Dominican Big Leaguer Derrame Anniversary Cigar Review

Having worked with two giants guys of the cigar industry for many years, makes you a passionate guy able to produce a Dominican Big Leaguer Cigar

This is what Francisco Almonte, owner of Dominican Big Leaguer (DBL) Cigars  says on his Facebook page. Before branching out on his own, Fransisco worked for two of  the giants in the industry – A. Fuente and La Flor Dominicana. The result of which is the  creation of some amazingly fine cigars just in their inagural year. You may have read our review of the DBL Formula 1 a few months back. That cigar turned me into an instant  fan of DBL Cigars  and today I will review the DBL Derrame anniversary 6.25  x 56 cigar.  When asked about the name of the Derrame, Francisco  explained that is means to love for the first time.  Well I have to say the Derrame fits that description.

What is interesting about the DBL Derrame is that it comes packaged 49 to a box. There are 4 rows of 10 Soft Box Pressed cigars  and one row of  9 coronas. The box is just as eye catching as the cigar itself.

For this review I sampled the box press varietal which is one  beauty of a  cigar, from the perfectly applied triple cap to the oily marbleized medium brown Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper to  the DBL signature spice aroma on the foot. The remainder  of the blend includes a Dominican and Nicaraguan filler with a Dominican binder.

I was  in the final day before moving into my new house, taking a break from packing, when I first fired up a Derrame. I decided to enjoy another, the day before Thanksgiving, after decorating the house for the big family day on Thursday. Before getting into the review, I have to once again note the signature spice aroma that not only the Derrame, but other DBL cigars, emit on the foot and barrel. Now  that it is Thanksgiving I can say with certainty that it is an aroma similar to my favorite holiday dessert- Mince Meat Pie. If you have had it you will recognize it – apples, dried fruit, raisins, spices, brown sugar, and brandy. Even my dog Ziggy loves that aroma!

I don’t know how Francisco does it but I  commend him for such a delightful blending of tobacco leaves.

The Derrame is adorned with a band different than the standard DBL band on their other cigars.  It is a slightly ornate band that has the gold letters DBL in the center of a red background surrounded in golden chevrons. The word Derrame is imprinted in gold in a red rectangle with a gold  border below.  The words Hand Made and Dom.Rep. are printed in gold on the sides of the DBL logo. To complete the presentation, the cigar is finished with gold footer band.

The cap slices off easily leaving a perfect opening to draw from. The dry draw offers a unique combination of flavor notes including citrus, chocolate, raisin, and a hint of red pepper.

Once toasted up, the beginning of the smoke is full of the pre-light flavor. The spice is just dancing on  the palate making me want to crack open that mince meat pie but I must wait. My mouth is watering though, so I will settle for the Derrame, having already enjoyed it once I know what I am in for.

The nasal burn from the pepper is delightful as it cranks open the palate for the notes I  am about to experience and the ash is awesome, slightly toothy  with a salt and pepper color. As it burns through the 1st third the fruit and chocolate take a more dominant presence in the flavor profile with  the spice laid in the background right down the center of the mix.

The ash broke just before the band. I wonder if was due to the heavy bass beat of The Who record I am listening, but it lasted long enough to prove the quality construction.  The oiling of the wrapper is amazing at this point.  The breeze coming into the lounge circulates the now nutty aroma of  the Derrame.

Moving into the last third, the spice is still on the back note and a white pepper enters the mix. The flavor  keeps me puffing away and to my delight, and patience in taking this cigar  down to the nub, I am rewarded with a little bits of chocolate.

Overall, the Derrame is wonderful cigar that should be enjoyed by any cigar lover from new to aficionado. It was a medium-full strength cigar that had delightful flavor transitions and aroma. Once again it proves the knowledge Francisco learned from his mentors. Even better than the flavor and construction quality, is the price point; the Derrame retails for $8.10. Of course if you want a cabinet for your cigars, buy the box, it is sure to look good in your cigar cave.

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Now for a something extra.

Before dinner on Thanksgiving I decided  to break out another DBL that was gifted to me by  Francisco at this years IPCPR.  A terrific short Figurado with a pigtail cap. I will not get into the details of  this cigar other than it too, was terrific creation. Here is a slide show of the burn for your viewing pleasure:

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8.10