Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Cigar-Coop.com website)
If you are not familiar with Debonaire Cigars, the company was founded by Philip Zanghi and Daniel Sinclair. Many people may remember Zanghi from his days with Indian Tabac – the company that eventually became Rocky Patel Premium Cigars. After a hiatus away from premium cigars, Zanghi returned to the handmade premium cigar business and launched Debonaire Cigars. Zanghi resides in the Dominican Republic allowing him to be close to the tobacco process from seed through shipping. Zanghi and his team take a very hands-on approach to the production process.Zanghi and his team take a very hands-on approach to the production process.
Today I take a look at the Debonaire Habano Belicoso.
Blend Profile
The Debonaire core line consists of tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. For the line, Zanghi and his team have tapped into the resources of Emilio El Reyes – one of the leading growers based in the Dominican Republic. The cigars are also made in the Dominican Republic.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Vitolas Available
In terms of how the vitolas are constructed, the Debonaire line is bunched using accordion fold as opposed to entubado (tube) style. Zanghi emphasizes leaf placement in terms of being able to achieve the right flavor profile.
Sagita: 5 1/2 x 38
Toro: 6 x 50
Robusto: 5 1/4 x 50
Bellicoso: 6 x 54 REVIEWED TODAY
Solomones: 7 3/4 x 58 (limited 500 boxes)
The cigar is a medium brown and rather light feeling in the hand. This may transition into a shorter burn time.
The test draw after cutting the bare minimum from the belicoso cap was very good. The initial flavors at light up were a pink grapefruit, honey, brown sugar, light clean leather, and a black coffee base. There was black pepper which I rated at a 6 1/2.
At the first third point (22 minutes) the pink grapefruit is joined by an orange citrus flavor. They seem to have a fermented taste to them. You still have brown sugar, honey, leather and black coffee. You now also have cinnamon. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is a cream with some added honey and a nice amount of lingering black pepper. The sweetness has elevated. I have smoked several of these cigars and I would urge you to smoke this one slowly to get the best sweet flavors. For the first third I rated the cigar at a 90.
At the second third point (50 minutes) the citrus flavors are equaled if not slightly surpassed by the honey and leather notes. The other notes are still in play but you really notice the honey and leather. The cigar is moving toward medium to full bodied. The finish is unchanged. The percentage changes of flavors actually makes the cigar more interesting to me. I am raising the 2/3 point score to a 91.
The Debonaire Habano Belicoso lasted 1 hour 10 minutes. A rather short burn time for a 6" x 54 cigar. In the final third the citrus flavors morphed in to a sweet cedar flavor. The honey was still quite elevated. The leather remained very good and non-intrusive. You also had cinnamon, brown sugar, and black coffee. The finish had some influence of the leather to go along with the cream and honey. The cigar reached medium to full bodied. This was another good Debonaire cigar. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I rated the final third also a 91. You can purchase these cigars HERE.
One thing that Debonaire does to all their cigar is stamp the manufacturer date on the back of the main band. This cigar was made on July 23, 2015.
Overall Score: 91
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