This 7x48 parejo immediately commands attention with its stately Churchill silhouette and gold-embossed band bearing Sir Winston's signature. The limited 2025 release features an oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper concealing multi-origin filler tobaccos aged up to two years. At $49 per stick, it's positioned as a special occasion smoke rather than daily rotation material.
The cold draw releases cedar and faint raisin notes. Upon lighting, creamy cashew butter dominates with secondary hints of wheat toast. Smoke production remains moderate but aromatic - I get wafts of baking spices when retrohaling. Burn line stays razor-sharp despite testing it outdoors with 65% humidity.
Dark chocolate emerges at the halfway point, accompanied by black pepper that tingles the sinuses without harshness. Dominican filler tobacco shows its character through a developing earthy sweetness reminiscent of roasted yams. Draw resistance increases slightly, requiring a deeper pull to maintain combustion.
Entering the last two inches, espresso bean bitterness balances the sweetness while nicotine strength ramps up to medium-full. Lingering aftertaste mixes leather tannins with a cinnamon stick sensation on the lips. Stopped at nub stage (about 90-minute smoke time) to avoid tar buildup common in tightly packed Churchills.
The box-pressed shape provides better grip than traditional round vitolas. Triple cap held firm through three careful V-cuts. Observed minimal wrapper peeling despite the delicate Habano leaf. Davidoff's signature fermentation shows in the ash - tight white layers holding over 1.5 inches before dropping.
