Davidoff – Millennium Blend Tubo Robusto

On the coattails of the Nicaragua, Davidoff recently announced their newest addition to their Black Label line that will be showcased at the 2015 IPCPR Trade Show, the Escurio, which utilizes Brazilian tobaccos.  Unable to handle all this excitement, I am taking a step back and going old school with one of the first Davidoff blends to deliver a full bodied, full flavor profile, the Davidoff Millennium Blend.

According to Davidoff:

Davidoff’s Millennium Blend celebrates a transition — a beautiful shift to to a new millennium filled with invigorating, fresh horizons. Years of expertise inform the selection of new types of tobacco and blends to create novel flavors that stimulate the aficionados of this new time.

Blended by Henke Kelner at TabaDom in the Dominican Republic, the Millennium Blend is produced in seven vitolas: Petit Corona (4 ½ by 41), Short Robusto (4 ¼ by 52), Robusto (5 ¼ by 50), Lonsdale (6 by 43), Toro (6 by 50),  Piramides (6 1/8 by 52), Churchill (6 ¾ by 48), and Lancero (7 1/4 by 40). The Robosto, which I will be reviewing today, carries a unique blend to the rest of the line with a higher percentage of Piloto tobaccos. Our good friends at Famous Smoke Shop provided the samples for today’s review. You can purchase the Davidoff Millennium Blend directly from HERE.

The Facts

Samples Provided by Famous Smoke Shop
Price: $20.50/single, $58.43/ 3-pack, $389.50/ box of 20
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 ¼ by 50
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 25 minutes
Drink: Water

Pre-light

Oils glisten off the dark tan Ecuadorian Sun Grow wrapper leaf that has some color imperfections, its fair share of small veins, and a few bumps here and there. There is one soft spot in the middle of the cigar, while the rest of the stick feels somewhat spongy. Some unique aromas are identified off of the wrapper including seasoning salt, barnyard, and a faint sweet hay, while the foot shows some rich cedar  and manure.

The cap get the job done but not overly  pretty. A quick cut through the cap reveals a perfect draw delivering lots of sweetness and richness. The dry draw has notes of Caramel, cedar, and earth in the background. A cinnamon spice lingers on the palate and adds some warmth.

First Third

Unexpected full flavors liven my palate. There are some rich woodsy notes, along with some bitter earth and grassyness. At the half inch point, the bitterness completely exits the profile and the rest of the profile begins to mesh very well. There is a full amount of bright, white pepper that is showcased on the retrohale. A spice heat lingers on my palate between each puff and toasted coffee and cocoa are on the finish. A somewhat jagged burn line is leaving behind a beautiful light gray ash.

Middle Third

Rich, dense smoke continues to pour out of the 5 1/4 by 50 Robusto. The rich woodsy notes are accompanied by some cinnamon spice and a fresh bread-like flavor. There is also a new floral / perfume quality that has joined in. The spice has diminished with hardly any warmth to be felt. The finish remains consistent with the previous third and the strength is in the full arena. I am feeling quite a nicotine kick at this point of the cigar.

Final Third

Quite a drastic change in the profile is experienced as I make my way into the final third and a quick touch-up is required on one side of the wrapper that has been burning poorly for some time. Caramelized sugar, thick yeasty bread notes, and coffee now makes up the profile. The floral notes are now on the finish accompanying the coffee and cocoa. The cocoa on the finish is much sweeter than earlier.

Wrap-up

Over my 10 years of cigar smoking, I can probably count on one hand the Davidoff cigars I have smoked. The price tag has always deterred me. Most, if not all, of the ones I have smoked have been gifts. Naturally, a cigar with a $20.50 price tag set my expectations unrealistically high. And all I can say is that I am very happy that Famous Smoke Shop sent these my way.  The Millennium Blend delivered in all areas. Complex, balanced, full flavors and body, perfect draw, copious amount of smoke, and solid ash. There is no way that these would ever enter my weekly rotation or even monthly rotation, but I know the next time I celebrate a special event or milestone in my life, I will be considering the Davidoff Millennium Blend as my smoke of choice. I recommend you grab a 3-pack to keep on hand for those special moments in your life.

Happy Independence Day!