Davidoff Winston Churchill Robusto Test

Davidoff Winston Churchill Robusto in the test. In this article you will find out two important points: Firstly: I tested one specimen. The draw resistance was brutally concrete. The cigar head was incredibly hard. I very rarely experience that with cigars. The PerfecDraw rescued this specimen.

And secondly: Why you don't have to return one to the dealer. If you don't have the PerfecDraw to hand: first try gently massaging the cigar head. In most cases, the „concreted“ tobacco leaves will then come loose. Or cut the cigar a little more. A few stabs with a toothpick can also help from time to time. However, I recommend that the PerfecDraw is part of your standard cigar tools.

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.

Tasting notes on this Davidoff Winston Churchill Robusto specimen

Fact sheet of the Winston Robusto

• Format: Robusto (length: 133 / ring gauge: 52)
• Tobacco:
  • Wrapper: Ecuador
  • Umbrella leaf: Mexico
  • Filler: Dom. Republic
• Price: Status February 2021
  • CHF 21 / box of 20 CHF 386.40 / box of 4 CHF 80.65
  • EUR 20.15 / box of 20 EUR 390.91 / box of 4 EUR 78.18
• Buy a cigar: Google Search >

Personal impressions of the pleasure

First half

• Tongue, palate: Slightly sweet, nutty, a little cocoa (bittersweet), moist wood, acidic (pleasant)
• RetronasalNutty, somewhat spicy, coffee beans, light dry wood
• R+ ZiZo vacuum technology: somewhat spicy, lots of coffee beans, light dry wood
• Umami: slightly juicy, slightly spicy
• Strength 2/5

Second half

• It remains constant. On the tongue, there is a marked increase in the intensity of the flavours towards the end. Retronasal and R+ the increase is permanent and becomes more and more intense.

What is „retronasal“?

Retronasal cigar enjoyment enhances the flavour. What it is, why it works and how to do it please read here. Take a look at the ZiZo vacuum technology in particular. Incredible enhancement of cigar enjoyment!

What is the „R+ ZiZo vacuum technology“?

This is the consummate pleasure of a cigar. Hard to describe. I'll try. Here's an example: a baby sucking on a dummy. Try this technique with a cigar. Very little smoke gets into the mouth. But it passes over the tongue and goes straight through the nose. I tried it with about 10 cigars before I mastered it. Please be very careful with this technique when practising: the smoke hit the back of my larynx several times. That was really bad. But now that I can do it, it's a perfect technique for enjoying a cigar.

What is umami?

This means „savouriness“, „spicy“, „essence“, „meaty“. This mixture of taste sensations is perceived on the centre of the tongue. You can find a good article about this on Wikipedia. 

Non Cuba cigars and the important acclimatisation process

Acclimatisation recommendation: 3 weeks in the humidor with cellophane.

The fact is: you don't know when the cigar was imported and how long it rested with the importer. You also don't know how long the resting phase was at the retailer. Cigars are in shock after being transported from the tropics to Europe. They have to acclimatise first. The industry is sales-orientated. The cigars have to be sold quickly. Therefore, they may not taste as they should.

If you buy single copies

Place the cigar with the cellophane in the humidor. If your cigar does not have cellophane: Put them in tubos and then in the humidor. Or you can put the individual cigars in a Zippo bag and put a small Boveda inside. You then seal it and place it in the humidor. Cigars that are stored open without cellophane or a box lose their flavour very quickly. This is demonstrated in this article with experiments.

Conclusion Davidoff Winston Churchill Robusto

It remains constant throughout the entire smoke. Personally, I prefer it when the cigar has a permanent increase. But this is of course purely subjective and not a fault of the cigar. On the tongue, there is a marked increase in the intensity of the flavours towards the end. Retronasal and R+ the increase is permanent and always more intense.

Once again I would like to mention the PerfecDraw. I recommend this tool as standard for every cigar connoisseur. Also the PerfecRepair I recommend cover sheet glue as a standard accessory.

Buy recommendation for the cigar: Yes! It is uncomplicated to smoke. It is light, strength 2/5, and has a wonderfully subtle balance. A lovely pleasure.