It’s been a crazy week here so far at The Cigar Authority which is part of the United Cigar Radio Network. On Wednesday our websites were hacked almost causing a delay in the launch of The Ash Holes. As we spent yesterday getting things back to normal we skipped our daily review. Today we return with the latest from Davidoff, The Year of the Rooster.
The Limited Edition cigar named for the Chinese New Year has become a huge collectors item amongst cigar passionado’s. This year the release is limited to 4,500 boxes of 10 and if it follows the lead of earlier releases it will sell out fast.
Cigar Review: Davidoff Year of the Rooster
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic (San Vicente)
Filler: Dominican Republic (Piloto Seco, San Vicente Visus, Piloto Visus and Criollo Seco)
Length: 6.75″
Ring Gauge: 50
Vitola: Diademas Finas
Cutter: Lotus Jaws
Lighter: Black Label Domininator
The Look: The packaging of the Year of the Rooster is a sight to behold. There is the glossy red textured finish of the box which opens up to show 10 diadema cigars fanned out in groupings of two. The salomon shaped cigar has a dark Ecuador Habano wrapper with a few thin veins to it. There are two bands features with the primary being the classic Davidoff white label and a secondary one of red and gold and featuring a rooster. In the hand the cigar is balanced with no soft spots and a nice weight to it.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Year of the Rooster from Davidoff has notes of earth, cedar and a touch of chocolate like sweetness. The aroma off the wrapper is sweet but without definition.
Once the cigar is lit there are notes of cedar and a well-defined hazelnut that really begins to take hold as the dominant note once you get passed the nipple. As the cigar opens up, there are nougat like nuances of brown sugar, honey and an apricot like fruitiness. As the first third comes to close a hint of vanilla begins to emerge.
In the second third of the cigar there is still some wisps of vanilla and a touch of apricot notes that serve as the background for continued notes of hazelnut. As the first third comes to a close some earth and cedar begin to develop. The retrohale of the cigar has some notes of black pepper and an aroma of leather.
As we enter the last third of the cigar the strength appears to turn up a notch. There are notes of nougat, cedar and earth with hints of vanilla on the aroma. The retrohale of the cigar has an abundance of black pepper. I wound up smoking this cigar all the way down until I couldn’t hold it anymore as it was remarkably smooth, complex and clean right to the end.
The Finish: The Year of the Cock Rooster is one of those cigars that is a step outside what you would expect from Davidoff. There is a bit of a kick in this cigar especially at the end. It was however as I mentioned before a clean smoke with enough nuances to keep me interested. I enjoyed it so much so, that despite the price tag I want to go and light up another.
Score: 93
Price: $40.00 / $379.99
Davidoff Year of the Rooster
Davidoff Year of the Rooster Burn
