Camacho Liberty 2020

With the Fourth of July holiday behind us, it feels like much of the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary has faded into memory. It felt like it was everywhere for a while, and certainly crossed over into the cigar industry.

That included the return of a cigar series that had been a staple of the summer celebrations, the Camacho Liberty, which had been released nearly every year from 2002 to 2021, and most often in the brand’s unique 11/18 perfecto shape.

So when I was searching through my redux humidor for something to revisit, the glossy navy blue coffin of the Camacho Liberty 2020 caught my eye, and reminded me just how long it’s been since the Camacho Liberty was released.

In 2020, the Camacho Liberty Series came back in a different way, as it was the first time since 2017 that a new cigar had been released, as in 2018 and 2019, Davidoff, owner of the Camacho brand, released a pair of cigars called Throwback. In 2018, it was the 2005 Throwback, while in 2019, it was the 2012 Throwback, recreations of cigars released in those two years.

But for 2020, it was time for a new, box-pressed 6 x 60 gordo, a first for the line. The blend used an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, Honduran corojo binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Honduras. According to Davidoff, the tobaccos were aged for four years.

Like its predecessors in the series, it was a limited edition, with 4,185 boxes of 20 cigars produced in total, and 2,550 of those boxes slated for the U.S. market. It was one of the biggest domestic releases in the line’s history and easily the largest overall release among the line’s previous 20 installments. In the U.S., it was priced at $20 per cigar and $400 for a box of 20, which featured an illustration of a bald eagle, wings painted to look like the American flag and its talons extended as if approaching a fish it would be having for a meal.

Here’s what I said about the Camacho Liberty 2020 when I reviewed it in July 2020:

I’m hesitant to call the Camacho Liberty 2020 inconsistent, but there is just enough variance between the three samples that as I put the third one down and begin to write this, that is the first thought that comes to mind. That third sample is head and shoulders above the others in terms of complexity, balance, avoidance of rough spots, and overall enjoyment. That’s not to say the others don’t try to reach the mark set by the third, as the transition from second third to final third was a consistently enjoyable batch of puffs and almost without fail the high point of each cigar. Construction was consistently very good if not great across all three samples, as was the general progression of what the cigar had to offer, which leads me to put this in the category of being generally enjoyable with a few reservations. We don’t factor price into the equation, but for $20—before taxes—I’d expect a bit more in the consistency department. If you’re willing to go into this cigar with that risk, and the price isn’t a deterrent, I think you could find yourself with a pretty enjoyable cigar.

• Cigar Reviewed: Camacho Liberty 2020
• Country of Origin: Honduras
• Factory: Diadema Cigars de Honduras S.A.
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
• Binder: Honduras (Corojo)
• Filler: Dominican Republic & Honduras
• Length: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 60
• Shape: Pressed
• MSRP: $20 (Box of 20, $400)
• Release Date: June 2020
• Number of Cigars Released: 4,185 Boxes of 20 Cigars (83,700 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Redux: 1

There’s something about a cigar being in a coffin that suggests it’s going to be a fairly sizable one, and the Camacho Liberty 2020 is no exception. Once I slide the lid off, I’m greeted by a beefy, box-pressed gordo that looks like it could have come out of a candy wrapper. It’s a good-looking cigar, wearing a matte wrapper that has few veins, and the ones it does have are small and tucked away off the main face of the cigar. It’s a generally firm cigar, certainly firmer than what I’d call typical for a box-pressed cigar, but there is a little bit of give to be found. The cap looks good, though I wonder if the box-press might have caused it to pucker in a spot, something that keeps it from lying perfectly flat. The foot has an aroma that reminds me of raspberries at first, but then evolves into one reminiscent of the pulp-fiber pint containers they come in. Eventually, that dry, mild, cardstock aroma takes over. The cold draw is smooth and easy, while the flavor has a bit of creaminess and just the slightest oiliness, but overall, it is a very mellow, neutral flavor. Meanwhile, my lips tingle from the tobacco and I need to remove the cigar from my mouth as the intensity is getting to be a bit much.

The Camacho Liberty 2020 starts on a dry, toasty note with some pepper mixed in the background and some creaminess quickly trying to join the mix. In those first puffs, pepper begins to increase, while the burn line of the cigar starts becoming uneven and I debate touching it up or allowing it the chance to right itself, mainly for purposes of the photo. I opt to give the front face a quick touch-up as I begin to fear I may lose the ash before the burn line evens out. Through the first inch, even with a bit of creaminess, the flavor stays dry and I’m left with the taste of toast and handfuls of dry Cheerios. The ash builds up well, dropping right after the photo was taken, into a messy pile of black, gray and white on my desk, just shy of the ashtray where it was intended to go. Thus far, retrohales have been quite mild, with only the smallest pinch of white pepper to be found, and generally an underwhelming experience when the smoke passes through my nose. Just shy of the midway point, I detect a notable change in the profile, as while it’s still dry and toasty, it’s heartier and the flavor is thicker, like eating the crust of wheat bread versus the inner parts. There’s also more creaminess, which seemingly sets an interesting second half. This half’s flavor sits at medium-minus, the body of the smoke is medium-minus and the strength is mild. Other than the burn line issues in the early going, I don’t have any construction issues.

The previously mentioned transition takes the Camacho Liberty 2020 into its second half, but it proves to be fairly short-lived. The creaminess fades, replaced with dry, crunchy pretzels without the saltiness, but in its place, there’s some pepper. That pretzel and pepper combination marks the finish as well, a flavor sensation that sits at the top of my throat as much as it does on my taste buds. Retrohales are more developed now, a bit more peppery but also fuller in body, a combination that delivers a more enjoyable experience. As the final third gets underway, that top-of-the-throat sensation continues and almost dominates my attention, as, despite a swig of water or two, I can’t shake it. As for the flavor, I get a bit of mixed nuts for a few puffs, but the flavor keeps moving back to warm wheat bread with a finish of a pinch of black pepper, a sensation that takes the cigar to its conclusion after about two and a half hours. The flavor peaks around the medium mark, body is much the same, while strength is pretty mild and I feel no nicotine effects. I have to give the cigar credit for how well the ash builds up and hangs on; while the first separation wasn’t pretty, it’s still impressive to see that quantity of ash. The burn line isn’t perfect but it’s not much of an issue, while the draw and smoke production are both good.

Camacho
Camacho Liberty 2020
Camacho Liberty Series
Davidoff
Diadema Cigars de Honduras S.A.
Gordo
Honduras