-Tony

Undercrown Sun Grown is a new extension of the popular Undercrown line by Drew Estate that I was eager to get my hands on ASAP, being a long time fan of the original dark Mexican wrapped version (I’m ashamed to admit that I have yet to try the Connecticut Shade).  This new blend, concocted by Willy Herrera and the Undercrown blending team, features a sun grown Ecuadorian Sumatra seed wrapper over a Connecticut River Valley Habano Stalk Cut and Stalk Cured binder, and Nicaraguan filler that includes “one leaf of extensively aged Ligero from the Nueva Segovia region”.  Jonathan Drew has said that the company has tried to secure the wrapper tobacco for over 15 years.

Manufactured at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Nicaragua, the Undercrown Sun Grown is available in seven sizes:

• Robusto – 5 x 54
• Corona – 5⅝ x 46
• Belicoso – 6 x 52
• Gran Toro – 6 x 52
• Gordito – 6 x 60
• Corona Doble – 7 x 54
• Flying Pig – 3-15/16 x 60

Prices run from $8.20 – $11.20 in boxes of 25, except for the Flying Pig, which is priced at $12.72 in 12-count boxes.

I got mine from our friends at Cuenca Cigars.

The Basics:

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown Sumatra seed
Binder: Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut/Cured Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: Corona 5⅝ x 46
Price: $8.20
Smoking time: One hour, fifteen minutes
Pairing: Lagunitas Brown Shugga Barley Wine (ABV 10%)

Pre-light:

The Undercrown Sun Grown is draped in a uniform yellow tinted milk chocolate brown wrapper with a few noticeable, but relatively minor veins and a nice oily sheen.  The pack is firm throughout and the tight seams lead to a deep double cap.  The red and gold Undercrown band matches well with the color of the wrapper.  I can only pick up a faint earthiness from the shaft of the cigar, while the foot displays natural tobacco and spice.  The cold draw brings up wood and light spice and leaves some saltiness and a spicy tingle on my lips.

First third:

Sweet spice, cedar, and rich tobacco immediately hit the palate as the Undercrown Sun Grown gives up a hefty mouthful of smoke with a normal draw.  Pepper lingers in the background, but is not a major component, even on the retrohale, and a light salty cracker note is present.  The burn line is sharp and a bit wavy, and the ash holds for about ¾”.  An inch in, I hit a tunnel that puts a damper on things for ⅜”, but once past that, the cigar is back on track, bringing in more pepper, musk, and a citrus brightness.  The Undercrown Sun Grown ends its first third at a full-flavored, solid medium body, and low strength.

Middle third:

The second third of the Undercrown Sun Grown brings a greater cohesiveness of the flavors – where in the first third they were more distinct, they have now melded together to form a smoother and more balanced mouthful, adding in a touch of earth.  I have encountered another bout of tunneling, but this one is thankfully shorter and has much less of an effect on the cigar.

The pepper spice has become more of a red pepper, and the wood has turned oaky, as the lightly sweet spice and musk remain in the mix.  The Undercrown Sun Grown has been on a steady ascent into the medium-plus to medium-full range.

Final third:

Burning into the final third of the cigar, the sweet spice has moved up and a nice breadiness has emerged, as the pepper falls back.  The Undercrown Sun Grown now has a comfortable roundness to its flavors, even as they maintain their fullness.  With 1½” remaining, the pepper rebounds along with the citrus, taking the cigar down to an enjoyable and very small nub that is cool and firm, while exhibiting no harshness.  The Undercrown Sun Grown finishes at a medium-plus body and strength at the very low end of medium.

Overview:

First of all, I have to state that the Undercrown Sun Grown that I smoked prior to this one had no burn issues whatsoever, and since I have rarely, if ever, had any construction or burn problems with any of the many Undercrowns that I have had over the years, I have to consider this one an anomaly (coincidentally, I also thought the first one had a bit more kick to it, but perhaps that’s just where my head was at).  Once I burned past the short tunnel, the cigar picked right up where it left off, although it probably shortened my smoking time by a good five to ten minutes.  Even with the issue, I still enjoyed the heck out of the stick, as it presented great full flavors, good complexity, and otherwise solid construction and burn, and I was kind of bummed out when it came to an end, wanting the experience to last a little longer.  The price is, in my opinion, spot-on, if not more than fair, and I will certainly be smoking more of this cigar.  I definitely recommend it.

Pairing:

I’m a sucker for just about anything that comes from Lagunitas, and the Brown Shugga barley wine styled ale is another one that is right up my alley, especially when the weather cools down like it has here.  Boasting flavors of sweet malt, citrus and dried fruits on a fairly light but round and somewhat oily mouthfeel, it proved to be a terrific partner for the Undercrown Sun Grown, enhancing the sweetness of the cigar, while playing a fine balancing act with the cigar’s other flavors.  Because the Sun Grown is full flavored, but well balanced and not overpowering, it would pair well with any number of beers, such as a strong ale, brown ale, or dark Belgian.  It should also go very well with a red wine, sweet bourbon, or single malt Highland Scotch.

The post Drew Estate Undercrown Sun Grown appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff: The newest, un-released blend is called the Liga Privada JD#4. The Liga Privada line was originally created for the sole purpose of Steve Saka’s (Drew Estate’s President) personal enjoyment. After massive amounts of pressure from Drew Estate’s sale staff, Saka was forced to release his personal blend, the Liga Privada No.9 to the public. The Connecticut Broadleaf used on the Liga Privada No.9 is so limited, and the No.9 was in such high demand that Drew Estate was forced to come out with yet another Liga Privada blend that they could produce year round. Hence where the Stalk Cut Habano wrapped Liga Privada T52 comes into play.

I can only assume that the success of each of these blends had caused Drew Estate’s Production Director and Saka’s partner in crime Jonathan Drew to create a Liga Privada blend of his very own. Alas, the Liga Privada JD#4 was born. I’m not entirely sure where the “#4” comes from, but I can only assume it was similar to the “No.9” and is the actually blend number assigned during tasting.

The specifics of this blend are still extremely fuzzy. The only details I have is that the blend has been around for about 2 years, and Jonathan Drew has been smoking them religiously and the release date, if it ever does get released won’t but until at least sometime next year. The blend carries the same Havana Seed Connecticut grown stalk-cut wrapper as the T52 but has a completely different core with an even more ramped up body. The samples sent to me are toros, and look to be 6 x 52/54 The ring gauge seems bigger than 52 but not quite 54.

Prelight: The Liga Privada JD#4 is hefty, toro sized cigar. The wrapper is very toothy, with a consistent dark chocolaty brown mixed with a few lighter orange shades. The JD#4 is pretty much identical in it’s physical appearance as the Liga Privada T52, with what I can assume is the same stalk-cut Habano wrapper that the T52 carries.  Topped off with a nicely round double cap, the JD#4 has only one noticeable vein that I don’t foresee pestering the experience.  The wrapper feels much like a softer sand-paper with no soft spots at all or any signs of mis-construction.  The wrapper of the JD#4 gives off a massive cedar scent with hints of cinnamon, cocoa, and a very, very interesting almost cologne scent that I have never picked up from a Liga Privada cigar before. Whatever it is, it smells damn good. The foot gives off a totally different scent, one more composed of natural tobacco, and earth tones. In this case, the wrapper is the more dominant player. The cap clipped off with ease using my double bladed Liga Privada cutter. The cold draw producing a surprising organic, earthy, and musky flavor. Totally different than the cedar-heavy Liga Privada blends I am used to.

First Smoke: The Liga Privada JD#4 started out with the same power punch of pepper as I have grown to expect from the Liga Privada lines. Caught off guard yet again is the fact that the most prominent flavor is actually the cedar that I didn’t think came through much in the cold draw. Other strong notes are organic tobacco and cocoa mixed in with hints of spice, cinnamon,  and even a tiny bit of citrus off the aftertaste. The JD#4 is really starting off with a bang, if the body stays as strong as it is right now this cigar just might knock me on my ass. The draw is effortless and pumps out a massive amount of extremely thick, dark brown, cedar scented smoke as well as a crap load of stationary smoke. You can actually see the oils burning off the wrapper. I really don’t think the scent of the smoke will bother anyone that doesn’t smoke cigars, but the amount of smoke just might. The burnline is perfect, sharp, and even and the ash left behind is a medium grey, and tightly packed with only slight flakes. The ash held on for a little over an inch before tumbling into my ashtray.

Halfway There: Wow, the strength of this cigar is already starting to hit me. The best part about it though, is its very balance with the flavor, smoothness, and creamy experience of this cigar. I think there are a lot of blends out right now that are just boasting power but lack in the flavor department, luckily up till now the JD#4 isn’t a casualty of this trend. The dominant flavor is still cedar but I am starting to get a sharp raisin, cocoa and coffee mixture in there as well as strong tobacco. The retrohale primed my nasal passage with a very enjoyable bold cedar. The burnline is still rockin’ sharp and perfectly even.

Finish: Well into the final third of this Liga Privada JD#4 and the flavors had an interesting switch up. The cedar began to fade just slightly enough to product a very creamy mocha flavor backed up by raisin, leather, tobacco, and even a slight return of spice. Then, within the last inch the cedar ramped the hell up and came on full force. Usually I’m not one for the final inch of a cigar. But the JD#4 kicked ass with a completely smooth experience with no harsh build up. Well into the last inch and my fingers didn’t even get warm which I didn’t expect with a cigar with such a huge draw. The strength? Dead on. I would compare it to something like the Oliva Serie V just without all the harsh Ligero. I’m sure there is some in here, but it takes the backburner to the flavor.  After all was said and done, the JD#4 took about 2 hours to smoke.

Overview: The Liga Privada JD#4 is something quite different than the T52 and the No. 9 but still holds true to the rest of the Liga Privada line. As if the other twp blends didn’t already have enough strength the JD#4 comes in with a perfectly balanced powerhoused flavor bomb. This isn’t a beginner’s cigar. The body is too ramped up for a novice, or even an experienced medium bodied smoker. But I think it goes without saying that Drew Estate has another winner on it’s hands. I still think the No.9 trumps both the JD#4 and the T52, but the JD#4 is right up there with the T52. From what I have seen the reviews are torn between which one is favorited, and I am sure that the JD#4 will be adding another strong contender to the competition.

Pairing: I decided to pair this cigar with a cup of sweet tea. See the picture? That’s cause I didn’t post one. We all know what tea looks like. Not to mention I really don’t want to do the dishes so I drank out of a plastic cup that wasn’t very photogenic. Sweet tea is probably one of my absolute favorite pairings for a cigar. The brisk tea notes really help pick apart the tobacco while the sugar helps calm the nicotine kick produced by stronger cigars. The Liga Privada JD#4 would pair perfect with any strong whiskey or scotch, port, stout, porter, or coffee.

The post Drew Estate Liga Privada JD#4 appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.