Malawi Dark Cavendish

Malawi Dark Cavendish is a blend in Davidoff's Discovery series, black-Cavendish-forward with Burley and golden Virginia. Its cut consists of fairly thick ribbons, and in the pack you find a tobacco that has become block-like and is quite dry. On opening the pack, a Danish-style Cavendish scent carrying sour and sugary echoes rises; after airing and resting, a floral vanilla scent accompanied by coffee and chocolate echoes comes forward.

It catches and sustains its burn easily; it doesn't bite the tongue, though it carries a risk of heating up fast if the pace picks up. The smoke is light, leaving a taste that's now sweet, now lightly bitter in the mouth. Despite a light nicotine load, its deep, full aromatic profile gives a heavy smoke; toward the end, Burley becomes pronounced, turning toward a bitterish tone. It's a record on the edge of Danish-type aromatics, worth considering for those wanting to move from mediocre aromatics to more substantial blends and those interested in Lakeland blends.