Origin : Nicaragua
Format : El Brujito (toro)
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Filler : Nicaraguan Longfillers Grown in Esteli & Jalapa
Binder : Mexican San Andres Negro
Strength : Medium to Full
Hand-Made
Price : $6.95 each

Construction

Drew Estate’s Nica Rustica is said to be blended “for hard core tobacco lovers.” The self proclaimed “rustic, un-refined” stick is draped in a rugged-looking Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper leaf. The dark chocolate-brown colored wrapper is flecked with some small, puckered veins and is left long to cover the foot. The simple, mustard colored band is in line with the un-refined vibe of the cigar. Beneath the Connecticut Broadleaf is a Mexican San Andres Negro binder snuggly wrapped around long fillers grown in Esteli and Jalapa. The cap is thin but nicely mounted and pulled into a taught pigtail. It cuts cleanly using the punch cutter on my Colibri Evoke Lighter.

Read the full review of Nica Rustica (by Drew Estate)…

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Petit Corona
Size : 4 x 44
Wrapper : Mexican San Andreas
Filler : Brazilian, Nicaragua
Binder : Connecticut Shade
Hand-Made
Price : $7 each

The MUWAT (My Uzi Weighs A Ton) project is a collaborative effort between Drew Estate’s Subculture Studios and Joya de Nicaragua Factory. Rolled at the Joya factory the MUWAT Bait Fish was officially released at the 2011 IPCPR trade show and is exclusively sold through New Havana Cigars out of Columbus, Ohio.

On to the review…

Read the full review of MUWAT Bait Fish…

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Fat Robusto
Size : 5 x 60
Wrapper : San Andreas Maduro
Filler : Brazil, Nicaragua
Binder : Ecuadorian Connecticut
Hand-Made
Price : ~$9-12

“Well I’m all in – put it up on the board
Another rapper shot down from the mouth that roared
1-2-3 down for the count
The result of my lyrics – oh yes, no doubt”

Yea! That’s what I’m talkin’ about! You guessed it, that’s a taste of some old school Public Enemy No. 1 for ya! It happens to be a quite nice little ditty called “My Uzi Weighs A Ton”. As I’m reminiscing, I can’t quite decide if I want to pop a cap, or cut the cap on the new collaboration between Drew Estate and Joya de Nicaragua. Fortunately, I’m not the violent type, so I think I would rather tell my fellow readers about this intimidating stick.

MUWAT. That’s what JD, Jonathan Drew (yea, we’re tight like that… not really), calls his My Uzi Weighs A Ton creation for short. As I am quite sure everyone has figured out, JD is much more “with it” than other cigar makers, therefore, good for you JD for giving this beast such a moniker. MUWAT was JD’s personal blend, so I certainly had high expectations for this thing, and I have been chomping at the bit to get my hands on it.

Read the full review of My Uzi Weighs A Ton…

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Short Figurado
Size : 4 x 60
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Filler : Dominican, Honduran
Binder : Brazilian
Hand-Made
Price : $12.00

For Liga Privada fans, this was the holy grail of cigars for quite some time. The No. 9’s are plagued by limited supplies making them more desirable than the T-52’s. Other than their rarity, most people that I know of prefer the No. 9’s to the T-52’s. The guys at Drew Estate are coming up with a slew of new releases, so will the famous No. 9 Pigs hold their desirability. So let’s see how the pigs have evolved since their most recent release shall we?

Read the full review of Liga Privada No.9 “Flying Pig”…

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : Mexican San Andres Negra
Filler : Brazilian and Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $6-7 each

These cigars are exclusive sticks made for Cigars International and are limited edition. But, I have been smoking them for over four years, so I’m not too sure how “limited” they really are. I started smoking these my Sophomore or Junior year of college and they became one of my go-to smokes when I am not in the mood for a traditional cigar.

Read the full review of Natural Irish Hops (by Drew Estate)…

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Corona
Size : 5 x 44
Wrapper : Connecticut Sun-grown Habano
Filler : Dominican, Honduran, Nicaraguan
Binder : Brazilian Mata Fina
Hand-Made
Price : $12 each

Please welcome Aaron, our newest reviewer! He begins with a review of the delicious Liga Privada “Dirty Rat”. Enjoy!

Down here in Texas, we have been getting very unusual, very cold weather. Hanging around Dallas for pre-Super Bowl activities, I needed a cigar to warm my soul and get me through the wintery blues. No better cigar to do the trick than the Liga Privada Unico Serie Dirty Rat. Its unique blend of tobaccos was combined to produce a spicier, fuller bodied cigar that packs more of a punch than their regular T-52 line. Though technically not a limited release, the Dirty Rat will be distributed as a small batch cigar to fit demand. This particular stick was one of several I smoked prior to the Super Bowl and had purchased at a local B&M in Arlington.

The Dirty Rat has been a very controversial cigar for a lot of cigar devotees; opinions appear to be very polarized. Some think the cigar tastes much like its name, but I am one of those that completely differs. This cigar may just be too bold for many, because it definitely packs a wallop! Not a cigar I could smoke regularly, I would leave this to special occasions and for a change of pace from other sticks. I am confident in saying that this could be one of the best cigars I’ve smoked in the last two years.

Read the full review of Liga Privada “Dirty Rat”…

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf Ligero Oscuro
Filler : Honduran/Dominican
Binder : Brazil
Hand-Made
Price : $222.99 for a box of 25

La Liga Privada line is a very different type of approach to cigars from Drew Estates. Most everyone knows Drew Estates from their flavored line of cigars; however, the Liga Privada No. 9 is a true masterpiece. The brand was introduced back in 2007 in only one size (Parejo). The cigar comes in five shapes: Robusto (5 X 52); Torpedo (6 x 52); Double Corona (7 x 52); a very limited release Perfecto known as the Flying Pig (4.13 x 60); and today’s featured cigar the Toro. All cigars come in an oscuro wrapper.

Read the full review of Liga Privada No. 9 Toro…

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : American Habano
Filler : DR, Honduras, Nicaragua
Binder : Brazillian Mata-Fina
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10-14 each

I was recently given a new cigar to try by one of the lovely ladies of the Pecunes family, owners of The Humidour Cigar Shoppe in Cockeysville, MD and some of the most respected Tobacconists I know. She said it was one of their favorites from the 2009 IPCPR convention and they were going to be selling them at their shop. The cigar; the new Liga Privada T-52 from Drew Estate. Well when I hear Drew Estate, what comes to mind is “flavored” and “infused”, not necessarily premium cigars; however, I respect the Pecunes families opinion, so I settled back into a big leather chair in their cigar lounge with it. Please understand that I am not being critical of anyone’s personal taste, “flavored” and “infused” cigars just aren’t my preference is all. Don’t forget, taste is subjective!

Read the full review of Drew Estate Liga Privada T-52…