Size: 6 X 52
Wrapper: San
Andres Maduro
Binder:
Nicaraguan T52 Stalk Cut & Habano
Filler:
Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Habano
I been
hearing many good things about Drew Estate cigars and after a good friend
recently handed me an Undercrown Gran Habano, I was ready to give it a try.
I drove over to the smoking room at my lodge to smoke this stick and write the
review. I also wanted to video the review but due to uncontrolled
circumstances, I couldn’t.
I got to the
smoke room, prepare the tunes, Theolonious Monk- Brilliant Corners and Ray
Charles Collection and sat back and pushed out this chocolate brown cigar with
minimal veinage from its cellophane casing. I smell the foot and I smell a
strong chocolate aroma. The stick also gives off a chocolate aroma along with
some barnyard smell. The blue, gold band with its logo reminded me of the
Lowenbrau lion. I pour a neat glass of McCallans 12 year old single malt scotch to accompany this cigar.
I clip the
cap with my cutter and it unravels a bit. I moisten it down and get pepper and
cocoa from the dry draw. I toast the foot and taste notes of cedar and then
cocoa from the first few smooth open draws full of thick creamy smoke. At this
point I notice cracks appearing in the wrapper and the foot starts to unwrap. I
give this stick a touch up.
I get past
the first third and the grey ash with black spots fell from the cigar as it was
still pushing smoke that is thick and creamy. More cracks appear and smoke is
leaking from them. The burn is uneven. I taste salt, cocoa and nutty notes in this
section. Though this cigar’s wrapper is falling apart the smoke is still enjoyable.
It requires another touch up.
Around the
last third of this smoke, I first taste sweet and salty caramel and then hints of nuts. The smoke is
still kicking in high gear and the burn remains uneven and needed a third
touch up. The flavor changes to a spicy pepper note and then cedar toward the
end. I put the cigar down for the last time when I feel the heat on my lips.
Overall,
this bold cigar was a very nice smoke. The flavors and smoke were full
throughout. The draw was smooth and open. The biggest problem with this stick was the wrapper. I only wonder
how much nicer this smoke could have been if the wrapper didn’t crack and fall
apart from the get go.
Robert Anthony Meyers
