Davidoff Flake Medallions

I came in expecting to love this blend. As a cigar smoker, the name Davidoff comes with high expectations. I love my VaPers. The packaging is classy and attractive without being over the top. The tin note is sweet and sublime, reminding me somewhat of the new Three Nuns, a blend I do enjoy.

But smoking it leaves me a bit flat. Because of the presentation I've seen it compared to Escudo and DNF and it doesn't rank anywhere close to either, in my opinion. I'm searching hard for the perique... it's in there but way in the background. The cavendish seems to offer a dull sweetness that just seems plain. Overall it's just too soft, too refined, and not quite interesting enough. It does remind me a lot of Three Nuns, but lacks the interest offered by the dark fired in that blend.

Preparation & Burn: 8/10 Easy, flexible coin. Burns cool, no bite. Stays lit for the most part and burns at a decent pace.

Taste: 8/20 I'm surprised how different this is to Escudo. I don't know what it is about these medallions, but they have a sickly sweet sort of thing with a dry taste of wood and grass. Not a fan.

Mildness: 9/10 My idea of a good smoke is a relaxing, low nicotine session. Therefore, the milder the better. Not much nicotine!

Total: 25/40

A delicate, even fussy little blend. The tin note is mild, and smells of white grape juice. The presentation and cut is obviously high quality, and someone at the factory takes their time arranging the medallions in that pretty circular fashion. The present sample is well-dried, and that may affect the review. The taste from the charring light is sweet dry grass, and the cavendish offers an intermittent punch of spice and sugar-sweetness.

Now, those are two sweet flavors. And the effect is a rush of sweetness. It’s natural, not faked, but it’s assertive all the same. I notice the perique only as a sensation of spiciness, with almost none of the fig flavor I usually associate with it. And the Virginia presents itself as graham cracker— yes, all sweetness. All high, delicate flavors, and no bass notes.

No bass notes. I wanted some. Some dark fruit from a well-stoved Virginia, or a dusting of latakia. I want a counterpoint in this blend, something for contrast and interest. It also burns hot, even in my Ben Wade freehand which nearly approaches churchwarden length.

As it is, I would probably sell this one in bulk at a third of the price and then recommend it to people coming off of aromatics. I still recommend it for them, but the two tins I have will likely last me a good while.

I made sure my accompanying beverage didn’t color my review, but it was a peach and bourbon smash and my sweet tooth is well sated for now.

after a few bowls of this one, i find the flavored cavendish too flavored. the cavendish gives it too much fruityness. i simply tired of it. I then removed the flavored cavendish and enjoyed this smoke much better.

An excellent offering from Davidoff. Similarities to the current Escudo offering should not be made, as I (in the minority) find the A.C. Petersen offering quite harsh and having no endearing quality at all.

These medallions are not overly sweet, and possess a pleasantly detectable nuance of Perique. The Cavendish adds a dimension that contributes to the body of this tobacco. To suggest that this blend is only fit for beginners is absurd and unwarranted.

Highly recommended.

A companion infusion: pints of Newcastle Brown Ale.

UPDATE: 05/16/10 Think I'll do a 180 here...eat my words...and agree 100% with Eulenburg.