Davidoff Year of the Snake Review
Davidoff Year of the Snake 2025 Lancero

Today, we are reviewing the Davidoff Year of the Snake 2025 edition in the Lancero format. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the release of Chinese Zodiac “Year of” cigars. The company that truly popularized this concept is Davidoff. In 2012, they launched the Year of the Dragon cigar in a limited and straightforward format for the Asian market. The following year, they introduced the Davidoff Year of the Snake. This time, the Year of the Snake got a global launch, complete with exquisite packaging. On Cigar Coop, this cigar finished as the #2 Cigar of the Year, and #3 Cigar of the Decade 2010-2019. Since then, Davidoff has gone through a complete Chinese New Year cycle. In late 2024, Davidoff releases its second Year of the Snake cigar. Below is a complete list of the Davidoff Chinese Zodiac releases.

Davidoff Year of the Snake: 2013 Edition (Top), 2025 Edition (Bottom)

When Davidoff released Year of the Snake in late 2012, the cigar hovered around the $30.00 price point. The lancero size (which is a different blend) comes in at $62.00. That is the starting point, as we will see, there are higher-priced options. For now, our attention turns to the Davidoff Year of the Snake 2025 Lancero. We’ll break it down and assess this cigar.

Davidoff Year of the Snake 2025 Lancero – Cigar Review

SPECIFICATIONS

Blend and Origin

The Davidoff Year of the Snake 2025 edition has a completely different blend from the 2013 blend. The 2025 blend features Ecuadorian tobacco for the wrapper and binder. The filler is a combination of Mexican and Dominican tobaccos. It is the first Davidoff blend to use a Dominican hybrid seed ’98 tobacco from the Martin Garcia region. Meanwhile, it’s only the second time Mexican tobacco has been used in the filler of a Davidoff blend. Production comes from Davidoff’s TABADOM facility in the Dominican Republic.

  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian
  • Binder: Ecuadorian
  • Filler: Dominican, Mexican
  • Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
  • Factory: TABADOM

Vitolas Offered

For the first time, Davidoff has offered three sizes for its Chinese Zodiac collection.

  • Lancero: 7 x 43
  • Toro: 6 x 52
  • Gran Toro: 6 x 56

The Lancero wouldn’t pass a Prime Time Name Council as it is more of a cazadores or lancero size. It is the primary offering that was presented to Davidoff-appointed merchants. It is priced at $62.00 each and packaged in ten-count boxes with a total production of 17,500 boxes. The Toro size is exclusive to Davidoff Flagship stores (company-owned stores) and is produced in limited quantities of 600 24-count units. Finally, the Gran Toro is a part of an ultra-premium Davidoff Masterpiece Humido. A total of 24 88-count units were produced. There wasn’t an MSRP that I could see, and each unit (with the cigars) will run you $49,000.

Appearance (*)

The Ecuadorian wrapper of the Year of the Snake 2025 had a distinct dark cinnamon color. Upon closer examination, some darker mottling was visible on the surface. There were also some oils on the surface. The wrapper itself has visible veins and seams.

PERFORMANCE

Pre-Light Draw (*)

A straight cut was used to commence the cigar experience of the Year of the Snake 2025. Once the cap was removed, it was time to begin with the pre-light draw ritual. The cold draw delivered a mix of natural tobacco and leather notes. Overall, this was a simple yet satisfactory pre-light draw. It was now time to toast up the footer of the Year of the Snake 2025 and head into the smoking phase.

Tasting Notes

The Year of the Snake 2025 opened up with notes of natural tobacco, cedar, earth, black pepper, and fruit. Early on, the natural tobacco and fruit notes became the primary focus. The natural tobacco had a good balance of sweet and bitter notes. Meanwhile, the pepper, cedar, and earth settled in the background and were joined by some classic wood notes.  On the retro-hale, there were additional layers of black pepper and cedar, along with a touch of wood.

Toward the end of the first third of the Year of the Snake 2025, the fruit notes receded into the background. Concurrently, the cedar notes replaced the fruit in the forefront, joining the natural tobacco notes. During the second third, both the earth and pepper notes increased in intensity. By the midway point, the earth joined the natural tobacco. The cedar receded to the background and was joined by the wood, fruit, and pepper notes.

The final third saw the natural tobacco and earth remain the primary elements. Meanwhile, the pepper notes slowly became more prominent but did not become overpowering. Finally, notes of fruit, cedar, and wood rounded out the profile. As the Year of the Snake 2025 came to a close, the resulting nub was soft to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn

Overall, the Year of the Snake 2025 was a well-constructed cigar, and this was reflected in both the burn and draw. The cigar maintained a straight burn path and a relatively straight burn line. This was a cigar that required no excessive touch-ups. Meanwhile, the resulting ash was on the firm side. This was a silver-gray ash with some dark spots. As for the burn rate and burn temperature, both were maintained at ideal levels.

Burn of the Davidoff Year of the Snake 2025

Draw

The excellent construction of the Year of the Snake 2025 was also reflected in the draw. This was a draw that had a touch of resistance, making it ideal in a book. At the same time, this was a low-maintenance cigar to derive flavors from.

Strength and Body

The Year of the Snake 2025 smoking experience had a subdued start. Initially, the cigar had mild to medium strength with medium-bodied flavors. As I progressed through the first third, the strength settled into medium territory, while the flavors stayed medium-bodied. Gradually, both the strength and flavor intensity increased but remained within the medium range overall.

In terms of strength versus body, the body had a slight edge.

BANDING AND PACKAGING NOTES (*)

Since each of the three sizes of the Davidoff Year of the Snake 2025 blend has different packaging, we are focusing on the Lancero since that was the size assessed.

In terms of banding, the Year of the Snake 2025 follows the formula used for all of the previous Davidoff Chinese Zodiac releases. This consists of the standard Davidoff white primary band and a red and gold secondary band. The secondary band depicts the character of the Chinese Zodiac. It is worth noting that the Year of the Snake 2025 secondary band differs from the 2013 edition. The 2025 version is slightly more embellished and has an upgraded look. The frame-style box also gives the packaging of the Year of the Snake 2025 an ultra-premium look.

Davidoff Year of the Snake Lancero Packaging (Photo Credit: Oettinger Davidoff AG)

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

Overall, I enjoyed the Davidoff Year of the Snake 2025 Lancero. This is probably the best Chinese Zodiac cigar from Davidoff since 2018’s Year of the Dog release. While I was skeptical about a “lancero”, I like that the Year of the Snake 2025 Lancero is thicker. I believe that worked in favor of this cigar. The cigar excels in the most critical category: flavor.

The Year of the Snake 2025 Lancero is not in the same league as the Year of the Snake 2013. The 2013 edition was a near once-in-a-generation type of smoke. In almost any year, the original 2013 edition would have won Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year. Still, it happened to be #2 behind what would become the Cigar of the Decade, the La Aurora 100 Años Edición Especial.  The 2025 is very good, but that 2013 is at an entirely other level in the stratosphere.

In the end, the Year of the Snake 2025 Lancero is certainly a cigar that could land on the Cigar Coop Countdown, so it’s still an excellent cigar. $62.00 is not cheap, but this performed at a level where I’d recommend splurging on one if you want something special.

Summary

Key Flavors:  Natural Tobacco, Cedar, Fruit, Earth, Wood, Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Mild to Medium (1st third), Medium (Remainder)
Body: Medium
Finish: Very Good

Rating

Value: Splurge
Score: 90

REFERENCES

News: Davidoff Year of the Snake Limited Edition 2025 Announced
Price: $62.00
Source: Davidoff
Brand Reference: Davidoff

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop unless otherwise specified

(*) Indicates this is not factored into the score or value rating