Davidoff Signature Line N°2 Cigar Review: Zino Davidoff’s Favorite Cigar

Davidoff Signature No. 2 Look & Feel

• Wrapper Hue: Coffee & Cream
• Rolling Consistency: Even
• Spring: Mild Spring
• Aromas: Sweet Cedar, Tea, Light Floral

The first striking thing about this cigar is the metal tube that it comes in. It has all the elegance of Classic White Label Davidoff products, and creates anticipation to discover what’s inside!

Upon opening the tube and taking the cigar in my hand, I quickly ascertained that the construction is immaculate. When pressed, there is a light spring present over a firm body.

There are almost no perceptible veins in the wrapper, and the seams are almost invisible. Both cigar bands are applied perfectly. Looking at the foot of the cigar, it is clear that there is a substantial amount of binder/filler, while at the head, the pigtail cap is flawlessly applied.

Another thing that draws special attention to this cigar is its size and shape. I don’t see Panatelas very often, and this cigar makes me wish that I did. The pigtail cap at the head further serves to bring an aesthetic to the cigar that is quite unique and extremely elegant.

Davidoff Signature No. 2 Review

As is customary with Bespoke Unit, I enjoyed 10 Davidoff Signature No. 2s specifically for this review. However, as hinted above, I extremely familiar with this blend and the experience that it offers.

Pre-Lighting Experience

• Draw: Perfect
• Aromas: Tea, Cedar, Light Floral

I gave this cigar a strait cut using Davidoff cigar scissors, being sure to only remove the minimal amount of the pigtail cap necessary to achieve an unobstructed draw.

Even unlit, when tasting this cigar, the flavors of brisk tea and cedar are front and center.  This is a cigar that smells very good unlit as well as lit, from start to finish!

The pre-light draw is perfect. The beautiful smell of cedar is present, enhanced no doubt by the paper thin cedar lining that is inserted into the tube to hold the cigar.

The smell of a Davidoff coming out of such a tube has become an intoxicating experience for me. I always know that there are wonderful things to come!

1st Third Smoking Experience

• Notes: Tea With Milk, Forest Floor, Sweet & Floral Cedar

This cigar lights very easily. I recommend using either a cigar match or a single flame lighter. The aroma of the smoke almost screams “Davidoff”!!!

One thing you may notice from the get-go is that it is easy to smoke this cigar too fast, especially if you are not paying attention and/or are used to smoking larger ring gauges. So please be sure to keep that in mind!

During the first third, construction and performance revealed themselves to be excellent. The draw was flawless, and the ash burned mostly evenly, with any initial variances in burn evening themselves out within the first inch of the cigar.

The flavor of the cigar remained consistent once it got going: it tastes like a brisk cup of very fine tea with some milk added. The cedar flavor remained in the background adding a delicate note of sweetness.

The strength of the cigar during the first third falls into the mild category, but the flavor of the cigar is such that it does not feel lacking in any way. The cigar also put out a consistent and very pleasing aroma characterized by sweet cedar and forest floor in autumn.

As I progressed through the first third, the flavor and aroma remained consistent, and complexity was achieved by the interplay between the sweet cedar, forest floor, and tea flavors that seemed to dance around the palate.

In addition, these flavors were very well-balanced, which also served to add complexity to the smoking experience.

Right from the start, this cigar leaves a very distinctive finish in its wake. The smoke output is excellent, and the smoke itself has a very pleasing velvety mouthfeel.

And it is this velvet smoke that leaves a very crisp and at the same time soft impression on the finish.

2nd Third Smoking Experience

• Notes: White Pepper, Cream, White Tea, Floral Aromas

The 2nd Third starts off with more tea flavors and very mild hints of white pepper, especially on the retrohale. The velvety medium bodied smoke continues to delight the palate.

A noticeable creaminess enters the palate during the 2nd third which perfectly complements the tea and cedar that form the backbone of the taste. Again, the flavors are extremely well-balanced, which is a real joy to experience!

The volume of smoke production and the intensity of the mouth feel are quite extraordinary from a vitola of this size and mildness of strength. It reminds me of sipping a very light green or white tea of the highest quality.

While the overall strength is clearly still on the mild side, mild does not necessarily equate to any lack of flavor. Quite the contrary in this case, where the flavors are complex, and the body and finish are very substantial.

Construction and performance remain excellent, with floral aromas lightly emerging in an extremely pleasing way (like walking past a honeysuckle bush).

Final Third Smoking Experience

• Notes: Floral Notes, Tea, Cedar, Labdanum

Despite the sometimes flaky ash, the construction and performance continue to be excellent. Any unevenness that develops in the burn line is minor and quickly corrects itself without needing to be touched up.

The strength remains mild to mild-medium, while smoke production and flavor are extraordinary. Once again, you do have to remember to smoke this slowly to avoid overheating this cigar, especially in the final 3rd.

The flavor profile remains well-balanced, consistent and complex, with the addition of more delicate floral notes that started to appear during the 2nd third. Floral aromas are particularly noticeable on the exhale and retrohale.

The finish remains consistently excellent (as long as you do not smoke too fast and overheat the cigar – overheating will cause it to become quite harsh)…it is long,brisk, and refreshing!

Overall Burn

• Ash Backbone: Mild – Medium
• Burn Angle: Mostly Even
• Temperature: Cool – Pleasantly Warm (take your time!)
• Draw: Mild Resistance
• Final Smoking Time: 45 Minutes

As previously noted, construction and performance of the Davidoff Signature No. 2 are excellent. The ash backbone is quite mild and the ash can be a bit flaky, especially during the first 3rd. The ash backbone gets noticeably firmer as you proceed past the first 3rd.

The burn angle is mostly strait, with minor variances correcting themselves without the need for touch ups. The burn temperature is cool to warm, but as I’ve previously pointed out, with this cigar it is very important to avoid smoking it quickly, as the flavors can become harsh if the cigar overheats.

There were no issues with the draw, which is consistently perfect, offering what seems like the ideal amount of resistance from beginning to end.

Average final smoking time was approximately 45 minutes.Remember: take your time with this specimen, and it will reward you with a world-class smoking experience!

Ideal Pairings With A Davidoff Signature No. 2

Davidoff recommends pairing the Signature Line of cigars with an aromatic milk coffee. That would certainly be a great combination!

I have found that this cigar is fantastic after breakfast paired with a cappuccino. I would also recommend smoking it after a dinner of Asian cuisine (especially seafood and vegetable-centric dishes of a nuanced character) along with light green and/or white tea.

For alcoholic beverage pairings, I would suggest Sake, Riesling, a Rosé from the South of France, Pilsner or Wheat beer, a floral Single Malt Scotch, or a delicate Bourbon.

The well-balanced mild nature of this cigar makes it easy to pair with many foods and beverages because it will not conflict with much. However, it also means that you need to avoid overwhelming the flavors of the cigar with overly strong accompaniments.

Overall Experience

The Davidoff Signature No. 2 Tubos comes in boxes of 20. The boxes are classic Davidoff – they are natural wood in color and are engraved with the Davidoff logo and product information. The box is very sturdy and well-made, and features a slide out top.

Inside the box, the Tubos are surrounded by an insert liner with product information, and are packed in two rows of ten cigars each. Each of the cigars are individually separated and held in place by two thick paper liners.

In addition, each row includes one Tubos with a Gold silk ribbon under it to ease the removal of the first cigar. It is those kinds of details that make a relatively simple presentation into a luxury experience.

The Tubos containers are made of White metal and are elegantly simple in their design with an interior cedar lining. This is a new design for Davidoff, as the previous Tubos slid together and featured a closable slot that allowed the cigars to breath.

At present, I’m somewhat partial to the older type of Tubos, but I’m sure that the new version will grow on me over time.

Each of the Signature cigars features two White Label bands that include the standard “Davidoff” logo along with corresponding product information. All of the packaging, from box, to Tubos, to bands is of the highest quality, and is elegant and understated in design.

Finally, all of this elegance comes at a price: the 20 count box retails for $402.00, or $20.10 per cigar. But as with most ultra-premium products, you get what you pay for.

These cigars can also be purchased in boxes of 4 Tubos, 5 (Cellophane), and individually. Furthermore, there is also a box of 25 cigars available if you prefer the cigars without the Tubes.

Closing Thoughts

It is well-known that this was Zino Davidoff’s cigar of choice, and it is easy to see why. While thick ring gauges have been growing in popularity, this cigar serves as a reminder that thinner ring gauges should not be forgotten, and that a classic vitola such as a Panatela can deliver an extremely satisfying smoking experience characterized by refined but abundant flavor, even at a mild strength level.

Construction and performance of the Davidoff Signature No. 2 are, not surprisingly, excellent. One of the interesting things about the smoking experience is the interplay between soft cream (especially in the smoke and mouth feel), delicate floral aromas and brisk tea in terms of a bright and refreshing taste profile and finish.

The satisfyingly velvety nature of the smoke (it makes you almost want to chew on it when the smoke is in your mouth!), along with the well-balanced nature of the blend results in a very flavorful, complex and harmonious experience.

A classic never goes out of style, and my hope is that the Signature No. 2 will always be included in the Davidoff portfolio. This is a versatile,well-balanced cigar – its mild strength along with its surprisingly robust flavor and body make it a superb recommendation for new smokers and connoisseurs alike!

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