Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Brûlée Wagashi – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

In their first collaboration with Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, Cigar Dojo and Steve Saka created a new cigar last year, the Sobremesa Brûlée “Wagashi”, inspired by Japanese culture. This release follows the 10th anniversary of Cigar Dojo. Steve Saka of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust has experimented with the larger format of the Sobremesa Brulée Blue blend, resulting in this unique creation.

The Wagashi, named after a traditional Japanese dessert, is a 6″ x 50 toro, box-pressed and crafted at the Fábrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua. Its design and flavor are influenced by Japanese wagashi, specifically yōkan, a rectangular block-type dessert. It features an Ecuador Connecticut Shade G2BW wrapper, San Andreas Negro binder, and select Nicaraguan fillers.

This limited edition is packaged in 13-count semi-dressed boxes, with a retail price of $233.35 ($17.95 per cigar). It released in November 2023 only available through Smoke Inn. Pre-orders were started on April 20, 2023, with a $30 deposit per box, and those pre-ordered boxes included a limited-edition collectable challenge coin featuring custom artwork related to the collaboration.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Mexican San Andrés
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: Steve Saka
Number of reviewers: 4 – Randy B. (randobush) Quinn (quinnpins269) Jason H. (Jokey Smurf) Alan (Eulogy)
Price: $17.95
Age: 2 Months
Release Date: November 2023
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff

Initial Impressions – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Brûlée Wagashi

Appearance: 93

“This cigar is presented with a nice smooth Connecticut wrapper. The seams are tightly applied, and it has an attractive pigtail cap. Overall the cigar feels heavy in my hand, and very well-made.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Aroma: 88

“The pre-draw is loaded with a red pepper and baking spice profile that tickles the back of my throat. There is a sweet tobacco, cedar, and baking spice on the foot with a slight grassiness on the wrapper.” –Alan (Eulogy)

First Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The first thing I noticed on this cigar is a pronounced sweetness on the lips from the tip. I don’t know if it’s a sweetened cigar, but it definitely has a sweet note on the lips. After the first puffs, I’m getting a strong, dark, black tea flavor, and a bit of white pepper, not much on the spice side just a significant black tea.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

“At the first puff, I was met with an abundance of creamy smoke. It had notes of white pepper and a slight sweetness, similar to a baking spice. About halfway through the third, I did have to touch it up. It was rolled a bit tighter to one side causing the uneven burn that was not correcting itself.” –Quinn (quinnpins269)

Second Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“In the second third, the caramel turns into toffee and oak. The Christmas spice has transitioned more into a black coffee. The creamy has picked up some savoriness in it. Lots of nuts. The burn has gone a bit wonky but I leveled it out with firrrrre! The retro now has a tiny zing to it, but still delights the soul. The draw takes a couple of puffs now, but smoke output still good.” –Randy B. (randobush)”

“The bitterness from the first third is almost gone but it has a very grassy profile. Notes of leather, baking spice, red pepper, and tobacco are found on the finish and sits on the tongue.” –Alan (Eulogy)

Final Third

Flavor: 87
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“The first thing that I noticed in the final third, is that the now long finish is sponsored by white and black pepper. Four draws (albeit, effortlessly) is now needed to fill the pie hole with smoke. The retro intrigues me, as the zing has now turned a full retro into a “hold onto your seat” experience. Ending with toffee/coffee/graham cracker/salt/nuts.” –Randy B. (randobush)

“Coming into the final third the cigar started to shift back to its original flavor notes of white pepper. But it has also began to have a roasted peanut hint to it as well. It balanced out very well, and I enjoyed smoking it down the the end.” –Quinn (quinnpins269)

Overall Impressions – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Brûlée Wagashi – Blind Cigar Review

Draw: 91

“The draw on this sample was really nice from the beginning all the way through the end. Just the right amount of resistance and plenty of smoke. I just wish the flavors were better.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Burn: 91

“The only touchup that I encountered was about halfway through the first third. It seemed to be a small amount of uneven bunching to one side. The cigar cleaned up very well after this and I did not have to reach for my lighter again.” –Quinn (quinnpins269)

Construction: 94

“Construction on this sample was actually quite good. The wrapper for the most part was smooth and vein-free with just a couple of slightly green colored spots. Seams and other aspects of construction, including the pigtail cap are spot on. Burn quality was great and the draw was great. The only thing lacking in the cigar was quality flavors.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Overall Strength: Mild-Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 90

“Really enjoyed this Connecticut-wrapped beauty from start to finish.
Transitions were noticeable, and had a nice rhythm, or flow, in between thirds.
Starting with the cream, caramel, graham cracker, and flowing into the toffee, coffee, slightly peppery salty nutty goodness, and ending with a nice pour. I’d recommend this cigar, as well as smoke again! Cheers!” –Randy B. (randobush)

“Great smoking experience on what I would consider a nice overall medium-body cigar. The sweet and peppery profile was a nice combination that played well together. I would reach for these at my local B&M any day.” –Quinn (quinnpins269)

“Based on the construction I had high hopes for the cigar. It seems like a lot of time and effort were put into the construction and actual roll of the cigar. Unfortunately, the flavors just didn’t pan out. Initially, the tea notes were nice, however, as the cigar, progressed and heated up the flavors quickly became dirty, and then ultimately acrid and nearly unsmokeable. This is something that I was really hoping would be good but it just didn’t work out for me. I could not recommend it to a friend and would not choose to try it again.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

“This wasn’t for me. I found it too grassy and bitter with a thin smoke production and weird burn. I did like the pigtail cap and soft box-pressed shape. In the moments where some sweet tobacco notes came through it was enjoyable but they were always fleeting.” –Alan (Eulogy)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 57

To view the complete scores and notes, click here

Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Brûlée Wagashi – Blind Cigar Review