Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Debonaire Maduro Sagita. We have assessed the Debonaire Maduro before, but in different sizes -most recently in the Robusto size back in October 2016.

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Sagita: 5 1/2 x 38 (Petite Lancero)

The Debonaire Maduro was the second blend introduced by Debonaire House as a part of its Debonaire Ultra Premium Cigar line. Released in 2014, Debonaire co-founder Phil Zanghi replaced the Nicaraguan Habano wrapper found on the original Debonaire Habano line with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Most of the vitolas found in the Debonaire Habano line were carried over into the Maduro line. One of those sizes was a 5 1/2 x 38 Petite Lancero known as the Sagita. Today we take a closer look at the Debonaire Maduro in that Sagita size.

Another size found across the Debonaire lines is a petite Salomon known as the First Degree. The name “First Degree” is a masonic term meaning entry point.  According to Zanghi, the First Degree serves a purpose of introducing people to his premium line of cigars.  After smoking the First Degree, a next logical step is to smoke the Sagita size. Sagita means “arrow” and this leads the way to the other vitolas in the line.

In addition to the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, the Debonaire Maduro Sagita utilizes a Dominican binder and a combination of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. As with all of his brands, Zanghi produces the Debonaire Maduro out of the De Los Reyes factory in the Dominican Republic.

Flavor-wise, I found the Debonaire Maduro Sagita was in the wheelhouse of the other sizes I smoked. Like those other sizes, the Sagita told its own story. There is a nice combination of coffee, maduro sweetness ( a combination of natural tobacco and dried fruit), and a mix of white pepper and cedar spices. At times the coffee notes were “mocha” like with a touch of chocolate mixed in. The Debonaire Habano is known for its signature “au jus” type of flavor. The Maduro doesn’t quite bring out that flavor, but there are touches of it to remind you this cigar is a Debonaire. Toward the end, there was a little more in the way of spice. The cigar itself has medium to full strength. The flavors also start out medium to full in body, but by the final third progress to full-bodied.

One other impressive thing I can note about the Debonaire Maduro Sagita is how versatile this blend is – namely how it works in sizes ranging from the petite lancero to the massive 9 x 50 “A” size 33rd. As mentioned, each vitola in this line tells its own story. With the Sagita, this is a cigar where I definitely tasted the influence of the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. This is a cigar I’d recommend to a more seasoned cigar enthusiast. However, it is a nice gateway cigar to not only someone new to the Debonaire Maduro, but a new cigar enthusiast looking for something fuller. It’s a cigar I’d smoke again – and it easily garners box worthy consideration.

Summary

Key Flavors: Maduro Sweetness, Coffee, White Pepper, Cedar, Au Jus, Chocolate
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium Plus
Strength: Medium to Full
Body: Medium to Full (1st Half), Full (2nd Half)
Finish: Very Good

Rating

Value: Box Worthy Consideration
Score: 91

References

Previous Assessment: Debonaire Maduro Robusto
News: Debonaire Maduro
Price: $8.75
Source: Drew Estate (Distributor)
Brand Reference: Debonaire

Photo Credit: Cigar Coop