(Description taken from hdacigars.com website)
HDA was born when Andray and Zack set off on a journey to create bold flavor from the world’s best tobacco. In everything they do, they never lose site of their military roots.
Their cigars are made in James Brown's Oveja Negra factory.
Andray F. McCuien
Andray became a cigar enthusiast during a tour to Iraq in 2008; just one of many stops in his Army career. After a hard day, he found nothing was better than a great smoke with fellow comrades. Since retiring from active service as a Signal Chief Warrant Officer 3, he has made it his mission to create a cigar brand that signifies the unity and camaraderie experienced with his brothers and sisters in arms.
Zack Van Ginkel
Air Force veteran with a career focused in aviation, cigars are more than just a hobby – they’re a passion. HDA provided the perfect opportunity to transform that passion into a career. He is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards for HDA, focusing on what he believes are the two most important cigar qualities: construction and flavor.
A dark embodiment of intrigue, Descending Shadows is highlighted by filler tobacco from Esteli and Ometepe, Nicaragua that give this cigar a dark, spicy flavor. Each draw beckons to explore the depths of its mysterious flavor, leaving behind a lingering aura of fascination long after the last ember fades.
VITOLA: Toro 6×54
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan
The cigar is well made and has a nice feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were somewhat of a peach. It's very light; almost watered down. There was also brown sugar, a touch of cinnamon, tanned leather, and black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7 to 7 1/2. The sweet notes definitely need to increase.
At the first third (30 minutes) I still had the light peach-like note, hints of citrus peel, brown sugar, earthiness, and black coffee. The cigar is coming across as a little weak in the sweet category. The finish has light hints of peach and decent lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium bodied. The cigar needs to jump about 2 levels in intensity is just about every category. As it is, I rated the first third 91.
As I moved through the second third (52 minutes) the cigar got much earthier. There is very little sweetness. I wouldn't say there's a peach note anymore. Just a little sprinkling of brown sugar. There is a lot of earthiness and black coffee. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is earthy black coffee with very good lingering black pepper. For me, the finish improved but the cigar didn't. I rated the second third 88.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 21 minutes. The earthiness kept going and increasing. There are hints of sweetness here and there. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is light earthiness and a lot of black coffee with very good lingering black pepper. I rated the final third 85.
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