Friday, July 22 2011
Zino Platinum Z-Class 546 PCountry of Origin: Dominican Republic
Size: 5¼" x 46
figuradoStrength: Medium - Full
Wrapper: ominican Republic (Yamasa Rojiza)
Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa Especial
Ligero, Esteli Ligero & Honduran Ligero
Binder: Peruvian "Pelo do Oro"
Presentation: 20 cigars in brushed metal cases
Appearance and feel: Dark chocolate brown wrapper. Supple, silky, even in tone with no unsightly veins. The cigar was also well-packed all around, and finished with a nice
cap.
Paired with: Coffee
Draw: Excellent. Even with a less than 1/4-inch wide cut.
Pre-light flavor: Mostly leathery. Not as grassy as the mainline
Davidoff cigars.
Toasting & Light: The cigar didn't light all that evenly. It may have been a bit too moist, and I didn't want to kill it before I got started.
First puff: Robust, yet very smooth, with a spicy kick.
Retrohale: Spicy and woody. Left a long tingling in my nose.
Base flavors: I picked up mostly strong woody flavors with some nutmeg and light pepper notes in the mix.
Aroma: A little sharp, but very appealing. One of the finer attributes of this cigar. (It's important to note that the aroma of Davidoff cigars has always been a very important trait)
Burn / Ash: Burn started out a bit uneven. Dark grey ash, somewhat marbley. Cigar canoed during the first inch. I was tempted to touch it up, but wanted to see if it straightened out on its own. One relight at end of first 3rd. Thankfully, the cigar did even out just into the middle half.
General Observations: According to the Zino Platunum Z-Class sell sheet, this new line has a "Zesty start, cultured
finish." I would agree with the zesty start, though I'm not sure what "cultured finish" is other than marketing speak. That aside, I found the smoke very woody, full-flavored and exceptionally smooth, providing just enough spice on the finish to keep it interesting. The diverse Nicaraguan/Honduran core does a lot for this cigar as does the piquant Peruvian binder. Those elements, plus the gorgeous Yamasa wrapper revealed a well-centered balance.
Summary: I found this
Pyramid a little too "one note" for me. Ironically, the finish was more complex than the smoke itself. Maybe that's what they mean by a "cultured finish." Personally, I would have liked a little more sweetness in there, but that's just me; though I would like to try one of the other sizes for comparison. You can tell this is a
very fine cigar, and at $9/stick it ought'a be. Suffice it to say, this particular Z-Class frontmark is probably better suited for cigar smokers who prefer robust, peppery tobacco flavor.
Final Rating: ♦♦½
See all Zino Platinum Z-Class cigars.
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Rating scale
♦ = Fair to Midland
♦♦ = Good
♦♦♦ = Excellent
♦♦♦♦ = Outstanding
