Camacho Ditka 89 Special Edition

Camacho Ditka 89 Special Edition

The 89 takes it up a notch.

When Davidoff bought Camacho Cigars, they reformulated all the blends, and in an instant, Camacho went from old school to modern. Gone were the traditional flavor profiles of yesteryear. The new post Davidoff blends reflect the tastes of our times: bold, spicy, and complex. In addition to their core brands, Camacho now offers a number of side brands associated with entertainment personalities. One such line was created with football great Mike Ditka, and they are blends worthy of recognition.

The Game-plan.

Teaming up with Mike Ditka makes sense. The Camacho creed is to be bold, and the name Ditka embodies strength, endurance, and achievement. The first cigar made under his name is the Ditka Signature, and it is a surprisingly mild cigar. But that’s not a bad thing. It’s a great everyday cigar, with nice aroma and complexity.

The Kickoff.

With the success of the first cigar, Camacho has now introduced a second, limited edition, cigar that takes it up a notch. The Ditka 89 replaces the Criollo wrapper with a darker Mexican San Andres leaf. This wrapper is popular now and with good reason. It adds depth and richness to any cigar it dresses. I’ve never seen a wrapper make such a sensational impact on cigar flavor. But the one used on the 89 is lighter in color than the others I’ve smoked. This gives the cigar a spicier quality than the darker San Andres cigars. I would go so far as to say it’s more like a Corojo flavor than that of a maduro.

Camacho Ditka 89 Special Edition

Great construction, feels solid in your hand.

The Extra Point.

The 89 has a strong “barnyard” pre-lit aroma, and an inviting earthiness. The tobaccos used in this stick are well fermented and rich. Upon lighting you can tell immediately that this cigar is going to be rewarding. It’s super smooth and creamy, with a spicy kick that grabs your attention.

With fillers from DR and Honduras, it’s full-bodied, but not overpowering. The 89s have just the right amount of power, while maintaining a good balance of smoothness, aroma, and strength. Its spicy element may be from the Nicaraguan binder, a key element that adds complexity to the blend.

Compared to the Ditka Signature, the 89 is a maduro. But the flavor profile is less earthy than most maduro cigars. It has a maduro sweetness, but one of more white chocolate than dark. There is a vanilla component that persists throughout the length of the stick. About a third in, the complexity builds and the cigar picks up strength. There isn’t much taste evolution, but the flavor and creaminess increases as you smoke. This is an indication of the great fermentation applied to the tobaccos chosen for this blend. In the final third, the 89 maintains its creamy quality and never gets harsh or bitter. It’s a real “finger-burner”; and a cigar you don’t want to put down.

As for construction, there are no fumbles here. The burn is dead-on, the draw easy, and the cigar burns nice and cool. The 89 feels solid in your hands, and is a beautiful cigar to look at. I also appreciate that all the new Camacho cigars have bands that are easy to remove.

Camacho Ditka 89 Special Edition

Flavor maintains throughout the length of the stick.

Into the End Zone.

The Ditka 89 commemorates the retirement of Mr. Ditka’s jersey on December 9th, 2013 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Ditka’s accomplishments are many in a career spanning decades. With Super Bowl wins as a player as well as a coach, his knowledge and experience has made him a football legend. The Camacho Ditka 89 Special Edition honors him with a cigar worthy of his name. The blend is a true winner, and reflects the experience and expertise of those who took the time to get it right. A good cigar takes a team effort, and the people at Camacho have called all the right plays, executed a perfect game plan, and run this cigar for a winning touchdown.

The Specs.

Vitola: Toro (6×50).

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres.

Binder: Nicaragua.

Filler: Dominican Republic/Honduras.

Flavors: Black pepper, white chocolate, wood.

Manufacturer: Camacho/Davidoff

Blender: Camacho

Country of Origin: Honduras.

X Factor: 9.2

Finish: Woody

Strength:  Medium/full

Price: $12.00

Production: 2,000 boxes produced.

Thanks for listening,

Joe

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