IPCPR Review: 7-20-4 Dog Walker

Kurt Kendall released two new sizes of his 7-20-4 line at this year's IPCPR: the Londres and the Dog Walker. The Dog Walker is a short corona that measures 4 1/4 x 40. Just like the rest of the 7-20-4 line, the Dog Walker features a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, Costa Rican binder, and filler from Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, and Columbia.

The Dog Walker is a well constructed little cigar. The wrapper has a couple slightly noticeable veins, and is dark with a slight oily shine. Like a number of other sizes in the line, it features a pig-tail cap.

Talking with Kurt at his booth, he mentioned that originally this cigar would have been called "DW". He wanted to leave the name like that to create a little stir, as people tried to figure out what "DW" meant. Turns out that he liked the design of the box that actually had "Dog Walker" on it, so he left it that way.



Upon cutting with my Palio, the pre-light draw of the Dog Walker tastes like dry cocoa with a little spice. The first third of the smoke gives off a strong flavor of baker's chocolate and leather. Mixed within is spice and black pepper. It also has a "meaty" flavor that is at first hard to distinguish. Ultimately, it reminds me of the portobella mushrooms that I marinade in Worchestershire sauce and olive oil, and stuff into a filet mignon.



The second third of the Dog Walker was loaded with leather and dry leaves. The black pepper calmed down, but was still present, as were slight bit of chocolate.



The final third of the cigar was full of cedar and leather. The pepper started to ramp up a little more, just like it was in the beginning.



This little cigar had a bright white, compact ash. The burn was spot on, as it never wavered or needed touch up.

I really enjoy the 7-20-4 size of this line (a Corona Gorda). The Dog Walker is a great little smoke, which I was able to stretch to a full 60 minutes, and will definitely find a spot in my humidor.

 

Great review, thanks!
Would love to add some of these to the humi

 

Jere, thanks for the excellant review and pic's and for sharing your smoking experience! :thumbsup:

Just something about the taste of the 7-20-4 that I didn't care for.

 

Agian another most excellent review my brotha!! I've never had one of these so I just might have to give one a spin!

 

Who is this guy LoL?? - "Portobella mushrooms that I marinade in Worchestershire sauce and olive oil, and stuff into a filet mignon." A Jere you need to stop, its not enough that you entice us with the endless list of reviews and tantalizing illustrations of cigars, but Filet mignon. I would love to see a picture of that one too when your ready. Great review Jere, Thanks

 

Great meeting you at the show down in NOLA! Your posts are fantastic with pictures and commentary. We will be getting a couple of boxes of the 7-20-4 s (robusto and DW) in the near future on the islands and look forward to what we believe will be the next hot cigar on the market. Your review is spot on from what we tasted back here in Hawaii, with the earthy flavors and chocolate. Definitely a different style of cigar that our guys are accustomed to here in the islands. Thanks

 

Great meeting you and Fia in NOLA too! Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it.

Yeah, the 7-20-4 definitely has a different flavor when compared to other "boutique" labels. Like I said, the CG size (called the 7-20-4) is my favorite, but I really loved the DW. Need to try the new Londres size as well. Bet it will have some great flavor.