Is Doblone d’Oro Still Worth Buying?

[buroak]

My existing stock of Savinelli Doblone d’Oro is about depleted. I need to decide whether to replace it. That would have been a no-brainer, but there is apparently a clear consensus that the blend has been changed.

In doing my homework before creating a new thread, I was not able to pin down a similarly strong consensus on the consequences of the alterations. The verdict of @Chasing Embers is categorical and negative. The vibe from @sablebrush52 is ambivalence, or maybe exasperated resignation. Our Sultan of Smoke, @JimInks has edited his review in what seems like a downgrade, but has left the fourth star in place.

So, is the newer Doblone d’Oro still in possession of enough of its former glory, or at a minimum enough unique goodness, to re-stock?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Depends on what year you are used to. If you've been smoking it from the past couple of years, no big deal. If your stash was around 8 years old, you're in for a shock.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Definitely different than the original blend (which is next to impossible to acquire) BUT if you like Virginia/DFK blends, it's good n tasty, and the coins are well cut.

 

[VDL_Piper]

It’s changed yes, for the worse…………that depends on your tastebuds.

 

[buroak]

Depends on what year you are used to. If you've been smoking it from the past couple of years, no big deal. If your stash was around 8 years old, you're in for a shock.

Mine was 6-7 years old. I went several years without buying any tobacco, just smoking what I already had.

 

[buroak]

Definitely different than the original blend (which is next to impossible to acquire) BUT if you like Virginia/DFK blends, it's good n tasty, and the coins are well cut.

It’s changed yes, for the worse…………that depends on your tastebuds.

I take it the perique really has been decreased, then. Dang. I like DFK, but it has taken over the pipe tobacco world. It is the closest I have seen to the realization of the perennially reissued prophecy that “the South is going to rise again.” Oddly enough, the South’s rise looks to be emanating mostly from Africa.

In blends with perique, I like the DFK to be absent or only a bit player. Too much subdues the whole ensemble. As a result, I guess it might be best if I forego replenishing my Doblone.

All of this leads to another question: If Doblone d’Oro was the closest thing to VaPer Three Nuns, what is the closest thing to VaPer Doblone?

 

[VDL_Piper]

I take it the perique really has been decreased, then. Dang. I like DFK, but it has taken over the pipe tobacco world. It is the closest I have seen to the realization of the perennially reissued prophecy that “the South is going to rise again.” Oddly enough, the South’s rise looks to be emanating mostly from Africa.

In blends with perique, I like the DFK to be absent or only a bit player. Too much subdues the whole ensemble. As a result, I guess it might be best if I forego replenishing my Doblone.

All of this leads to another question: If Doblone d’Oro was the closest thing to VaPer Three Nuns, what is the closest thing to VaPer Doblone?

Old old Three Nuns contained Virgina's that included some Brazilian ones with plenty of spicy perique and if I was to guess it would have made up about 20%, maybe a smidge more. What is missing now is the topping that Three Nuns had which was Anise and Rum, mild but it was there. It was very prune flavour heavy, sweet and spicy, a full rich flavour and mouth feel.

Now I'll probably get shot down in flames here for saying this but the closest I can find with some caveats is Peter Heinrich's Curly Special. The caveats are as follows:
1. You have to age it and 5 years minimum is my recommendation
2. It doesn't have this "What is missing now is the topping that Three Nuns had which was Anise and Rum, mild but it was there".
3. Less perique (which one can remedy)

I have pounds of Heinrich's cellaring. Its very good quality tobacco but it is also very youthful so time is your friend and if you sprinkle in some granulated perique carefully you can get a reasonable but not perfect facsimile of what has been lost to the annuls of time.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I’ve enjoyed it in the past. Haven’t smoked it for a few years though. Lots of folks will state that the blend doesn’t compare to years past. IMHO I’d simply buy a tin and start smoking it. Then you can decide if you need to stockpile or move on. ️

 

[JimInks]

My existing stock of Savinelli Doblone d’Oro is about depleted. I need to decide whether to replace it. That would have been a no-brainer, but there is apparently a clear consensus that the blend has been changed.

In doing my homework before creating a new thread, I was not able to pin down a similarly strong consensus on the consequences of the alterations. The verdict of @Chasing Embers is categorical and negative. The vibe from @sablebrush52 is ambivalence, or maybe exasperated resignation. Our Sultan of Smoke, @JimInks has edited his review in what seems like a downgrade, but has left the fourth star in place.

So, is the newer Doblone d’Oro still in possession of enough of its former glory, or at a minimum enough unique goodness, to re-stock?

I left it at four stars because both versions are four star blends in my opinion even though they differ greatly. The version of the last few years greatly cut down on the perique because DFK is vastly cheaper. According to Mark Ryan, DFK costs ten percent of what perique costs.

I take it the perique really has been decreased, then. Dang. I like DFK, but it has taken over the pipe tobacco world. It is the closest I have seen to the realization of the perennially reissued prophecy that “the South is going to rise again.” Oddly enough, the South’s rise looks to be emanating mostly from Africa.

In blends with perique, I like the DFK to be absent or only a bit player. Too much subdues the whole ensemble. As a result, I guess it might be best if I forego replenishing my Doblone.

All of this leads to another question: If Doblone d’Oro was the closest thing to VaPer Three Nuns, what is the closest thing to VaPer Doblone?

Nothing. Not even Peter Heinrich's Special Curly. Not Director's Cut either. Paul Olsen had a clone that was half way close (similar casings, but a lot less perique). I have no idea if it is still in production.

Old old Three Nuns contained Virgina's that included some Brazilian ones with plenty of spicy perique and if I was to guess it would have made up about 20%, maybe a smidge more. What is missing now is the topping that Three Nuns had which was Anise and Rum, mild but it was there. It was very prune flavour heavy, sweet and spicy, a full rich flavour and mouth feel.

Now I'll probably get shot down in flames here for saying this but the closest I can find with some caveats is Peter Heinrich's Curly Special. The caveats are as follows:
1. You have to age it and 5 years minimum is my recommendation
2. It doesn't have this "What is missing now is the topping that Three Nuns had which was Anise and Rum, mild but it was there".
3. Less perique (which one can remedy)

I have pounds of Heinrich's cellaring. Its very good quality tobacco but it is also very youthful so time is your friend and if you sprinkle in some granulated perique carefully you can get a reasonable but not perfect facsimile of what has been lost to the annuls of time.

You do have to age it, but as I previously wrote, it's not like the old Three Nuns to me.

Three Nuns had 18% perique, which was a reduction from the pre-1971 versions. They invented a casing to cover up the reduction, which is why you notice the prune so much. In the case of the new Doblone d'Oro, the casings are less obvious because of the DFK.

 

[kcghost]

This is one of those things where to really learn you have to your money on the table and learn what your taste buds like. You can always order one tin and try it. Then make your mind up.

 

[Sigmund]

Yep, I add extra perique to almost every blend I have where perique supposed to be a major player. Im a freak for perique!

 

[captpat]

Not very scientific but I found the earlier versions to be better than the later ones. I might purchase more if I come across a good deal. Equally unscientific is an observation that generally later versions are never as good as the early ones, regardless of the blend. One hardly ever (never) hears of newer versions being better than their predecessor.

 

[dottlejockey]

FWIW, i smoke the recent iteration and find it enjoyable. But i don't have any 8+yr old references on this blend to allow expectation to get in the way of my happiness with it.

 

[Hutch Piper]

I take it the perique really has been decreased, then. Dang. I like DFK, but it has taken over the pipe tobacco world. It is the closest I have seen to the realization of the perennially reissued prophecy that “the South is going to rise again.” Oddly enough, the South’s rise looks to be emanating mostly from Africa.

In blends with perique, I like the DFK to be absent or only a bit player. Too much subdues the whole ensemble. As a result, I guess it might be best if I forego replenishing my Doblone.

All of this leads to another question: If Doblone d’Oro was the closest thing to VaPer Three Nuns, what is the closest thing to VaPer Doblone?

I’d give H&H Viprati a shot and see if it fits the bill.

 

[JimInks]

FWIW, i smoke the recent iteration and find it enjoyable. But i don't have any 8+yr old references on this blend to allow expectation to get in the way of my happiness with it.

Nor did I allow the original version affect my evaluation regarding what the later one was.

 

[geoffs]

Right now I'd say it's my favourite tobacco and has been for a few years.
Never had the old stuff, but I'm not a "super taster" and probably wouldn't taste the difference anyway.
The perique is still there but definitely in the background.
For the cost of a 100g tin it's worth the risk. It's a fantastic, well balanced smoke at a great price.

 

[greeneyes]

I would purchase a single tin of the current production and evaluate, comparisons notwithstanding, whether you think it's worth restocking them. I never let such things bother me, but if reflecting on the changes each time you smoke it causes you significant upset, I'd consider buying an alternative instead.

 

[sablebrush52]

My existing stock of Savinelli Doblone d’Oro is about depleted. I need to decide whether to replace it. That would have been a no-brainer, but there is apparently a clear consensus that the blend has been changed.

In doing my homework before creating a new thread, I was not able to pin down a similarly strong consensus on the consequences of the alterations. The verdict of @Chasing Embers is categorical and negative. The vibe from @sablebrush52 is ambivalence, or maybe exasperated resignation. Our Sultan of Smoke, @JimInks has edited his review in what seems like a downgrade, but has left the fourth star in place.

So, is the newer Doblone d’Oro still in possession of enough of its former glory, or at a minimum enough unique goodness, to re-stock?

I haven't bought any since the 2018 release, when it stopped being a very successful clone of the Va/Per Three Nuns, but was still a very fine blend in its own right. So I can't say what's in the tin these days, though if it's still getting 4 stars from JimInks it's going to be a pretty good whatever it is. The only way to answer your question is to buy a tin and try it out.

 

[woodsroad]

I bought six or eight tins prior to the change. I tend to go on a binge with it, one tin at a time, after which I've had enough and wait a couple years before doing it again. It is good stuff!

 

[pantsBoots]

I like it, but I like Mac Baren's style. I've never had the original Three Nuns or Doblone d'Oro any older than a few 2018 tins I bought when I started smoking it. Approaching it as whatever it is with zero pre-conceived notions, I was thinking to buy a tin soon to see if it's similar. If so, I'll buy a couple to save back. It has aged better than most blends I've smoked over the last 4 years.