Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust announced the Muestra de Saka at the 2016 IPCPR. The cigar is meant to be an example of blending of unique blends from Steve Saka, owner and tobacco guru of Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust. The Muestra de Saka will be released every year but with a different blend. These cigars are blends that Steve is testing out a different blending style where the blend will usually be outside his comfort zone or something he wants to showcase on a smaller level then a full line release. This years release was blended to be milder and creamier than his other lines. This years Exclusivo features Nicaraguan tripas from all four primary growing regions in Nicaragua: Jalapa, Condega, Ometepe and Esteli.
Let’s take a look at the specs:
- Wrapper: Habano
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Size: 6 x 52
- MSRP: $14.95
Prelight
This is a gorgeous cigar. The wrapper is exquisite with a leathery look and a deep brown color. The draw is perfect on the cigar with notes of earth, mocha and hay.
First Half
The cigar starts off with the mocha and earthiness, but in a subtle way. After about 1/2-3/4″ into the cigar, it starts to develop a sweetness along with a cedar and cinnamon note. The body of the cigar is quite mild to medium bodied at this point which I honestly wasn’t expecting. The cigar is very smooth and the notes meld together very well. The sweetness, mocha and cedar all are about the same in strength with black pepper and cinnamon on the retrohale.
Last Half
The last half is a lot like the beginning with the mocha and cedar. I’m getting a stronger note of the spices on the palette with the black pepper no longer just on the retrohale as it joins the cinnamon note. I’m stall started to get some orange zest as well at the midpoint. The body of the cigar is still mild-medium. The cigar has burned excellently throughout the smoking.
Overall Impressions
This is a very different cigar than we are used to from Steve Saka. The body of the cigar is much milder than his other lines, past and present, and that’s not a bad thing. I thoroughly enjoyed this cigar, but I’m smoking more medium bodied cigar now. I love the nuanced flavors of this cigar where most Nicaraguan cigar are only full bore flavor bombs with as much power as possible. This showcases the other side of Nicaraguan tobacco where it can be smooth, nuanced, flavorful with a mild to medium body and still be amazing. Bravo, Steve, bravo.
