Earlier this month the local rep stopped by to drop off a couple of samples of the new Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed cigar. As luck would have it, he had one less sample than the amount of people who were working that day and I handed mine off to Derek so he could do a pre-release review.
According the press release, “Inspired by Zino Davidoff’s passionate, pioneering spirit, Davidoff tobacco Masters, led by master blender Henke Kelner, were tasked with seeking out an intense, new and original type of blend that would stimulate both the bitter, and sweet, taste buds. Their relentless pursuit of perfection paid off when they discovered that a blend crafted with the finest leaves from plants grown in the fiery volcanic soil of the Estelí, Condega, Jalapa and Ometepe regions of Nicaragua created just the right balance of sweet and bitter notes to tantalise the palate.”
Cigar Review: Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Davidoff Cigars
Wrapper: Habana Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan Habana Jalapa
Filler: Nicaragua (Condega, Esteli, Ometepe)
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Vitola: Robusto
Strength: Medium
The Look: One of my gripes about the Davidoff Nicaragua line is the boxes the cigars come in. Simple, black boxes with a slide top. I wish there was a groove to put the box top in for display in the humidor. It just feels like the box doesn’t match the price point but you can’t smoke the box so let us move on to the cigar itself. Featuring the Nicaragua black and silver Davidoff ban, the box pressed version gets a secondary band denoting just that. Exquisitely pressed to perfection the cigar has a nice weight to it and no soft spots.
The Notes: Once cut, the cold draw of the Nicaragua Box Pressed from Davidoff reminds me of a kola nut. Joining the kola note is a touch of earth. The nose off the foot of the cigar is a bit more complex with notes of chocolate, earth and a subtle cherry. Overall, I am intrigued and can’t wait to light up.
The initial third serves up a well-defined chocolate note before some black pepper joinw the mix. Moving further into the cigar some earth joins the mix creating the bitter and sweet profile that the press release alluded to. The finish has elements of the kola nut from the cold draw with a subtle cherry like sweetness.
In the second third the sweetness begins to take a back seat as some bitter but enjoyable notes begin to take control. The cigar develops a subtle leather note and the pepper notes begin to take on more of a red pepper flakes feel about it. Some of the chocolate from the first third holds on slightly during the finish which grows from short to lengthy by the time we reach the middle of the experience.
As we enter the final third we remove the bands and the cigar develops notes of espresso that is also evident on the aroma of the cigar. As the cigar comes to a close the pepper notes fade away as the cigar has a moderate earthy finish.
The Burn: About an inch into the cigar and every inch or less thereafter I wound up wearing my ash. Thankfully my shirt survived with no collateral damage. The draw of the cigar is fluid, a bit more so than I would like but according to Davidoff this is by design. The burn line is fairly even with an average combustion line. The cigar remained lit from first like to last puff and smoking time was 75 minutes.
The Finish: When you hear Nicaragua and Box Pressed your mind tends to think of a specific cigar. With your mind thinking of that smoke it is hard not to compare this to that. While the original Davidoff Nicaragua was given a pass by me for not being Nicaraguan enough, I expected more of a Nicaraguan flair to this cigar. So the question I then have to ask is would I prefer to smoke the original release or the Box Pressed, and I think I will continue to reach for the Davidoff Nicaragua Robusto Tubo.
Score: 89
Price: $17.39 / $65.99 / $196.99
Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed
Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed Foot
Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed Burn
