Today’s review comes at the request of a reader from Michigan who contacted me via Twitter. While the Davidoff Maduro is a cigar I smoke from time to time, it is one that has yet to be reviewed on the website. Being a “blogger” I always tend to smoke what is new for review, and often neglect the staples of the humidor.
According to the Davidoff website, “The Maduro series presents intense yet smooth aromas of nuts, caramel, and honey with sweet twists of dark chocolate and chili.” Which goes on to say, “The Maduro Series is instantly recognizable, thanks to the distinctively dark color of its wrapper, grown from Criollo seeds, exclusively for this line.”
Cigar Review: Davidoff Maduro R
Size: 5 x 52 (R/Robusto)
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium
Source: Two Guys Smoke Shop
The Look: The Davidoff Maduro has a dark wrapper with some significant vein that are lighter in color then the cigar itself. Outside of the weathered looking wrapper the cigar is rolled to perfection with no soft spots and a nice weight to it. The band of the cigar is the classic Davidoff white label with gold writing, and a secondary band of black and gold that denotes Maduro R (Robusto).
The Notes: The nose of the unlit Davidoff Maduro is a cross between raisins and licorice creating a sweetness that is enticing, while the cold draw of the cigar serves up some earth notes with a hint of licorice.
Once the cigar is lit the cigar takes on elements of a classic Davidoff cigar with notes of hay and earth that are very reminiscent of a barn. While we got into a debate at work if this was a compliment or not, there is no denying these Davidoff flavors that are there trademark much like Pepin spice.
As we progress deeper into the first third some notes of sweetness emerge that border on anise which goes well with the dark espresso that is developing as the cigar begins to transition into the second third.
The second third of the cigar sees the earthy notes disappear and the focus is that of espresso, nuts, anise and a hint of honey. The honey note is more of an afterthought that is experienced on the short finish of this classic maduro smoke.
The last third of the Davidoff Maduro sees the return of notes of earth with continues anise, and there is some cedar on the finish of the cigar which is also slightly sweet and moderate in length.
The Burn: A slow burning stick with an ultra thin combustion line the Davidoff Maduro has a strong ash that held on for the first half of the cigar before falling off on its own. The cigar had the epitome of a perfect draw and stayed lit from first light to last puff.
The Finish: While the price is hard to swallow for an every day cigar it does show its value with its rich smooth notes and outstanding burn. Traits that help set Davidoff apart from many cigars on the market today. For me this is the perfect cigar to rest in the hammock with as a gentle breeze stirs the wind chimes in the distance and you escape from reality to enjoy some peace and quiet.
Score: 92
Price: $19.19
Bullet Points
(Random Thoughts While Smoking)
- The first time I ever had this cigar was at De La Concha in NYC which is now a Davidoff store with boxer Renaldo Snipes who lost a controversial bout versus Larry Holmes.
- Despite the wrapper having a lot of veins, it was nice to smoke a maduro that wasn’t dyed.
- It also proves how looks are often deceiving.
- There aren’t many Maduro cigars on the market that represent how they use to be (sweet); but this is one of them.
- I paired the cigar with Cuban Coffee.
- The Davidoff website says smoking time is :45 minutes. For me, the cigar lasted just shy of 2 hours.
Davidoff Maduro
Davidoff Maduro Foot
Davidoff Maduro Burn
