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Stogie Reviews: Davidoff Grand Cru No. 3

3 Aug 2006

Davidoff Grand Cru No. 3 2In Monday’s post, I told you how Mike Copperman of Bethesda Tobacco welcomed us into his fine store for a private cigar tasting. I also told you a little about one of the extraordinary smokes he shared with us that afternoon, the elegant Davidoff Gand Cru No. 3. Since it was one of the finest stogies I had ever enjoyed, I thought it merited its own review.

This five inch by 43 ring gauge Dominican is a medium to mild-bodied smoke with a smooth, attractive, caramel-colored wrapper. While most (even premium) cigars use two pieces of tobacco to connect the wrapper to the cap, the entire outer surface of this Davidoff is hand-made from one contiguous tobacco leaf – a skill most rollers cannot achieve.

With that in mind, instead of whipping out a double guillotine and slicing off too much premium tobacco, I used my fingernails to puncture a small hole in the cap and expose the cigar’s filler (a method that I highly recommend if you have a terrific cigar). I subsequently slowly and meticulously lit the foot with a wooden match.

What followed was an explosion of delicate toasty notes, particularly hints of sweet hay. And when I took the first puff, I could tell this was truly a match made in heaven. The delicate blend of salty Olor, acidic San Vicente, and peppery Piloto Cubano tobaccos yielded a unique harmonious flavor pleasing to the whole palate. This symphony of tastes remained fairly constant throughout the smoke, and the cigar maintained a true pull and an even burn to the end.

This stogie’s only drawback is that it’s quite expensive (you can expect to pay about $13 apiece). But you really get your money’s worth: Davidoff’s 72-point inspections are unparalleled in the industry. Also, keep in mind this is not for you if you’re looking for something to knock you on your ass. Despite its plethora of complex flavors, it’s still a very smooth, graceful, and mild smoke.

I therefore enthusiastically give the Davidoff Grand Cru No. 3 a perfect five out of five stogies, a first for StogieGuys.com.

-Patrick A

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18 Responses to “Stogie Reviews: Davidoff Grand Cru No. 3”

  1. Patrick A Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 10:39 am #

    If you’re in the DC area, want to meet Mike, purchase a few of these babies, and/or get some free food and other great cigars, be sure to stop by Bethesda Tobacco this evening from 5 to 9 for an Ashton BBQ.

  2. PG Smoker Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 12:13 pm #

    5 stars ehh? I prefer the Davidoff Millenium line.

  3. Anonymous Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 12:58 pm #

    They’re not stars…they’re stogies. Get your facts straight, PG.

    (Sorry, I’m a smartass.)

  4. Jerry @ Stogie Revie Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 3:14 pm #

    $13 for an Super/Ultra Premium stick sounds like a bargain to me.

    5 Stogies! Its all down here from here…well…until you expand to 6 Stogies. =)

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