Davidoff Art Edition 2014 (L&SRW2)

[MrBirdman]

I remember theses getting positive reviews on release, so when a box came up on a reseller for below retail I jumped. Foot on most had some cracking but nothing major.

Cigar is literally as firm as a broomstick - I thought it might be my first plugged Davidoff in goodness knows how long. If you handed me a CC this firm I’d bet the farm it was plugged. Nope! Draw was perfect from the first puff.

Aroma at cold is pretty classic Davidoff, maybe a little more funk than usual. Cold draw is lemongrass, forest floor, and a touch of sweetness. 

First Third: Starts off remarkably Cohiba-like - lemongrass and honey, with a bit of  dried grass. These begin to fade after the first few puffs and are replaced with marshmallow and a touch of cocoa. 

Second Third: Marshmallow is joined by honeyed graham cracker, which increasingly becomes the dominant note. Marshmallow and chocolate are  there, offering a “refined ‘s’more” flavor.

Last Third: Not much change in this third other than an intensification of the chocolate note, going from milk to dark to cocoa powder. Not a hint of harshness.

The tobacco in this cigar is well over a decade old at this point, probably over 15 years. I suspect these might have been a touch more intense on release, but they’re still excellent. Probably wouldn’t pay full retail, but good enough value at $250 for 10. It’s rare I get this kind of sweet, intense flavor from a NC - this is the best I’ve had in quite a while. 

Score: 93/94

[Walter19]

Nice review! One of the few Davidoffs, I have enjoyed from start to finish.

[Kaptain Karl]

Nice review!! I have one hanging in my humidor...think I’ll light it up soon after this review!

[Puros Y Vino]

Nice review.  I like how they market these.  And let's face it, they're good at marketing. Minus the time Zino burned 100,000 Cuban cigars in "protest".    Their product portfolio is too damn big though.  Hard to find something you'd like at a price point you'd be OK paying. 

[MrBirdman]

6 hours ago, Kaptain Karl said:

I have one hanging in my humidor...think I’ll light it up soon after this review!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, would love to hear how your experience compares!

I kept this at 65% and did not dry box - burn was fiddly at first and a bit jagged throughout, but that’s typical of perfectos.

Enjoy!

 

4 hours ago, PurosyVino said:

let's face it, they're good at marketing.

No doubt about it - it’s a shame that tobacco marketing restrictions forced them to discontinue the Art Edition series. While you can’t smoke the box, it’s the most beautiful I’ve owned and when empty I’ll no doubt find use for it (it looks more like high end decor than a cigar box). A masterstroke of marketing from Davidoff and filled with a fantastic cigar to boot.

4 hours ago, PurosyVino said:

Their product portfolio is too damn big though.  Hard to find something you'd like at a price point you'd be OK paying. 

They’re portfolio has really expanded in the past couple years with their Yamasa, Nicaragua, and Winston Churchill lines  - their “Core” lines are increasingly out of step with American smokers’ tastes for stronger smokes (the Millenium being the one that exception). Of the new lines I have only tried the Churchill, and they were good. Not sure they’re worth the premium though. The petite corona has a saltiness that some may really enjoy. 

If I can recommend a Davidoff line, it would be their Colorado Claro. Colorado Claro used to be a limited edition but it’s now available most of the year. Excellent mid-bodied Davidoffs - I swear the short perfecto has the best tasting cold draw ever - pure orange marmalade; I’ve been know to “smoke it cold” for 10 minutes savoring it. 

They’re also not cheap but only by Davidoff standards, and come in boxes of 10 so you don’t break the bank. Other than a few Grand Cru No. 2’s I save for my father, the Colorado Claro Short Perfect and Special R (Robusto) are the only NCs I always have in stock.

Next time I smoke one I’ll post a review. 

[Puros Y Vino]

1 minute ago, MrBirdman said:

No doubt about it - it’s a shame that tobacco marketing restrictions forced them to discontinue the Art Edition series. While you can’t smoke the box, it’s the most beautiful I’ve owned and when empty I’ll no doubt find use for it (it looks more like high end decor than a cigar box). A masterstroke of marketing from Davidoff and filled with a fantastic cigar to boot.

They’re portfolio has really expanded in the past couple years with their Yamasa, Nicaragua, and Winston Churchill lines  - their “Core” lines are increasingly out of step with American smokers’ tastes for stronger smokes (the Millenium being the one that exception). Of the new lines I have only tried the Churchill, and they were good. Not sure they’re worth the premium though. The petite corona has a saltiness that some may really enjoy. 

If I can recommend a Davidoff line, it would be their Colorado Claro. Colorado Claro used to be a limited edition but it’s now available most of the year. Excellent mid-bodied Davidoffs - I swear the short perfecto has the best tasting cold draw ever - pure orange marmalade; I’ve been know to “smoke it cold” for 10 minutes savoring it. 

They’re also not cheap but only by Davidoff standards, and come in boxes of 10 so you don’t break the bank. Other than a few Grand Cru No. 2’s I save for my father, the Colorado Claro Short Perfect and Special R (Robusto) are the only NCs I always have in stock.

Next time I smoke one I’ll post a review. 

I didn't know that marketing restrictions stopped this line!?    I haven't had many NC Davidoffs.  Or CC for that matter. (sigh).  The Dominican No 2, Grand Cru were OK. But not something I'd restock on.  If I could find it for a good price, the Geneve 100 Toro would find a place in my humidor. I count that cigar in my top 5 all time cigars.