Gift Review - Havana Dreams 'Datil'

Another in our ongoing series of occasional reviews of cigars given to us as gifts. Featured this time is the Havana Dreams ‘Datil’, given to me by club member Robert back in November of 2007.

Vitola: Robusto
Origin: Tampa
Length: 5”
Ring Gauge: 50
MSRP: $5.00

Produced in Tampa’s Ybor City by Cuban refugee Lazaro Rodriguez, it features a somewhat rustic looking wrapper that’s still pleasingly crafted.

Following Cigar Aficionado's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) I sat down to rate this cigar while enjoying a glass of scotch.

With a pretty toothy texture, it comes off looking a little rough, but the roll quality was fine. This cigar drew a little tight, but it burned perfectly; which surprised me. I guess the appearance just didn’t give me confidence that it would perform well – but it did. The amount of smoke and the build of the ash were ok.

The flavors started out with a sweetness on the lips that had me wondering if they dip the tips in sugar. I didn’t come away from it recalling discernable flavors and it never really wowed me, but it was just a nice average cigar. If anything, it left me intrigued; ultimately I suppose that I really need to try more of them one day.

My rating for the Havana Dreams ‘Datil’ robusto is 84. A very good cigar.
Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 14 pts (93% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 20 pts (80% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 28 pts (80% of the points possible)

Herf #15 - Coming to 'America'

August 10th, 2008 - Woodway, WA

In attendance were Fernand, Robert, John, Pat, Matt, and Sean. As usual, we gathered to enjoy a good cigar and give our opinion on it by holding a 'group tasting' following dinner.

The five of us who came to John’s house were this month’s lucky few to experience (for the 2nd time) the bounty of John’s kitchen. The slow-cooked Cuban pork, black beans, rice, and a wonderful garlic sauce were all amazing and washed down with some of Fernand and Pat’s home brewed summer ale. Once everyone had their fill, it was time for the tasting session. Beverages included Robert’s cigar malt Scotch and John’s espresso.

Our selection for this Herf was the CAO America ‘Monument’ Torpedo. A beautiful pin-striped figurado measuring 6 and 1/4 inches long with a ring guage of 54. This America was Cigar of the Week back on March 3rd which received a 90 from Cigar Aficionado's expert tasting panel.

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) we began the tasting. This proved to be a very well-liked cigar among our group of tasters.

After averaging our scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the CAO America ‘Monument’ Torpedo is 90. An outstanding cigar.

Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 13 pts (87% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 23 pts (92% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 32 pts (91% of the points possible)

With the double wrapper providing a gorgeous pin-stripe effect, we found ourselves captivated by the appearance of this cigar. These cigars all drew perfectly and produced ample amounts of pleasant smoke.

A couple of us did experience splitting wrappers as a result of the build-up of internal heat and moisture, but the cigars continued to smoke right on through with no performance detriment. The ashes were white and stable, for the most part, and some got quite long (though one did ‘flake’ a little bit).

The flavor was fairly mild up front, which gradually increased as we progressed. There was some sweetness, perhaps caramel-like. Unfortunately, some bitterness did creep in during the 2nd half, but certainly not enough to diminish the overall experience.

All in all, a very enjoyable cigar which we highly recommend.
See you at the next herf, September 7th.