Vitola: Espada Estoque (long Corona? wide Lonsdale?)- 7” x 44 ring gauge
- $17.45
- Purchased from Small Batch Cigar
Background
I’ve called it “the most hyped cigar of 2018.” I stick by that, too. In 2015 Steve Saka founded Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and put out his first regular line: Sobremesa. It was an immediate hit and my choice for Cigar of the Year that year. One thing not mentioned much at the time, though, was this fact: at the trade show in New Orleans that year, the Dunbarton price sheet had something called “Sin Compromiso” on it. Basically, Saka was trying to make sure he could record some sales for products that wouldn’t ship as full production items for quite some time.
2018 turned out to be the right time finally and Sin Compromiso was released to the public…although not in a large way. Initial shipments were pretty small and limited only to shops that ordered a minimum amount of every other regular release Dunbarton makes. If you don’t need those other boxes of sticks right now or found that some blends simply aren’t selling…well, too bad, basically. And even the stores that did get Sin Compromiso apparently didn’t get that many. The first shipment arrived in mid-to-late September and sold out almost immediately. The second shipment came in toward the end of November and is long gone. It’s already been called Cigar of the Year by some bloggers, even with limited availability. So what is this cigar? The company’s website describes it like this:
Sin Compromiso, without compromise, is our company mantra and the guiding ethos for everything we do here at Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust.
Creating a cigar brand to manifest this expression into a tangible reality was an incredibly challenging task as this cigar simply had to be beyond exceptional. From the cultivation of distinct and unique tobaccos to the careful working of these prized leaves to allowing only the very best torcedors to hand craft each cigar. Even the box which contains these vitolas had to be extra special – in short, this cigar is the absolute best of everything.
The result is a truly unique, complex cigar that is smooth, yet strong at the very same time. It delivers a captivating and entrancing smoke for the experienced palate with flavors that are constantly swirling and changing from puff to puff. At its core is an inherent sweetness paired with a savory spiciness, but hidden within its layers are notes of cocao, espresso, loam and even chicory root. I spent over three years of meticulously crafting and tweaking this blend and I can say without reservation it is personally my best liga ever. I have never experienced such an intriguing and satisfying smoke.
It is made in the Joya de Nicaragua factory in Estelí using Nicaraguan “Independent Plantation Grown” fillers, a hybridized Ecuador Habano “Thin Ligero” binder, and a San Andrés Negro “Cultivo Tonto” wrapper. They have made 5 vitals so far and they ship in boxes of 13. At this time Small Batch and Cigar and Pipes are sold out, but keep checking back.
Prelight
The box is a highly lacquered green affair that looks beautiful in the photos where I’ve seen it. The cigars come without cellophane, a first for Dunbarton, if I’m remembering correctly. The band is a simple black and white design with an almost-Celtic cross dominating the front and leaves serving as the arms around the back. The majority of the cigar is sheathed in cedar, on which is printed very nicely “Sin Compromise” along with the company logo. It’s all very well-executed, but then you turn the cigar over and see the future: even though the cigar is non-cellophaned…even though it has a cedar sheath…Steve is still clever enough to get a barcode on the cigar. Every other company in the business needs to consult with Steve Saka on why and how to get barcodes properly on their cigars. Even the ones currently doing it “right” could use a lecture on the matter…especially after I found one company’s cigars in the store humidor last week with the wrong barcodes on them. This is a bit of a rant, but seriously…we’re not even near the beginning of the 21st century any longer…it’s time for companies small and large, very old and very young…to just get with the damn program and get barcodes on their cigars. And stop changing them every damn year! I’m talking to you, Davidoff!
The wrapper was a milk chocolate brown color with a smooth—but not terribly oily—feel to it. The aroma from the wrapper was a mix of earth and leather and parchment; the foot had more earth, along with coffee bean and tobacco notes.
Once I clipped the head, the draw was excellent and the cold flavor was a mix of cedar, wet forest floor, and just a touch of baking spice.
Flavor
The Sin Compromiso lit up quickly and evenly. The first few puffs gave up flavors of wood and earth, semi-sweet chocolate, and cumin. There was a touch of pepper spice, but it was very down-played, even on the retrohale. Speaking of the retrohale, there was a tea note and a bit of a woody note on the nose. As the first third burned along I picked up more of a baking spice note with cinnamon. The overall flavor profile stated to pick up a little more sweetness, as well.
As I got deep into the second third, I got more cinnamon and cedar, backed up with earth and cocoa powder, accented by semi-sweet chocolate and coffee bean notes. Occasionally, there was even a bit of a citrus note. The cigar was medium-plus in body so far.
The final third of Sin Compromiso featured cocoa powder and coffee notes coming to the fore with cinnamon still playing a large part. Mildly sweet notes bolstered from underneath and a little pepper spice came into play from time to time.
Construction
I had a great draw, very straight burn line, and solid ash over half an inch pretty much every time.
Value
Steve Saka is unapologetic about the high price of this cigar. At over $17 each it competes directly with offerings from Padron and Davidoff, as well as other “high end” brands. The thing is…it’s more complex than most Padrons I’ve had and more interesting than most Davidoff sticks in this price range. If you’re comfortable with those price tags, you should have no problem with this one.
Conclusions
Steve Saka believes that Sin Compromiso is his best blend ever. I have to say I still slightly prefer Sobremesa and Mi Querida, but overall this is one dynamite cigar with an amazing amount of complexity and pure enjoyment from end to end. When you say “without compromise” it means you put all your cards on the table, buy the best tobaccos for the blend you can, and imbue the blend with all your skill. To that I say “misión cumplida!”
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
