Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Overseas No. 1 Pre-release

📌 Brand: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
📌 Line: Overseas No. 1 (Pre-Release)
📌 Size: Toro (6" × 50)
📌 Weight: 14.8 g
📌 Age: 1 year
📌 Origin: Nicaragua

Tasting Notes

• Cocoa – Sweet and earthy backbone

• Espresso – Deep roasted core

• Leather – Bold rustic layer

• Black Pepper – Consistent spice on the retrohale

First Impressions

The Overseas No. 1 Pre-Release carries a dark, oily wrapper with a solid construction and subtle veins. Pre-light aroma brings cocoa, barnyard earth, and pepper. Cold draw is loose, hinting at airflow issues but giving bold chocolate notes.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Cocoa and espresso open with balance, pepper lingering in the background. Burn is steady, but draw is looser than ideal.

• Second Third – Leather enters strongly, blending well with the espresso. A few touch-ups are required to keep the burn sharp.

• Final Third – Pepper ramps up, cocoa fades slightly, and leather dominates. Burn stays manageable but requires minor correction.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Hampden Estate 8 Year Rum, funky esters, tropical fruit, and oak sweetness to balance the cigar’s earthy espresso and spice.

• Tea – Vietnamese Lotus Tea, floral, earthy, and subtly sweet, harmonizing with the leather and cocoa notes.

Music Pairing

“No Quarter” – Led Zeppelin

Dark, layered intensity echoing the cigar’s depth.

Final Thoughts

The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Overseas No. 1 Pre-Release shows off cocoa, espresso, and leather with classic balance. A loose draw and minor burn corrections kept it from perfection, but it remains a strong and memorable pre-release experience.

Final Score: 8/10
Why not a 10?
Loose draw and slight burn corrections reduced refinement and consistency.

Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.