Drew Estate Liga Undercrown Gran Toro

The Undercrown has an interesting history. When Drew Estate workers were asked to smoke fewer Liga Privadas to allow them to have more to export, the workers came up with their own, more available blend to smoke, with similar tobaccos but from other parts of the plant. It is supposed to share some characteristics with the famed Liga Privada line, while being more affordable and available. It certainly gets a lot of love on r/cigars.

Statistics

CotM: March 2012







Chosen by: insanemo

insanemo





Shape: Parejo







Size: 6 x 52







Country of Origin: Nicaragua







Wrapper: Mexican Otapan Negro Último Corte







Binder: T52 Connecticut stalk cut & cured Habano







Filler: Brazillian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Cuban seed







Color: Maduro







Strength: Medium-Full







Price Paid: $6.00







Smoke Date: 7/03/2013

7/03/2013





Age: 2 months

Accessories Used

Cuban Crafters Perfect Cutter (Silver & Carbon Fiber), Bugatti B-2002 lighter with “pyramid” double-flame torch, Handmade English walnut ashtray made by wedgewoodrings.

Pairing

Home made margarita on the rocks made with 1800 Reposado 100% Agave Tequila Reserva and sweetened with pure agave nectar. Served in a pub glass with bendy stray (yellow). What a delicious contrast in tastes! The tart tanginess of the drink is a shock against the dark earthiness of the smoke. A highly recommended pairing!

Appearance/Nose

The wrapper was smooth, dark, and oily. Truly a pretty cigar. The narrow band was a very classy navy blue & gold with a lion’s head (with an upside-down crown underneath–an “undercrown”). The nose was of coffee and barnyard.

Construction

The wrapper was flawless, dark and oily. The cap was smooth and straight. It burned evenly throughout (with a little friendly rotation). The ash held on for about an inch and a half at a time.

Cold Draw

The cold draw was a very loose–a little too easy, and gave hints of coffee and barnyard, much like the nose.

Smoking

First third

Holy shit! Before I even notice the taste, I notice the amount of smoke coming out of this thing. So much smoke!

The taste is strong coffee, cream, chocolate, earth. It is very smooth. The retrohale is an earthy espresso.

Second third

Sweet spice came in pretty strong, but still very smooth. What a flavor bomb! The flavor bursted with earth, coffee, sweet spice. Intense!

About alfway through, the pepper picked up. It now had an amazingly bold retrohale, while the cream envelops everything else. Of course, the stick continued to smoke like a coal plant, even when untouched in the ashtray.

Final third

The spice died down. Wood, earth, and coffee dominated.

The flavor became a bit weaker at this point, but the smoke continued to pour like water out of a fire hose. I tried to get the last chunk of ash as long as I could, and it ended up falling on my foot. Not my best move. Still, I did manage to somehow plant the previous two pieces of ash in the ashtray like the ammo for a double-barrel shotgun, so there is that.

Notes

Draw: Easy

Easy





Body: Full

Full





Primary Flavors: Coffee, earth, cream

Coffee, earth, cream





Smoke Output: Obscene

Obscene





Smoke Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes.

Overall

When this stick was on, it was ON. The smoke was incredibly thick and unending. The flavors were powerful but smooth. The nicotine kick was strong. The spice and strength of the middle third was blissful. The flavor got a bit muted in the final third, though. The Undercrown has no shortage of devoted fans, and for good reason, This is an excellent stick, with ridiculous smoke production and solid flavors. I do believe I will be having more of these.

Rating