Davidoff Small Batch Exclusive No. 2 was eagerly awaited. The tobacco was produced in 2018. 570 bundles of 10 cigars were produced worldwide. There were 50 bundles for Switzerland. Here is my test report.

A cigar test is subjective

Note: How a cigar tastes is influenced by personal taste preferences, taste memories, the form of the day, what you have eaten or drunk beforehand. Even the lighting in the room has an influence on the flavour you experience. The notes described here therefore do not necessarily correspond to your own impressions.

Davidoff Small Batch Exclusive No. 2 test report — Davidoff Small Batch Exclusive No. 2 (2018): Ready for the test.

Fact Sheet

Format: Robusto (length: 140 mm / ring gauge: 50)
Tobacco:
- Wrapper: Ecuador
- Umbrella leaf: Mexico
- Filler: Dom. Republic
Price: Status December 2021
- CHF 35.00 / bundle of 10 CHF 350.00
- EUR unknown
Find the cigar on Google

Personal impressions of the pleasure

Recommended acclimatisation: 10 days with cellophane in the humidor.

First half

Tongue, palate: slightly woody / slightly leathery / slightly acidic / cocoa
Retronasalslightly peppery / burning wood
R+ ZiZo vacuum technology: Coffee beans, fantastic
Umami: Slightly astringent and juicy at the same time. Exceptionally interesting.
Strength 2/5

Second half

Strength 3/5
More wood / More leather / More cocoa / Pepper (not too much)
A very nice development of the Smoke

Conclusion Davidoff Small Batch Exclusive No. 2

The Davidoff Small Batch Exclusive No. 2 is a cigar for discerning aficionados. The tobacco blend is subtle and does not tolerate a strong drink. The cigar is completely uncomplicated. It smoulders very well and for a long time. I have tested three examples. I noticed that all three burned unevenly. Over long passages, the cigar smoulders faster at 2/3 of the diameter. If this also happens with your cigars: Carefully relight soon so that the intended tobacco flavour can fully develop. However, I didn't notice a displaced ash cone when I ashed it, because it was in the centre. Interesting.

I love wrapper leaves from Ecuador. Especially the Connecticut, i.e. the light-coloured wrapper leaves. I don't like these wrapper leaves from other countries; they are too bitter and too acidic for me. But the ones from Ecuador are different. They have a typical cocoa flavour (i.e. bittersweet) mixed with roasted wood aromas. I love these things!

As for the price: CHF 35.00 for a Robusto is an announcement. However, we must understand here that the tobacco is from 2018, so to speak „dead“ capital (or rather invested capital). Furthermore, there are only 570 bundles of 10 cigars = 5,700 cigars for sale worldwide. In purely mathematical terms, the price is justified.

But what is the price for the cigar connoisseur? Is it justified? In my personal opinion, yes, with conditions: It needs an experienced and discerning aficionado with a good dose of sensory skills. A beginner is welcome to take on this cigar: But don't be surprised if the sensory skills are not yet developed.

This cigar is enormously rich in flavour. The flavours are sometimes subtle and blend into one another. Over the course of the smoke, the cigar continues to develop and these subtle flavours become more pronounced. A fantastic balance!

I was able to secure a bundle and am really looking forward to savouring this cigar again and again over the next few months. They are sold exclusively in the Davidoff flagship stores and at Davidoff of Geneva since 1911 with Urs Portmann in St. Gallen.

My recommendation: Get yourself a bundle.