Cuban Davidoff No 1

[Tino]

From 1989, so 25 years old this year. Rolled at El Laguito, stored at Davidoff London since arrival in the UK on release.

Wrapped in cello. 38x7.6"

Smoked at a Davidoff vintage cigar event in London.

First third

Grassy opening, tastes dry, autumnal. Mild. Draw is a touch tight but nothing to cause problems. Very elegant. Picking up slightly towards the end of the first third, some peanut brittle flavour.

Second third

Tobacco and cashew, some biscuit/cracker. I breathe in a bit of smoke from the lit end and it has a pleasing pepper spice. It’s still a mild smoke overall. Civilised. The draw is waxing and waning, it’s loosened up a touch and there’s a musky stone fruit flavour developing.

Final third

It’s just about hit medium body and the flavours are richer. Some milk chocolate makes an appearance. Draw tightens again and it starts to heat up. Flavours start to muddy and I pitch it before the finger burning stage.

Conclusions

It was a cigar I was excited to try and it's always going to be difficult to live up to expectations. It was an interesting journey of a smoke, it teased and developed and held my interest throughout the two hours. It built nicely from very mild to a solid medium in the final third. I was concerned initially that it was going to be very dry and dusty, but it came to life and still had some fresher flavours. I did really want to like it though. Would I have been blown away by those flavours in a less exalted cigar? Possibly not. A great experience though, happy to add it to my reference of cigars.

[srbbones]

Thanks for reviewing! I bought one in the London Davidoff store about 2 years ago. Been waiting to smoke it, maybe soon

[dangolf18]

Cool thanks for sharing. I almost bought a single at the Davidoff shop in London a few years ago but didn't want to spend the coin.

[mk05]

Thanks for the report. They are doing tastings for these now? Must be flat lining hard. I heard the bigger rg Davi's were dead already.

[Rye]

Thanks for a great review! After reading this, I'm not sure if I'd smoke or hold onto one if I came across it.

[nikesupremedunk]

Surprising how most of CC Davidoff reviews I've read all were underwhelmed by it. Still, I'm sure it was an awesome experience finally smoking a white whale. I think I'd rather spend the same coin (or less) and try a CGR. Speaking of prices, may I ask how much these things were selling for, especially in UK?

[CaptainQuintero]

Good stuff!

I'm pretty happy with Trinidad Coloniales being very close to Davidoff blends. Not the RT or RTE though.

The Reyes and Fundy show hints to me but nothing more than an homage

[srbbones]

Surprising how most of CC Davidoff reviews I've read all were underwhelmed by it. Still, I'm sure it was an awesome experience finally smoking a white whale. I think I'd rather spend the same coin (or less) and try a CGR. Speaking of prices, may I ask how much these things were selling for, especially in UK?

It was 40 or 60 British Pounds - I can't remember which.

[nem]

Thanks for the detailed review. I'm curious as to whether these came from a cardboard five pack or a SLB/SBN? Cardboard five packs are supposedly still relatively easy to find (even a couple of airport duty frees carry them), but of course, they may or may not age as well when compared to other packaging formats.

[Tino]

Thanks for the detailed review. I'm curious as to whether these came from a cardboard five pack or a SLB/SBN? Cardboard five packs are supposedly still relatively easy to find (even a couple of airport duty frees carry them), but of course, they may or may not age as well when compared to other packaging formats.

These were from an SBN of 25, each cigar individually wrapped in cellophane

[dangolf18]

I remember them being 100-140 pounds a pop.

[mk05]

Good stuff!

I'm pretty happy with Trinidad Coloniales being very close to Davidoff blends.

Do you find Trinidad Coloniales tasting similar to ERDM Grandes de Espanas?

[Lant63]

Surprising how most of CC Davidoff reviews I've read all were underwhelmed by it. Still, I'm sure it was an awesome experience finally smoking a white whale. I think I'd rather spend the same coin (or less) and try a CGR. Speaking of prices, may I ask how much these things were selling for, especially in UK?

I have heard around 300 usd per stick

[Lant63]

Good stuff!

I'm pretty happy with Trinidad Coloniales being very close to Davidoff blends. Not the RT or RTE though.

The Reyes and Fundy show hints to me but nothing more than an homage

I just watched a video on this exact topic actually. It was saying that Davidoff purchased the original Cohiba blend which was also blended under the Trinidad name so that Fidel was not endorsing Davidoff but still had his "special blend". Cohiba was then tweaked to be the Cohiba we know now. Trinidad (same as the Davidoff blend) was eventually released when Davidoff split with Cubatobbacco.

[elam370]

In terms of vintage cigars I've always considered vintage Dunhill Selections to be much more desirable.

[CaptainQuintero]

Do you find Trinidad Coloniales tasting similar to ERDM Grandes de Espanas?

Never had the chance to try a GDE sadly! Strange how Davidoff are easier to get than these!

[CaptainQuintero]

I just watched a video on this exact topic actually. It was saying that Davidoff purchased the original Cohiba blend which was also blended under the Trinidad name so that Fidel was not endorsing Davidoff but still had his "special blend". Cohiba was then tweaked to be the Cohiba we know now. Trinidad (same as the Davidoff blend) was eventually released when Davidoff split with Cubatobbacco.

I couldn't really comment as I never had the chance to try young Davidoffs. It wouldn't seem implausible that Davidoff's blends were used to influence or improve or create top tier cigars.

I don't see much in common in general across anything modern except the coloniales; it's that milky richness with the tea leaf profile that stands out from the rest of Trinidad for me. None of that burnt profile in the Coloniales either.

[StingMeadery]

Serendipitously ...I just happened to purchase a Cuban Davidoff Chateau Yquem Cabinet yesterday...containing seven original cigars that have been correctly stored.

Will post photos when it arrives.

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[mk05]

How do you know that they were correctly stored? Did you store them yourself?

[Skyfall]

Thanks for the great review!

[StingMeadery]

How do you know that they were correctly stored? Did you store them yourself?

It's what I'm choosing to believe

Smoking the odd Unicorn can't be a bad thing...

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[jeremyk]

In my opinion when u get to hyped up about something I feel like we create unachievable expectations in our heads that can't be met. Cool experience though I hope to one day smoke a cigar that old

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[saintsmokealot]

Thanks for the review! Not much I wouldn't do to get my hands on Vintage Davidoff before they are totally past their prime.

[Firebender]

Thanks for the review

Cigar could lose some flavors in 25 years

[tmac77]

Surprising how most of CC Davidoff reviews I've read all were underwhelmed by it. Still, I'm sure it was an awesome experience finally smoking a white whale. I think I'd rather spend the same coin (or less) and try a CGR. Speaking of prices, may I ask how much these things were selling for, especially in UK?

I am actually not surprised. Had a couple of old Davidoffs and despite being pleasant cigars did not live up to the hype and were quite mild which is a characteristic of most Davidoffs.. Min Ron Nee, in his book, also made note that he found them to be less than stellar.