Today I would like to offer a review of one of the newest Schöelen Cigars – The Schöelen Dunkel. The guts of this one is the same as the Schöelen Originell, which was the 2025 Stogie Press Small Company Cigar of the Year. While the Originell used an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, the company kept the guts and incorporated a San Andres wrapper instead of the Connecticut.
The full Blend is described as:
- Wrapper – San Andres
- Binder – Habano
- Filler – Seco from Jalapa, Viso from Condega, Viso from Jalapa
The Schöelen Cigars Dunkel is expressed in a single Toro vitola and comes packaged in 20-count boxes with an MSRP of $20.00/cigar. They are handcrafted in Nicaragua at an undisclosed factory.
For this review, I sampled two of the Schöelen Cigars Dunkel Toros, which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Schöelen Cigars Dunkel is cloaked in a mildly toothy, dark brown wrapper that exhibits a light oily sheen. There are just a few noticeable veins running along the barrel. The cigar feels well packed with no discernable soft spots. A thick triple cap completes the construction.
The cigar is adorned with a similar black, gold, and white band that is used on all offerings from the company. This time it defines the cigar as The Schöelen Dunkel.
Running the cigar along the nose, I detected rich cedar notes along the barrel and the foot exuded about the same. (not much different than barrel).
Once I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar, I gave it some cold draw puffs that were spot on with resistance and offered notes of natural sweetness with an intriguing nougat essence.
Using my dual flame torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of creamy fruit and spice to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Fruity notes wrapped in cream and light spice start the journey
- There is little extra restriction once fired up delivering a medium volume of smoke
- A white ash evolves on a thin char line
- Nougat sweetness weaves into the early profile
- A nice oiling appears above the burn line
- Caramel notes and cedar join the mix moving through the first third
- The ash fell in a good chunk revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- The profile is well blended and rounded through the first third
- Beautifully refined spice notes begin to develop moving into the second third
- Dark chocolate grabs your attention midway
- Crazy amount of oil above the burn line
- Continued cedar notes and a touch of sweet floral notes appear as it moves through the second third
- The final brings an added touch of salt to the conclusion of the journey
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 Minutes
Final Analysis
The Schöelen Cigars Dunkel journey opens with fruity notes wrapped in cream and a light touch of spice, creating a smooth and inviting introduction. The cigar offers a slightly more restricted draw, producing a medium volume of smoke that remains satisfying throughout. Nougat-like sweetness weaves into the early profile, adding a rich and subtle depth. As the cigar progresses, caramel notes and cedar join the mix, rounding out the first third. Overall, the profile remains well blended and balanced through this portion of the cigar.
Moving into the second third, beautifully refined spice notes begin to develop, elevating the complexity. Midway through, dark chocolate emerges and quickly commands attention, adding richness and depth to the evolving profile. The wrapper continues to show an impressive amount of oil above the burn line, enhancing both the visual appeal and flavor delivery. Cedar notes persist while a touch of sweet floral nuance joins the mix, adding an elegant layer to the experience as the cigar continues through the second third.
As the cigar transitions into the final third, the profile remains cohesive and refined. A subtle touch of salt appears near the finish, adding a unique contrast and bringing the journey to a satisfying and well-rounded conclusion. I rate this a 95 and certain box buy for sure.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy in Burn; (-1) Flat But Centered Burn Cone
Bonus Points: (+1) Buy a Box; (+1) Nice Oiling Above the Char Line; (+1) Refined and Well Blanced
