Cigar Review - Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour

Cigar Review – Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour

This video was shot in early October 2023.

When Smoked: October 2023
Obtained from: part of a Davidoff sampler
Size: Robusto (5-1/2 inches x 5)
Approximate cost: US$24.00
See ratings below

The Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour came on the scene about 7 years ago as part of Davidoff’s effort to expand beyond light colored, fairly mild cigars. It is rated as Medium-Full and features Nicaraguan filler that is aged for at least three years in whiskey casks. The wrapper is supposedly the Oscuro-cured version of an Ecuadoran Habano leaf with a San Andres binder. There is also some filler from Davidoff farms in the Dominican Republic.

It’s a fairly dark wrapper that is quite shiny and oily (but not quite as dark as you’d expect with an Oscuro-cured leaf). It is a Robusto size, which is one of two Vitolas available – the other is a Churchill.

I always have some trepidation about reviewing Davidoff cigars. While they are widely revered by some, I frankly have never had one (of about 8-10 I’ve smoked) that has come even remotely close to meeting the expectations that I have for a $20+ stick.

This is billed as a medium-full body cigar, and it certainly started out that way with a pronounced peppery kick. However, it settled in pretty quickly to about a 7/10 in terms of body and strength.

This was a wind-free easy day for an outdoor smoke. Even with that, the Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour required several touch-ups and (as the pic in the video shows) the wrapper and filler didn’t burn in sync – they were a little off. Draw and smoke production were so-so.

Flavor was somewhat unique – I attribute that to the aged filler. Leather is definitely the predominant flavor characteristic – but it had a richer, deeper leather flavor than I’ve experienced previously with other brands. Beyond that, a little bit of vanilla and a hint of Espresso supplemented the leather at times.

Overall smoking experience for the Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour was 7.5/10. In the video I refer it to the Late Hour as “the okayest cigar I smoked in 2023” and I will stick with that description.

If you’re looking for the “Davidoff luxury experience” feel free to give this cigar a try. But at $24 a stick (for a Robusto, no less) I am one-and-done with this cigar. I’ll spend $12 each for two cigars and have double the fun for the same money.

Some cigars don’t make the video cut. I have a growing catalog of written-only reviews that you can find at https://cigarscigarscigars.com