The Drew Estate Undercrown Maduro was developed by the torcedores at the factory in 2009 as an alternative to Liga Privada. The cigar features a Mexican Otapan Negro Último Corte wrapper, T52 Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut & Cured Habano binder, and Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan tobaccos. The Undercrown Coronets began shipping in August 2017. 

You can purchase the Drew Estate Undercrown Maduro Coronets from our good friends at Famous Smoke Shop.

THE FACTS

Price: $22.00/10-Count Tin
Vitola: Coronet
Size: 4 by 32
Wrapper: Mexican Otapan Negro Último Corte
Binder: T52 Stalk Cut Connecticut Habano
FIller: Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 40 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

This small 4 by 32 cigar wears a very rustic leaf. Even though the darkness of the Mexican Otapan Negro Ultimo Corte wrapper conceals it upon a quick glance, a more thorough inspection reveals a leaf loaded with tooth, bumps, and raised veins. 

There is a pungency to the wrapper leaf with a combination of vinegar and earth. A mild cedar aroma is noted on the foot of the cigar. The Undercrown Maduro Coronet comes is a close with a slightly tapered head that cuts with ease. A free draw allows notes of cedar and glove to pass through on the cold draw.

FIRST HALF

The introductory profile of the Undercrown Maduro Coronet is rich, sweet, and smooth. As the cigar warms up, the sweetness settles in as meatier flavors push their way to the front. The smoke is thick and creamy in the mouth as a mild to medium spice heat lingers on the palate that is quickly gaining in spice heat. The burn is right on, but the ash doesn’t hold for more than half an inch.

SECOND HALF

Big flavors and spice characterize the profile of this mixed-filler Undercrown Maduro as I transition into the second half. The profile remains meaty with pepper spices and a mesquite smokiness, but there is just enough sweetness to balance everything out. In typical Drew Estate fashion, the Undercrown Maduro Coronet is pumping out tons of smoke.

WRAP-UP

Mixed-filler, machine made, smaller than I prefer. There wasn’t a whole lot going for the Drew Estate Undercrown Maduro Coronet prior to smoking it. But once lit, my mind was quickly changed. Full, rich, spicy, sweet and satisfying. And other than the flimsy ash, it didn’t smoke like a mixed-filler cigar. The Undercrown Maduro Coronet is one heck of a cigar and one that I would keep around for those days when your smoking time is limited.

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Famous Smoke Shop carries both cigars being reviewed today. You can purchase the Undercrown HERE and the Inferno Flashpoint Maduro HERE.

THE FACTS

PRESENTATION AND PRE-LIGHT

Drew Estate Undercrown: The Undercrown is eye catching with its blue and gold band against the  dark brown, almost oscuro, Mexican leaf  that is mostly uniform in color, with only a few darker splotches and a couple medium-sized veins. There are a decent amount of oils on the cigar that is rock solid and smooth to the touch. The Undercrown has a musty wet earth aroma . Similar notes are found on the foot with some added chocolate, cinnamon and pepper. A double cap with clean straight lines has been applied. Upon cutting the cap, a perfect draw brings for rich cedar, clove, and a mild cinnamon spice.

Inferno Flashpoint Maduro: The Mexican San Andres leaf on the Inferno Flashpoint has a marbleized appearance with colors ranging from medium brown with a reddish hue to almost black. This is one rustic looking leaf. The veins are small, but the leaf is coated with a fine tooth and scattered bumps. The wrapper aroma is of vinegar and manure, but some welcoming cedar and chocolate are found on the foot of the cigar with a pepper spice that tingles my nose.  The Flashpoint Maduro draw is nearly identical to the Undercrown, but highlights deep woodsy notes with chocolate and graham cracker.

Verdict: Drew Estate’s Undercrown takes the win in the presentation department. Since its release several years ago, the Undercrown band has been one of my favorites. If the Undercrown and Flashpoint Maduro were next to each other on a shelf, my hand would be reaching for the Undercrown off of the visual presentation alone.

PERFORMANCE

Drew Estate Undercrown: Immediately upon lighting the Undercrown, large volumes of smoke were produced by the cigar. A few minutes in, I noticed a tunnel forming, which never impacted the flavors or smoke production. From the get go,  the cigar was plagued with a jagged, wavy burn that resulted in two touch-ups throughout the duration of the smoke. The brilliant white ash held well over an inch. 

Inferno Flashpoint Maduro: Similar to the Undercrown, the smoke production satisfied with each small draw. However, the resting smoke was nothing compared to the Undercrown. With that said, the razor sharp burn line never once veered off track as a light gray was formed.

Verdict: With no re-lights, an even burn,  and satisfying smoke production, the Flashpoint Maduro has the upper hand.

FLAVORS

Drew Estate Undercrown: With a mixture of toasted bread, pepper, pencil shavings and earth complimented with a sugarcane sweetness, the Undercrown showed a great depth of flavors from the very start. As the cigar burned down, an intriguing fig joined in along with a crushed red pepper spice. The profile became savory as a saltiness arrived in the middle third. As I closed out this offering from Drew Estate, a dry cinnamon and cocoa provided a pleasant exit to the cigar. I would classify the Undercrown full in flavors and body and medium in strength. 

Inferno Flashpoint Maduro: Dark heavy flavors of coffee, earth, and pepper opened up the cigar that quickly developed into a rich, savory, spicy smoke. Halfway through, the spice calmed allowing the richness to shine and a cocoa sweetness to make an appearance. A gritty earth, cocoa, and coffee concluded the flavors of the Flashpoint Maduro. I would classify the Flashpoint Maduro as full in flavor and strength and medium in body.

Verdict: There was a clear winner in each of the earlier categories, but it is much more difficult to determine a winner in something so subjective as flavors. The Undercrown and Flashpoint Maduro shared some common flavors, but you would definitely not mistake one for the other. Both profiles were well balanced and delivered a spice and flavor combination that worked well with my palate. However, the depth of flavors, the complexity, and body of the Undercrown secures the win.

Overall Winner: While Famous Smoke Shop has a solid offering on their hands with the Flashpoint Maduro, Drew Estate’s Undercrown takes the overall win. Since I am such a value conscious consumer, if the price-point on the Flashpoint was lower, it would’ve been harder to make the decision, but for now, I will be reaching for the Undercrown, a cigar that has done me well since its release.

I enjoyed bringing something different and fun to the table here at CF and I hope you enjoyed it too. Lastly, “Thank You” Famous Smoke Shop for providing the samples for review.

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