SmokeScore.com

Davidoff Dom Perignon (1985)

Apr 1, 2009 Cigar

So for our first cigar review, we really wanted to start off with a bang. As I debated over which cigar to feature in the premiere, the same one kept popping into my head again and again. A little over a year ago, a friend on CigarLive had hit me with an amazing gift. SmokinJ (David) is an avid cigar smoker and collector who’s love of vintage cubans is well known in the forums. David knocked my socks off one afternoon with a gift to top all gifts. He had sent me a 1985 Cuban Davidoff Dom Perignon. The cigar has been rated 100 pts in the past by Cigar Aficionado and is considered one of the best cuban cigars ever made. Certainly a special occasion cigar, the Davi Dom was the clear choice to be our first review here at SmokeScore. I thank SmokinJ with all my heart for his wonderful gift and amazing generosity.

And now, on to the review.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Size: 7 x 47 (Churchill)
Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban

APPEARANCE and CONSTRUCTION -

The Davi Dom is a 7 x 47 Churchill size cigar. For a cigar almost 25 years old, it is in wonderful condition. The wrapper is a chocolate brown, somewhere between milk chocolate and dark chocolate. There is one noticeable vein that runs along 3/4 of the cigar. The wrapper has lost almost all of its oils, but still has a slight sheen to it. It is blemish free and very attractive. There are no soft spots to be found.

SMOKING CHARACTERISTICS –

The Davi Dom wrapper gives off very little aroma. Due to its age, this is not too surprising. The foot however has a beautiful aroma of old wood and forest floor. It reminded me of antique wood furniture with a musty aroma of aged wood. The cigar cut and lit beautifully and toasted well. The draw was perfect with a slight resistance. Within the first few minutes the burn became slightly uneven but after about 6 or 7 minutes, evened itself out. It remained even until the last third where it needed some touch ups with the lighter.

FLAVOR –

The flavor started out with a mild wood and dried tea flavor. The tea component remained throughout the entire smoke. There was also a slight sweetness that reminded me of a dried fruit flavor almost. Not very sweet, but just sweet enough to make it interesting. At the midpoint, the flavors transitioned into a more traditional aged tobacco flavor with mild hints of walnut. The cigar has a clean and crisp finish that left my palate refreshed.

OVERALL IMPRESSION –

The impression that the Davi Dom left me with was actually two-fold. My initial reaction was that this is a well-balanced cigar with lots of interesting flavors and components. My second reaction was that all of those wonderful characteristics are somewhat subdued by the age. I would have loved to have smoked this cigar 10 or even 5 years ago. While still very good, the 1985 version of the Davi Dom is showing its age. While I cannot concur with the 100 pt score previously given this cigar, it is still a very good smoke and one that I encourage anyone to try. As time progresses, the Cuban Davidoffs will all move past their prime and they will be gone forever. If you have the means and the opportunity to try one, don’t pass it up!

TOTAL SCORE – 93

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Tags: cuban, davidoff