Blind Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T Cigar Info

Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T is the latest in Smoke Inn’s Microblend Series. The Microblend Series is a collaboration for exclusive cigars between Smoke Inn and a manufacturer. This collaboration is with Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. This collaboration happens to also be with South Florida-based organization, Red Meat Lovers Club. This cigar is blended to pair with steak. 

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.

The blend uses a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper with Mexican San Andrés negro oscuro wrapper and Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania fillers. It comes in one vitola, a 6 x 56 parejo double toro. Only 500 bundles of 10 cigars were made and sold for $119.50. The cigars is rolled at Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. (NACSA), a factory known until recently for making bundle value cigars. The Mi Querida is also rolled there.

“Cigars and steaks go hand in hand, but to my knowledge, no one has ever actually developed a blend specifically created to be enjoyed intentionally together as a ‘pairing,’” says Steve Saka. “You would think this would be a rather straightforward task, but I took the responsibility very seriously in the selection of the various tobaccos to best compliment the hearty nature of the beef.”

Blind Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T Vital Stats:

Vitola: Double Toro 
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 56
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf (USA)
Binder: Mexican San Andrés
Filler: Pennsylvania, Nicaragua
Factory: NACSA
Blender: Steve Saka
Number of reviewers: 4 Olin J. (Olin) James H. (Keikan Jim) Kevin J. (maninblack77) Matt H. (Mattehh)
Price: $11.95
Age: 4 Months
Release Date: January 2019
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff

Blind Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T Initial Impressions

Appearance: 96

“Beautiful looking cigar! Lots of oils on the wrapper. Well constructed pigtail cap. Minimal veins. Heavy in the hand and no soft spots. Can’t wait to light this baby. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

Aroma: 94

“The wrapper is straight barnyard. Love the mustiness. The foot adds a touch of molasses sweetness and cedar to the mix. Can’t wait to cut and light this one!” –James H (Keikan Jim)

First Third

Blind Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T
Blind Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T

Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Getting lots of earthy and coffee notes throughout the first third. This cigar is better than coffee and donuts! ” –Olin J. (Olin)

“Wow! Right off the bat I’m getting those espresso notes throughout. Plus some nutmeg on the back end. Amazing start. Excellent smoke output. Burn line is razor sharp. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

Second Third

Flavor: 92
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

Blind Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T
Blind Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T

“This third started to ramp up in strength and body. Definitely had some oomph behind it. Flavors still had that wood core but the chocolate faded. This third had more of an earthy overtone. Noticing that the ash was flaky and was getting all over. Retro was still a little tingly.” –Matt H. (Mattehh)

“Getting into the second third, the retro picks up in intensity slightly. The sweetness remains as the dominant flavor profile, however, I’m getting more cedar notes. The cigar remains smooth with a prefect draw and razor sharp burn. I’m really enjoying this cigar despite it’s larger size. ” –James H (Keikan Jim)

Final Third

Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Still ramping up in strength and body. This third lost the wood core. The flavors were more of coffee and chocolate. The leather came back at the end as well. Retro was still tingly. ” –Matt H. (Mattehh)

Blind Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T
Blind Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T

“This cigar doesn’t disappoint. Not the most complex cigar I’ve head but the flavors present were spot on. Had to nub it. I didn’t want to put it down. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 99

“Perfect draw on this cigar. No issues!” –Olin J. (Olin)

Burn: 100

“100% razor sharp burn.” –James H.  (Keikan Jim)

Construction: 98

“Construction was perfect. No issues at all. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 95

“This is a favorite. I would buy a box right now if I knew what it was. I like everything about this cigar; I couldn’t put it down.” –Olin J. (Olin)

“I thoroughly enjoyed this Cigar despite its large size. Sweet and lightly peppery with an abundance of smoke output. The only drawback was the aforementioned bitterness at the end. Be prepared to invest some time. This is one is slow burner. ” –James H. (Keikan Jim)

“As I said before, bigger than I normally smoke but this baby was near perfect throughout. I would definitely buy this again. Excellent cigar!” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

“The cigar was good. I would enjoy it more in a different vitola. The ring was just a little too big for my liking. Also I don’t usually go for a cigar that is the medium-full/full range. But for my little qualms about it it was still a good tasting cigar. ” –Matt H. (Mattehh)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 105

Reviewer
Apr
Aro
1/3
2/3
3/3
Draw
Burn
Const
Ovr
All
Olin J. 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
James H 95 95 90 92 90 100 100 95 93
Kevin J. 97 95 92 92 95 98 100 100 97
Matt H. 95 93 95 90 88 98 98 95 90

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Blind Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T

Overall Score – 95 – Excellent

Blind Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers | by Dunbarton T&T
Summary
"I thoroughly enjoyed this Cigar despite its large size. Sweet and lightly peppery with an abundance of smoke output. The only drawback was the aforementioned bitterness at the end. Be prepared to invest some time. This is one is slow burner. " -James H. (Keikan Jim)
Appearance
96
Aroma
94
First Third
93
Second Third
92
Final Third
93
Draw
99
Burn
100
Construction
98
Overall Experience
95
95
Excellent