Liga Privada No. 9 by Drew Estate
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012First, a HUGE THANKS to Todd and Julia from Julialightsup.com. I was recently a victim of an unprovoked cigar bomb. Included was the cigar up for review today.
I’ve had the T52 before, as well as the No. 9, but not in a long time. They are simply too hard to find around here, and I’m too lazy to order them online. The Drew Estate website has a lot of background information, so check it out. I just care about the experience, so let’s get to it…
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf (ligero)
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Honduran and Nicaraguan
Size: Robusto 5 x 52
Price: Around $10.00
Pre-Smoke & Construction:
The dark wrapper looked great. It had a shiny, oily, and appetizing appearance. The only flaw was a small split near the foot. This was most likely a handling issue, and wasn’t a big deal. The smell of the wrapper was cedar. The foot was more of a dense, natural tobacco earthiness. The cigar was solidly packed, with only minor variations in density. The draw had slight resistance, just the way I like it. The pre-light flavor was interesting and unique. It’s hard to describe… Musty, earthy, bitter coffee, and a tanginess that I couldn’t put my finger on.
The burn required three minor corrections, and the ash held for about 1.5 inches.
Flavor:
Out of the gate, the first third opened up with espresso. Retrohaling revealed an easy pepper, and perhaps a slight leathery note. As I progressed, the pepper developed some zing. The espresso increased in richness, and a tinge of sweetness was noticed. The aftertaste was a combination of these flavors, along with earthy notes. The smoke feel was dense and satisfying.
The denseness of the smoke feel increased in the second third. The espresso didn’t go anywhere, but is was dialed back just a little bit. This allowed the earthiness and spicy pepper to stand out a bit more. A subtle sweetness lingered in the background.
The last third went well. The spice left a tingly sensation throughout the entire palate, and it stuck around quite awhile after exhaling. The flavors pretty much kept pace with the second third, but everything seemed smoother.
Conclusion:
This was an excellent medium to full bodied cigar. My simple palate, combined with a similar writing style, may not do this cigar justice. The flavors weren’t anything that I would consider out of the ordinary, but the delivery was. Rich, refined flavors, along with subtle changes, made me dread putting this smoke down. On the downside, the price is a little high, and finding them isn’t easy. I still think the Liga Privada No. 9 is worth the asking price, and makes for a special treat. Go get some!
