Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro Review
The Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro is a Brazilian-inspired oddball that refuses to colour inside the lines. That dark walnut Cubra wrapper hides a blend built on Mata Fina and Dominican leaf, delivering a spicy, herbal ride that veers from cayenne to spearmint—yes, spearmint—before settling into espresso and dark chocolate. It's genuinely quirky. Seventy minutes of unpredictable pleasure.
In short
A refreshingly eccentric Gran Toro that trades Davidoff elegance for Brazilian swagger. Dry cedar and red pepper morph into spearmint, then espresso, chocolate, malt and a mossy undertone with raisin sweetness. Seventy minutes of lively, non-linear smoking. 87/100. Best for confident smokers craving something beyond the usual premium playbook.
Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro size, specs & box options
Dimensions & vitola
The Gran Toro measures 5.5 inches by 58 ring, a thick, commanding format that stretches the Escurio blend across seventy minutes of smoke time without losing its quirky edge.
Construction
Brazilian Cubra wrapper over Brazilian Mata Fina and Dominican filler. That dark walnut leaf brings dry spice and herbal notes that Dominican tobacco alone would never deliver.
Pack sizes & price
Sold in boxes of twelve. At $232 per box you're paying Davidoff premium rates, but the Escurio line offers flavour detours the mainline White Label never attempts.
What does the Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro taste like?
Cedar and cayenne give way to an unexpected spearmint twist, then espresso, chocolate, malt and a grassy, raisin-sweet finish.
Spiced Cedar and Pepper Rush
The Escurio lights up with dry cedar bark and a sharp red pepper bite that builds fast. Within minutes cayenne heat kicks in, sharper than I expected. Then this odd spearmint note appears—not menthol, more like fresh mint leaf on the retrohale. The wrapper is dark, oily, tight. Burn line crisp. Smoke volume decent. It's a Brazilian spice bomb right out of the gate, prickly and loud.
Espresso, Chocolate, and Malt
Pepper backs off. Espresso comes through now, bitter and dark, followed by a dark chocolate richness that smooths the edges. Malt sweetness creeps in, almost like barley or brown bread. Then this grassy, mossy streak—earthy, forest floor stuff—runs underneath. Baking spices flicker in and out: cinnamon, maybe allspice. The quirk is real. This middle third doesn't follow the usual Davidoff playbook. It's lively, shifting, unpredictable.
Raisin Sweetness and Dry Finish
The raisin sweetness I caught on the cold draw finally shows up in force. Dried fruit, dark and sticky. Cedar returns but drier now, almost dusty. Espresso lingers in the background. The grassy note fades. Spice is faint, more suggestion than punch. Strength holds medium-full but never tips into heavy. Final inch stays clean, no bitterness. The Escurio finishes as strange as it started—never one-note, never boring.
The scorecard — how the Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro rates
Scored across 5 dimensions from a full hands-on burn.
Is the Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro the best in its class?
Genuinely Unusual Flavour Journey
This isn't another mild Dominican repackaged. The Escurio throws spearmint, cayenne, mossy earth, and raisin sweetness at you over seventy minutes.
Spearmint Note Divides Opinion
That unusual spearmint streak in the first third is polarizing. Some days it's a refreshing surprise, other days it feels forced.
For the Adventurous Medium-Full Smoker
You've smoked a hundred Gran Toros and they're starting to blur together. You want something that keeps you engaged, that shifts gears, that doesn't follow the script.
How the Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro compares
The Escurio Gran Toro holds its own against Davidoff's refined lineup and bolder Nicaraguan alternatives.
| Cigar | Size | Strength | Per box | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davidoff Escurio Gran ToroThis review | Gran Toro | Medium-Full | $232 | Espresso, Dark chocolate, Chocolate, Cedar, Walnut, Pepper |
| Davidoff Maduro ToroRead review → | 6 x 54 | Medium-Full | — | The luxury Davidoff sibling. Deeper dark chocolate and honey; the Escurio is spicier, mintier and a small fraction of the price. Sibling |
| Oliva Serie V Double ToroRead review → | 6 x 60 | Full | — | Similar money, more straight-ahead power. Coffee and earth over the Escurio's quirky pepper-mint-raisin character. Same tier |
| AJ Fernandez San Lotano Oval Habano ToroRead review → | 6 x 50 | Medium-Full | — | Half the price and a similar medium-full spice-and-chocolate profile, without the Escurio's minty streak. Value |
Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro vs Davidoff Maduro Toro
The Maduro Toro leans sweeter with cocoa and dried fruit from its Ecuadorian wrapper. Escurio Gran Toro counters with Brazilian Mata Fina, delivering earthier coffee and cedar with sharper spice. Escurio feels wilder, less polished. Maduro suits those chasing dessert flavors.
Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro vs Oliva Serie V Double Toro
Oliva Serie V hits harder with full Nicaraguan ligero punch and dark pepper. Escurio Gran Toro offers more nuance—leather, roasted bean, herbal complexity. Serie V overwhelms palate fatigue faster. Escurio stays balanced over the long haul despite similar ring gauge.
The pick: Escurio Gran Toro if you want medium-full complexity without the one-note Nicaraguan sledgehammer.
What to drink with the Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro
Match the Escurio's earthy Brazilian leaf with bold, roasted companions.
Dark Roast Brazilian Coffee
The coffee origin mirrors the tobacco's Mata Fina roots. Roasted bitterness and nutty undertones amplify the cigar's cedar and cocoa without clashing. Morning or afternoon works.
Añejo Tequila
Barrel-aged tequila brings caramel and oak that soften Escurio's spice. The agave's vegetal sweetness bridges the cigar's herbal notes. Sip slowly between draws for layered complexity.
Cold Brew Tonic
Coffee concentrate lengthened with tonic water and lime cuts through the cigar's leather richness. Carbonation cleanses the palate. Refreshing alternative when spirits feel too heavy.
Best occasions for the Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro
This Gran Toro suits slow, uninterrupted sessions where nuance matters.
Solo Evening on the Porch
Two-hour burn time demands solitude. No distractions. The Escurio rewards attention with shifting flavors—early spice, mid-palate leather, late cocoa. Perfect for reading or thinking through problems without interruption.
Post-Dinner with Close Friends
After a heavy meal, the medium-full body settles without overwhelming. Conversation flows easier than with full-bore Nicaraguans. The cigar's complexity gives everyone something to discuss without demanding constant focus.
Celebratory Milestone Moment
Davidoff quality signals occasion without pretension. Escurio's uniqueness—that Brazilian leaf—makes it memorable for promotions, anniversaries, or personal victories. Not everyday, but not unapproachable either.
The bottom line on the Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro
I lit this Gran Toro on a cool afternoon, window open, espresso cooling on the desk. The Escurio is Brazilian soul wrapped in Davidoff precision.
My one gripe? The spearmint thing is divisive.
Around the halfway mark I realized I was actually engaged. Not on autopilot.
Hand-reviewed and scored from a full burn — not AI-generated, not sponsored.
Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro FAQ
Is this the best Davidoff cigar?
No single best exists. Escurio Gran Toro offers the most distinctive profile with Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, but Grand Cru purists prefer Dominican elegance and Nicaraguan lovers chase stronger blends. Best depends on your palate's tolerance for earthiness versus refinement.
Which cigar is better, Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro vs Davidoff Grand Cru?
Grand Cru wins on classic refinement and morning-smoke smoothness. Escurio Gran Toro takes it for complexity and boldness. Grand Cru feels like a tailored suit; Escurio wears leather. Choose Grand Cru for elegance, Escurio for adventure.
Is this the best cigar for a long, leisurely evening smoke?
Close, but not absolute best. The two-hour burn and evolving flavors suit evening perfectly. However, some find the spice tiring toward the final third. If you want mellow longevity, try Padron 1964 Anniversary. Escurio excels when you crave complexity over comfort.
How does the Brazilian wrapper change the smoking experience?
Mata Fina leaf adds earthy, coffee-forward bitterness that standard Connecticut or Ecuadorian wrappers lack. Expect more herbal sharpness and less creamy sweetness. The texture feels slightly coarser, grip stronger. It's Davidoff stepping outside its comfort zone successfully.
Does the Escurio Gran Toro need aging or smoke fresh?
Fresh works fine; Davidoff ships ready. Six months rest mellows the spice slightly and marries the Brazilian wrapper with Dominican filler. A year smooths it further but risks losing edge. I prefer three to six months for balance between punch and integration.
James Peasley is the General Manager at Online Cigars, with a passion for fine cigars that goes back to 2010. He spent a decade at C.Gars Ltd in the UK as Marketing General Manager and cigar reviewer, hosting tasting events along the way, and trained with the prestigious Hunters & Frankau - the UKs Cuban cigar importers. A devoted fan of Cuban cigars, James has a particular soft spot for Trinidad and Cohiba, especially the Trinidad Topes and Cohiba Siglo II. He brings that depth of experience and genuine enthusiasm to every review.
