Quai d'Orsay Senadores Edición Limitada 2019
📌 Brand: Quai d’Orsay
📌 Line: Senadores Edición Limitada 2019
📌 Size: Hermosos No. 2 (6 1/8" × 48 - Grand Corona)
📌 Weight: 16.4 g
📌 Age: 7 years
📌 Origin: Cuba
Tasting Notes
Cedar – Elegant, aromatic Cuban woodiness
Honey – Delicate sweetness underneath the tobacco
Toasted Nuts – Creamy and gently roasted
White Pepper – Refined spice that builds toward the finish
First Impressions
The Quai d’Orsay Senadores is particularly interesting as the brand's first Edición Limitada release. The Hermosos No. 2 format measures 157 mm with a 48 ring gauge, using Cuban wrapper, binder, and filler. The darker wrapper gives it considerably more presence than the traditional image of Quai d’Orsay. Pre-light aromas bring cedar, hay, nuts, and subtle sweetness. Unfortunately, the cold draw is very tight, immediately raising concerns about how much effort will be needed to get the cigar performing properly.
Smoking Experience
First Third – Opens elegantly with cedar, toasted nuts, white pepper, and a delicate honey sweetness. The flavours themselves are refined and unmistakably Cuban, but the very restricted draw makes accessing them unnecessarily difficult.
Second Third – Wood and toasted nuts become more prominent while the sweetness retreats into the background. There is some nice subtle complexity here, but every draw requires too much effort. The restriction also limits smoke production and prevents the flavours from developing the concentration they should have.
Final Third – White pepper and cedar strengthen, accompanied by earthier and more roasted tobacco notes. The cigar gains some intensity toward the finish, but the tight draw remains the defining problem. Instead of relaxing into the final section, I'm still fighting the cigar for every mouthful of smoke.
Pairings
Alcohol – Château de Laubade XO Armagnac - Mature fruit, vanilla, oak, and gentle sweetness complement the elegant Cuban profile without overpowering it.
Tea – Phoenix Honey Orchid Dan Cong Oolong - Honeyed fruit, floral notes, and gentle roasted character work beautifully alongside the Senadores' cedar, nuts, and subtle sweetness.
Music Pairing
“La Javanaise” – Serge Gainsbourg
Elegant, distinctly French, and slightly melancholic—a natural fit for Quai d’Orsay's heritage.
Final Thoughts
Quai d’Orsay Senadores Edición Limitada 2019 has all the ingredients for a memorable Cuban cigar. The cedar, honey, toasted nuts, and white pepper deliver the refined profile I would expect from the brand, and the darker Limited Edition tobacco gives it additional depth. Unfortunately, this particular cigar is let down badly by its construction. The very tight draw affects the entire experience, limiting smoke production and forcing me to work far too hard to access the flavours. With a cigar of this pedigree, I want to concentrate on the tobacco—not on trying to get smoke through it.
Final Score: 7/10
Why not a 10?
The draw was very tight throughout the smoke, restricting smoke production and preventing the flavours from opening up as naturally and fully as they should have.
Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.