Cigar Info
Last year at IPCPR, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust unveiled a new line called Muestra de Saka. There are 7 blends in the Muestra de Saka line and the Exclusivo is the first to be sold. Today we are reviewing the Dunbarton T&T | Muestra de Saka Exclusivo.
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.
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust owner and founder Steve Saka explains the background behind the Muestra de Saka series as well as the 6 x 52 Exclusivo offering.
“Muestra is the humble, common word for “sample” in Spanish, however it takes on much more important, sometimes reverential, meaning when used in a handmade cigar factory.
Muestras are hoarded and coveted by not only their makers, but by the cigar smokers who seek to catch a glimpse into the cigarmaker's soul within their smoke. Muestra de Saka is just that. A line of unique blends and vitolas made in extremely limited quantities that reflect the blending machinations of myself. To smoke a Muestra de Saka is to embark upon a journey with me in which I greatly welcome your companionship.
Muestra de Saka is just that. A line of unique blends and vitolas made in extremely limited quantities that reflect the blending machinations of myself. To smoke a Muestra de Saka is to embark upon a journey with me in which I greatly welcome your companionship.
The Exclusivo is a special liga I created to be the ultimate expression of my love for all Nicaraguan tripas. It is a complex smoke featuring filler tobaccos from all four primary growing regions: Jalapa, Condega, Ometepe and Esteli – by extremely careful positioning of the leaf it takes the smoker from a silky smooth beginning of sweet cedar and cinnamon building to a much fuller, pepper laced conclusion. It is a very intricate blend that rewards the smoker with endless complexity and progression.”
Each Muestra de Saka Exclusivo Cigar will be packaged in an individual cedar coffin. There will be seven coffins per box. Pricing is set at $14.95 per cigar or $104.65 per box. It's a 6 x 52 parejo that pays tribute to Nicaragua by using tobacco from all four of its growing areas: Condega, Estelí, Jalapa and Ometepe, though the typical wrapper, binder, and filler specifics have not been disclosed.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: Steve Saka
Number of reviewers: 4 – Mickey T. (irratebass) Eric (smalls29) Dave W. (mdwest) Adam B. (Bushboy)
Price: $15.00
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: March 2017
Contributed by: Blind Man's Puff
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 89
“Very Rustic looking cigar. Very dark tan uneven wrapper. Firmly packed with a little bit of give.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
Aroma: 89
“The aroma is subtle, not bold at all, and contains a slight cocoa and some faint earth scent.” –Dave W. (mdwest)
First Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“Right away I'm getting walnut with some chocolate cake on the retro. About an inch in and I'm getting some pepper with classic tobacco flavors on the retro. Plenty of smoke output and the ash is a beautiful gray with black streaks through it.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“Black licorice and dark chocolate. I am immediately greeted by these flavors. They are deep and bitter but something a chocolate lover would enjoy. The flavors started off very mild but over time they are groing bolder.” –Eric (smalls29)
Second Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“Cream, butter, with some meat flavors to start the second. The transition from the first to the second thirds are night and day. It started out very heavy and in your face, and it has now cooled down and is becoming a nice pleasurable smoke.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“Hickory, nut, campfire, toasty marshmallow and caramel. This cigar is packed with flavors that all blend almost perfectly together. I am all over the flavor wheel on this one and cannot pinpoint a leader of the pack, although am enjoying the flavor ride immensely. Definitely a full flavored cigar that packs a punch. Smoke this one after dinner with a glass of cold water to get the full effect.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
Final Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“The beginning of the final third and I'm picking up a toasted marshmallow flavor mixed in with some sweetness along with a slickness that stays on my tongue and lips.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“Flavor roller coaster settled down to a toasty graham cracker and toasted marshmallow finish. Not to sweet, not to hot. Very nice end to a great cigar. Burn was spectacular and need no help, smoke output was on point, and overall this was a fantastic cigar. Kudos to the mastermind behind this blend and a tip of the cap to the roller. I will definitely be pursuing more of these sticks after the reveal. Probably not one for the novice smoker, although I would recommend for all of those who love a stronger smoke and tons of flavor.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 91
“The draw was extremely good with just the right amount of resistance provided.” –Dave W. (mdwest)
Burn: 97
“This is a no maintenance cigar. It maintained an excellent burn line from start to finish and combustion was consistent from beginning to end.” –Dave W. (mdwest)
Construction: 91
“No soft spots or troublesome veins. Nice tight roll that gave a solid feel and impressive smoking experience. Definitely a A+ in my book.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 88
“This was a very good smoke that had some interesting transitions and interesting flavor components.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“Looking at this cigar pre-light, I thought it would be a nice bold cigar with lots of flavor. However, it started off very mild with nice licorice and dark chocolate flavors. The licorice was the first to leave. Then there as a nice coffe and chocolate flavor. Soon it moved to a mocha flavor followed by just a strong coffee. There were notes of woods and charred woods in there. Overall it was not bad. The only blemish was a very tight draw for the most part. All-in-all I could enjoy this one again.” –Eric (smalls29)
“Overall I thought this was a good cigar. Its not very complex, but the flavors are good and enjoyable, and the smoke had no harshness to it at all. Would smoke it again, and would recommend it to non smoking friends who wanted to try something out. I think most would enjoy this cigar as a basic “every man” sort of smoke.” –Dave W. (mdwest)
“I trend towards cigars that are full of flavors and pack a punch in strength. This cigar was right up my alley. Impressive slow burn that produced plentiful smoke with tons of flavors. I would recommend this one to the experienced smoker that enjoys a toasty, sweet flavorful session. I will definitely be adding a few of these to the humidor after the blend is revealed. Great job and bravo to the blend master and roller.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 91
|
Reviewer
|
Appea-rance
|
Aroma
|
1/3
|
2/3
|
3/3
|
Draw
|
Burn
|
Constr.
|
Overall
Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mickey T. | 88 | 92 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 88 | 97 | 95 | 90 |
| Eric | 90 | 85 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 85 | 93 | 88 | 88 |
| Dave W. | 85 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 95 | 95 | 88 | 88 |
| Adam B. | 92 | 90 | 90 | 95 | 95 | 97 | 97 | 95 | 95 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.