Year of the Tiger Celebration Editions

January 25 2022 – Joe Berg

Year of the Tiger Celebration Editions
Year of the Tiger Celebration Editions

Since the start of its Zodiac series in 2011, Davidoff has released a limited edition cigar each year in celebration of the Chinese New Year. With the Year of the Tiger commencing on the 1st February, the 2022 release has been created to reflect character of the Tiger, in strength, energy and determination. 

The attention to detail in the aesthetics of this release are incredible, with the cigars presented in a wooden box with cut-outs to resemble the jungle habitat of the tiger, and an entirely new process created to add tiger stripe markings to the Connecticut wrappers of these cigars as part of their ageing process. Aside from the tiger print of the wrapper, the wrapper is silky to the touch with an incredibly fine grain. 


On lighting the cigar the sweetness and creaminess of the smoke shone through with honey notes the most pronounced, and some coffee and citrus flavours to contrast. The cigar lit easily, and combustion was perfect throughout with an arrow straight burn line, and a firm but rewarding draw. 

The flavours developed further on the second third of the cigar, as more earthy notes dominated the palate with cocoa and charred toast. Growing in strength throughout, the final third of this cigar saw a return of the creaminess of the smoke, with the earthy notes moving more to a cedar wood, and the previous coffee flavours intensifying to more of an espresso bean strength.Medium to medium-full and providing over 75 minutes of enjoyment, and beautifully presented, the Davidoff Year of the Tiger provides a perfect way to celebrate the Chinese New Year. 

Also launched in celebration of this years Chinese Zodiac is the Plasencia Year of the Tiger. In a similar red and gold livery this Toro cigar is a 54 ring gauge and 6 1/4" long, and presented in red wooden boxes of 8. 

With all it's tobacco originating from Nicaragua the Plasencia Year of the Tiger is a medium-full smoke from the start. Its larger size is matched by its strength. Producing a drier smoke, the initial flavours were predominantly earth with dark chocolate. 

Leather flavours became more pronounced as the cigar developed, and the intensity of this cigar would pair it well with a strong black coffee or a sweet, rich rum or whisky.

Wishing all of you a Happy Chinese New Year.

Cigar Review by Joe Berg