AshMap
Overview
There is a specific silence that falls after midnight, when the house settles and the last email remains unanswered. The Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo is built for that exact frequency of quiet. It is the sound of a door closing on the day’s noise, a deliberate act of turning inward. While the Late Hour line pays homage to Churchill’s nocturnal ritual, this Torpedo vitola feels less like a historical reenactment and more like a modern confession—Davidoff, the house of pale Connecticut Shade and surgical precision, admitting it has a shadow self. The San Vicente Maduro wrapper is the first tell: a deep, semi-oily leather that feels warm to the touch, carrying a faint, sweet barnyard scent that promises something richer than the brand’s usual alpine restraint.
The pre-light draw offers a dense, cold espresso ground and a hint of dark cherry compote, a signal that the blend has been built for depth rather than delicacy. Once lit, the first third unfolds with a composed, almost architectural precision—roasted espresso beans sit atop a dark chocolate ganache that is neither bitter nor sugary, while toasted cedar provides a dry, structural frame. The nuttiness here is specific: macadamia and walnut, not generic almond paste, giving the smoke a buttery weight that coats the palate without fatigue. As the torpedo’s taper burns back, a dried fruit sweetness—raisin and prune—emerges, not as a topping but as a subtle undercurrent that keeps the early profile from becoming too savory.
The second third is where the Late Hour Torpedo abandons its manners and finds its voice. The leather note arrives not as a harsh belt but as a well-worn glove, supple and slightly oily. Dark baking spices—clove and allspice—begin to swirl around a rich molasses core that thickens the smoke’s texture into a creamy, full-bodied mouthfeel. The strength builds with confidence into the medium-full bracket, but it is a muscular ease, not a clenched fist. A whisper of damp earth and cracked black pepper appears on the retrohale, adding a savory tension that keeps the sweetness from cloying. This is the moment the cigar earns its late-night reputation; it is contemplative without being morose, complex without being fussy.
As the final third approaches, the blend tightens its focus. Dark roast coffee deepens into a near-bitter espresso reduction, while charred oak introduces a campfire smokiness that feels primal. The dark berry jam note—blackberry and currant—lingers on the finish, a sticky sweetness that contrasts beautifully with the growing spice. The creaminess holds steady through the nub, never turning acrid or thin. The finish is long and sophisticated, leaving traces of cocoa powder and dried tobacco leaf that remind you this is still a Davidoff, even when it plays in the dark. It is not the most complex cigar on the market, but it is one of the most honest—a cigar that knows exactly what it wants to be and executes that vision with flawless construction and a narrative arc that rewards patience.
Cigar Specifications
| Wrapper | Dominican San Vicente Maduro — Colorado Maduro |
|---|---|
| Binder | Dominican |
| Filler | Dominican long-fillers, aged tobaccos including aged San Vicente and Piloto Cubano varieties |
| Country of Origin | Santiago, Dominican Republic |
| Vitola / Shape | Torpedo |
| Size | 6.0 x 52 |
| Strength | Medium-Full |
| Price | $22–$28 per cigar |
| Tier | Premium |
| Aging | Tobaccos aged at Davidoff's own facilities; the line is designed to evoke late-night contemplation with darker, more com |
Tasting Notes & Flavor Progression
First Third
The first third opens with a composed blend of roasted espresso, dark chocolate ganache, and toasted cedar. There is an underlying nuttiness — macadamia and walnut — that gives early complexity without harshness. A subtle dried fruit sweetness, reminiscent of raisin or prune, begins to emerge as the torpedo's taper burns down.
Second Third
The mid-section is where this cigar earns its reputation — leather, dark baking spices (clove, allspice), and a rich molasses character integrate into a creamy, full-bodied profile. The strength builds confidently into medium-full territory, while retaining exceptional balance. A whisper of earthiness and black pepper arrive on the retrohale.
Final Third
The final third intensifies with rich dark roast coffee, charred oak, and a dark berry jam note that lingers on the palate. Spice elevates without tipping into harshness, and the creamy mouthfeel is sustained through to the nub. A long, sophisticated finish with traces of cocoa powder and dried tobacco leaf.
Construction, Burn & Draw
Davidoff's renowned construction standards are on full display — the torpedo burns with a near-perfect razor line, the draw is effortless with ideal resistance, and the ash holds firm in dense, light grey columns. This is one of the most consistently well-constructed cigars in the medium-full strength category.
Pairing Recommendations
Spirit
Aged Scotch whisky — Glenfarclas 21 or Oban 18 — or a well-aged Armagnac; the smoke's dark fruit and chocolate notes harmonize beautifully with sherried malt character
Wine
An Amarone della Valpolicella or a mature Priorat; the dried fruit intensity and tannic structure mirror the cigar's complexity without overpowering it
Non-Alcoholic
A long pour of cold-brew concentrate, ideally Ethiopian Yirgacheffe for its berry-forward acidity that plays against the cigar's chocolate and spice notes
Who Should Smoke This?
This is for the collector who owns a humidor full of rare Cubans but finds himself reaching for the same three cigars every week. He is in his late forties, has a palate that can identify a specific vintage year in a Scotch, and has grown slightly bored with the predictable elegance of his usual Davidoff Churchill. He is the person who stays up late not because he has to, but because the quiet hours are the only time his mind stops racing. He wants a cigar that asks for his full attention but doesn’t demand he work to enjoy it. The Late Hour Torpedo gives him a dark, brooding profile that still carries the Swiss-level construction he trusts, allowing him to sink into a leather armchair with a glass of Glenfarclas 21 and let the smoke do the thinking. It is for the night he needs to process a difficult conversation or simply sit with the satisfaction of a finished project, without the pressure of social performance.
Bottom Line
The Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo is the brand’s most convincing argument for muscle over finesse, delivering a dark, creamy, spice-laden journey that never loses its composure. It is a masterclass in controlled intensity, and the torpedo format is the definitive way to experience it. Buy it for the nights you want to smoke slowly, deliberately, and without apology.
Similar Cigars
Explore all Davidoff Late Hour cigars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo a strong cigar?
It is rated Medium-Full (4/5) on the strength scale. Physically, you will feel a gentle, building warmth in the chest and a slight nicotine buzz by the second third, but it never becomes overwhelming or harsh. It is more about a rich, full-bodied mouthfeel than a nicotine punch, making it suitable for an evening smoke when you have a full stomach and a relaxed setting.
What does Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo taste like?
The flavor progression moves from roasted espresso, dark chocolate ganache, and toasted cedar with macadamia nut in the first third, to leather, clove, allspice, and molasses in the second. The final third intensifies into dark roast coffee, charred oak, and a dark berry jam note, finishing with cocoa powder and dried tobacco leaf.
How long does Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo take to smoke?
Given its Torpedo vitola and 6.0 x 52 size, you should allocate at least 90 minutes. The tapered head concentrates the draw initially, slowing the burn, while the 52-ring gauge provides enough filler to sustain a long, even burn. Rushing it will ruin the flavor arc, so plan for a full hour and a half of uninterrupted time.
What is the best pairing for Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo?
An aged Scotch whisky like Glenfarclas 21 or Oban 18 is the ideal companion. The sherried malt character of Glenfarclas brings out the dark fruit and chocolate notes in the cigar, while the Oban’s slight coastal salinity cuts through the creamy molasses mid-section, creating a beautiful tension. If you prefer wine, a mature Priorat or Amarone della Valpolicella mirrors the dried fruit intensity without overpowering the smoke.
Is Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo good for beginners?
Honestly, no. This is a Medium-Full strength cigar with a price tag of $22–$28 per stick, and its flavor profile leans heavily on dark roast, leather, and baking spices that can overwhelm a novice palate. Beginners should start with milder Davidoff lines like the Signature or Grand Cru to build their tolerance and flavor recognition before stepping up to this late-night heavyweight.
Where can I buy Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo?
This is a premium, tier-one release, so you will find it at authorized Davidoff retailers, high-end brick-and-mortar cigar lounges, and trusted online specialty shops like Corona Cigar Co., Neptune Cigar, or directly from Davidoff’s own online store. Be wary of discount sites; the price point and demand make it a target for counterfeiters, so always verify the retailer’s authorization.
What is the price of Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo?
The retail price ranges from $22 to $28 per single cigar. This places it firmly in the premium tier, reflecting the aged Dominican fillers, the San Vicente Maduro wrapper, and the hand-rolled construction at Davidoff’s Santiago facility. You may find slight discounts when buying a box of 10 or 20, but expect to pay a premium for the Torpedo format specifically.
Is Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo worth aging?
Yes, but with a caveat. The tobaccos are already aged at Davidoff’s facilities, so the blend is drinking-ready upon release. However, the San Vicente Maduro wrapper and the dark, oily fillers have enough structure to benefit from 2–4 years of additional humidor rest. Aging will soften the black pepper retrohale and allow the dried fruit sweetness to integrate more deeply into the leather and coffee notes. Beyond five years, the strength may fade, so do not cellar it indefinitely.
What wrapper does Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo use?
It uses a Dominican San Vicente Maduro wrapper, specifically in a Colorado Maduro shade. This wrapper is deep dark brown, semi-oily, and has subtle tooth. It is a departure from Davidoff’s typical Connecticut Shade, and it is responsible for the cigar’s dark chocolate, espresso, and subtle earthiness, while still burning cleanly and evenly—a hallmark of Dominican-grown San Vicente leaf.
Where is Davidoff Late Hour Torpedo made?
It is hand-rolled at Davidoff’s Oettinger Davidoff facility in Santiago, Dominican Republic. This is the brand’s primary production hub, and the Torpedo vitola is crafted using traditional round construction (not box-pressed), which allows for a more even burn and a concentrated draw at the tapered head. The Dominican origin of the wrapper, binder, and filler is a point of pride, ensuring full traceability of the tobaccos.