Ditka 89 Toro by Camacho (6 x 50)

Video review HERE.

This is the second Ditka cigar I've reviewed but I learned that there have been many others versions made. This is the 5th installment, and the most limited with production being capped to only 2,000 boxes total. As you may recall I reviewed the Ditka Throwback last August. It wound up achieving my number 5 cigar for 2013.

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Dominican and Honduran

The cigar is actually not that dark for a maduro. It fooled me when I saw it in the box at the local shop. It is well made and has a nice feel in the hand but it's not overly weighty. Here is a shot of the cigar's foot.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors at light up were very interesting. First, there was a sweet, tangy citrus with underlying cedar notes, dry wood, and what I describe as black licorice. I know this is unusual but that's the only way I can describe it. The finish has some licorice notes on a cream. The flavors are actually very nice but they sound funny when I describe them. The pepper is a white pepper and I rate it at a 6.5 or 7; not overbearing but noticeable. The cigar is medium bodied at this point. The sweet, tangy flavors are somewhat like a tangerine with cedar.

About 1 inch in the cigar has settled down. The black licorice notes have faced to the lower registers of the cigar. Now you have a sweet, rich cedar and citrus, coffee, some earthiness, and dark chocolate notes. The finish is also changing to a toasted cream with a thick sweetness and some nice lingering pepper.

A couple inches in you still have the nice sweet, rich cedar/citrus combination along with coffee and dark chocolate. I also get the flavor of sweet black bread which is right behind the cedar/citrus combination. The cigar is very peppery and the finish is sweet and thick. The cigar is very enjoyable. The cigar is still medium bodied but it seems to be moving to medium to full bodied soon.

About 2 1/ 2 inches remaining you have sweet cedar and citrus and it's still rich along with coffee and dark chocolate and dry wood. The sweet black bread flavors are also still there. The finish is still very thick with sweet cream with toasted notes and some citrus influence. The pepper has ticked up to a 7 or 7.5. The cigar is medium to full bodied now.

With 1 1/2 inches remaining the cigar has lost some of the richness and the sweet black bread notes. There is still a lot of sweetness from the cedar and some underlying citrus notes. There are a lot more charred oak notes now and there are still coffee and some dark chocolate notes. The cigar is very close to full bodied at this point. The finish is one of a toasted cream with some citrus/cedar notes and nice lingering pepper.

The cigar ended with a lot of charred oak notes with sweet cedar. Not much citrus notes anymore. The coffee notes are still there and the dark chocolate is faint. The cigar is full bodied now. This has been a very good cigar with a few changes here and there. I'm sure Mr. Ditka is very proud of the job Camacho did for him. This has been a very good cigar that you should seek out and try for yourself. Very good cigar.

Score: 93