Let's talk about the Davidoff Master Selection 2012 - a Toro-sized gem measuring 6"x52 that'll set you back $350 for a box of 10. This Dominican puro sports an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper that's been aging since its 2012 creation, developed by Davidoff's master blenders for smooth complexity. With only 1,500 boxes ever made for the US market, each bears a unique numbered label and blender's signature, making it as much a collector's item as a smoking experience.
The initial draws reveal creamy almond notes with a whisper of fresh hay. Cool white pepper spices tingle the tongue without overpowering, while the retrohale shows surprising sweetness reminiscent of crystallized honey.
As the ash grows past the first inch, roasted cashew flavors emerge. The smoke turns velvety with baking spices - think cardamom and nutmeg - layered over a cedar plank foundation. Burn line stays razor-sharp throughout this phase.
Entering the last third, the body firms up with espresso bean bitterness balancing the residual sweetness. Mineral notes appear like crushed limestone, while the nasal retronasal smell develops a distinct leather workshop aroma.
The Dominican Piloto Cubano filler leaves undergo 2+ years fermentation in Davidoff's La Romana facilities. Wrapper selection focuses on Ecuadorian Connecticut shade-grown tobaccos from the Guayas River Valley, cured to maintain natural oils while developing silky combustion properties.
