After one of each, I thought I preferred the Federation, but after the 2nd Dojo, I'm not so sure.? The first Dojo had some problems with uneven burn, splitting wrapper and unraveling at the head and I feel this affected the flavored. To be fair though, it might have needed a bit more recovery time in the humidor or could have been an odd-ball. This one didn't have any of those issues and I enjoyed the transitions throughout. Need to smoke another Fed to compare. You are right though, they both mellowed in the final third.