(Description provided by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust)
Sobremesa Solita “Red” is a limited production, 6.25 x 46 parejo packed in the semi-boite nature dress box that is synonymous with the brand. The blend is a stronger varietal of the original 7 tobacco core recipe featuring a dark rosado Grade 1 Ecuador Habano capa, a San Andres Negro capote and a combination of four Nicaraguan and a Seedleaf Pennsylvanian tripas. In 2015 the core liga was introduced to the marketplace as simply Sobremesa, but was rebranded as Sobremesa Solita in 2024 to provide clearer differentiation from its milder Connecticut Shade sister puro, Sobremesa Brulée.
“Sobremesa Solita has a very special place in my heart,” states Steve Saka, the blender and Founder of DTT. “Not only was it our debut release which has helped to solidify our small family company over the last decade, but I still love the depth and richness of this very intricate blend. The fact that the brand continues to grow in a market that often seeks only the ‘new new’ is a testament to its worth. Although you are not supposed to have favorite children, the thick Lonsdale Cervantes Fino was always my personal favorite. Anyone that knows me, knows that I love to tinker with blends so about three years ago I began tweaking this vitola’s liga to make what was great to be what I consider perfect.”
“Quickly I found myself more frequently smoking this richer version which forced me to make the hard decision to cease production of the very popular Cervantes Fino understanding the risk of replacing it. Ultimately, I really had no choice because the ethos of Dunbarton is that consumers always be afforded access to the same exact cigars I personally smoke. Whether it be a Mi Querida, Sin Compromiso or whatever, the cigars we sell are the very same cigars that I consider worthy of my dollars and time. Many makers have special blends they keep for their own private pleasure, but my commitment has always been to offer only what I consider the best of a particular genre, and to my palate the Red is superior to my beloved Cervantes Fino. It retains all the nuances of Dutch- pressed cocoa, Indian Ceylon cinnamon, anise with a sweet clover honey finish, just heavier in body with more depth. Now whether the market will agree only time will tell, but I knew I had to share this revised liga regardless of the commercial implications,” concludes Saka.
Sobremesa Solita “Red” will be ringed with the classic Crown ring, but in a red colorway to clearly designate the difference from the core Solita blend. It is being offered in 13-count dress boxes and is priced at a MSRP of $17.95 per cigar and $233.50 per box. The “Red” will be made available to qualified purveyors and its initial production will be very limited.
The cigar is a reddish brown and has an average 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 lemon/lime, brown sugar, tanned leather, and light black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7.
At the first third (20 minutes) there was a touch of toffee in the mix but there is a lot of earthiness. The sweet notes are in play but they are over matched by the earthiness. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is a little lemon/lime with a touch of earthiness and very good lingering black pepper. The earthiness is taking away some of the enjoyment. I rated the first third 93.
As I moved through the second third (40 minutes) the earthiness is still up and now there's elevated black coffee. The sweet notes are struggling to keep up. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is black coffee, light hints of lemon/lime with very good lingering black pepper. I rated the second third 92.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 2 minutes. The earthiness and black coffee pulled back to first third amounts allowing the sweet notes to slightly rise. The cigar got back to the way it was in the first third. The cigar is still medium bodied. The finish is lemon/lime with a little earthiness and very good lingering black pepper. I raised the final third score to 93. This is a good cigar but not as good as other Dunbarton cigars I've had. Give it a try to see what you think.
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