Davidoff Year of the Tiger Limited Edition 2022
A new expression of know-how and innovation by the Davidoff design teams and master blenders.
While The House of Grauer was pleased to host the launch evening of the Davidoff Year of the Tiger, let's take a closer look at this new limited edition which marks the beginning of a new sign of the zodiac.
Chinese astrology is based on 12-year cycles and each cycle itself is based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Each of the 12 years in a cycle corresponds to an animal. The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is a tradition that dates back over 4,000 years and marks the arrival of a new aera, represented by an animal. Thus, from 1 February 2022, we will enter the Year of the Tiger. In Chinese culture, the tiger is the zodiac sign characterised for strength, energy and determination.
As every year for the last decade, Davidoff is celebrating this special event with a limited edition cigar: the Davidoff Year of the Tiger Limited Edition 2022.
10 years but in reality, it all started 11 years ago when Davidoff started in 2012 with the launch of the annual series releases. Their first cigar, the Davidoff Cuvée Selection 2012 Year of the Dragon, was at the time only sold in Asia. However, no one suspected that this limited edition would give birth to a major series of annual releases.
Here is a though back to the previous Davidoff "Year of" editions, whose success with aficionados has only increased over the years and far beyond the borders of China:
• Davidoff Cuvée Selection 2012 Year of the Dragon, a Pirámide (52 x 152 mm).
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2013 Year of the Snake, a Churchill (48 x 178 mm), produced in 4'500 boxes of 8 cigars.
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2014 Year of the Horse, a Gran Toro (60 x 152 mm), produced in 5'000 boxes of 9 cigars.
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2015 Year of the Sheep, a Belicoso (54 x 165 mm), produced in 3'000 boxes of 8 cigars.
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2016 Year of the Monkey, a Toro (50 x 165 mm), produced in 3'000 boxes of 10 cigars.
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2017 Year of the Rooster, a Diademas Finas (50 x 171 mm), produced at 8'000 boxes of 10 cigars.
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2018 Year of the Dog, a Churchill (50 x 178 mm), produced at 4'500 boxes of 10 cigars.
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2019 Year of the Pig, a Toro Gordo (56 x 152 mm), produced at 9'300 boxes of 10 cigars.
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2020 Year of the Rat, a Toro (50 x 152 mm), produced at 10'000 boxes of 10 cigars.
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2021 Year of the Ox, a Gordo (60 x 152 mm), produced at 13'500 Boxes of 10 cigars.
The Davidoff Year of the Tiger, meanwhile, was produced in 17,350 boxes of 10 cigars, making it Davidoff's largest "Year of" limited edition.
Once again, Davidoff's design teams and master blenders have put all their expertise and know-how into this limited-edition creation. The vitola chosen for this new vintage, Piramides (52 x 156 mm), is the smallest format used by Davidoff in its Zodiac series to date.
In terms of blending, the Davidoff Limited Edition 2022 Year of the Tiger introduces another novelty: the use of an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper leaf. The latter, which is unusual to say the least, has undergone a natural colouring treatment, revealing darker stripes, worthy of the fur of the feline. The result is a beautiful effect.
To achieve this, the Davidoff rollers have developed a special technique which consists of placing the veins of the moist tobacco leaves randomly on the wrapper leaves, before pressing them for 48 hours. This was a delicate operation during which it was of utmost importance not to damage the tobacco leaves, which were meticulously selected for this special occasion. At the end of the process, the veins were carefully removed, revealing these fine stripes reminiscent of a tiger's fur.
Underneath this particular wrapper is a Dominican Hybrid 257 Seco wrapper and a filler composed of 5 leaves, also Dominican: Hybrid 254 Viso, Hybrid 259 Seco, Piloto Ligero, San Vicente Mejorado Seco and San Vicente Mejorado Viso.
Such a distinctive cigar had to be given a special box. Unsurprisingly, Davidoff offers us with a high-flying packaging. Inspired by the tiger's natural habitat, the jungle, the box has a transparent lid, revealing a meticulous work of cutting and staging of thin layers of wood, representing a tropical forest. The superposition of the different layers of wood creates depth while revealing the cigars. In the middle of this forest, a golden tiger has been represented, hiding behind a tree while stalking its prey.
Let's now proceed to the tasting. No need to take time to describe the appearance of the cigar, the execution is perfect and this wrapper is truly intriguing.
The blend of the cigar is made with three hybrid tobaccos exclusive to Davidoff, which should offer us a new taste perception. When cut, the Pyramids offer a compact look. The lighting is easy and the draw impeccable.
The first puffs, rather lively, remind us of pepper and cedar wood. The boldness of these flavours is progressively attenuated by the arrival of leather, cocoa and roasted nuts notes. A complementary smoothness that makes the cigar truly gourmand.
The end offers relatively little evolution, except for the appearance of a surprising hint of honey. It is not certain that the Davidoff Year of the Tiger will be our New Year's cigar, probably because of its lack of presence in terms of size. However, it certainly will be a perfect cigar to share at the end of a lunch with a dear friend. A rather short tasting, about 45 minutes, which will allow you to skip dessert as this new "Year of" has so much delicacy to offer you.
Davidoff, as every year, takes advantage of this new limited edition to produce a range of accessories, also produced in limited editions, in order to offer the aficionados an immersive experience within the Year of the Tiger. The first, produced in an individually numbered edition of 450, is a leather cigar case, handmade in Spain. With a beautiful bright red tanning, enhanced by the Year of the Tiger's golden motifs, it will easily accommodate two cigars with a cepo of up to 60 and will ensure that they are well taken care of in an appropriate, humidified environment for 10 about days.
The second accessory is a porcelain ashtray, produced in a limited edition of 600 pieces, individually numbered by hand. Made by French craftsmanship, it features the laser-printed Year of the Tiger design. Its classic format gives it a particularly elegant feel.
From the creation of the blend, enhanced by the artistic Connecticut wrapper - a first for a limited cigar edition Davidoff - to the design of the box, inspired by the tiger's natural habitat, to the handmade accessories, this new "Year of" collection is once again worthy of the pioneering spirit of the brand's founder: Zino Davidoff.
DAVIDOFF Year of the Tiger Limited Edition 2022 - Box of 10
Vitola: Piramides (52 x 156 mm)
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