Special Cigar Review: Davidoff Oro Blanco

[El Hoze]

I have been looking for an excuse to smoke this cigar for a few years. This is most infamously known as the ridiculously priced $500 Davidoff. It was given to me as a gift. My wife (who grew up a short distance from Davidoff in Santiago, DR) just finished her first trimester with our first child, a son, so I figured what the heck. 

Apologies for reviewing a NC here (this is a Dominican puro w tobacco grown outside the typical tobacco-growing area of El Cibao, instead the tobacco comes from Mao...an area better known for bananas and aloe) but this is the only cigar forum I post on as I smoke 95% CCs even though my wife is from El Cibao and I catch tons of flack for it. There’s also very few reviews online so figured I’d post one up on FOH. 

The cigar comes in its own coffin that was built very well (as it very well should be). The tobacco came from a 2002 harvest. I think it was released in like 2013. Unbelievably silky smooth wrapper. 

Great cigar in terms of flavor. I am not a great reviewer as I struggle to articulate flavors. But this thing had a wonderful mix of forest floor, mushrooms, what I’d call rice crispy treats (bready sugar flavor), and nuts. They would move in/out throughout. It was a great combo depsite that mushrooms and rice crispy treats don’t sound like a natural match. Towards the end I got more flavors of cedar, wood, tobacco (wow imagine), and more dried mushrooms. 

My only complaints were the burn for the first half was wonky and the ash flakey, despite being in the prime spot of a desktop humi for a few years. The draw also seemed tight and was hard to keep a good burn (I kept it at 69% per the recommendation and might go down to 65% should I get another shot). I like a tight draw so I’ll take tight vs loose (an often complaint I have of NCs). The RG (54) was also wide for my personal liking. Would never pay to play with this but I am super lucky I got to try it. 

I have a ton of respect for the folks at Davidoff, but compared to what Cuba could put out at this price point one has to wonder. I think proof that a cigar is just a cigar, so smoke ‘em, and that there’s no guarantees...two things I love about cigars. And also that dollar for dollar Cuba is tough to compete with! However in terms of NCs this was at the top of my list just given the complexity and variedness of flavors.

 

[Bagman]

Nice to have non-cuban reviews from time to time.  well done!

[cigcars]

     *I hope you meant you paid $500 for the whole box and not just the one!  And a Dominican!? 

[El Hoze]

7 hours ago, cigcars said:

     *I hope you meant you paid $500 for the whole box and not just the one!  And a Dominican!? 

Yup...$500 a stick if you can imagine that, and no I certainly didn’t pay that, it was given to me by someone who works for Davidoff. One has to wonder who would actually buy a $500 cigar (and I will definitely pay up when it comes to cigars).

[cigcars]

6 hours ago, El Hoze said:

Yup...$500 a stick if you can imagine that, and no I certainly didn’t pay that, it was given to me by someone who works for Davidoff. One has to wonder who would actually buy a $500 cigar (and I will definitely pay up when it comes to cigars).

      *That sounds like some Kaizad Hansotia sh#t!  Only difference is Davidoff can justify (well, somewhat) the prices charged for his smokes!