Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Dapper Cigars website and Halfwheel.com website)
Dapper Cigar Co. has rolled out its newest cigar line, Desvalido.
According to Ian Reith, founder of Dapper Cigar Co., the name translates from Cuban Spanish as “those without hope.” He told halfwheel that an older Cuban may hear the term and think of someone who doesn’t ever have the chance to make it.
“This underdog mentality is what fuels myself and our small company in the cigar business,” said Reith. “Since the very first batch of cigars, the battle of proving ourselves as a viable cigar brand and company is ever present in our business.”
He says that all of the concepts that went into Desvalido are meant to be slightly autobiographical. The rooster in the center of the logo both reflects the Spanish connotations of pride and bravery, while also reflecting his zodiac birth year. The purple color, with its deep blue hue, is reflective of royalty, which when combined with the crowns and gold powder further push against the underdog mentality.
As for the blend, it uses an Ecuadorian habano rosado leaf grown by the Oliva Tobacco Co., a U.S.-grown binder, and a quartet of fillers. Also coming from the Oliva Tobacco Co. are Nicaraguan filler tobaccos from the Cofradia farm in Jalapa and the La Joya farm in Estelí. The Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Co. supplies Connecticut broadleaf, while the origins of the fourth filler are not being disclosed. Reith described that mystery leaf as “some interesting tobacco we’ve never used before and some of which was relatively new.”
That fourth filler tobacco is one of the keys to the blend, Reith said.
“Over the last two years we’ve sample tested small batches of this cigar, in a large number of iterations, each time, receiving feedback from trusted palates,” said Reith.
The blend was developed by Reith, Raul Disla of the NACSA factory, and members of the Oliva Tobacco Company, who worked together to source the correct tobaccos. While developing the blend, Reith said that the hardest part was obtaining the high level of nicotine and strength he wanted without using under-fermented tobacco yet still maintaining blend’s balance.
Blend:
Wrapper:
Ecuador / Habano / Rosado Cafe / Oliva Tobacco Co.
Binder:
U.S. / (Undisclosed) / (Undisclosed) / (Undisclosed)
Fillers:
Nicaragua / Jalapa / Cofradía / Oliva Tobacco Co.
Nicaragua / Esteli / La Joya / Oliva Tobacco Co.
U.S. / Connecticut Broadleaf / Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Co.
(Undisclosed) / (Undisclosed) / (Undisclosed)
Vitolas available:
Desvalido Robusto (5 x 50) — $11.36 (Box of 20, $227.20)
Desvalido Toro (6 1/8 x 52) — $12.36 (Box of 20, $247.20) REVIEWED TODAY
Desvalido Lonsdale (6 1/2 x 46) — $11.96 (Box of 20, $239.20)
Desvalido Double Corona (6 3/4 x 54) — $13.34 (Box of 20, $266.80)
The band is very classy looking. The cigar is oily and has a very nice feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good with a touch of firmness. The initial flavors at light up were a soup of flavors, all mixing well. They were orange peel, apricot, leather, nutmeg, and black coffee. The cigar has a meaty quality. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2. Pretty good start.
At the first third (42 minutes) I still had the same basic flavors in a soup mixture but now the apricot notes are standing out. The other notes are still in play and the cigar is still somewhat meaty. The cigar covers the spectrum from sweet highs to dark lows. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is heavy on leather with nutmeg notes and faint apricot sweetness. There was average lingering black pepper. The cigar is interesting. I rated the first third 92.
As I moved through the second third (1 hour 18 minutes) the cigar made minor changes. The lead apricot flavor is now more of a cedar. The orange peel has decreased, brown sugar, nutmeg that is not very noticeable, a lot of leather and a lot of black coffee. The cigar is now full bodied. The finish is unchanged. The cigar continues to be interesting. I held the score of 92 for the second third.
The cigar lasted an impressive 1 hour 43 minutes. In the final third the cigar lost some of it's intrigue and interest. It became darker with elevated leather and black coffee. The sweeter notes dipped. The cigar is full bodied. The finish is now one of leather, nutmeg, and black coffee. The front end has minor amounts remaining of the nice sweetness. I lowered the final third to 90. Overall this is an interesting, good cigar.
No comments:
Post a Comment