Quai d’Orsay No. 50

Description

Named for the famous Parisian street along the Seine, Quai d’Orsay exists because French distributors asked Cuba for something they could smoke with Champagne. In 1973, Habanos obliged—creating the lightest marca in the entire Cuban portfolio. The No. 50, released in 2017, brings this Franco-Cuban elegance into a compact petit robusto format. If you’ve ever wanted dessert before dinner, this is your cigar.

The Smoking Experience

First Third: The No. 50 opens with surprising complexity for its light body. Warm leather and bay leaf greet you immediately, Mediterranean herbs dancing with Cuban tobacco. The smoke feels almost weightless yet carries rich flavor—summer meadow grass, sweet and sun-dried. There’s a vegetable-mineral quality here, earthy undertones that quickly transform into something more interesting: prunes, cedar, a hint of dried fruit. Toast notes emerge, the pleasant char of fresh bread crust. The body remains firmly mild, the strength gentle.

Mid-Section: The heart of the cigar reveals its dessert personality. Vanilla becomes prominent—not artificial extract but the real bean, warm and creamy. Coffee notes develop alongside, light roast rather than espresso, making this genuinely appropriate for morning smoking. Hazelnut appears, that café latte quality reviewers consistently praise. Baking spices weave through: cinnamon, nutmeg, warmth without heat. Honey sweetness coats the palate. The cedar persists as backbone while floral notes emerge, subtle and uplifting. This is Cuban tobacco expressing its gentler self.

Final Third: The finish delivers the promised dessert course. Cashew and marzipan emerge, almond-paste sweetness that pairs impossibly well with the lingering vanilla. Light citrus brightens the finale—lemon zest, perhaps orange peel. That toasty quality from the opening returns, now carrying vanilla cupcake sweetness through the final draws. Reviewers aren’t exaggerating: this cigar genuinely tastes like dessert, yet remains tobacco, remains Cuban, remains authentic. No bitterness mars the conclusion.

Flavor Profile

A French Request, Cuban Crafted

Quai d’Orsay takes its name from the prestigious Parisian quay that houses France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1973, SEITA—the French tobacco monopoly—requested a Cuban cigar specifically blended to complement Champagne. The result was the lightest marca Havana had ever produced, with distinctive Claro and Colorado Claro wrappers that set it visually apart from darker Cuban siblings. For decades it remained a French secret; only recently has the brand gained wider distribution. The No. 50 arrived in 2017, bringing this French-Cuban diplomacy into a modern petit robusto format that fits contemporary smoking occasions.

Perfect Pairings

• Champagne: The pairing it was born for. Brut or Blanc de Blancs—the acidity and bubbles were literally designed to complement this blend.
• Coffee: Latte or cappuccino, playing into the cigar’s own coffee and hazelnut notes for a harmonious morning experience.
• Dessert Wine: Sauternes or late-harvest Riesling—sweetness meeting sweetness.
• Cognac: VS or VSOP, the grape spirit echoing the French heritage while the vanilla notes find common ground.

Ideal For

The Quai d’Orsay No. 50 suits smokers seeking Cuban authenticity without Cuban intensity. At 35-40 minutes, it’s the celebration cigar that doesn’t derail your evening, the morning smoke that enhances rather than overwhelms. The 50 ring gauge provides a cooler, easier draw than slimmer formats while remaining compact enough for a lunch break. This is the cigar to introduce non-smokers to Habanos—gentle enough to avoid overwhelming, flavorful enough to demonstrate what the fuss is about. Keep a box for brunch occasions, mimosa moments, or any time you want tobacco that tastes like celebration without demanding commitment.

Sommelier’s Note: If you have access to grower Champagne or a quality Crémant, try them with this cigar. The pairing that French distributors imagined fifty years ago remains perfect today.