Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Stillwell Star Navy No. 1056 – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

Steve Saka and his company Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust had one of the most talked about cigars at the PCA tradeshow in 2021. His new line Stillwell Star uses pipe tobacco in a premium cigar, something very new for the company. The first in the series we will be reviewing is the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Stillwell Star Navy No. 1056.

Steve Saka has been a pipe smoker for three decades, he doesn’t talk about it as much as cigars, but it is a part of his routine. Sometimes, over the years, he would use pipe tobacco in his own personal blends. He usually used “English” style pipe tobacco but sometimes would go for Aromatics, Orientals, and more. While cigars will always be his main focus, this project allows him to combine two of his passions and come release cigars that are completely unique in flavor profile.

Saka mentioned to Jeremy Reeves, the head blender of the famed pipe tobacco maker Cornell & Diehl, who himself is also a cigar smoker, that he was using pipe tobacco in his personal blends. The two of them collaborated from there eventually landed on StillWell Star.

This is not the first premium cigar blewnded with pipe tobacco, but Saka says that he finds the others too sweet, don’t use high enough quality tobacco, or are too heavy-handed in the pipt tobacco making them unbalanced. StillWell Star, Saka says, is a completely different approach. He says the cigar and pipe tobaccos used are of the highest quality available with no expense spared. Each of the pipe tobacco recipes is made in small batches by Reeves (Cornell & Diehl) with the cigar blends being tailored by Saka to specifically showcase and enhance the nuances of that specific pipe tobacco.

StillWell Star comes in 4 different blends : Aromatic No. 1, English No. 27, Bayou No. 32, and Navy No. 1056. All the blends only come in one size, a 6 x 52 toro and in boxes of 13. They are produced at Fábrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua, S.A. Each also have the same price tag at $15.30. All four blends use the same high priming Grade A Ecuador Habano wrapper and San Andres Negro binder. The fillers are different for each as they include different pipe tobacco, and different long filler cigar tobacco to compliment.

The pipe tobacco blend for Navy No. 1056 is a crumble cake of stoved Red and Golden Virginias with a touch of “Naval Rations” combined with Orientals and Latakia expertly blended with dark air-cured black cigar leaf. The company describes the blend as medium.

The name StillWell Star comes from Saka’s interpretation of his own pipe smoking experiences. “Due to the nature of pipes, they are a contemplative process in which one needs to be ‘still’ in order to be rewarded with the feeling of wellness. ‘Be Still, Be Well’ is the origin of StillWell Star.”

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Grade A Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Mexican San Andrés Negro
Filler: Nicaragua, Red and Golden Virginia Tobacco, Oriental, Latakia
Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua, S.A.
Blender: Steve Saka
Number of reviewers: 4 – Kevin A. (Kevin A.) Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi) Isaac M. (The Nothing) Kevin J. (maninblack77)
Price: $15.30
Age: 2 Months
Release Date: December 2021
Contributed by: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 95

“Beautiful dark brown oily wrapper with quite a bit of mottling and a little bit of tooth. Seams are not readily visible, and there are several raised veins running throughout. I did detect a couple of soft spots between the foot and the cap, although they do not seem like they will be an issue during the smoking experience” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)

Aroma: 91

“Smelling the body of the cigar I find freshly tanned leather. Digging a little deeper there are some undertones of wintergreen mint and acetone. Turning to the foot, there are strong hickory wood notes. Undertones of white pepper and coriander can be found as well. The cold draw showcases more hickory with the addition of vanilla and sea salt. This is a great mixture of flavors. ” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

First Third

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

“The cigar kicked off much as I had anticipated judging by its aroma. There was a fair bit of wood, bbq sauce, and molasses. The texture was thick, almost chewy. Partway through the first third, the flavors mellowed down and I was left with a grain flavor that I would describe as Wheat Chex.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

“This third is an intoxicating mixture of smoky mesquite wood and charred meaty brisket. There are countless additional flavor notes that ebb and flow throughout the third. Some of these include but are not limited to: citrus, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and anise. The smoke is thick and chewy making the body medium-full. The strength is a straight medium. ” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Second Third

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

“Sadly the wrapper begins to slightly unravel as we get into the second third. Easily corrected though. I won’t take any points away though due to the weather conditions. Flavorwise, I continue to get a lot of leather, baking spices, and slight barnyard notes. Mild to medium in strength thus far. Burn gets slightly wavy due to the wrapper issues but the flavors make up for this. I’m really digging the combination of flavors and aromas coming from this cigar. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

“The second third brought back what I would call Kansas City-style barbecue sauce, complete with backstrap molasses. There was a mesquite wood flavor which was much more assertive on the retrohale. ” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

Final Third

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

“As I reach the final third the profile has shifted to a nice rich hot chocolate with whipped cream on top. In the retrohale is a mixture of anise, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This tingles the sinuses for a good long time. The body and finish are full and long making the flavors linger. ” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

“The final third is almost spot-on identical to the first two-thirds. Lots of creamy leather and spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. The strength picks up a notch but nothing overpowering. Retro is still smooth and enjoyable. I definitely had to nub this one. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 95

“Once cut the cigar provides the perfect amount of resistance. This allows the cigar to burn super slow and cool.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Burn: 90

“Has a good burn throughout, though it does go slightly awry requiring a touch up late in the middle third.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)

Construction: 93

“Burn and draw tell that the cigar was constructed well.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 89

“Well, this is one that I do not plan to revisit. There really was not anything going on with the profile until late in the game, and what was there I did not enjoy.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)

“Flavor bomb comes to mind when I think about this cigar. There is a whole lot going on with this cigar. The flavors play off of each other well and the transitions are near seamless. I would recommend this cigar to anyone that is looking for full palate engagement. It would be the perfect after-dinner cigar with a nice port or cognac. It will for sure find a way into my humidor.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

“If this falls into your preferred flavor profile, you’re going to like the cigar. Me I don’t, and I am trying to not score against that fact. Everything seems to be really on par and be a good smoke too if you like smoking barbecue sauce.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

“This was a cigar that hit all the high notes when it comes to flavors that I enjoy. Leather, baking spices, creaminess, are all wrapped up to create an enjoyable smoking experience. The retro was smooth and the strength was just right. I would definitely try this cigar again. Worthy of at least a fiver if not a box. Thanks for the experience!” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 84

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Stillwell Star Navy No. 1056 – Blind Cigar Review