again. I did start getting some chocolate flavors thrown it. I also experienced a slight nicotine hit from the cigar as I finished it.
Construction
The draw was pretty good throughout and the burn only needed a slight correction in the second third. I don’t know if the correction was needed because of the difficulty in lighting or another construction issue.
Value
It is good to see one of the older premium names come up with a new blend that is is line price-wise where the market has been going.
Conclusions
The bitterness, whether it was from not completely aged tobaccos or something with this cigar, made it so the experience wasn’t very enjoyable for me. If the bitterness wasn’t there and the other flavors I could get were more prevalent I think it would be quite enjoyable. I do think that if I see this in a shop I’ll pick another one up to see how it goes.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 3/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 7.5/10
These cigars must need some age. I’ll buy a couple if I see them and let them sit for awhile. The profile without the bitterness is interesting.
Mark, I think that some age will do this some good.
Wait a minute… this review looks familiar!!! hm…… where have i seen one before… I like the side by side comparison…
Yeah, that was a mistake on my part. We didn’t plan on having them so close.
Seems like maybe someone should make a review calendar…Wait! Someone does!
Now if people would just read it! 😛
Looks like a good candidate for the aging vault. Will look for them and maybe do a box share, not sure I want to go a whole box of these.
As I said on Dave’s review, doesnt sound like something to jump out and try and find. Maybe pick one or two up if I see them.