#6 Cigar Journal Cigar of the Year 2023

The Year of the Dragon Limited Edition completes Davidoff’s cycle of twelve consecutive celebrations around a Chinese zodiac. The brand honors the important year with several limited-edition products inspired by the Dragon and its fascinating personality. 

The powerful Dragon requires an equal format, making this zodiac’s cigar the biggest creation out of all “Year of” executions to date. The double corona carries an eye-catching foot ring which covers the uncut part of the cigar. This enables aficionados to enjoy the first inch/2.5 cm of the masterpiece without the wrapper leaf, which creates an intriguing play of flavors and visualizes the Dragon spitting fire.

The blend consists of 8 tobaccos, combined for a total of 60 years aging. In 2024, this number will match the age of a person born in 1964, which is also a Year of the Dragon. This year’s edition comes in a handsome box of ten cigars. The top surface of the box shows a captivating iridescent varnished dragon skin pattern all over. The powerful Year of the Dragon icon in the center holds a pearl, which in Chinese culture symbolizes wisdom, prosperity and fortune.

A wooden tray inside the box reveals two cigar sections that are divided by a silky red ribbon inspired by the Dragon’s tongue.

TASTING NOTES:

1/3 – The uncut foot of the cigar offers an inch of enjoyment without the wrapper leaf, during which earthy, wooden and herbal notes are present. Once the wrapper takes over, the taste changes to rich notes of roasted nuts, cream and subtle liquorice.

2/3 – The intensity rises in the second third, when notes of sweet honey, white pepper and citrus dominate. The double corona format and 8 different types of tobaccos of a combined age of 60 years create and elegant and sophisticated taste journey.

3/3 – In the cigars final third, fresh spice and oak wood complement the dominating notes of dark chocolate. The intensity remains the same as before, making the last part of this masterpiece especially smooth and well-balanced.

Format: Double Corona
Ring Gauge: 50
Length [in]: 7 1/2"
Smoking Time: 90-100 Minutes
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic / Nicaragua / Mexico
Strength: 3 out of 5