Today, we review Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust’s Mi Querida Black PapaSaka. Mi Querida Black is the third blend under Dunbarton’s Mi Querida blend. The origins of this line go back to 2011 when the blend was released as part of JR Cigar’s 50th-anniversary series when it was called the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Limited Edition EM Maduro. That cigar was a massive 7 1 /4 x 54 parejo. The following year, the cigar went into national release and was rebranded Mi Querida Black, with the 7 1/4 x 54 rebranded SakaKhan. In 2023, Dunbarton added a second size, a 5 5/8 x 48 parejo known as the PapaSaka.
At the 2022 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust would launch its third line under its Mi Querida brand, the Mi Querida Black. The cigar was initially released in one size called SakaKhan, a nickname given to Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust founder Steve Saka during his days in the Navy. The Mi Querida Black SakaKhan wasn’t exactly a new cigar. It was released at the end of 2021 as a part of JR Cigar’s 50th-anniversary series when it was called the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Limited Edition EM Maduro.
A third limited size was also introduced in Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust’s ultra-premium format, the Mi Querida Black Unicorn. This is a Diadema Deluxe priced at $100.00 per cigar.
SPECIFICATIONS
When Saka created the blend for JR Cigars, he wanted a cigar that would fit the type of cigars that Ed McVey, a longtime buyer for JR Cigars, would smoke. The blend of Mi Querida Black features a Connecticut Broadleaf No. 1 Dark wrapper, a San Andres binder, and a combination of Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Dominican fillers. Production for Mi Querida Black comes from the NACSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. NACSA handles production for Dunbarton’s Mi Querida blend.
- Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf No.1 Dark
- Binder: San Andres Negro
- Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran, Dominican
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Nicaraguan American Cigars S.A. (NACSA)
- PapaSaka: 5 5/8 x 48
PERFORMANCE
PapaSaka opens up with mocha notes (a fusion of coffee and chocolate), dark fruit, damp earth, and black pepper. The mocha and damp earth notes became primary early on and remained at the forefront for the duration of the smoking experience. The retro-hale delivered an extra layer of black pepper. Throughout the smoking experience, there were times the chocolate was dominant in the mocha note, and other times, the coffee note was primary. During the second third, there was a gradual increase in the pepper, and by the final third, the pepper notes joined the mocha and damp earth in the profile. The dark fruit notes remained in the background throughout the smoking experience.
PapaSaka’s strength and body started out medium and progressed to medium to full by the second half. The body maintained an edge over the strength. PapaSaka did require multiple touch-ups to maintain a straight burn path and straight burn line. The draw had a touch of resistance, making it ideal.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Final Thoughts
The PapaSaka is a cigar for those who want to smoke the Mi Querida Black blend in a more approachable, smaller format. It was not overpowering in strength but still delivered bold flavors. While it is more approachable, my personal preference is the original SakaKhan. PapaSaka is a cigar I’d steer toward a more experienced cigar enthusiast. It’s one I would buy and smoke again, but when time permits, I’m still leaning toward the SakaKhan.
Summary
Key Flavors: Damp Earth, Mocha (Chocolate, Coffee), Dark Fruit, Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (Second Half)
Body: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (Second Half)
Finish: Very Good
Rating
Value: Buy One
Score: 89
The Smoking Syndicate Review
In December 2023, Ben Lee of The Smoking Syndicate reviewed the PapaSaka and gave it a 92.
Let’s Get Pairing
Tripp and Denis did pairings with the PapaSaka on a Let’s Get Pairing episode. Due to age restrictions, you need to click on watch on YouTube:
REFERENCES
Previous Assessment: Mi Querida Black Unicorn by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
News: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust to Introduce Mi Querida Black PapaSaka
Price: $15.95
Source: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, Purchased
Brand Reference: Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
Video Credits: The Smoking Syndicate and Let’s Get Pairing
Note: Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments using a lightweight, shorter format. They 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 or a blend we are looking at in a different size.
