Davidoff Aniversario Special "r" TGCRW

[jvd1291]

 

Note: I do not know when this cigar was made, Davidoff doesn't put a apparent year anywhere on the box I could find.

For my review I have chosen the Davidoff Aniversario Special "R" robusto! The cigar has a flawless Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper which is a bit darker then i typically see. There are no noticeable construction flaws or soft spots to be found.

In the first third, the initial puffs were all cedar. As the first third progressed notes of black pepper, and Fresh Cream become more prominent as the cedar recedes.

As I enter the second third, notes of cinnamon begin to appear with a very faint hints of leather on the Retro Hale. In order to remove the second band, I had to resort to my handy Victorinox cigar punch pocket knive's scissors. Thankfully I have a steady hand and was able to cut the band off without damaging the wrapper.

The cedar notes which were present so strongly in the beginning and Faded Away towards the end of the first third Return in a subtle but pleasing manner.

As I enter the final third, the cigar requires a touch-up. There are very subtle hints of pepper. The draw has tightened a small bit, having been a tad loose in the first third. There is now a fairly noticeable coconut flavor on the Retro Hale. There is a certain but not unpleasant mustiness to the cigar, which I have read is common in cigars which use certain Dominican tobaccos.

The tightened draw in the final third has slowed the burn of the cigar down considerably. It doesn't help that I am a very slow smoker to begin with. There is a very mild hint of graham cracker now. The cedar has taken on a characteristic reminiscent of the smell of a freshly sharpened pencil. It reminds me of when I was in school and would use every excuse I could to get up and move. Sharpening a pencil was a very useful excuse. the main cigar band came off with no trouble. Neither band took any wrapper with it, thankfully!

The pepper has morphed into or perhaps merged with the cinnamon flavor to become something more Akin to cloves.

The smoke production has been generous although not excessive throughout. The ash additionally has solidly held on to about an inch and a half's length. I'm certain that if I had not gotten up during the second third to use the bathroom and set the cigar down it may have held on for much longer.

I finished the cigar with about an inch left. Just after I decided that I was finished with it, the ash dropped off. Surprisingly not once during the cigar did the ash drop into my lap.

All in, I'd give it an 87. It would be a 90, if it weren't for the need for touchups in all thirds of the cigar to correct occasional jagged burnlines. This could also be due to my excessively slow smoking, as davidoff claims the cigar should last "45 minutes" while for me, it lasted a good hour and a half. I first smoked this cigar in New York at the Davidoff lounge, and have wanted a box ever since! If I had to smoke only these day in and day out, I can imagine far worse fates! **I forget to add: The cigar was Mild/Medium bodied through out.