The birth of such an exclusive cigar is a rare event: Swiss luxury brand Davidoff has introduced its latest creation, the «Oro Blanco Special Reserve 111 Years,» crafted from tobaccos aged a collective 111 years. As one might expect, this level of exclusivity comes at a steep price – over $900 for a single cigar. finews.asia had the privilege of sampling a prototype.
The name «Oro Blanco,» translating to «White Gold,» carries a particular allure for cigar connoisseurs. A decade ago, Basel-based Oettinger Davidoff, which owns the Davidoff brand, first launched a cigar under this moniker.
Even by the standards of luxury cigars, the original Oro Blanco was audacious in both rarity and price. Made entirely from tobaccos aged 12 years from the Santa Cruz de Mao region in the Dominican Republic, it debuted with a 500 Swiss franc ($583) price tag. Due to the limited availability of such aged leaves, only a relatively small number were ever produced.
Venturing Into New Stratospheres
With this first Oro Blanco, Davidoff ventured into uncharted territory. Comparable prices are typically only seen on the secondary market for rare, collectible cigars—namely, vintage Cuban Habanos.
Now, the story continues. Davidoff has announced the release of the «Davidoff Oro Blanco Special Reserve 111 Years,» which will soon arrive in select stores.
Aging Like Fine Wine
Like its predecessor, this new Oro Blanco is a Dominican puro—meaning it is crafted exclusively from tobaccos grown in the Dominican Republic. The cigar is rolled in Oettinger Davidoff’s factory in the Dominican Republic, where over 1,000 artisans hand-roll the brand’s premium cigars for the global market.
The aging process behind this super-premium cigar sets new benchmarks. According to the company’s press release, «the binder and each filler are at least 17 years old.» Additionally, one of the tobaccos used is a rare leaf «that we have never used in a Davidoff cigar before, and that was grown in an area that we no longer cultivate.»
Only the Best Hands
In total, the tobaccos used for this blend have a combined age of 111 years. The cigar is «only rolled by our Master Roller supervisors with at least 20 years of experience,» Davidoff notes.
New «Oro Blanco Special Reserve 111 Years»: Box of 10 (left), single cigar (right). (Image: Oettinger Davidoff, Courtesy)
Davidoff cultivates 15 terroirs in the Dominican Republic, explains Chief Marketing Officer Edward Simon. «Each of these terroirs yields tobacco with individual characteristics in terms of texture, intensity and taste.»
At S$1,252 for a single cigar in Singapore and HK$7,710 in Hong Kong, the price represents a 50 percent premium over the first Oro Blanco released in 2014.
Tasting the Prototype
In anticipation of the official launch, finews.asia had the opportunity to sample a prototype of the new cigar.
As is common with pre-release cigars, the prototype lacked the final branding, instead bearing a generic label. Our test cigar, cryptically labeled «Super Vintage May 2023,» likely indicates it was rolled in May of last year.
An Aroma of Honey and Hay
From the outset, the Oro Blanco Special Reserve 111 Years impresses with its signature Davidoff craftsmanship. The honey-brown wrapper gleams with a flawless finish, and the cigar feels perfectly balanced, yielding gently under light pressure between the fingers.
The aroma of the unlit cigar reveals a harmonious blend of honey and hay, a signature hallmark of Davidoff’s finest cigars.
Luxurious Creaminess
Upon lighting, the cigar immediately reveals its luxurious character, with the smoke enveloping the palate in a velvety creaminess. Great cigars are known for their evolving flavors throughout the smoking experience, and the Oro Blanco Special Reserve 111 Years does not disappoint. It begins with a surprising vegetal and slightly spicy note, preparing the palate for the complexity to come.
The initial profile presents a compelling balance of bitterness, spice, and nutty notes, soon complemented by sweet hints of cocoa, adding depth and intrigue.
Tropical Fruit Undertones
As the cigar progresses through its first third, a subtle fruit acidity begins to emerge, gradually transforming into the flavor of ripe tropical fruits. By the final stages, even aficionados of bold flavors will find themselves reluctant to put it down.
In sum, it is a wonderful new creation.
Testing the zero series. (Image: finews.com)
The prototype delivers a rich, concentrated expression of the qualities that have elevated Davidoff to the pinnacle of the cigar world. Few brands have the reserves necessary to create such an extraordinary product. Davidoff owes its well-stocked tobacco archives to decades-long relationships with growers who cultivate seed varieties developed specifically for the company.
A Library of Tobacco
Davidoff’s agronomy department, located in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, maintains a seed bank with thousands of tobacco varieties.
Of course, one might wonder whether the new Oro Blanco Special Reserve 111 Years is truly five times better than, for example, the Davidoff Royal Release, another Dominican puro that retails for 140 Swiss francs.
The Value of Rarity
The answer lies in the subjective nature of luxury. There is no linear scale for evaluating enjoyment. A charming local wine priced at 15 francs delights in its own way, while a premier vintage from a renowned château – costing hundreds or even thousands of francs – offers an entirely different experience.
The same principle applies to cigars. A significant part of the enjoyment lies in celebrating the rare and the unique. In this respect, the Oro Blanco Special Reserve 111 Years stands in a class of its own.
The new «Oro Blanco Special Reserve 111 Years» will be available starting October 17, 2024, at select Davidoff retailers and flagship stores worldwide. Release dates and availability may vary by country.
