Cigar Review: Davidoff Nicaragua Robusto

The Nicaragua line was a stark departure for Davidoff when it was launched in 2013, and not just because the black band is different from the white ones that adorn other Davidoffs.

This is Davidoff’s first Nicaraguan line—a Nicaraguan puro, to be exact. “This is a major step for Davidoff to expand to a new territory,” said CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard in a press release. “Davidoff’s mission is to bring aficionados delightful experiences regardless of territory.”

A new direction? Yes. But a predictable one. In recent years Nicaragua has grown to become (arguably) the epicenter of the cigar world. And that means even classic brands with strong identities to other countries of origin—like Davidoff and the Dominican Republic—have to consider cashing in on Nicaragua’s rise in popularity.

Davidoff Nicaragua is offered in four formats: Diadema (6.5 x 50), Short Corona (3.75 x 46), Toro (5.5 x 54), and Robusto (5 x 50). A limited production Belicoso (5.25 x 52) was also made. I sampled three Robustos for this review; each had been resting in my humidor for about a year and a half before being smoked.

For starters, this is a handsome specimen with solid curb appeal. The oily wrapper is smooth and clean with a reddish hue, finished with a neatly executed cap. The pre-light notes remind me of honey, cinnamon, and sawdust. The feel is a tad spongy.

Once lit, the ten-year-old Habano Rosado wrapper, Jalapa binder, and filler tobaccos from Estelí, Condega, and Ometepe combine to yield a medium-bodied profile of oak, cream, and baking spices. There’s some spice on the finish, but it’s more like white pepper than the bold black pepper for which Nicaraguan tobacco is often known. I also find a decent dose of sugary sweetness, particularly on the aftertaste and in the aroma of the resting smoke.

The texture is bready with notes of peanut and mushroom drifting in and out along the way. Throughout, the draw is easy, the smoke production average, and the gray ash holds firmly off the foot. As with the Toro, though, the Robusto does require a few torch touch-ups to keep things burning evenly.

Davidoff is likely never going to be a destination for full-bodied cigars. Nicotine and strength are just not in the brand DNA. But if you’re willing to pay Davidoff prices (the Nicaragua Robusto retails about $13) this creation will bring you a complex, interesting take on Nicaraguan tobacco that won’t leave you disappointed. It earns four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys