Video review HERE.
(Description taken from premiumcigars.org website)
Davidoff of Geneva is once again bridging the worlds of fine dining and premium tobacco with the upcoming release of the Davidoff Chefs Edition 2025. This limited-edition cigar continues the brand’s tradition of pairing the artistry of Michelin-starred chefs with the mastery of Davidoff’s Dominican blending team.
The Chefs Edition series, which first debuted in 2016, was built on the idea that crafting a cigar shares much with preparing an extraordinary meal: balance, precision, and the pursuit of memorable experiences. After a four-year hiatus, the project returns this fall with a new expression shaped by five world-class chefs representing a combined 11 Michelin stars.
The cigars presented as a 6 1/4 x 52 Toro, its blend featuring an Ecuadorian wrapper over a Mexican binder. The fillers are all Dominican, including a rare 15-year-aged San Vicente leaf, a hybrid varietal, and Piloto tobaccos aged in yagua palm leaves—a process Davidoff is using for the first time in its portfolio. The result is said to be a medium-to-full-bodied cigar that mirrors the complexity of a fine multi-course menu: layered, evolving, and deeply satisfying.
“Watching these chefs bring their refined palates into our blending process was remarkable,” said Edward Simon, Chief Marketing Officer of Oettinger Davidoff. “The Chefs Edition 2025 is truly a co-creation—one that captures both Davidoff sophistication and the unique signatures of the chefs involved.”
The presentation reflects the culinary inspiration. Each box of 10 cigars is topped with a marble inlay designed to resemble a chef’s cutting board, while the underside of the lid is carved with curved recesses to hold the cigars in place—turning the packaging into both storage and display.
With an MSRP of $55 per cigar ($550 per box), the Chefs Edition 2025 is positioned as a rare indulgence, with only 5,600 boxes allocated for the U.S. market. Production is limited to 17,500 boxes worldwide. U.S. retailers can expect the cigars to begin arriving September 11, 2025.
For Davidoff, the Chefs Edition is not just about a cigar, but about reinforcing its long-standing connection to the world of luxury hospitality—where fine food, fine drink, and fine cigars share the same table.
The cigar is well made and has a nice feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was a little firm but workable. The initial flavors at light up were somewhat like a black cherry, minimal brown sugar, earthiness, and leathery black coffee. The black cherry notes are weak, watered down. They do not stand out. There was black pepper rated at 7. Not a great start. The lead flavors need to increase.
At the first third (26 minutes) the ash was still intact. There is a little more of the black cherry notes, a modest increase in brown sugar sweetness, tangy notes on the black cherry, and earthy, leathery black coffee. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish was weak black cherry notes earthiness, and good lingering black pepper. The notes still seem to be watered down. They don't pop. I rated the first third 90.
Moving through the second third (52 minutes) I had less sweetness, slight bitterness, and more earthy, leathery black coffee. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is black cherry with bitterness and very good lingering black pepper. I really don't get what they are going for in this cigar. The notes don't pop and now they have bitterness. I rated the second third 87.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 23 minutes. I actually cut it a little short. I had enough. There was a modest increase in the black cherry sweetness. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is very earthy with faint hints of black cherry and very good lingering black pepper. Perhaps I'm missing something but I don't get this cigar. With a price tag of $55 you better be bringing it. This cigar does not. And it's not close. I rated the final third 88 with the modest increase in sweetness. But this cigar totally escaped me. I expected so much more.
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