Blind Review: Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9

5 3 7.4k

Have you ever wondered the cigars a master blender would create for their own personal humidor? Former president of Drew Estate Cigars, Steve Saka was kind enough to share his vision of a humidor worthy cigar. In 2005, he kicked off his personal project: Liga Privada, which translates to private blend in Spanish.

It wasn’t until a year later that he began to see the project coming to fruition. With help from Johnathan Drew and Nicholas (Director of tobacco & cigar in Nicaragua), and fifty plus test blends later, they were able to pin point a specific variation of blend: #9. After lighting up around 6000 cigars between the three of them and sharing some with others, as well as being badgered for over a year to put them on market, they finally caved and released them to the public.

As for the blend itself, there are tobaccos from seven different farms. The wrappers are hand fermented for more than 18 months. To make it even more exclusive, there are only four pairs of rollers throughout the whole factory who are authorized to assemble 250 cigar per day. Afterwards, they are aged for a full year before making their way to the B&Ms.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9
  • Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf #1 Darks
  • Binder: Plantation-Grown Brazilian Mata Fina
  • Filler: Select Honduran and Nicaraguan Cuban seed
  • Size: Toro (6” x 52)

Appearance & Construction

The dark oily wrapper shines under the sunlight. As my fingers travel down the slightly toothy surface of the wrapper, I can feel the density of the cigar. It is evenly packed with no visible veins or blemishes. Overall, the longer I stare at this cigar, the more I salivate.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The sweet vanilla and oak bark scent from the wrapper were very captivating. On the foot of the cigar, my nose picks up vanilla, peppery spice and dry berries.

Upon taking a cold draw, the image of maple glazed barbecue beef jerky materializes in my mind with a sweet cayenne pepper tingling on my tongue and lips. As I lay back into a lounge chair and take in my surrounding in the Catskills Mountain, I can’t help but to anticipate Bigfoot sneaking up behind me just like those Jack Link beef jerky commercials.

Liga No. 9 has a very strong opening in terms of flavors. Dark leather, bitter espresso beans, and vanilla on the palate and smoke with a hint of simple syrup towards the back of my mouth. On retrohale, there are sweet hay, toffee and red pepper spices. These flavors are perfectly balanced, leaving me wanting more. The meatiness from the cold draw disappears, and the aftertaste is quite floral similar to Chinese sunflower seeds. The burn is very even, and the salt and pepper ash holds sturdily.

Arriving to the second third, the flavor of roasted peanuts replaces the dark leather flavor from the initial lighting. The smoke also produces a very creamy texture, where it changes the whole dynamic of the cigar and reminds me of a nutty toffee bar.

An hour and a half later, I finally reach the final third of Liga Privada No. 9. The luscious, maple syrup-flavored smoke shifts to a sweetness of raw sugar. The combination of barnyard, cedar, granola and sweet toffee on the palate can be best described as a decadent experience. With my final retrohale, I’m embraced with warm baking spice and toffee escorted by an alluring creamy texture.

Conclusion

The Liga Privada no. 9 is nothing short of amazing. The flavor of this cigar is very well balanced, complex and inviting. Truly a humidor worthy cigar.

Final Rating: 91

Blind Review: Davidoff Grand Cru Robusto

6 0 8.1k

I’m no stranger to Davidoff cigars as I’ve been fortunate enough to smoke nearly all of their lines including the old Cuban vitolas. With Henke Kelner at the helm of blending after Davidoff ceased making cigars in Havana, the tobaccos seem to have distinct tastes in some of the blends. A mustiness, earth, wood, forest floor and mushroom make them unique smokes. Davidoff cigars are extremely well crafted with outstanding quality control and the Davidoff Grand Cru series is no exception. With an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and Dominican fillers these cigars can be a real treat albeit with a price tag to match. 

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Grand Cru Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Dominican
  • Size: 5 1/4 x 52 Robusto

Appearance & Construction

The Davidoff Grand Cru robusto has a smooth claro wrapper that’s silky to the touch. When given a squeeze it is firmly packed with tobacco and extremely well rolled. I noticed a unique nipple on the cap which is a skillful addition to implement on a cigar. There are minimal veins and the roll is perfect in hand.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Using my V-cutter, I clip the cigar and proceed to take a dry draw that brings mustiness and damp forest floor. I light up and the first few puffs are drying on the palate and portray a medium bodied experience. As the Grand Cru gets going, graham cracker hits the top of my mouth, followed but woody notes and cinnamon. I take a retrohale early on and the mustiness comes through along with slight earthy tones.  The wood increases along with secondary notes of  mushroom and dampness.  The smoke coming from the cigar is ample at this point and the body continues on the medium level.

As the cigar progresses, the Davidoff Grand Cru robusto’s smoke billows and the foot showcases a lovely white ash. There are lots of toast and cedar notes that make their way through. The burn line is razor sharp. I detect a fleeting cherry and wine note which quickly becomes overshadowed by some white pepper, but both flavors leave as quickly as they appear. The cigar smokes rather hurriedly, although it’s not harsh with the tobacco seeming to burn uniformly while I puff at a conservative pace.  Then, the Grand Cru picks up a bit more strength, teetering on the medium to full bodied side of the spectrum. At this time I detect some bitterness developing on the finish with celery and vegetal notes alongside. 

In the final third, the wood becomes more like graphite and toast followed by a short mineral finish. The Davidoff recedes into the medium bodied range and with that the cedar takes hold resonating with a hearth of tobacco and wood.  The burn continues to be excellent, and as the cigar develops orange peel along with floral notes interplay with a bready coating on the palate.

As the Davidoff Grand Cru reaches the last few puffs, it yields damp earth and pencil lead which I wished lastied longer on the mouthfeel. A tasty medium bodied cigar.

Conclusion

I enjoyed the medium bodied experience the Davidoff Grand Cru Robusto portrayed with its earth, wood, toast and mushroom notes. My biggest issue is that I wished the flavors lasted longer and stood firmer on the palate. It seemed the finishes where short and the bitterness midway along with the vegetal notes hurt the score. I would surmise some more aging in the humidor could even things out and help the cigar develop where it lacked. I would suggest picking one up to smoke and perhaps buying a few more to rest to compare over time.

Final Score: 90

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Perfect Pairings #2 – Spirits Editor Pairing Review

3 0 3.8k

Photo courtesy Bacardi Ltd

Forget any past tasting you had of Royal Brackla 12 and 16.

Change your mind about Aberfeldy 12, 16 and 21.

It’s all about context!

Here stands two magical cigars. But the mix of smoke and whisky creates diverse palate effects. So, be prepared for SURPRISE!!

Let’s cut to the chase. With the Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro, the Royal Brackla 12 brings out the best in both dram and stick in great harmony. Aberfeldy 16 comes close to the same rapport, but with more nuance.

When smoking the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua, these two also rise to the top. My view, in this case, gives a slight nod to the Aberfeldy 16 because of the second cigar’s spice.

Here’s a preview of a night you’ll recall. This standard of excellence is what we all assume from finetobacconyc.com. I hope your flavor trip will be as rewarding as mine.

Cigar: Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro – The cold draw has nice espresso flavors, almost toasted! A smooth wrapper and soft blend make it sensual. You don’t even have to smoke to enjoy it.

Note: All bottles are 40% ABV

Royal Brackla 12 – When we light up the Cigar of the Year, we expect our whisky pairs to transport us to a new level, and it does! Wow! What a surprise! The RB 12 is that outcome and more! Past samplings of this spirit showed that it was largely a good malt. It had a dusty, rocky dryness that was short lived followed by fleeting Kraft Caramel. Then it finished with a light black pepper. My first thought: Best drink this neat before dinner. Well… so much for the past.  Tonight, there’s a balance between cigar and scotch; rare for such a low ABV. The RB’s hint of back palate smoke equaled the gentle spice of the AR. The stony grist of the whisky dissolved into the sweet earth of the stick. Lost in thought, I turned my head and found I emptied the glass! Lucky for me, I had more in reserve!

Royal Brackla 16 – The AR’s smooth complexity tried hard to change the powerhouse, uni-directional RB16. It was almost the classic Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck skit: “Duck Season!” “No! Rabbit Season!” After a strained effort, the whisky’s light fade gave way to the elegance of the smoke. The result was best for those who love distinct tastes and exult in a mouth battle.

Aberfeldy 12 – As the AR approached the end of its first third, some nuttiness emerged. I hoped the AF 12 would combine its normal honeycomb taste with the cigar. Nope. These two decided that peaceful co-existence was the way to go. You’ll find a gateway malt here. If blended scotch is your basic tipple, the AF12 is a new road for you. Why not pair it with a good smoke? Just don’t expect either to change.

Aberfeldy 16 – The red-headed step-child of the product line, the 16-year has real elan. There’s a bunch of flavors that come through without the pure honey tone of the 12-year. With so much going on with the whisky, you might think you could overlook the smoke. Not a chance! Surprise again! Here’s a case where all the grace of the cigar and the whisky’s kaleidoscope of tastes combine for a rare experience. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Revel in all your senses and trust them to impress. Now THAT’s what I’m talking about!

Aberfeldy 21 – A more erudite version of the AF12, the same honeyed nature emerges with less power and more finesse. Yet, like the twelve-year, the cigar is a separate journey. But why fight the flavors? Just enjoy each of them apart. Any notion of a fight dissolves into the knowledge that you’ve got two fine samples in your hands.

Mark’s Preference: #1 Aberfeldy 16, #2 Royal Brackla 12, #3 Royal Brackla 16, #4 Aberfeldy 21, #5 Aberfeldy 12. 

Cigar: Romeo y Juilieta Reserva Real Nicaragua – The cold draw has a lot of pepper and spice with some nutmeg, maybe even some cardamom. Here’s another beauty of the highest quality. But prepare yourself for a smoke of strength.

Royal Brackla 12 – Given my first experience with the AR, I had no preconceived notions with a cigar of such different character! Again, SURPRISE! The initial sweet flavor then the spicy trace of the RB 12’s finish were perfect counterpoints to the pepper of the RJ, each tempered in their ardor. One plus one now equals three. This is a big winner!

Royal Brackla 16 – The RB 16 is a sipping whisky that stands on its own. But when it meets the strength of this stogie, it’s a battle for dominance with each vying for control of your senses. If you crave a battle royale in your mouth, here’s your UFC cage match!

Aberfeldy 12 – By now the RJ, in the second third, is mellowing out. Yet the honeyed one-dimensional AF 12 overpowered the cigar! Weird! I expected the RJ to put up a fight. Yet it surrendered to the dram! All that remained was the slight tinge of pepper that showed you what lurked in the end.  Interesting: the milder AR produced a more cohesive result. 

Aberfeldy 16 – Ok, I didn’t know what to expect from my favorite in the AR sequence. The same complex nose of the glass jolted me and brought out hidden smooth and warm traits of the RJ. Not outdone, the cigar countered by tempering the chameleon flavors of the AF 16. What a delight! Enjoy this classic sensation where each aspect inspires the other.

Aberfeldy 21 – I wasn’t expecting much here. The AF21 is too smooth, too aged. It’s a great dessert whisky, but it’s gonna get clobbered, right? WRONG! Like the AF12, the reverse happened. The spirit overwhelmed the cigar. The honeyed sensation beat down the pepper, but the 21-year, unlike its younger sibling, let the stick’s heat return at the finish.

Mark’s Preference: #1 Royal Brackla 12, #2 Aberfeldy 16, #3 Aberfeldy 21, #4 Aberfeldy 12, #5 Royal Brackla 16. 

Summary: I enjoyed an evening of surprises. I didn’t expect the Royal Brackla 12 to impress as much as it did (in both cases!) despite major differences in the cigars. That a whisky can overpower a strong smolder is also new to me. I expect the inverse. The ending surprise was how good the Aberfeldy 16 was with different smokes. Perhaps what makes it such a flavor changeling creates a true savored adventure.

There are some wonderful take-aways here: You could like a whisky and a cigar by themselves, but, perhaps, not together. On the other hand, you could discover that a fine smoke might not pair well with your preferred drink! Last, the age of a spirit does not translate to a superb smoking experience. Remember the setting. First choose the cigar flavor profile you want. Then lay out some samples from your own bar and dive in! Don’t limit yourself to Scotch! You’re bound to find true love, as finetobacconyc.com’s own Kelvin Batista learned with Rum. 

What’s your view? Leave a comment and tell us! – Mark

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Saying Goodbye to the Nat Sherman Townhouse

11 4 32.2k

News broke this week that Nat Sherman and its Nat Sherman Townhouse in Midtown Manhattan will permanently close in September. First reported by Cigar Aficionado and then a slew of other cigar blogs, the news came as a shock to many, especially those in the New York City cigar community that frequented the Townhouse on 42nd street for its incredible selection, great prices, and the knowledge and hospitality of its staff.

In the midst of a stressful and taxing global pandemic, the news was a hard blow for me personally. I worked and lived in Midtown just blocks from the Townhouse for a number of years, stopping by multiple times a week—sometimes to pick up a few cigars for a weekend get together with friends, other times for a quiet smoke during lunch hour.

Nat Sherman has been in business since 1930, and got its start during the Great Depression. Though it wasn’t always located in the Townhouse on 42nd street, the Townhouse became for many the iconic symbol not just of the Nat Sherman brand, but of the ethos of the cigar culture in New York. The store was particularly memorable in the winter. Like so many others, I remember pulling hard on the heavy front doors to escape freezing rain or snow and being greeted by a cozy atmosphere (sometimes accompanied with a jazz band playing on the second-floor balcony) and a sea of smiling faces.

I remember the cigar launch parties that the store would throw, especially those that the Quesada family attended—perhaps the kindest family in an industry of kind families. Those events were always well attended, full of laughter and friendship, and always accompanied by a few good jokes from Michael Herklots thrown in during the evening’s festivities.

The historic brand was made immensely richer and more defined by Mr. Herklots after he joined the team at the head of brand and retail. Not only did he spearhead the release of incredible blends (Timeless, Bench Series, Joel Sherman 75th, the list goes on); he put his heart and soul into the brand, and the increased foot traffic and consecutive 90+ point cigar ratings prove it.

The industry is losing a great and storied brand. The city is losing something as well. But the price it pays for Nat Sherman’s closing won’t be in tax revenue or foot traffic on 42nd street. The people of this great city will pay in all the new friendships, polite conversations, and quiet thoughtfulness that will never happen at the Townhouse again. This might sound sentimental, but in our polarized age of ceaseless noise… is it?

Someday, we might hope, another enterprising young man will open the next cigar shop that lives on another 90 or 100 years. But the city will always be poorer for the closing of the Nat Sherman Townhouse.

Blind Review: Micallef Reserva Limitada Privada

4 1 3.4k

It all started with a fateful meeting between Al Micallef and the Gomez Sanchez brothers at a Texas lounge. By 2016, Micallef Cigars joined the fray of the cigar industry. Fast forward to IPCPR 2019, Micallef unveiled the newest toro size for their top of the line Reserva Limitada Privada. As Rob and Bryant from ‘Cigar Talk Podcast’ would boast;

“Micallef Cigar offers cigars priced from $4 to $42.”

I was lucky enough to do a blind review of the $42.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Micallef Reserva Limitada Privada
  • Wrapper: 8 Year Old Mexican San Andres Habano
  • Binder: 8 Year Old Nicaraguan
  • Filler: 8 Year Old Honduran, Dominican and Peruvian
  • Size: Toro (6 x 52)

Appearance & Construction

While not knowing the cigar I am looking at, I can tell from the construction that quality is involved. The wrapper is very smooth and the cigar evenly packed with no soft spots and no major veins visible.

The wrapper smells like candy and chrysanthemum tea leaves just from a quick whiff. As I trace my nose down to the foot of the cigar, the white pepper scent becomes more prominent. I sneeze a few times, which get me weird and concerning looks from the people in my vicinity. Once the pepper smell scattered, it leaves behind a sweet scent of lavender and green tea leaves. The cold draw is mouthwatering with the taste of dry cherries, raisins and tea leaves and an aftermath of warm red pepper spice that teases the back of my throat.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Once ignited, the Reserva blasts off with a perfume of leather. There’s notes of light brown leather accompanied with roasted coffee beans, dry apricot and plentiful of red pepper spice. Retrohaling gives off a mixture of red and white pepper, and oven fresh warm bread. Overall, the Micallef Reserva is a pepper bomb at the start.

As the ash burns its way past one inch, a taste of buttery cream creeps up. While still flavorful, all the flavors turn down a notch and defined the saying “sometimes less is more”. Now there’s black coffee, dry apricot and dry rice straw which I can’t get enough of. On retrohale, the spices tone down into more of a baking spice with an aroma I can only describe as a pie crust dusted with cocoa powder.

On a side note, this cigar is packed with nicotine, even after a meal.

As we enter the second third, the flavors evolve to fresh baked bread, toasted nuts, cocoa powder and sweet hay with a lingering tingle in the mouth from the red pepper spice. These flavors are pretty consistent until the beginning of the final third. A milky texture slowly fuses itself with the present flavors, and the smoking experience slowly evolves from puffing on a cigar to sipping a cup of a mocha latte. The ending of the Reserva becomes raw sugar, sweet and creamy. I can’t think of a better way to end this smoke. 

Conclusion

I nubbed this cigar to the very end of the cap. The Micallef Reserva Limitada Privada was enjoyable from the beginning until the very last puff. The only critique I have about this cigar is that, as great as the flavors are, I could have used a touch more complexity at times.

Final Rating 90

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