Davidoff Oro Blanco Review (FEBW3)

[Wookie]

For starters, I did not pay retail for this cigar...got it as a freebie when I purchased a bunch of cigars from a stateside retailer that offers this up a number of times a year if one makes a minimum purchase.  With Cuban cigar prices where they are now, I finally bit on this offer after shunning it for 4 years.

I'm a painter, so this is my latest selfie:

Unbox-- they spent a lot of money on the packaging...like an Elie Bleu Humidor: 

Having trouble with pic upload so here is review followed by pics:

1st Third- Prelight is graham crackers/bit of nutmeg.  Basically baker's spices.

Starts out same...smooth, med body...none of that Davidoff Olor stuff that people complain about. Very refined, plush. But somewhat non-descript. Even burn, light grey solid ash.  

2nd Third - no real changes, just a very solid, very over-priced cigar.  If you like Joya Cinco Decadas, they would be a fuller bodied and able substitute for this one.

Final 3rd- Again, bakers spices in a medium bodied profile-- very solid but no better IMHO than another well-blended $20-30 cigar.Overall underwhelming given the hype.  Glad to have smoked one.  Kept searching for something that never materialized....The journey continues.  I'll give it a 92-93 for the effort.  

FOH the record, my favorites in the 1990's were Elsplendido, Lusitania and Gold label RyJ CHurchill.  My current favorites are Mag 46/54, RAG, Famosos, Trini Vigia and Esmeralda.  

[MrFolgers]

I appreciate the short, concise review and not the usual 3 page essay. While I haven't had an Oro Blanco, I have had a royal robusto and it was top 5 best NC I've ever had. 

[Chitmo]

These aren’t a smoker's cigar, there’s a target audience for this kinda thing. It’s a hard one not to be curious about, all the same. 

[Wookie]

On 2/23/2024 at 12:24 PM, Chitmo said:

These aren’t a smoker's cigar, there’s a target audience for this kinda thing. It’s a hard one not to be curious about, all the same. 

That said, it is a very good cigar and it's decidedly medium bodied. It just lacks the depth of character of my favorite Cubans...RA, HU, VR, SCdH, MC, etc. The retail price is audacious given the product. But at least Davidoff is vertically integrated and tried to make the best cigar they could. It's really a testament to the terroir of Pinar del Rio...IMHO. 

[Chitmo]

10 minutes ago, Wookie said:

That said, it is a very good cigar and it's decidedly medium bodied.  

I’m not sure I’ll ever find out. I came from a pretty modest upbringing, even though I could afford to buy something like this “just because” on occasion now it’s makes me feel weird knowing what else I could get with that money. I don’t think there’s 10x the enjoyment over cigars that are 10x less expensive. Doesn’t stop me from being curious though 😛 

[Puros Y Vino]

Good review.  Very nice art studio as well!