Cigar Info
After a two-year break from the cigar world, Steve Saka, the former CEO of Drew Estate who had a hand in creating the popular Liga Privada blend, created his own tobacco company and returned to the cigar industry with a bang—the Sobremesa.
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.
Saka’s new company is called Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and is named after the New Hampshire town where he and his wife, Cindy, who’s also a partner in the company, reside. Saka has worked in the cigar industry for over 30 years. A cigar smoker since 1984, he wrote extensively about cigars for years until 2000, when he was hired to be an executive consultant for cigar retailer and distributor JR Cigars. He worked there for four years before joining Drew Estate, where he oversaw the production of brands such as Liga Privada, Acid and Herrera Esteli. He even held equity in Drew Estate, where he rose from president to CEO, but was bought out after departing in 2013.
The Sobremesa is available in five vitolas (sizes): Corona Grande, which measures 5 1/4 inches by 44 ring gauge; Cervantes Fino, 6 1/4 by 46; Robusto Largo, 5 1/4 by 52; El Americano, 6 by 52; and Gran Imperiales, 7 by 54. Each vitola is packaged in boxes of 25. We reviewed the Corona Grande last December scoring a 91.
The wrapper for Sobremesa is a rosado Ecuador Habano leaf, while the binder is Matacapan from Mexico. The fillers include four tobaccos that were cultivated from Nicaragua: C-SG seco, which is a Criollo hybrid from Condega, Criollo viso from Pueblo Nuevo, and Criollo ’98 viso along with a hybrid ligero from Estelí. Additionally, the final blend includes broadleaf ligero grown in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Lonsdale
Length: 6.25″
Ring Gauge: 46
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: La Meca Ecuador Habano #1 Rosado
Binder: Matacapan Negro de Temporal
Filler: Nicaragua and USA
Factory: Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: Steve Saka
Number of reviewers: 5 – Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd) Gregg (McGreggor57) Craig (WyldKnyght) Kevin S. (KBS1153) Kyle (kaleehb)
Price: $11.25
Age: 6 Months
Release Date: November 2015
Contributed by: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 92
“This cigar has a very toothy, dark brown wrapper. It has very small veins and very even coloration. It is approximately a 46 ring gauge, which is right in my wheelhouse.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
Aroma: 92
“The aroma and taste on the raw draw put forth some very good flavors. The cocoa was blending with the cedar and pepper to deliver a very good taste.” –Kevin S. (KBS1153)
First Third
Flavor: 92
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“When I light this cigar, I am amazed by the rich, thick smoke output. The smoke is filled with flavors of pepper and coffee. As the first third progresses, a gentle spice and dark fruit sweetness enters the mix.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
“A brief bit of pepper precedes a nice mix of earthiness, hay and leather. Notes of toast are present in the background, alternating between light and a bit burnt. The subtle sweetness of the hay provides a nice contract to the richer flavors.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
Second Third
Flavor: 92
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“Just as I thought the pepper was hiding away….bang there it was blending in with the oak and the Brazil Nut being infused (oops wrong word) with the cocoa made for a delightful taste. The draw on this cigar was very good along with a razor like burn line.” –Kevin S. (KBS1153)
“Cigar continues to impress me. Tea notes thicken almost as if I am drinking an Assam black tea. Minor chocolate cocoa powder notes are dancing back and fort with an earthy leatheriness, fighting to dominate my palate. Aroma continues to be pleasant and performance great.” –Kyle (kaleehb)
Final Third
Flavor: 92
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“The final third is melting my face (in a good way). A slight hint of campfire is coming in on the draw. A bit of leather combines toasted caramel and what I can only describe as a sour cherry flavor. Very complex and enjoyable.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
“More of the cedar is moving to the front. Wet grass and tea replace the hay and earth tones causing a shift in the profile. While not my favorite combination of flavors they worked well together.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 95
“A little tighter on the beginning of the smoking experience, however, gradually opened up.” –Kyle (kaleehb)
Burn: 89
“This cigar delivered an exact, precise burn line that required very little touch up during the smoking event even letter the cigar rest for many minutes.” –Kevin S. (KBS1153)
Construction: 94
“This cigar was firm with some give when squeezed. The ash was light grey and flaky. And the smoke was thick and creamy.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)
Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Overall Experience: 93
“This cigar would have a space set aside in my humidor. Not only is the vitola one of my favorites, but the flavors, construction, and smoke output kept me interested from light to nub.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
“A flavorful cigar on the milder side that offered zero distractions during the hour long smoke. Nice earthy flavors offset by the sweetness of some hay and chocolate. The transition to more cedar in the final third offered up another dimension. Well done.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
“Overall I would say this was a great cigar I would smoke again. Lots of good aspects, like the flavor and transitions between them, the easy draw, the smoke. I will definitely revisit this cigar.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)
“Sit back and relax when you smoke this one…It will take you on a journey! The flavors and aromas were awesome. A definite for your humidor.” –Kevin S. (KBS1153)
“I really enjoyed this cigar. The taste offered were extraordinary and easily portrayed. Cigar’s burn and aroma were perfect. I felt very satisfied at the conclusion of this cigar. I will certainly be buying more of these.” –Kyle (kaleehb)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 75
|
Reviewer
|
Appearance
|
Aroma
|
1/3
|
2/3
|
3/3
|
Draw
|
Burn
|
Constr.
|
Overall
Experience |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew T. | A Huge Nerd) | 90 | 85 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 97 | 88 | 93 | 90 |
| Gregg | McGreggor57) | 90 | 90 | 90 | 92 | 90 | 93 | 92 | 93 | 92 |
| Craig | WyldKnyght) | 95 | 92 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 88 | 95 | 95 |
| Kevin S. | KBS1153) | 90 | 92 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 88 | 90 |
| Kyle | kaleehb) | 95 | 97 | 95 | 97 | 95 | 95 | 97 | 97 | 95 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.