Cigar Info
The Davidoff Core line consists of iconic cigars that were first to birth the trademark of the famous Zino Davidoff. Handmade to from plant to shop, the line is made up of the Signature, Aniversario, Grand Cru and also Millenium collection which contains complex fragrances blended with heady scents, some refined and also fragile, while others flooding your mouth with rich, dark luscious aftertastes. Today we will be reviewing the Davidoff|702 2000.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
Davidoff master blender Henke Kelner has taken the time to re-imagine and change select styles in the Signature and Aniversario series, giving them an amazing twist with the legendary 702 Ecuadorian wrapper, born from the hybrid of three Cuban seeds. The Signature 2000 that is full of fresh flower scents that mingle with natural, woody notes, as well as disclose a tip of sweetness, currently delivers deep flavors of coffee, wood as well as natural leather with a creamy aftertaste. The Aniversario Double R, Aniversario No. 3, Special T, and Special R that we know and love for their exquisite aroma as well as thoroughly balanced blend of tobacco, are escalated with a bolder taste experience.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Corona
Length: 5.0625″
Ring Gauge: 43
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador – 702
Binder: Ecuador – Hybrid Connecticut / Habano Seco
Filler: Dominican Republic – San Vicente Seco / Piloto Seco / Olor Seco / San Vicente Volado
Factory: TABADOM
Blender: Hendrik Kelner
Number of reviewers: 5 – Matt C. (Big Matt) Eric (smalls29) Jason H. (Jokey Smurf) Zane G. (Zane) Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
Price: $15.95
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: February 2017
Contributed by: Davidoff Cigars
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 89
“The cigar has nice lines but in some areas it looks like the wrapper had too much overlap. The cap looks solid and the foot appears to have a nice loose pack of filler.” –Eric (smalls29)
Aroma: 89
“The pre-light aroma is somewhat faint, but unique. The wrapper smells of cedar and aged tobacco, while the foot has a coffee note to it. The cold draw is grassy with a unique musty note.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
First Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“Sample 609 starts out with woody campfire, musty notes, sweet cream, spicy peat, tobacco in pilon, and ripe cherry. Retro is cream, peat, moss and spice. Finish is lengthy with natural tobacco flavors and oak wood. Construction and burn impress.” –Matt C. (Big Matt)
“The initial puffs presented my palate with a tangy spiciness that had underlying sweetness and left my tongue and lips tingling. Through the nose there was a fair amount of white pepper zing but nothing that was overpowering. The finish is long at this point and I’m left with a palate that is slick with oils.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Second Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“It is nice that the flavors of wood and coffee with hints of vanilla and leather have remained constant. I am noticing that the aroma is reminding me of a campfire. Still, I am having a hard time figuring this one out.” –Eric (smalls29)
“The second third maintains some of the charred oak from the first third with that spice lingering. Cigar transitions to a leather profile with cedar and spice.” –Zane G. (Zane)
Final Third
Flavor: 87
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“In the 3/3, sample 609 continues to impress. On the exhale, I am picking up a burnt sugar almost toffee like sweetness, cinnamon, cream, moss, earth, leather and salt and we still have the consistent.. peat, campfire and ripe cherry.” –Matt C. (Big Matt)
“It was consistent throughout, but a few nice additions come in to the final third. Along with the honey sweetness from earlier, some notes of charred wood and a flavor of brewed black tea join the profile. A slight hint of the metallic note from first light comes back, but it is not overwhelming or bad. The retrohale now has some nice kick with charred wood and black pepper.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 93
“No issues with Draw.” –Zane G. (Zane)
Burn: 91
“This one had a nice burn and a great chimney. I was able to hold it over half way through before it fell away.” –Eric (smalls29)
Construction: 90
“No soft spots and no issues throughout the smoke.” –Zane G. (Zane)
Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 88
“Overall, this is a very good cigar. This cigar presented me with a Scotch whiskey drinking experience through a cigar. It was medium strength with a med-full body throughout the majority of the smoke. Flavors presented a plethora of peat notes, campfire, woodiness, ripe cherry, pale malt, earth, moss and spice. I will be picking up a few of these when this blind cigar offering is revealed..” –Matt C. (Big Matt)
“I had a hard time figuring this one out. The pre-light smell was sweet with cherry and cedar. This initial flavors included some vanilla and leather. However, they slowly disappeared over time. While this one is nothing to write home about, it was still a nice smoke. One I would choose if I just wanted a cigar, nothing special.” –Eric (smalls29)
“This corona took me for a ride. It started off fairly mild but quickly took my attention with both strength and flavor. This is exactly why I love a corona…so much flavor and body in a little firecracker package. I’m hooked on this one…well done” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“This cigar started out with some harshness that faded into a fairly consistent flavor profile. Decent amount of strength without being too strong. While I wouldn’t buy a box of these I wouldn’t mind to see what some age does to them.” –Zane G. (Zane)
“This one was really different, and that is a good thing. No more of the same old flavor profile here. Some unique flavors mixed with a great burn and tons of smoke output, that makes this a cigar I want to try again. I will be glad to find out what this one is.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 53
|
Reviewer
|
Appearance
|
Aroma
|
1/3
|
2/3
|
3/3
|
Draw
|
Burn
|
Constr.
|
Overall
Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt C. | 88 | 90 | 87 | 90 | 90 | 95 | 92 | 90 | 90 |
| Eric | 88 | 90 | 87 | 88 | 85 | 88 | 90 | 88 | 87 |
| Jason H. | 90 | 90 | 90 | 92 | 92 | 97 | 97 | 92 | 95 |
| Zane G. | 90 | 95 | 85 | 88 | 85 | 92 | 88 | 90 | 85 |
| Matthew T. | 88 | 88 | 87 | 88 | 87 | 90 | 92 | 90 | 87 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.