
Winston Churchill Chartwell
Rank: 17
Rating: 92
Price: $9.80
Made By: Cigars Davidoff
Factory Location: Dominican Republic
Dimensions: 5" by 43 ring gauge
Filler: Dom. Rep., Peru, Nicaragua
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Wrapper: Ecuador
Strength: Medium
The Winston Churchill brand, which was launched in late 2007 as a collaboration between Davidoff of Geneva and Sir Winston Churchill's grandson, is rolled at the Cigars Davidoff factory in the Dominican Republic, run by Hendrik "Henke" Kelner. The line is the only cigar made at that factory that doesn't bear the Davidoff name. The brand struggled in the beginning—early versions scored in the mid 80s, and prices as high as $22 per cigar made them a difficult sell. With lower prices and some new sizes, today's Winston Churchills are faring better. The corona-sized Chartwell—which wasn't one of the original sizes—is a delicious smoke, with a pleasant combination of earthy flavors, hearty coffee bean notes and just enough sweetness on the palate. The cigar has a pleasant toasty finish.