General Information
- Price: $20.90 USD (Box of 20, $400 USD)
- Made By: Davidoff of Geneva
- Factory Location: Dominican Republic
- Dimensions: 7” by 48 ring gauge
- Shape: Churchill
- Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
- Binder: Mexico
- Wrapper: Ecuador
- Cold Draw: Caramel, Chocolate, Leather, Pepper, Wood, Earthy, Salt
- First Third: Oak, Cracked Black Pepper, Earthy, Citrus, Scotch
- Second Third: Hay, Charred Wood, Cocoa, Spice, Scotch
- Final Third: Hay, Charred Wood, Cocoa, Salt, Leather, Citrus, Scotch
Appearance
With its chocolate color and oily texture, The Late Hour looks and feels sophisticated. Turning the cigar in the light reveals Davidoff’s superior construction. An Ecuadorian Habano Marron Oscuro wrapper was chosen to surround a Mexican San Andres Negro binder. And this premium wrap is nearly seamless and shows only two thin veins that do not go much deeper than the surface. The cap has been masterfully applied. The Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour features a dark black band with gold and white text. Also in gold is a silhouette of Sir Winston wearing his infamous floppy fedora and enjoying his signature-shaped cigar. An elegant stick that honors a legend.
Taste and Draw
When cold-drawn the flavor notes of the Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour begin with a creamy coating. This smooths out the bolder leather, pepper, wooden earthy, and saltiness flavors that quickly follow. When lit the first third becomes bolder with oakier, black peppery, and earthy notes coming to the forefront. Citrus and scotch flavors then emerge to balance out the first third. In the second third hay, charred wood, cocoa, and spice entertain the palatte. In the final third the saltiness and leather notes come back in to balance out the still present sweeter notes. When finished in one session it’s an adventure through a refined flavor profile that was never too rich or ever bitter.
Cold Draw
Caramel, Chocolate, Leather, Pepper, Wood, Earthy, Salt
There is always curiosity before lighting, especially with a premium cigar. Sometimes the introductory flavor notes become another song after lighting. In the Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour that is not the case. The taste and aroma remain consistent throughout. The range of flavor notes is balanced by one another.
Clipping and cold drawing the Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour reveals the zesty journey ahead. The first impression is of the sweetness of the caramel and cocoa that slightly coat to prep your palette. This works well with the leathery, peppery transitional favors that follow. The stick finally settles into bold earthy, woody tones with a slight saltiness. When combined these flavors worked in concert to complement one another. The draw itself was effortless due to this stick’s solid construction.
First Third
Oak, Cracked Black Pepper, Earthy, Citrus, Scotch
When lit the Davidoff Winston Churchill Late hour produces additional scotch and citrus flavor notes. These work in tandem with the boldness of the other flavors still present from the cold draw to produce a creamy smoothness. There is also a pleasant oak note that is upfront without being overpowering. The peppery taste begins to take on a blackened tone which ties all the notes together. The produced smoke was intermediate and the burn line was even. Thanks to the Churchill shape, the mouthfeel is excellent, the same as Sir Winston’s ever-present cigar.
Second Third
Hay, Charred Wood, Cocoa, Spice, Scotch
The second section of the Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour smoothly introduces hay and char notes that will remain throughout. This underscores the boldness of the earthy, pepper, and leather flavors. The cocoa flavors reassert themselves to blend nicely with the scotch. This slight coating balances out the overall flavor profile nicely. The pull and burn remain even as does the amount of smoke. Ease of puffing highlights what is now a more pleasantly developed aroma.
Final Third
Hay, Charred Wood, Cocoa, Salt, Leather, Citrus, Scotch
The saltiness of the Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour does step up a bit in the final phase but does not overpower the puffs. If anything it pleasantly encourages you to finish the stick in one session. This saltiness also works well to balance out the renewed citrus flavor.
The pull retains the right amount of resistance throughout, producing a medium amount of smoke from both the cap and the foot. Retrohaling is encouraged throughout to fully appreciate the broad range of developed flavors that this premium stick possesses. The Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour wrapper does stay lit the entire time and no straightening of the burn line is needed.
Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour Summary
The Late Hour rewards a long session where you can lose yourself on the journey. The wide range of tasting notes work together in perfect harmony. The cold draw starts with a smooth slight coating of cocoa and caramel. Then the hearty pepper, leather, and salt blend terrifically on the tongue. When lit and smoked through the earthy, citrus, scotch, hay, and spice notes come on and blend to form a complex dance of tastes. This cigar feels more suited to the evening or even a late hour with its bold and yet balanced flavors.
The Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour does have a complexity that is a fitting tribute to the legendary Prime Minister. It starts with a sweet coating and blends in more daring bolder notes without ever becoming too cloying or bitter. This is due in large part to the scotch-soaked filler. When enjoying one of these you definitely will be taken on a trip back through time. Back to a study rich with the smell of scotch, wood, and leather. Where a maverick helped to shape the modern world.
Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour Pairing Notes
The Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour has complexity and depth thanks to the scotch soaking. The stick begs to be enjoyed with rich flavors to complement its boldness. Either single or double malt scotch was an obvious choice so I tried to go a bit broader.
- Peaty Scotch
- Rye Whiskey
- Whiskey Highball
- Cognac
- Imperial Stout
- Chocolate Stout
- Double Expresso
- Port Wine
- Rum
The History of the Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour
The Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour is a tribute to the former Prime Minister who was rarely photographed without a cigar. The Late Hour name comes from tales of Sir Winston’s preference for working late into the early morning. Legend even has it that the Churchill shape came about after Sir Winston visited the Romeo y Julieta factory in the late 1940s. A Churchill, while thinner than a Robusto or Toro, is longer than both of those. That translates into an additional burn time of at least thirty minutes.
