Davidoff Grand Cru Staff Review
I’m indulging in another White Label classic from Davidoff called the Grand Cru, and I’m reviewing a 6-by-54 Toro. Grand Cru is a quintessential mild smoke from Davidoff, considered one of the industry’s leading luxury brands of premium cigars.
Grand Cru was one of the original Davidoff lines created by brand founder Zino Davidoff, who intended to reflect the nomenclature of the French wine industry. The strategy was successful, and Davidoff cigars evolved into status symbols over the years. Davidoff was made in Cuba until the early 1990s when Zino grew disillusioned with the quality of Cuban cigars. He switched all Davidoff production to the Dominican Republic, where they have been made for the past three decades.
The Davidoff brand reflects exclusivity. The cigars are limited to select retailers, and they sell for fairly high prices. The Grand Cru series is handmade in several traditional sizes that sell in the range of $20-30 apiece. The Toro is just over $30, but part of what you pay for when you buy a Davidoff is the brand’s reputation. The company prides itself on the quality and consistency of its cigars. When you open a new box, you’re unlikely to find a single flaw in any Davidoff cigar.
The Grand Cru Toro measures up with its silky blond wrapper leaf. It’s grown in Ecuador from Connecticut-seed tobaccos. Underneath is a mellow blend of premium Dominican long-filler tobaccos aged for a minimum of five years. After clipping the cap, tasting notes of hay, wheat, and cedar impart hints of spice in the cold draw. Grand Cru is a very approachable cigar for beginners. Seasoned aficionados could smoke it in the morning, especially in the thicker 54-ring gauge of the Toro.
The cigar ignites effortlessly when I toast the foot with my torch lighter. Creamy, soft clouds of smoke reach my taste buds in a sequence of seamless draws. After five minutes of smoking, a stable gray ash forms at the foot. I pick up peripheral hints of vanilla bean and honey that add a touch of sweetness to the profile as the cigar progresses.
In the middle, notes of mushroom and fennel emerge. The foundation remains mild and creamy, while the profile shifts a bit into notes of balsa wood, almond, and white pepper. Velvety streams of smoke settle in the nose while a grassy aftertaste lingers on the palate. Davidoff Grand Cru unfolds with all the hallmarks of a classic Davidoff White Label cigar. If you’re looking for a spirit to pair with Grand Cru, consider a Scotch that isn’t too peaty, like Aberlour A’Bunadh. A smooth, well-aged Scotch or bourbon will marry well with the silky flavor of Grand Cru.
After the bands are off, The Toro maintains an approachable and luscious draw throughout its entirety, which lasts for more than sixty minutes. An elegant finish of coffee bean, almond, and balsa wood resonates in the final draws.
Davidoff Grand Cru is an easy choice if you enjoy other mild White Label cigars from Davidoff, like Aniversario and Signature. Normally, I’d bump the score up a bit because you can rely on Davidoff cigars for their unerring consistency and smoothness. The only drawback is the price. A box of 25 cigars retails for $765. That’s a big chunk of change, despite the illustrious reputation of Davidoff. Regardless, it’s impossible to exclude Gran Cru from today’s list of the best Davidoff cigars. It’s been a pillar in the company’s portfolio for years. My advice is to try it when you feel like splurging for a special occasion cigar.
