“…this is a cigar that elevates the Davidoff Nicaragua line to the next level as this is one outstanding offering.”

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Wrapper: Nicaragua Habana Oscuro
Binder: Nicaragua Habana Jalapa
Filler: Nicaraguan tobaccos from Ometepe, Condega and Esteli
Country or Origin: Dominican Republic (TABADOM)
Box Pressed Toro: 6 x 52
Price: $17.90
Review: Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed Toro
Brand Appearances on Countdown: 4 (201320142015, 2016)

Coming in at #8 is the Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed Toro. Box Pressed offerings are not something commonly found in the Davidoff portfolio. While we have seen box pressed offerings in the Avo brand with the Avo Syncro Nicaragua and the Avo Movement TAA, the Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed line is the first box press to carry the Davidoff name.

There have seen companies with three or more cigars on a single year’s Cigar of the Year Countdown, but this is only the second time a brand has placed three cigars on the Countdown. We have to go back to La Gloria Cubana in 2010 as the last time this happened. Currently, the Davidoff Yamasa Piramides (#15) and Davidoff Scorecard 2016 (#20) are the other two Davidoff branded cigars on the Countdown. The Davidoff Nicaraguan Box Pressed Toro also becomes the fourth box-pressed offering on this year’s Countdown. Although it’s made in the Dominican Republic, it is the first Nicaraguan puro to land on this year’s Countdown.

This is not just a box pressed version of the original Davidoff Nicaragua offering. It has two differences. First up, the Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed uses a Nicaraguan Habana Oscuro wrapper as opposed to the Nicaragua Habana Rosado wrapper on the base line. Secondly, the Esteli Visus priming found in the original Davidoff Nicaragua was upgraded to ligero priming. The intent here was to deliver a bolder, more intense smoking experience.

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Photo Credit: Oettinger Davidoff AG

This 6 x 52 box-pressed Toro delivers notes of coffee, cedar, wood, white pepper, citrus, and a slight creamy undertone. The strength and body both start off medium and surprisingly for a Davidoff cigar  both attributes increase to full by the end of the cigar. This cigar definitely succeeds at Davidoff’s goal of delivering a bolder and spicier experience.

When Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard took the reins of Davidoff in 2011, he implemented a program of innovation. A box-pressed and bolder offering is another successful result of this program. While Yamasa got a lot of the attention and was still a Top 15 cigar, the Davidoff Nicaragua Box-Pressed was one of the stellar releases of 2016 and earns this #8 ranking.

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For details of the 2016 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2016 criteria.

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted.