If you go to the Davidoff website you will read about their 2017 introduction – Winston Churchill The Late Hour:
“Sir Winston Churchill was not a man to follow convention. When most people were thinking of their beds, Sir Winston found inspiration and creativity in the long dark hours of the night. The dark was where he found his spark.
Davidoff celebrates this facet of the Great Man with a special cigar – The Late Hour.”
Just like the man himself, the cigar is one that does not follow convention with tobacco aged for six months in finest Scotch single malt whisky casks, and according to Davidoff this is a feat no one has attempted before.
Photo Courtesy of Davidoff
At the 2017 IPCPR I was fortunate enough to receive samples of this fine and elegant cigar from the company and today I have the pleasure of offering a review for you.
Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour Cigar
Besides being aged in Scotch single malt whisky casks, the blend of The Late Hour is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder – Mexican
- Filler – Nicaraguan Condega Visus, 2 different Dominican Visus
The Late Hour is available in three popular vitolas
- Robusto – 5 x 52 – MSRP $17.50
- Toro – 6 x 54 – MSRP $19.10
- Churchill – 7 x 48 – MSRP $20.10
They come packaged in 20-count and 4-count boxes. Cigars International and JR cigars offer a 5% discount on them.
Pre-Light Examination
Wow! The first thing you will notice about the Winston Churchill The Late Hour is its dark chocolate-colored and oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. Smooth to the touch and solid in the hand this cigar is just screaming to be enjoyed. It is well capped and has just a few noticeable veins.
The band on this is as elegant as the cigar itself with a black and gold motif and a silhouette of Sir Winston Churchill in gold print on a black background and the word Davidoff printed below. There is a second and that adorns the cigar right below the primary band and declares this as The Late Hour.
There is a bright earth and zesty citrus aroma off the foot but not much along the barrel.
Once the cap is sliced, the cold draw is fairly open with a black pepper note that coats the lips and palate. Rolling it about and savoring the cold draw you will notice an earthy back note developing.
I could cold puff this for quite some time but I have to write a review, so it is time to put a flame to the foot and take it on a journey.
Although a enjoyed the various vitolas for this review I sampled the The Late Hour Churchill
Cigar Review Notes
Winston Churchill The Late Hour
Winston Churchill The Late Hour
Winston Churchill The Late Hour
Winston Churchill The Late Hour
Winston Churchill The Late Hour
Winston Churchill The Late Hour
Winston Churchill The Late Hour
- Butter creaminess with a light black pepper coating start the journey
- Coffee finds its way in early in the burn
- A well-formed, medium grey, ash evolves on a medium char line
- Extremely smooth smoke after a half-inch of perfect burn and incredible sheen
- Peppery spice moves forward with a growing cedar back note
- Smoke is full and palate filling
- There is a gentle spring to the barrel after the first third
- Ash falls often – about every inch – with always a perfect flat burn cone
- Sweetness fills out the profile entering the second third
- Spicy aroma fills the air around me
- The pepper increases slightly to more of a white pepper midway
- Sweetness and nut develop
- Dry leather enters near the final third
- A continued earth and spice with a lingering nut
- Medium smooth strength
- Total Smoking Time was 70 minutes
Overall, the Winston Churchill The Late Hour by Davidoff was truly an elegant cigar from foot to nub. The flavors were extremely well-balanced and the core of peppery spice kept the palate enticed. I have paired the other vitolas with a few drams of Highland Single Malt which worked very well. I think an Islay may be a bit over powering but could bring out the earth notes more. The price point is rather high for the average consumer but it is well worth the money for a special cigar occasion.
Winston Churchill The Late Hour