The year 2025 was a big year for Steve Saka and his Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust company. It ushered in a decade of premium cigar blending and production. The company announced 7 new product offerings in addition to the 2025 Year of the Duque, the Stillwell Star Holiday Y2025, and the Todos Las Dias Double Wide (part of the company’s Archive Series). To say Steve and his company were busy this year would be an understatement, especially when you factor in, increased tariffs along with delays in getting cigars shipped to the US.
One of the anticipated core releases from DTT is the Sobremesa Solita “Red”. The cigar is expressed in a (6.25 x 46) parejo. They come packaged in 13-count boxes and carry an MSRP of $18.66/cigar.
Steve describes the blend as:
- Capa: Ecuadorian Habano
- Capote: San Andrés Negro
- Tripas: Nicaragua (4 leaf) & U.S.A. (Seedleaf Pennsylvania)
For this review I sampled 3 of the Solita Reds which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Sobremesa Solita “Red” by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust is a awesome looking cigar that highlights a reddish brown wrapper that exhibits a few veins and marbling along the barrel. The wrapper has a nice toothiness to it. The seams are tight and the cigar is well packed with no discernible soft spots. The wrapper has a mild oily sheen and is neatly finished with a pigtail cap.
Two bands adorn the cigar. The primary band uses a red and gold motif displaying the DTT crown logo while the footer band uses the same motif and declares this as the Sobremesa.
Running the cigar across the nose, I picked up pre-light aromas along barrel of spice and natural sweetness. The foot offered notes of cocoa. Most certainly an enticing array of notes on the pre-light.
Continuing with the examination, I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and gave it some cold draw puffs that I found to be perfectly restricted, while offering the palate enticing umami spice notes.
I used my single flame torch to warm the foot to an even orange glow and drew in an initial burst of black pepper to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Immediate black pepper start
- Chocolate and fruit notes enter early rounding out the initial profile
- There is an intriguing aroma of cinnamon and fruit wafting off the foot
- A mild undertone of cedar adds to the pleasure
- A early ash drop reveals a well formed burn cone
- Caramel sweetness begins to evolve slowly morphing into a vanilla cream
- A well formed white ash develops on top of a thin char line
- The smoke output is full, thick, and creamy smoke
- Continued dark chocolate and sweetness carries it into the second third
- The pre-light umami notes blend into the profile
- Mild, mouthwatering citrus notes develop midway
- Dark chocolate seems to be the most predominate note in the blend as it caries into the final third
- There is also a bit of earthiness and a growing spice keeping the journey interesting
- Note – Ash drops often
- Medium to full in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 35 minutes
Final Analysis
This cigar delivers a bold yet well-controlled experience, driven by an assertive black pepper opening that quickly finds balance through layers of dark chocolate, fruit, and evolving sweetness. The progression from caramel into vanilla cream is particularly well executed, lending a smooth richness that complements the cigar’s naturally savory undertones. The integration of pre-light umami notes into the mid-profile adds depth and sets this blend apart from more straightforward chocolate-forward offerings.
Construction is solid overall. The thin, even char line, well-formed white ash, and abundant creamy smoke reflect quality craftsmanship, even if the ash drops more frequently than expected. The smoke texture stands out—dense, velvety, and satisfying—enhancing both flavor delivery and mouthfeel.
Dark chocolate anchors the profile through the final third, supported by earthiness and a gradually building spice that keeps the cigar dynamic to the end. At a medium-to-full strength, it offers enough body to engage seasoned smokers without overwhelming the palate.
Point Deductions: (-1) Ash Falls often
Bonus Points: (+1) Pleasurable well balanced and rounded profile; (+1) Box Buy; (+1) Extremely complex in flavor and aroma
