Davidoff Maduro R:Robusto:Maduro

You've seen of how I handled a high price cigar, so is this Davidoff any different? Choosing another super premium stogie was a little bit difficult for me. But I have high hopes for this stick. Unlike the ESG this stick doesn't try to compete with anything else, its in a class of its own. So Davidoff makes a maduro, a departure from its usual lighter shade lines. So how does this Davidoff Maduro hold up against other Maduros?

SPECS-
Size- Robusto 5x52
Wrapper-Dominican
Binder-San Vincente
Filler-Sungrown Nicaraguan Cuban-seed
Price-$17.00
Cut-V,Guillatine
Smoke Time-1 hour

FIRST IMPRESSIONS-The wrapper on this stick is gorgeous, the reddish brown Maduro is lightly sweet and the foot is reminiscent of a fine chocolate truffle. The wrapper gave of a slightly salty taste to it and a cold draw that was slightly yeasty and complementing. This stick is very solid and heavy for its size. This Maduro again shows that Davidoff is in a Class of its own.

FIRST THIRD--This Cigar bellows out plenty of white and thick creamy smoke with a long finish. The first draws are a very polite spice, its just there to welcome you into a very dark and complex smoke. The long finish introduces one of the main flavors, mocha. The mocha is very thick with a good flavor profile that is well rounded. This is a very slow burning stick with a almost perfect burn line, this maduro is one of the best on the market.

SECOND THIRD-This third brings along some very complex and dark flavors. There's a good espresso flavor that is underestimated by words, along with it there are some nuts. On the finish of the thick smoke there are hints of saffron and anise. As the backdrop of all of this is a yeasty flavor very similar to fresh bread. This is without a doubt the best third.

FINAL THIRD-Overall this is a pretty one dimensional smoke. The overall flavors don't progress much but the stick is blended in such a way that you don't get bored of it. This is without a doubt a Full bodied cigar. Its very complex, it'll take you many sticks to fully understand and enjoy the flavors it produces. This is my second one and I was able to detect tastes of black cherry and hints of peach flesh that I did not get on my first stick. Overall the burn was good and the smoke entertaining. The price though is a little debatable. At $17 dollars it's a bit rich for the tastes you get and I'm sure knocking the price off this stick a buck or 2 would make it truly reflect the experience.

LAST IMPRESSIONS-This is a good cigar, truly more of a special occasion smoke or a smoke to challenge your taste buds. The yeasty flavor told me alot about this cigar, it has a lot of sugar it yet has to ferment. Ageing this stick without a doubt will make it a stupendous smoke and truly make the price justifiable. This is a without a doubt a great maduro and a great experience that any Maduro lover will greatly appreciate, now if only that price was cheaper.

RATING-93
Buy It Again?Yes
Recommended it? Yes, I recommend buying two if you can, smoke one young and then age the other, your time and money will surely be worth it.

Gurhka Warlord Special:Warlord:Maduro

This was my first adventure into the Gurkha world. Gurkha always markets itself as a high-quality smoke. The Cigar only the virtuoso's smoke, the Rolls-Royce's of cigars if you will. So, does this cigar feel more like a Kia than a Rolls-Royce? Let's start this test-drive.


SPECS-
Size- Warrior 7x55
Wrapper-Nicaragua
Binder-Dominican
Filler-Nicaraguan
Price-$12.00
Smoke Time-1 hour
Cut-Punch/Guillotine




FIRST IMPRESSIONS-When you pick up this cigar the first thing you think is,"wow that's huge". That's the best way to sum it all up. The Cigar is very ornate, a nice cedar strip with some silk at the foot presented by a gorgeous Gurkha band, what a good way to start. The wrapper is a nice shade of brown with small veins branching throughout the cigar. The wrapper was slightly salty with a good aroma of cedar,the foot had hints of earth that gave the draw no particular taste. This stick has a great construction, so it's no Ford, it's a Honda.



FIRST THIRD-This Warrior introduces you into some very simple but yet, non-archaic flavor tones. It's simplicity introduces you to a roasted nut flavor that leaves a good bit of mocha behind on the palate for you to savor. For being such a Warrior this cigar isn't very up in your face like you think it'd be, the spice is very subtle and leaves a nice backdrop for the mocha. So far it feels like a Toyota, simple but good.

SECOND THIRD-The spice mellows out quite sublimely in this third, its very short,smooth,and creamy, its a great backround for the main flavor of nuts to settle in. The spice is more likely to remind you of clove and with the roasted nut feeling you may think its Christmas. Its developing really well for such full-flavored smoke, its starting to feel like a Cadillac.




FINAL THIRD- The best of the thirds, the spice is almost subdued here by the Coffee that takes the place as the main flavor. As the coffee fades to the back an introduction of sweet and subtle leather is added to the blend that stays that way trough the rest of the smoke. The leather and coffee flavor was rather enjoyable but it wasn't anything over the top. The ash held respectfully trough the length, flaking here and there, almost like a Chevy.



FINAL IMPRESSIONS-This was a good intro to what Gurkha has to offer, but the admission was just a tad too high. If this stick was cheaper it would rate higher, albeit it was a good relaxing smoke for $13 dollars there are better varieties you can be looking into.But overall with decent flavors, the best use of spice I've ever tasted and construction that was remarkable this stick is good, but not Rolls Royce good, more like BMW's 5-series good.

RATING-85
Buy It Again? Yes, its worth to keep in rotation once in a blue moon.
Recommended? It's worth the test drive.