Davidoff Unveils Year of the Rat Ahead of November Release

The Davidoff Zodiac Series will gets its newest installment in November, the Year of the Rat, as well as a cigar case and a new pipe and pipe tobacco offering.

The cigar comes in a 6 x 52 toro vitola that uses an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. A total of 10,000 boxes of 10 cigars are being produced for worldwide distribution, with each red lacquer box highlighted by a subtle varnishing treatment and two golden nobs.

Pricing is $39 per cigar.

• Davidoff Cuvée Selection 2012 Year of the Dragon (6 x 52) — $35 (Bundle of 10, $350) — Undisclosed
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2013 Year of the Snake (7 x 48) — $29.90 (Boxes of 8, $239.20) — 4,500 Boxes of 8 Cigars (36,000 Total Cigars)
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2014 Year of the Horse (6 x 60) — $31 (Boxes of 9, $279) — 5,000 Boxes of 9 Cigars (45,000 Total Cigars)
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2015 Year of the Sheep (6 1/2 x 54) — $35 (Boxes of 8, $280) — 3,000 Boxes of 8 Cigars (24,000 Total Cigars)
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2016 Year of the Monkey (6 1/2 x 50) — $34 (Boxes of 10, $340) — 3,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (30,000 Total Cigars)
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2017 Year of the Rooster (6 3/4 x 50) — $40 (Boxes of 10, $400) — 8,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (80,000 Total Cigars)
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2018 Year of the Dog (7 x 50) — $39 (Boxes of 10, $390) — 4,500 Boxes of 10 Cigars (45,000 Total Cigars)
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2019 Year of the Pig (6 x 56) — $39 (Boxes of 10, $390) — 9,300 Boxes of 10 Cigars (93,000 Total Cigars)
• Davidoff Limited Edition 2020 Year of the Rat (6 x 52) — $39 (Boxes of 10, $390) — 10,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (100,000 Total Cigars)

The Zodiac Series formally began in 2012, though there was a related release in 2011. Each year, Davidoff has released a cigar based on the Chinese zodiac calendar, meaning that there will be 12 releases. The cigars are packaged in ornate boxes, usually using red and gold—two favored colors in China—as well as imagery of the particular animal being celebrated. The cigars are typically released in November, ahead of the Chinese New Year.

 

Complementing the cigar is a handcrafted leather cigar case that the company says will keep cigars fresh for up to 10 days. It is crafted in Spain from cowhide leather and available in a hazelnut color, and can accommodate two cigars up to 8 1/4 x 60. The case is limited to 250 pieces globally.

 

For pipe smokers, the company is introducing a Year of the Rat pipe and pipe tobacco. It’s a bent billiard design handcrafted from Italian briarwood with a draught hole of 9mm. The design gets accented by a silver ring to emphasize the contrast between the black mouthpiece and the wood grain with bears the Year of the Rat pattern. Production is limited to 70 individually numbered pipes.

The pipe tobacco consists of Black Cavendish and Bride Cut Virginia that gets combined with Dark Fired Kentucky from Indonesia, rose petals and flavors of lychee. A total of 5,000 individually numbered tins has been produced.

A pipe pouch is also being offered to complement the pipe, with space for the pipe, pipe tobacco and accessories. It is made by an Italian craftsman and comes in calf nappa and bovine suede leather in a combination of grey and russet colors. Production is capped at 200 individually numbered pouches, each of which bears the Year of the Rat design.

All of the new items are scheduled to begin shipping in November.