This Dominican gem from Davidoff packs big flavor in its 5x50 Robusto frame. Celebrating Zino Davidoff's 80th birthday since 1986, the Special R starts your session with cedar spice before unfolding hidden depth. Those well-aged Dominican fillers show their stuff through creamy transitions, though I wish the nicotine kick lasted longer before the earthy fadeout.
The Ecuadorian wrapper delivers immediate cedar snap with white pepper tingle on retrohale. There's surprising creaminess under those spice notes - think vanilla latte minus the sugar rush.
As the burn line passes the band, roasted cashew flavors emerge. The smoke turns velvety but watch out - quick puffers might get charred oak bitterness. Rest between draws lets caramelized tobacco sweetness shine.
Earthiness dominates the home stretch with damp soil and black pepper combo. Construction holds firm though nicotine accumulation stays mild. Ends cleaner than most Dominicans, leaving almond skin dryness rather than harshness.
Rolled in Santiago's tropical humidity, this blend uses Cibao Valley tobacco aged 5+ years. Master blenders combine Olor dominicano and San Vicente mecapal leaves for that signature Davidoff smoothness. The Sumatra-seed wrapper from Ecuador's Andean foothills adds just enough tooth for slow combustion.
