Davidoff's Bold Samba: A First Taste of the New Limited Edition
Ten years after shaking up Davidoff’s portfolio, the Escurio returns in a special anniversary limited edition. finews.com smoked it ahead of launch—and found a cigar that exceeds the legacy it celebrates.
The 2015 launch of the Escurio line marked a daring move for Davidoff. Known for its sophisticated, milder cigars crafted in the Dominican Republic—long the backbone of its global success — the Swiss cigar house took a bold step into new territory.
Back then, Escurio introduced aficionados to a salt-sweet flavor profile drawn from Bahia-region tobaccos in Brazil, blended with Dominican leaves. It was bolder, more dynamic, and unlike anything in the Davidoff canon. A decade later, the Escurio 10th Anniversary Limited Edition promises — and delivers — a worthy evolution.
A Cigar with History and Ambition
The limited-edition Gran Toro cigar celebrates the line’s tenth anniversary with a complex blend of Brazilian and Dominican tobaccos boasting a combined age of 45 years. This results in a remarkably mature, balanced profile that showcases Davidoff’s blending mastery. One of the filler tobacco has been refined in a bourbon cask for added sweetness and depth—a technically challenging procedure.
Each of these cigars is rolled exclusively by Davidoff’s most experienced torcedores—master rollers with a minimum of 15 years of craftsmanship behind them. The result is precision you can taste.
The generously sized 56-ring gauge proves ideal: it offers balance, room for flavor layering, and emphasizes the tobacco’s aged elegance. And indeed, the cigar delivers on the high expectations.
A Flavor Journey Worth the Wait
Our tasting began with velvety white smoke and a satisfying mouthfeel. The first puffs revealed creamy, cappuccino-like tones with hints of toasted coffee. As the cigar progressed, a complex mosaic emerged—honey, salt, orange blossom, dark chocolate, and a whisper of bitterness and nutmeg-like spice.
The finale deepened the experience: leather, almonds, acacia honey, and a lingering echo of dried fruits rounded out the cigar's story. Rich, elegant, and impeccably structured, it’s a samba of flavors—and a fitting tribute to Davidoff’s adventurous journey.
