Zen & the Art of the Cigar

Synonymous with luxury, the Davidoff brand for years has produced the finest clothes, fragrances and cigars.  Davidoff cigars have been long heralded as the symbol of luxury and decadence.

But who is the man behind the name?

“Zino Davidoff was born March 11th, 1906, in Kiev, Russia. In 1911, the political situation forced him and his family to emigrate. A journey lasting more than three months eventually brought the Davidoff family to Geneva, and that same year Zino’s father, Henri, opened a tobacco shop on the Boulevard des Philosophes.

Zino Davidoff: a man with a great sense of humour and a well-developed feeling for the beautiful things in life. An artist; who understood people, and respected them. Who never lost sight of his purpose; to enrich life through enjoying its good things.

Zino Davidoff

Who even as a successful businessman remained true to himself and to his principles. Zino Davidoff believed in simplicity, in the complete enjoyment of life. People who knew Davidoff knew this. They came from all over the world to share his philosophy, to enjoy his finest, purest cigars. They understood what Zino Davidoff meant when he said: “Smoke less, but better and longer – make a cult of it, even a philosophy!” [Source: Davidoff.com}

Zino Davidoff died in 1994, but his legacy and philosophy will be with us for many years!

Traditionally Davidoff cigars were of Cuban origin.  After the trade embargo with the US, Zino realized he just lost a huge market with the United States.  So he developed the Zino line to distribute in the US.  After the Davidoff/Habanos relationship ended in the 80s, Zino brought the Davidoff brand back to the United States but with completely different size names.  Those will be reserved hopefully when the embargo ends and Davidoff and Habanos can reestablish a partnership that made some of the best cigars ever made.  I will patiently wait for my Dom Perignon and Chateau Margeaux.

Davidoff would be nothing if it was not for Hendrik "Henke" Kelner, the brilliant mastermind behind all of the

Davidoff blends.  Construction and consistency is the cornerstone of a Kelner cigar.  He has somehow mastered the ability to keep the exact same taste in a cigar year after year.  Kelner’s blends have a very distinct taste.  Some call it “musty” or “dry” and you either like it or you don’t.  But Kelner has made some of the greatest cigars I have ever had the pleasure of smoking including the AVO LE5 and the Davidoff Vintage 2000 Panetela.

Davidoff is known for their Connecticut-wrapped cigars, whether they are grown in the shade in the Connecticut River Valley or under the clouds/sun in Ecuador.  Recently Kelner has begun experimenting with Connecticut Broadleaf and Dominican wrappers.  I can’t wait to see if Kelner gets his hands on some Authentic Corojo from newly acquired Camacho cigars.

Below is a list of the Davidoff Portfolio, including other brands such as the Zino, Avo, Winston Churchill and The Griffin’s lines including also the newly acquired Camacho brand.   Brands not owned by Davidoff but with blends made by Kelner will be listed but not described (will be done in their own respective spotlights).

– one of the most luxurious and expensive cigars ever made.  Hallmarks of consistency and construction, these cigars have been disregard due to the recent trend in “strong” cigars, but there is no mistaking that a Davidoff cigar is an exceptional cigar.  All tobacco must be aged a minimum of 4 years.  Originally using Connecticut Shade wrappers, in 2002 production switched to using Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers.

• Davidoff Anniversario – these large cigars are still mild and available in 3 sizes.

• Davidoff Classic – the mildest of the bunch, this line is available in 5 sizes.

• Davidoff Colorado Claro – the limited release has shown up three times, most recently in 2009 and is extremely limited with an extra dark wrapper.  It features the Special Series blend and in ’09 was available in 4 sizes.

• Davidoff Grand Cru – a little spicier, this line has 5 sizes.

• Davidoff Maduro – new in 2008, this originally one-size (robusto)  line has a Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper is in fuller in body.  The corona size was added in 2010.

• Davidoff Mille (Thousand) Series – available in 6 sizes, this line is more on the thin side.

• Davidoff Millennium – my favorite Davidoff, the Millennium is rich and fragrant, available in 8 sizes.  The lancero is a work of art.

• Davidoff Puro d’Oro – as yet to be released but will be a Dominican Puro.
• Davidoff Special Series – these special cigars are rich and flavorful and available in 5 sizes.  The Special R and Double R are the best.

• Super Selection – only available at the Madison Avenue store, these cigars are available in 4 sizes with a Connecticut wrapper.  The SS #14 is comprised of a spicier blend than the other 3.

Davidoff Limited Editions – Davidoff releases limited editions annually and range from the spicy to the ultra mild.  Every year provides a new experience.

• 535 Madison Avenue 10^th Anniversary Cigar (1997) – this Toro was Davidoff’s first LE.
• 535 Madison Avenue 20^th Anniversary Cigar (2007) – this perfecto marks the 20^th Anniversary of the Madison Ave store.

• 100^th Anniversary Diadema (2006) – this monster perfecto was only available at select Davidoff stores.
• 100^th Anniversary Diademas Finas (2006) – more widely available, this mild cigar marked what would have been Zino’s 100^th birthday.

• 100^th Anniversary Robusto 100 (2006) – now available in the Robusto collectors set.

• OVTC Edition – this perfecto was made to celebrate the anniversary of the Old Virginia Tobacco Company.
• Panetela Extra Vintage 2000 (2003) – my favorite Davidoff LE.  Davidoff’s first true Vintage cigar.

• Puro Belicoso (2010) - using the same blend as the Puro Perfecto – I have a feeling these are pre-releases to the Puro d’Oro blend.
• Puro Dominicana Robusto (2007) – this spicy all-Dominican puro may be the precursor to the new Puro d’Oro.

• Puro Perfecto (2009) – this small batch release features a robust Dominican wrapper.

• Reserva 12 Robusto Extra (2008) – another wonderful and flavorful LE, but these will need some time to fully develop.

• Robusto Intenso (2005) – my second favorite Davidoff LE, this was spicy but balanced and showed lots of aging potential.

• Robusto Real <<Especiales 7>> (2004) – have not tried this LE.  Please send me one of you have one. 

• Special 48 (2002) – the first official Davidoff LE.  Never tried it, please send me one.
• Special 53 (2002) – the other first official Davidoff LE.  Never tried it, please send me one.
• Toro Especial 702 (2009) - features a extra dark Sungrown Ecuadorian wrapper in the toro size.

Zino – This line was created to give the US consumers a Davidoff product when Davidoff cigars were still being made in Havana.

• Zino Classic – available in 7 sizes with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.  This famous brand began in Honduras in 1975, but was finally discontinued in 2005. Instead, Zinos moved to the Dominican Republic in 2006, using Honduran tobaccos and a Connecticut seed wrapper.

• Zino Embassy Series – available in one size, this 2009 LE featured an amped-up blend w/ an Ecuadorian wrapper.

• Zino Light – Discontinued, I think.  These are still available although I think they are no longer made.  These are mixed filler with a precut tip packaged in plastic sleeves with either a Sumatran or Brazilian wrapper.

• Zino Mouton Cadet – Discontinued. This line was replaced by the Zino Classic line.  These were originally made in Honduras with a Connecticut-seed wrapper.

• Zino Platinum Crown Series – the extremely expensive cigars feature an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper in 5 sizes.

• Zino Platinum Crown Special Series – this special line features a Ecuadorian Criollo wrapper in varying sizes.

• Zino Platinum Scepter Series – available in 9 sizes with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.

• Zino Platinum Scepter Master Series – annual Limited Editions, beginning in ’07, with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.

AVO – named after world-renowned jazz musician Avo Uvezian, Avo cigars are generally mild – medium in flavor and strength but full of perfect construction and consistency.   The Domaine is one of the most unique tasting cigars on the market.  This is one of my favorite lines and it will get its own Spotlight, I will post that link here.

• AVO 787
• AVO Classic
• AVO Lounge Edition
• AVO Maduro
• AVO Signature
• AVO XO
• Domaine AVO

AVO Limited Editions – worth a separate category of their own, the LEs have spawned the Signature and 787 lines as well as the best cigar I have ever tasted, the AVO LE5.  All LEs below feature Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrappers.

• 22 (2002)
• 75 (2001)
• 77 (2003)
• 80^th Anniversary (2006)
• Compañero (2009)
• LE5 (2005)
• LE7 (2007)
• LE10 (2010)
• Legacy (2004)
• Tesoro (2008)

The Griffin’s – the least known of the Davidoff brands, The Griffin’s cigars are sweet and creamy with richness in flavor but mildness in strength.  Basically these are Davidoff cigars at a fraction of the price.   The Griffin’s was created in 1984 by Swiss nightclub impresario Bernard H. Grobet, who owned and operated the Griffin’s Club. Word spread throughout Switzerland about the quality of his house cigar and it was introduced in the U.S. in 1989 (Perelman).

• The Griffin’s – available in 11 sizes with a creamy Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.

• The Griffin’s Maduro – available in 4 sizes with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.

• The Griffin’s Fuerte – debuting in 2002, this is the fuller bodied Griffin, which is available in 3 sizes with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.

• The Griffin’s Limited Editions – 2004 marked the first of the Special Editions beginning with the XX.  All feature a Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper but vary in blend and strength.
  • XX (2004) – in the robusto size.

  

  • XXI (2005) – in glass tubes in the robusto size.

  

  • XXII (2006) – in glass tubes in the perfecto size.

  

  • XXIII (2007) – in aluminum tubes in the robusto size.  My favorite of the lot.

  

  • XXIV (2008) – in glass tubes in the torpedo size.
  • XXV (2009) – this anniversary cigar came in a elegant jar humidor.

Private Stock - this value-minded brand offers Davidoff quality at bundle prices.

• Private Stock Long Filler – available in 6 sizes with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.
• Private Stock Long Filler Maduro – available in 3 sizes with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.
• Private Stick Medium Filler – available in 7 sizes with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.

Winston Churchill- this is a new line from Davidoff, it is released with approval from the Churchill family.  These cigars are not cheap, but they are very good.

• Winston Churchill – these beautiful cigars are available in 4 sizes with an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper.

Camacho – recently acquired by Davidoff, Camachos have a long history of being the anti-Davidoff, inexpensive full-bodied powerhouse cigars.  More than likely acquired not just for Camacho’s value minded price point but also their number one seller: Baccarat.  I will not go into detail with the Camacho line as I will have a more extensive spotlight for Camacho.  I will link to it here.

• Baccarat
• Baccarat Dominican
• Baccarat Sumatra
• Baccarat Vintage
• Camacho Candela
• Camacho Connecticut
• Camacho Corojo
• Camacho Corojo 10^th Anniversary
• Camacho Corojo Maduro
• Camacho Coyolar Puro
• Camacho Diploma
• Camacho Diploma Maduro
• Camacho Havana
• Camacho Face-Off
• Camacho Liberty Series
• Camacho Limited Harvest
• Camacho Select
• Camacho SLR
• Camacho SLR Maduro
• Camacho Triple Maduro
• El Legend-Ario
• La Fontana
• MonteCarlo
• National Brand
• National Brand Maduro
• National Brand Nicaraguan
• National Brand Sun Grown

OTHER COLLABORATIONS

Alec Bradley Havana Sun Grown – the only Kelner blend in the Alec Bradley line.  More details in the Alec Bradley Manufacturer Spotlight.

Boris 11 – little is known about this cigar other than the rumors that it is a modified blend of the AVO 22 LE blend.   It is only available from Corona Cigar Company.

Cusano – Another great collaboration with Henke Kelner.  Most of these cigars were made in the Davidoff factory.  Cusano now has their own factory, but Kelner still created these blends below.  More detail will be provided in the Cusano Manufacturer Spotlight.

• Cusano 18
• Cusano 18 Paired Maduro
• Cusano CC
• Cusano Corojo ’96 – discontinued
• Cusano Corojo ’97
• Cusano Estate Selection – discontinued
• Cusano Hermanos Vintage
• Cusano Hermanos Vintage Maduro
• Cusano Killer Cameroon – discontinued
• Cusano M1
• Cusano MC
• Cusano P1
• Cusano Xclusivo- discontinued

Cuvee – an offshoot of Cusano.  Some of the Cuvee line are made at TabaDom while the rest are made at the D.R. Global Factory.  More detail will be provided in the Cusano Manufacturer Spotlight.

• Cuvee 151
• Cuvee Blanc
• Cuvee Grand
• Cuvee Rouge

La Cuna - another Internet exclusive cigar (Cigar.com).

La Differencia Cubana – A CI house cigar supposedly blended by Kelner.

Paul Garmirian – PG cigars have been around for quite a while.  Many don’t know of the brand at all.  Try one if you get an opportunity, they are great cigars!  Try this link for the PG Manufacturer’s Spotlight.

• Paul Garmirian Artisan’s Selection
• Paul Garmirian 15^th Anniversary
• Paul Garmirian 20th Anniversary Symphony
• Paul Garmirian Gourmet Series
• Paul Garmirian Gourmet Series II
• PG Gourmet Series Maduro
• Paul Garmirian Gourmet Series Soirée
• PG Reserva Exclusiva

Tabadom Cigars – these value cigars are made by Henke Kelner but I do not think they are made under the Davidoff brand.

• 3×3 – available in 3 sizes, tubed, with a Connecticut wrapper.
• 4×4 – not tubed in 5 sizes with a Connecticut wrapper.
• Kelner- a secret blend only available at Kelner’s store in the DR.
• Master Kelner – a secret blend only available at Kelner’s store in the DR.