Davidoff Chef’s Edition Review

Chef’s Edition
Made by: Davidoff
Country: Dominican Republic, Ecuador
Vitola: 6 by 54

A Davidoff with an Ecuadorian wrapper, that alone has me highly intrigued. I am excited given that information because when a cigar is blended right with such a wrapper it can hit the blend out of the park. Interesting, this is a limited production cigar down to 1500 boxes. Given that information it’s a “try” if you come across one. Let’s see what it has to offer with a Davidoff Chef’s Edition Review.

Prelight

A good amount of tooth to the wrapper, barely visible veins. The cap looks a bit rushed. Small veins, the foot is giving of strong barnyard and light cedar. Odd cut, lots of loose tobacco always a bit of a buzz kill when that is the case. Slightly spongy pack with a couple of hard spots. The prelight draw shows barnyard and hay alongside light cedar. Very easy draw, let’s see what this has to offer.

1/3

Tons of thick smoke, this is a chimney of a cigar. Bitter cocoa and cream on the front with a good amount of cream, and a great bouquet of pepper on the finish. A full mix of white/red/black pepper. Medium to full body, almost pushing full, and the strength is on the high side of low to medium. This is one of the heavier cigars I have had by Davidoff. It’s burning pretty quick which is surprising. The pack does seem on the lighter side which would account for both the loose tobacco on the cut and the quick burn. Stable burn line but not razor sharp, great pepper on the finish. As I get toward the end of the first third a mixed jasmine floral note and red pepper are on the center and the finish is still the full pepper mix.

2/3

The front is morphed into a mix of cocoa, hay, and cedar. The center is holding the floral jasmine and red pepper, and the pepper finish is constant. The creaminess has dropped, the body is holding at a medium to full. The strength is up to a solid medium, one clear sign of this is the smoke has a brown tinge. The complexity is great and you can tell it is quality tobacco. The finish is taking on a cinnamon flavor, the floral and light cream notes alongside all the pepper is making for a great effect. The burn has gotten sharper and smoke production has been constantly high.

3/3

The overall flavor I am getting now is a lot like a Campari and soda. If I do revisit this cigar I would certainly do so with that as a drink. A bitter mix of cocoa, hay, and jasmine with a full blend of pepper notes. One thing to bring up is as the cigar progresses the flavors are meshing. That is true in the transition from the second into the last third at least. Body held at medium to full and strength got to a medium plus. A very different cigar than usual cigar from Davidoff. It is good to see an oddity in their lines though.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Conclusion: 88

It’s a good cigar, the flavors are highly complex. Pretty good burn, great smoke production, the flavors give it a good uniqueness. It feels a bit off balance, with a bit of age I feel like this would shine. The second third was definitely the most interesting. This is absolutely something event worthy of you like a bit more of a punch in a cigar. It doesn’t command attention, but it is tasty and has its appeal to a certain audience. I suggest trying one, this is a cigar that would be very popular with people that enjoy complex pepper. If it does fit your palette it may justify a box buy, but I would not recommend hopping into a box purchase blind on this offering.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com