Davidoff Yamasa Piramides review

[JDoughty]

Still chasing that memorable last smoke before trying to go scent free for deer season, I decided to pick up a Davidoff Yamasa Piramides. The experience was an interesting one, but ultimately disappointing. The cold draw had a rich and promising start with earthy tobacco and barnyard notes. In the first few minutes of puffing, the predominant notes were musty dirt and mushrooms, with a hint of grilled meat. The mustiness prevailed for the first inch or so, fortunately balanced by notes of subtle citrus, freshly sawn wood and raisin sweetness. From there it started jumping all over the map, with flavors emerging and disappearing. The mustiness vanished entirely. I briefly got fresh raspberry, warm toast, Brazil nut and coffee, but in a few more inches those flavor notes gave way to a dull unyielding hardwood and stone minerality. The volume of smoke was not generous, though it was steady. I would have to characterize it as miserly, though the draw was perfect. Musty earth and dirty mushrooms came back about halfway down the cigar, accompanied by some very dry leathery notes. This was followed by even drier toast and sawdust, which rapidly became the predominant flavor profile. 

My mouth was not happy with me at this point, but I persisted in case it got better. Spoiler: it did not. After the first half, I was straining to taste anything other than dusty dry wood and dry toast in a backbone of old leather, leavened only occasionally with faint nuttiness and barely detectable raisin sweetness. It was unrelentingly dull. By the time I got to the last third, my mouth was dryer than a 90 year old nun's unused undercarriage and I was not enjoying myself. The remainder of my $38 indulgence got dumped in the ashtray with a few expletives to help it on its way. 

Oddly enough, instead of gathering steam and becoming more full bodied, this cigar seemed to get lighter in flavor and body as it progressed. Also less complex. The cigar itself was in good condition, kept in a well maintained store humidor, and there was nothing wrong with the construction. I've enjoyed other Davidoffs on occasion, but this is not one I will smoke again. It was interestingly complex for about two inches, but I've smoked cheap Cuban short fillers that I enjoyed a lot more for 1/10th the price point.