Davidoff is a byword for quality and style throughout the world. It encompasses men's fragrances, ties, glasses, congac, humidors, and briefcases, but it is based upon cigars. To build a multi-million dollar business in the 20th century on a tobacco product is a truly remarkable achievement. Inspired by Zino Davidoff this companies products have become a must have for affluent men around the world.
The life story of Zino Davidoff reads like a history of the Twentieth Century. Zino was born in Kiev in 1906, his family fled the pogroms to settle in Geneva and opened a tobacco shop where Lenin was a customer. Zino traveled to the tobacco lands of Central and South America at a young age, eventually ending up in Cuba, for which he grew a life long affection. By 1947 he had created his Chateau Selection based on Cuban Hoyo de Montgomery cabinets. In 1969 Zino Davidoff was granted the accolade from the Cuban industry of Havana brand.
In 1970, Ernst Schneider, a Swiss importer, became interested in Davidoff's brand. Seeing the potential the brand had Schneider, with the help of Cubatabaco's help, developed the brand into a worldwide success. There were three series of Davidoff Havanas, all with a distinctive flavor all to their own, the fullest being the Chateau, the lightest being the Dom Perignon No. 1, No. 2, and the Ambassadrice. They also offered a medium tasting cigar, the Thousand Series.
It is truly a shame that these cigars are no longer available. Because of a dispute between Cubatobaco and Oettinger the production of Davidoffs in Havana ceased in March of 1990 and the brand moved it's operation to the Dominican Republic.
Rather than try to recreate the flavorsof their former cigars they instead set out to raise the bar when it came to what people expect of a Dominican Cigar.
Domincan Davidoffs, dressed in their own claro Conneticut wrappers, are immaculately tailored. Replacing the Chateau range is the "Grand Cru" range by offering a the richest flavor of all Davidoff cigars. The No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and the Ambassadriceare as delicately mild as you can get, and the Thousand Series ("Mille") have a mild flavor, though not as mild as the others. There are also the Davidoff Special Selection of heavy girth cigars, including the Davidoff Special R (Robusto), the Davidoff Special T (Piramides), and the Davidoff Double R (Double Carona).
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