Search the Community

Not sure if this documentary has been posted here, I just found it and it impressed me for 95 minutes by its quality and educational value. While I've met Dr Schneider of Davidoff at the 5th Ave Manhattan Davidoff location once, I've never met Henk Kelner but have only heard the most positive comments about him and his passion and quality obsessed work in the DR. Hope to shake his hands one day. Watching his son Klaas in this documentary is really impressive, I very much enjoyed it and actually learned a lot too.. The differences I noticed to the Cuban planters and factories are stunning as well. Details that impressed me : The number of cigars rolled by a roller at Davidoff - amazing 500 per roller/day while the max in Cuba would be 100-120. The quality steps. There's nothing even nearly comparable in Cuba. The quiet, order, cleanliness and discipline - It was like comparing a Mercedes Benz factory to a Flamenco music/shouting festival. I am, have been and will be a Habanos smoker, but Davidoff and Henk and Klaas Kelner have my utmost respect and admiration.

REVIEW: 1982 Davidoff No 2 Tubo Note. I use the following double forward slashes to separate a tasting note, or general thought. "//" Vitals: Laguito No 2 Vitola. 38 by 152mm(6.0) First released in 1969 and discontinued in 1991 34 Year old sample. Prelight notes Smooth, claro wrapper. Floral aroma, pine, almost "perfumy". Hints of pumpkin spice. Baking spice on the foot. Yellowed band shows its age. Clean, smooth tobacco aromas all around. 1st. Third Woodsy // earth opening // cedar, hickory // slight astringent notes // Dark Chocolate // Very smooth // Hints of hickory // bubbly, champagne like flavour, almost dry and apple like(very odd, never experienced this before). 2nd Third Smooth tobacco // nutmeg // champagne // honey // sweet, bready, tobacco // honey // graham cracker // marshmallow on a few draws // showing some strength now // rich tobacco hit // back to honey // nutmeg Final Third Nutmeg // toasty tobacco // black pepper // nice strong hit, very rich // vegetal notes // good pepper hit // champagne again // rich, almost effervescent hit, hard to explain, almost bbq like in flavour // spicy cedar // nutmeg on finish // rich, dark flavour like a stout // anise // vegetal with a bit of espresso on the finish // coffee, cinnamon // this last third is exceptional // coffee grounds, Conclusion I'm no stranger to vintage Davidoff cigars. I haven't smoked as many as I would like to, but the ones I have had, have been excellent/intriguing. My high point still remains a 1970 Cuban Davidoff No 1 (a Lancero). A cigar that was a buffet of flavour and for it's age, a somewhat full bodied cigar. The No 2 is the No 1's shorter cousin and from what I recall, this blend is far different, but no slouch in comparison. It was predominantly medium bodied with a few good shots of boldness/strength strewn about. I took this beauty right to the nub until I could no longer hold it. Smoking time was about 65 minutes. As far as a vintage cigar goes, this was a winner. It was dynamic and took me on a journey. I can't imagine what this was like fresh but I'd assume it was medium/full bodied. Being sealed in a tubo since 1982 I'm sure has softened it's edges. Nonetheless, it was a brilliant smoke. At many times I was at a loss for words trying to pick out a flavour. This was totally worth the price of admission. Score: 94

Hello all, Like the title says, I was offered to take a look at some Davidoff cigars that a person is selling who shares an acquaintance with me. We have not yet talked prices, but these are the pictures I was sent. I do not have any experience with vintage Cuban Davidoffs, and am hoping those with experience can take a look at these and share your opinions on their authenticity, quality, etc. I know that a lot of advice given here is to "trust your source" and I agree with that. I have bought from our mutual acquaintance before and the cigars were legit and he seems to be a very good chap, but I want more opinions since this purchase could be very pricey and my lack of experience. If you have any questions for me, please ask away. Thank you in advance for your help!

File this under. "I wish there were Cuban cigars more expensive than Cohiba" Davidoff CEO says Cuba return may happen. Davidoff CEO says ‘Cuba return’ may happen… By DOUG NEWHOUSE | Sunday, 13 September 2015 16:17 Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard smallOettinger Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard says the company is ready to work with the Cuban cigar industry again when the conditions are right, but only to add its current offer – not replace it. In an exclusive interview, he confirmed to TRBusiness last month that he could see Davidoff back in Cuba, although this still depends on a lot of factors. “Basically we are ready to go back whenever that opportunity arises and this is obviously closely linked to the lifting of the trade embargo – and as we know, President Obama cannot do that himself. That is a Congressional decision, which we know in these times, can take a long time. “I am in touch with the Cubans and they are very interested in getting us back and we are interested, but not to replace what we have – but to add a sort of a certain pillar of taste and product portfolio.” Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard Cuba or no Cuba, the international duty free channel accounts for 14% of Oettinger Davidoff’s sales and is ‘incredibly important’ from both a revenue standpoint and image building, according to CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard. He added that ’it’s clear that Cuba is still the origin of cigars in consumers’ minds’ and Davidoff would obviously like to be part of that again, but if it is to happen, then he adds that there would have to be very clear conditions underpinning the company’s return. “We need to be in charge of the quality in the growing of the tobacco. It was really a quality issue when the divorce happened,” said Kristian Hoejsgaard. “They actually burned all 350,000 Cuban cigars in the square in Basle in protest. The good news now is that the people who were involved in that big dispute on our side and on their side are no longer around, so I think it is smoothing out.” davidoff tin Having said that he points to the irony that just as the basis for a better relationship appears to beckon on the horizon, the Cuban tobacco industry has actually had ‘very bad harvests in the last two cycles’. As such, that obviously means that there is not a lot of tobacco in the pipeline anyway Hoejsgaard told TRBusiness that he is nevertheless ‘confident’ that Davidoff will return to Cuba, although how long it may take is anyone’s guess: “Is it going to be three years, five years or ten years…? I don’t know, but the train has left the station with the opening of US and Cuban embassies for sure.” For the full interview with Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, see the September 2015 edition of TRBusiness magazine.

RG: 42 Length: 129 mm Longfiller, Totalmenta a Mano Beside of the Cohiba - Behike from 2006, the cuban Davidoffs are one of the very special treasures on the cigar market. That's why I am pleased to be able to call some of these cigars my own. Optics: The cigar presents itself in an immaculate Colorado. The beautiful wrapper has no significant leaf veins. An absolutely perfect appearance. Photo was taken from my Cigar-Blog. Coldsmell: As might be expected, the cigar smell mild, but not boring. Sweet and floral aromas come to the fore. For this purpose, white coffee and white chocolate. But even the typical Cuban wood notes can be found. They are here present in the form of sandalwood and cedar. 1st third: Despite the age of nearly 30 years, the Davidoff is still astonishingly present. The smoke shows a very complex depth of flavors. Mild-woody with aromas of sandalwood and wooden cigar box. But also fresh notes can be found, which reminiscent of champagne. For this purpose, a pronounced creaminess. Photo was taken from my Cigar-Blog. 2nd third: Towards the center, the woodiness slightly increases. Through aromas of roasted almonds, the cigar has a slightly sweet touch. Furthermore, complex and creamy. 3rd third: Towards the end of aromas of floral garden herbs protrude into the foreground. Parsley, but continue cedar is detectable. For this a subtle acid touch occurs in the background and provides additional spiciness. Aromas of hazelnuts and walnuts support the impression. Furthermore, the cigar is still creamy and very profound. Photo was taken from my Cigar-Blog.

Vintage Cigar Review Davidoff Dom Perignon (1985, Cuban) Vitals RG: 47 Length: 178 (7") Date Jan 11 2014. 10:50AM local time Pre-light observations Spongy. Well stored. Sweet aroma on wrapper. Slight cocoa. Milk chocolate wrapper cold draw is firm 1st Third First puffs are toasty tobacco. Slight sweetness. Good draw. Light tobacco smooth. Clean finish. Honey sweet. Toasty. Smooth and mild thus far. Easy to smoke. Cocoa. Slight tart draw. Light pepper finish. Cocoa on the next few puffs. Clean tobacco. Minimal smoke great burn. Dark gray ash falls unexpectedly. Vegetal notes. A succession of clean tobacco draws. Slight pepper buildup ensues. Dusty draw. Clean tobacco. Pure white smoke thus far. Cocoa returns. Tangy tobacco. 2nd Third Cocoa opens up this third. I tap the delicate ash to avoid another accident. Clean tobacco. I clean my palate with soda water to see if it helps me pick up more flavours. Toasty tobacco. Hint of baking spice. Smooth draw. Light cigar thus far. Cocoa hit. Pepper getting stronger over time. A fed minty/menthol draws changes things up. Floral and minty. A see saw of floral and Vegetal noted over the next four puffs of so. Back to toasty tobacco. Floral followed by an ash tap. Tangy tobacco. A bit more flavour now. Mint. Clean tobacco. Overall a light cigar. Wonder if it was blended that way? 3rd Third Toasty. For a few puffs. More pronounced tobacco flavour. Very slight anise and beany flavour. Doesn't last more than once. Followed by rich tobacco notes. Not terribly exciting a cigar but q good experience. Beany again. Anise toasty. Pepper. Clean tobacco on the next few puffs. Beans. Toasty. Rich beany draws as i near the nub. Good rich tobacco flavour. Too late? I drink some Don Julio Reposado Tequila to change things up. At this point, it's safe to try a pairing. And fortunately, it pairs well. Nub is burning hot. Will need to finish soon. Some anise again. Toasty tobacco. My final puffs are toasty tobacco. Time to wrap this up. End time:12:00PM local time. Score: 90 Final thoughts I've been holding on to this single cigar for about five years. I was torn between holding it as a keepsake vs smoking it. Better heads prevailed. All cigars are meant to be enjoyed even white whales. Id like to hear from people who smoked these fresh. Was the blend meant to be light and accessible? Did time weaken this? My previous experience with vintage cigars tell me that a strongly blended cigar can manage to keep its vigor. The Dom Perignon may have been blended to be smooth and light. A 1970's Davidoff No 1 i smoked years ago had a good punch to it at the halfway point. A recently smoked 80's Château LaTour certainly was more robust. Maybe this a dud or the norm for the Dom Perignon? Did they blend this to be their Champagne of cigars? Sweet, dry and subtle? Id love go smoke another sample but to be honest this underwhelmed me. And the price point on these certainly keeps rising. Nonetheless i am glad and fortunate to have tried at least the one.

Found this interesting interview with Davidoff's CEO on a Swiss blog : http://www.bloomberg.com/video/china-cigar-sales-to-grow-exponentially-hoejsgaard-cGSiv5lTRSWW0fFZhdIbrg.html One can clearly see where the cigar sales are going and will be in the near future.