The Davidoff Golden Band Awards are handed out each year by Davidoff. The company recognizes its top appointed merchants accounts in the following categories. Davidoff Best Performance (Single Location), Davidoff Best Performance (Multiple Locations), Davidoff Growth (Single Location), Davidoff Growth (Multiple Locations) and Appointed Merchant of the Year. Winners get a fairly snazzy trophy and the right to order and sell the official Golden Band Awards cigar.
In 2017 site sponsor Small Batch Cigar saw their brick & mortar store Maxamar Ultimate Cigars win for Best Performance in a single location. The January 2025 Cigar of the Month from Small Batch included this cigar so we thought we would fire it up for review.
Cigar Review: Davidoff Golden Band Awards
Size: 5.25 x 52 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Yamasa
Binder: Dominican Republic
Fillers: Nicaragua
Factory: Cigars Davidoff
Release Date: Summer 2012
Production: Limited
Box Count: 10
The Cigar: Featuring the classic Davidoff band of white and gold the cigar is joined by a secondary band denoting Golden Band Awards. Earlier renditions of the brand denoted the year but that has been done away with. The cocoa colored Yamasa wrapper has a nice oily sheen to it and some thin veins. In the hand the cigar is firm with no voids of tobacco and a nice weight to.
The Taste: The cold draw is different then most Davidoff cigars which see a definitive barnyard taste. The blend however has none of that on the cold draw where there is an abundance of figs and molasses which is duplicated on the aroma from the foot. Once the cigar is toasted and lit there is hints of vanilla and cedar.
As we settle into the first third cedar becomes dominant with a subtle amount of white pepper on the retrohale before some molasses makes it way to the palate. It’s incredibly smooth but the flavor profile really shines as it is different than what I had expected from Davidoff. As the second third comes to a close cashews begin to emerge while a sweetness develops on the retrohale.
Moving into the second third the cigar begins to fold back into the classic Davidoff profile with some cedar and hay giving it an earthy feel. There is an abundance of cashews present and around the halfway point some cocoa begins to emerge which is intensified on the retrohale. Also at the halfway point the hay component disappears as a touch of fig make an appearance. The retrohale of the cigar as the second third comes to a close serves up a slightly floral component.
As we enter the final third some notes of earth begin to reemerge with an occasional molasses that does just enough to tease the palate into wanting more of it. Also present is cocoa, caramel, cashews and white pepper all of which are easily identifiable. It’s such a smooth cigar with a delicious flavor profile I don’t want the experience to come to a close.
Conclusion: The OG of higher priced cigars, Davidoff doesn’t seem all that expensive these days as high pricing has become the new norm. When Davidoff began the Golden Band Awards program in 2012 it was a nice way for them to acknowledge appointed merchants and to create a limited edition cigar. The real star of the show however is the use of the Yamasa wrapper which I was a big fan of the Yamasa line when they originally came out.
I went into this cigar expecting a ho-hum experience but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s medium in strength from start to finish and one of the better balanced cigars I’ve had in a long time. These are worth a box purchase if you enjoy Davidoff cigars.
Score: 93
Price: $33.50 (Before any local or state taxes)
You can buy Davidoff Golden Band Awards at Small Batch Cigars and if you use the coupon code BARRELBURNER at checkout once you logged into their site you can save 10%
