Davidoff Yamasá Robusto Review

Origin, Blend, and Vitolas

The story behind this cigar is half the appeal. The Yamasá Valley is notorious for being a nightmare for tobacco growing—the soil is swampy and tough. But legendary blender Henke Kelner and his team at the TabaDom factory didn’t give up. When this stick launched in 2017, the buzz was real. I remember reading one of the first reviews that said, “Wearing a dark and alluring wrapper, this torpedo burns evenly. Earthy, woody impressions are balanced by a toasty quality and cocoa powder sweetness.” That pretty much nailed it.

The Davidoff Yamasá line comes in four primary vitolas: the Petit Churchill, Robusto, Toro, and the Pirámides. For this review, we went with the classic Robusto format, which I just feel is the perfect way to get the blend’s full expression.

Now, for the main event: the blend. This is where it gets special. Both the wrapper and binder are Dominican, grown in that very same Yamasá soil. The filler is a true multi-national party: a mix of Piloto visus, San Vicente Mejorado seco, San Vicente Mejorado visus, Condega seco, and Estelí seco from both the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

Packaging

You’ve got a few options here. You can grab the Davidoff Yamasá in singles, which is great for trying one out, or in 4-packs and 12-count boxes. We sprang for a 12-count box for this review. It’s worth noting you can find the 4-packs and boxes in tubos, which is a fantastic touch if you’re planning on traveling and want to keep them protected.

Appearance

This cigar just looks serious. You immediately recognize that iconic, elegant white-on-black Davidoff label, but it’s paired with a second, deep crimson Yamasá band. It’s part of Davidoff’s “Black Pillar” series, and when I see that, I know I’m not in for a mild, morning smoke. This thing means business.

I gotta be real, though. The wrapper itself is a beautiful, oily Colorado Maduro, but it’s not flawless. We noticed some prominent veins on most of the sticks. And out of the nine cigars we set aside for this review, my buddy Wesley pointed out that two of them had some slight color splotches—just little inconsistencies. It didn’t end up affecting the smoke, but for a cigar at this price point, it’s something you notice.

Pre-Light Draw, Aroma, Taste

We were all sitting out on the patio, and it was time to prep. My friend Reid usually goes for a V-cut, but I felt this one called for a simple straight cut. I used my favorite guillotine and just shaved off the bare minimum, maybe 2/8 of an inch, just to open it up.

That first cold draw was money. It was just about perfect—not a wide-open wind tunnel, but not plugged, either. I got a big hit of spicy tobacco and a really deep, loamy earth flavor.

Giving the foot a smell, I got a ton of woody aroma, but there was a distinct sweet note hiding under it all, almost like dark chocolate.

First Third

From the second I lit this thing, I knew it was a flavor bomb. It kicks off with a bang—a mix of black and spicy red pepper that really wakes you up. Once that initial blast settles (and it does settle), these really cool notes of tangy orange peel and that rich earthiness from the pre-light draw move to the front. On the retrohale, it was all business: a sharp cedar note and another wave of pepper.

Second Third

This is where the cigar really hit its stride and showed its complexity. The whole profile shifted gears. That upfront spice faded into the background, and it became this creamy, smooth smoke full of old leather and oak notes. We actually had a little debate: I was tasting a distinct, creamy cashew, while my friend Maren was adamant it was more of a roasted hazelnut. Either way, it was delicious. The spice is still there, just as a subtle tingle. The retrohale changed, too, losing some of the wood and picking up a fresh, almost grassy note alongside the black pepper.

Final Third

Right when you think it’s settling into that nutty, leathery profile, the final third comes in with a plot twist. That cedar note from the very beginning comes roaring back, but this time it’s balanced by this incredible coffee note. Maren said it reminded her of a “sweet latte,” and she was spot on. The pepper also ramps back up, which cuts through the sweetness and keeps the whole thing perfectly balanced. The final retrohale was a perfect summary of the cigar: creamy, sweet, and peppery all at once.

Ash

I know it’s a nerdy thing to focus on, but the ash on this stick was just beautiful. It was solid, dense, and stacked dimes in a way you only see with really well-aged tobacco and top-notch construction. The color was a lovely silvery-white.

Burn

This is what you pay for with Davidoff. The construction was, hands down, outstanding. We didn’t need to babysit or re-light a single one of these cigars. The burn line was razor-thin and even from the first puff to the last. It also burned incredibly cool, never getting bitter or hot, even when I smoked it down to the nub.

Smoke

This thing is a chimney, in the best way possible. It just billows out these huge, thick clouds of smoke. It’s the kind of smoke you can almost chew on—super-rich, aromatic, and with an oily texture that coats your whole palate.

What Drink and Food Pairs Well with the Davidoff Yamasá

This is not a “morning coffee” cigar; this is an “after-a-big-steak-dinner” cigar. It’s got so much body and flavor that it needs a partner that can stand up to it. Davidoff’s official recommendation is a spicy rum, which I think would be a killer pairing. A smooth, peaty single malt whisky or even a bold, dark espresso would also be fantastic.

Cigar Smoked for This Review and Tasting Methodology

To make sure we gave this a fair shake, we didn’t just smoke one and call it a day. Our review team smoked a total of nine Davidoff Yamasá Robusto, 5×50 cigars. We each smoked one cigar per day over three days. Critically, we only paired them with plain, room-temperature water. We wanted to make sure our palates were clean so we could taste every single note the cigar had to offer without any interference.

Final Verdict

So, what’s the bottom line? The Davidoff Yamasá is a total beast, and I mean that as a high compliment. It’s a bold, rich, and deeply complex medium-full-bodied cigar. I’m going to say this is not a no-brainer for a new smoker—it could be overwhelming. But if you’re an experienced aficionado, or you’re looking for that perfect, special-occasion smoke after a big meal, this is an absolute must-try.