Cigar atlas · Medium
Dalay Istanbul: flavour profile and cigars like it
Dalay Istanbul is a handmade cigar made in the Dominican Republic. Its published strength is medium. It has a wrapper grown in Ecuador and filler from the Dominican Republic and the United States. The tasting notes in our sources point to cream and pepper.
If you like it, the closest matches in the palate test are Caldwell Lost & Found Pepper Cream Soda and Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Maduro.
What does Dalay Istanbul taste like?
- cream and nuts
- pepper and spice
How strong is it, and what's in it?
| Wrapper | Ecuador; cultivar not disclosed for Robusto |
|---|---|
| Binder | Pennsylvania, USA |
| Filler | Dominican Republic, Turkey, USA |
| Strength | Medium as published by dalayzigarren.de |
| Body | Not published |
| Made in | Dominican Republic |
| Made by | Dalay Zigarren, brand owner. A separate manufacturing company is not named. |
| Blender | Unresolved conflict: maker credits Michael; Blind Man's Puff credits Salih Dalay. |
| Factory | Tabacalera Zauberberg, Dominican Republic |
| Sizes | Robusto 5×50 · Toro 5.5×54 |
Strength here means nicotine, which mostly comes from the filler. Wrapper colour is not a strength guide.
What reviewers say
- Blind Man's Puff panel (blindmanspuff.com): 89 points, Toro 5.5 x 54 (2024)In our words: The five-person panel reported medium-full body and a peppery, buttery profile.
Scores as published by the magazine or retailer, for the size named. Notes are our summary of the review, not quotes. We don't score cigars ourselves.
About Dalay Istanbul
The line. Released at the 2023 PCA Convention. Dalay frames it as a tribute to Istanbul. blindmanspuff.com
The brand. Dalay says its own cigar lines are hand-made long-fillers at Zauberberg in the Dominican Republic. Dalay portrays Zauberberg as its own Dominican manufactory. The Istanbul line launched through a 2023 Dalay-Luciano collaboration. dalayzigarren.de
Cigars like Dalay Istanbul
- Caldwell Lost & Found Pepper Cream SodaClosest matchBrazilian wrapper · Medium to fullAlso made in the Dominican Republic, a step stronger.
- Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva MaduroAlso fitsBroadleaf wrapper · MediumAlso made in the Dominican Republic, more natural sweetness, about the same strength.
- PDR 1878 Capa Sun GrownAlso fitsWrapper style not published · MediumAlso made in the Dominican Republic, more natural sweetness, about the same strength.
- Gilbert de Montsalvat Signature LineAlso fitsWrapper style not published · Mild-medium to mediumAlso made in the Dominican Republic, more earth and leather, about the same strength.
- Kristoff GC Signature SeriesOne step furtherBrazilian wrapper · Medium to fullAlso made in the Dominican Republic, more cedar and wood, a step stronger.
Picked by the palate test's own engine, as if you named Dalay Istanbul as a favourite: never more than one strength step above it, plain tobacco only, one cigar per brand.