大衛杜夫

Davidoff - The Cigar Industry's Most Swiss-Spirited Top Non-Cuban Brand

"Time Beautifully Filled" -- this is Davidoff's definition of the cigar.

1911-1930: A Cigar Family Originating in Kyiv

1911 Henri Davidoff opened the first Davidoff cigar shop in Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine. At the time, Kyiv was an important commercial city in the Russian Empire, and the cigar trade was flourishing. Henri's son, Zino Davidoff (1906-1994), worked as an apprentice in his father's shop, learning cigar appreciation and business operations.

After the Russian Revolution (1917), the Davidoff family went into exile in Geneva, Switzerland, and rebuilt their cigar shop in Geneva in 1924. This was the starting point of Davidoff's "Swiss brand identity."

1933-1947: Zino Davidoff's Cigar Dynasty

In 1933, Zino Davidoff took over the family cigar shop and began to systematize and brand the cigar business:

• Established the "Davidoff Cigar House" brand image -- representing top Swiss gentlemanly taste
• Exclusively imported top Cuban cigars -- becoming Switzerland's largest Cuban cigar importer in 1947
• Created the Davidoff Humidor quality-control standard -- still a global benchmark for cigar humidors today
• Wrote Le Livre du Connaisseur (The Connoisseur's Book) -- published in 1969 and later regarded as a classic work of cigar culture

1968-1989: The Golden 21 Years of Cuban Davidoff

In 1968, Zino reached a historic partnership with Cubatabaco (Cuba's state cigar organization) -- launching the first Davidoff proprietary cigar brand, made entirely in Cuba:

• Davidoff Dom Pérignon -- a tribute to French Champagne
• Davidoff Château Series -- Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Lafite, Château Mouton-Rothschild, Château d'Yquem (a tribute to France's top wine estates)
• Davidoff No.1, No.2, No.3, Ambassadrice -- classic Cuban formats

The 21 years of Cuban Davidoff (1968-1989) became one of the "most precious aged collectibles in the cigar industry." Today, a single Cuban Davidoff Dom Pérignon from the 1980s can reach USD 1,500+ at auction.

1989-1991: A Historic Separation and Dominican Rebirth

In 1989, Davidoff ended its partnership with Cubatabaco. It was rumored that Zino was dissatisfied with Cuban quality control and believed Cubatabaco had compromised quality for mass production. Zino's famous words were: "Davidoff must be the most perfect cigar in the world. If Cuba cannot make it, we will make it somewhere else."

In 1989, Davidoff held a "Cuban Davidoff farewell ceremony" in London -- symbolically destroying all remaining Cuban Davidoff inventory (rumored to have burned 250,000 cigars). This was the most dramatic "brand and supplier breakup" event in cigar-industry history.

In 1991, Davidoff rebuilt cigar production in the Dominican Republic's Cibao Valley -- working with Tabacalera de García (Tabadom) (the same factory also produces Montecristo Dominican and Romeo y Julieta Dominican).

1991-Present: The Global Top-Tier Era of Dominican Davidoff

The core brand lines of Davidoff Dominican:

Mainline

• Davidoff Signature -- entry line (Mareva, Toro, Robusto, etc.)
• Davidoff Aniversario -- created in 1986 to commemorate Zino's 80th birthday (aged tobacco, creamy floral notes)
• Davidoff Grand Cru -- medium-strength everyday top tier (Nos. 1-5)
• Davidoff Special Series -- Special R (Robusto), Special T (Pirámide), Double R (Double Robusto)
• Davidoff Millennium Blend -- created in 2000 to commemorate the millennium (deeply aged tobacco)

High-End

• Davidoff Maduro -- dark Maduro wrapper
• Davidoff Yamasa -- aged wrapper from the Dominican Yamasa region
• Davidoff Royal Release -- limited aged series (Royal Robusto, Royal Salomones)

Davidoff Royal Salomones is one of the most expensive regular-production cigars in the cigar industry -- USD 600+ per cigar.

Limited Edition

• Davidoff Year of Series -- annual limited editions for the Chinese zodiac (Year of the Rabbit, Year of the Dragon, Year of the Snake, etc.)
• Davidoff Aniversario Series -- anniversary commemorative releases

Other Brands Under the Davidoff Group

OETTINGER Davidoff Group also owns:

• Avo (Dominican Republic) -- a tribute to pianist Avo Uvezian
• Camacho (Honduras) -- full-strength Honduran cigars
• Zino (Dominican Republic) -- Davidoff's secondary line
• Griffin's (Dominican Republic) -- an entry-level Davidoff Group brand
• Cusano (Dominican Republic) -- an approachable Davidoff Group brand

Why Davidoff Is the Top Non-Cuban Representative of "Swiss Spirit"

1. Obsessive quality control -- Davidoff's factory inspection standards are among the strictest in the cigar industry, and every cigar must pass 12 quality checks
2. Commitment to aging -- all Davidoff tobacco is aged for at least 3-5 years
3. Packaging as art -- Davidoff cigar boxes, bands, and humidors are all works of design craftsmanship
4. Global retail system -- 70+ Davidoff Flagship Stores worldwide (including Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, and Singapore in Asia)
5. Cross-industry collaborations with global top-tier brands -- Hublot, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Bombay Sapphire, and others

From W Cigar Bar

W Cigar Bar is an authorized dealer of Pacific Cigar Company (PCC is Habanos S.A.'s official regular import channel in Taiwan) and primarily supplies Cuban series. Davidoff Dominican series in Taiwan are supplied by Davidoff-operated stores and authorized dealers. For enthusiasts, "after smoking 5 types of Cuban cigars, then smoking Davidoff Royal Salomones" is the most direct way to experience a "Cuban vs non-Cuban top-tier comparison."

You are welcome to visit W Cigar Bar in Da'an District for cigar appreciation with Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai. On site, we have a complete Cuban lineup plus a partial Davidoff Dominican comparison set.

Detailed Product Series Guide

Davidoff Signature Mainline (Entry to Medium)

Davidoff Signature is the standard entry point into the Davidoff world:

• Signature 1000 -- Petit Corona format (4¾" × 34), mild
• Signature 2000 -- Corona format (5⅔" × 43), medium
• Signature 6000 -- Toro format (6" × 50), medium
• Signature Robusto -- classic Robusto (4⅞" × 50)
• Signature Toro -- full-bodied Toro (6" × 50)

Flavor: cream, light coffee, cedar, toasted nuts, light caramel Global price: USD 18-30 per cigar Suitable for: enthusiasts new to Davidoff and those seeking balanced, elegant flavors

Davidoff Aniversario (A Spirit of Tribute)

Created in 1986 to commemorate Zino's 80th birthday -- a medium-strength top-tier series using aged tobacco:

• Aniversario No.1 -- Double Corona (8¾" × 48)
• Aniversario No.2 -- Churchill (7" × 48)
• Aniversario No.3 -- Toro (6" × 50)
• Aniversario Short Perfecto -- Perfecto (4¼" × 48)

Flavor: cream, coffee, cedar, roasted almonds, deep floral notes, honey Global price: USD 30-50 per cigar Cigar Aficionado rating: 92-94 points

Davidoff Grand Cru French Wine-Estate Inspiration

A tribute to the concept of top French wine estates:

• Grand Cru No.1 -- Lonsdale (6½" × 43)
• Grand Cru No.2 -- Corona (5⅓" × 43)
• Grand Cru No.3 -- Petit Corona (5" × 43)
• Grand Cru No.4 -- Petit Corona (4¾" × 41)
• Grand Cru No.5 -- Cigarillo (4" × 36)

Flavor: cream, light coffee, cedar, roasted almonds -- elegant and balanced Global price: USD 22-32 per cigar

Davidoff Special Series Modern Large-Ring Gauge

A large-ring-gauge series designed for modern cigar enthusiasts:

• Special R -- Robusto (4⅞" × 50)
• Special T -- Pirámide (6" × 52)
• Double R -- Double Robusto (5½" × 54)

Flavor: medium to full strength, creamy coffee, cocoa, deep nuts Global price: USD 25-40 per cigar

Davidoff Millennium Blend Millennium Commemorative Line

Launched in 2000 -- using deeply aged tobacco:

• Millennium Blend Robusto -- 5" × 50
• Millennium Blend Toro -- 6" × 50
• Millennium Blend Churchill -- 7" × 48
• Millennium Blend Pirámide -- 6" × 52

Flavor: deep cream, dark coffee, cocoa, deep leather, deep woodiness, roasted nuts Global price: USD 30-50 per cigar

Davidoff Yamasa Dominican Yamasa Region Aged Wrapper

Uses rare aged wrapper from the Dominican Yamasa region:

• Yamasa Robusto -- 5⅛" × 52
• Yamasa Toro -- 6" × 54
• Yamasa Pirámide -- 6¾" × 52
• Yamasa Petit Churchill -- 4⅞" × 48

Flavor: dark coffee, cocoa, deep pepper, deep leather, deep caramel -- Davidoff's most complex medium-full series Global price: USD 35-55 per cigar

Davidoff Maduro All-Dark Maduro Series

Uses an all-dark Maduro wrapper:

• Maduro Robusto -- 4⅞" × 50
• Maduro Toro -- 6" × 50
• Maduro Churchill -- 7" × 48

Flavor: dark cocoa, coffee, roasted nuts, caramel, deep leather Global price: USD 28-45 per cigar

Davidoff Royal Release -- One of the Cigar Industry's Icons

Davidoff's flagship -- positioned against Cohiba Behike BHK 56:

Royal Robusto

• Format: 5½" × 54
• Wrapper: Dominican Yamasa wrapper aged 10+ years
• Strength: medium to full strength
• Experience: 90 minutes
• Global price: USD 100-150 per cigar
• Cigar Aficionado: 93-95 points

Royal Salomones

• Format: 7" × 57 (figurado spindle shape)
• Wrapper: Dominican Yamasa wrapper aged 10+ years
• Strength: medium to full strength
• Experience: 120 minutes
• Global price: USD 600+ per cigar -- one of the most expensive regular-production cigars in the industry
• Cigar Aficionado: 95+ points

Why Royal Salomones is worth USD 600:

1. Tobacco aged 10+ years -- deeper aging than the 3-5 years used for standard Davidoff
2. Extremely difficult handmade figurado spindle shape -- only 5 master rollers in the entire factory can roll it
3. Limited to 5,000 cigars per year -- across 70 global Flagship Stores, each store is allocated only about 70 cigars on average
4. Top-grade cedar box packaging + numbering -- a collector-grade art object

Davidoff Year of Series Chinese Zodiac Limited Editions

Annual limited commemorative releases for the Chinese zodiac:

• 2011 Year of the Dragon (Year of the Dragon) -- Limited Robusto
• 2014 Year of the Horse (Year of the Horse) -- Limited Toro
• 2016 Year of the Monkey (Year of the Monkey) -- Limited Pirámide
• 2018 Year of the Dog (Year of the Dog) -- Limited Diadema
• 2019 Year of the Pig (Year of the Pig) -- Limited Toro
• 2020 Year of the Rat (Year of the Rat) -- Limited Toro
• 2022 Year of the Tiger (Year of the Tiger) -- Limited Toro
• 2024 Year of the Dragon (Year of the Dragon reissue) -- Limited Robusto

The most important Davidoff collectible series for Asian enthusiasts -- limited every year, with prices rising very quickly. The 2011 Year of the Dragon originally cost USD 50 per cigar; today, it is USD 200+ per cigar on the secondary market.

Davidoff vs Cohiba Comparison

Cigar Prince's suggestion: "First smoke 5 types of Cuban cigars, then smoke Davidoff Royal Salomones" -- this is the most direct way to experience a "Cuban vs non-Cuban top-tier comparison." Cuban is the mother tongue of cigars; Davidoff is the Swiss-precision translation of cigars.

Advanced Suggestions for Davidoff Collectors

Entry Collection (NT$50,000 Budget)

• Davidoff Signature Toro × 5 (NT$5,000)
• Davidoff Aniversario No.3 × 5 (NT$10,000)
• Davidoff Grand Cru No.2 × 10 (NT$15,000)
• Davidoff Special R × 5 (NT$8,000)
• Davidoff Year of Series 1 box (NT$12,000)

Advanced Collection (NT$200,000)

• Davidoff Millennium Blend Toro × 10
• Davidoff Yamasa Toro × 10
• Davidoff Royal Robusto × 5
• Single-cigar collection from the past 5 years of Davidoff Year of Series

Top-Tier Collection (NT$1,000,000+)

• Davidoff Royal Salomones × 10 (NT$200,000+)
• Complete Year of Series (zodiac series from the past 12 years)
• Cuban Davidoff Vintage (1980s aged versions, rare at auction)

From W Cigar Bar (Emphasized Again)

W Cigar Bar is an authorized dealer of Pacific Cigar Company (PCC is Habanos S.A.'s official regular import channel in Taiwan) -- primarily supplying Cuban series with Habanos cigar anti-counterfeiting certification. Davidoff Dominican series in Taiwan are supplied by Davidoff-operated stores and authorized dealers.

For enthusiasts: "After smoking Cohiba Behike BHK 56, then smoking Davidoff Royal Salomones" is the most direct way to experience a "Cuban vs Swiss non-Cuban top-tier comparison."

You are welcome to visit W Cigar Bar in Da'an District for cigar appreciation with Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai. On site, we have a complete Cuban flagship lineup plus a Davidoff comparison set.