Francisco Almonte, owner of Dominican Big Leaguer (DBL) Cigars has been on a mission for almost 40 years. Having worked for and learned from the best in the industry including Litto Gomez, the man knows tobacco and ever since the founding of his company ten years ago, his dreams of growing into a larger name in the industry grew year over year. Now after ten years, he has built a brand-new cigar factory in Tamboril, Dominican Republic – he has numerous fields in the DR – he just secured farms in Lancaster, PA – and is forging partnerships in Nicaragua. The man has set his bar high and has achieved his goals. In celebration of his decade owing his brand, he celebrated this year by blending a special 10th Anniversary cigar. In fact, he blended two – a Mexican Maduro and an Oscuro Cameroon.
Today I want to focus on the DBL Cigars 10th Anniversary Oscuro Cameroon which has a blend described by Francisco as:
- Wrapper – Ecuador (Oscuro Cameroon)
- Binder – Dominican (Habano)
- Filler – Dominican (Corojo 99)
The cigar like its sibling Mexican Maduro blend is expressed in a single (6 5/8 x 52) vitola and comes packaged in 30-count boxes (15 Maduro and 15 Oscuro). MSRP is set at $13.50/cigar.
For this review, I sampled two of the DBL Cigars 10th Anniversary Oscuro Cameroons that I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The DBL Cigars 10th Anniversary Oscuro Cameroon exhibits a stunning dark brown oily wrapper that has a light amount of toothiness to it. There is a faint marbling running through the wrapper. It is very light on veins. The cigar is well bunched and rolled and is finished with an excellent triple cap.
Three bands adorn the cigar. The primary band uses the traditional black, red, and gold band that proudly displays the DBL logo. The secondary band is placed just below and declares this as the 10th Anniversary Oscuro in gold on a black background. Finally, a gold footer band is applied.
Running the barrel across the nose I picked up a fragrant sweet apple cinnamon note while the foot exuded what I describe as, characteristic DBL cinnamon raisin notes.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs. The draw was spot on with restriction and offered notes of growing cinnamon spice, earth, and fruit.
Using my single flame torch lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of refined spiciness. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- The journey starts with an array of refined spice notes
- White ash forms on top of a thin char line
- The draw is smooth with a full volume of chewy smoke in every draw
- Dark chocolate nuance swirl into the early profile after an inch of burn
- Delicate cream wraps the whole introduction together for a palate pleasing experience
- Oodles of oiling form above the char line after every puff
- Ash fell in a nice chunk revealing a well-formed burn cone
- Mouthwatering citrus notes enter in the second third
- Leathery notes add to the mix
- Toasted oak notes join the profile midway through with a sweet fragrant aroma
- Spice notes start to intensify deep in the second third
- Citrus morphs into more of a citrus peel note
- Slight wave in burn
- Apple and spice bring it to a closure
- Medium to Full in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 Minutes
Final Analysis
Embarking on the DBL Cigars 10th Anniversary Oscuro Cameroon journey, the palate is greeted by an exquisite array of refined spice notes that set the stage for a captivating experience. The draw, marked by its smoothness, delivers a full volume of chewy smoke with each puff. After an inch of burn, the early profile is enriched with swirling nuances of dark chocolate, complemented by a delicate cream that artfully ties the introduction together, creating a truly pleasing palate sensation. Entering the second third, the journey takes an enticing turn with the introduction of mouthwatering citrus notes. Leathery undertones seamlessly join the mix, adding complexity to the evolving flavor. Midway through, toasted oak notes make a noteworthy appearance, accompanied by a sweet and fragrant aroma that enhances the sensory experience. As the journey deepens into the second third, spice notes undergo an intensification, contributing a welcomed layer of boldness. The citrus notes gradually transform into a more pronounced citrus peel essence. Bringing this flavorful expedition to a satisfying closure, the profile evolves once more, with apple and spice notes harmonizing in the final moments, leaving a lingering and memorable impression on the palate. This is most certainly a box buy. I rate this a solid 96.
Point Deductions: (-1) Slight Wave in Burn deep in Second third
Bonus Points: (+1) Box Buy; (+1) Excellent Oiling Above the Char line; (+1) Pleasurably Balanced and Consistent Across Multiple Samples
