Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Double Figurado
Size : 5.4 x 60
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf Viso
Filler : Nicaraguan Blend
Binder : Brazilian Mata Fina
Hand-Made
Price : $15-$16
Liga Privada Feral Flying Pig, a 5.4 x 60 double figurado released in December 2011, has a completely different blend from the original Flying Pig.
Appearance : Rating: 
Ligas have always been some delicious looking sticks, and this one is no different. The Feral Pig has a dark brown wrapper that is thick and fragrant. It does not display the same amount of toothiness as its T-52 and No. 9 brethren though. It lacks the pock marks of excessive vegetable glue that seemed to cover the regular Flying Pigs. The veining in the wrapper leaf is small and it oozes with oodles of oils. Aromas of pipe tobacco, cognac, and soap come from the foot and rich leather from the wrapper. All in all, I think this is a much more appealing stick than the smaller Flying Pigs.
Construction : Rating:
This Pig is a huge cigar with a double figurado. No blemishes, and when squeezed the stick is quite stiff with little give. The Feral Pig sparks pretty easily compared to other Ligas, which took a bit of torching to get the thick wrappers to light. Burn seems to get on the right track from the start (something that needed touching up on other Flying Pigs). The draw is pretty open but not a wind tunnel by any means. Smoke production is on a whole other level from many cigars. This one gives the smoker a thick blanket of smoke on the palate and sinuses which makes flavors easily discernible. The ash is a suede grey coloration and holds on for a very long time for such a large ring gauge.
Flavor : Rating:
On the light and first few puffs, the Feral Pig is hitting all the right spots. Immediately displays some unique complexities and each puff seems to bring something different. A very small amount of pepperiness is noticed from the light, but quickly, I notice some sweet earthy flavors I usually get from Brazilian tobacco. The rum/cognac aroma of the smoke is hard to avoid since this thing burns like a road flare.
1st Third: Syrupy sweetness, rum, a touch of leather, and some dirt accent the 1st part of the Feral Pig,… a very delicious start in my honest opinion. I am not familiar with Drew Estate’s practices on aging their Unico Series wrappers, but they seem, at least to me, to have been aged in rum or cognac casks. I say this, because the aroma is so distinct in their sticks and smells similar to Anejo’s from Arturo Fuente, which are aged in oak rum casks. Flavor profile is full but strength doesn’t seem too bad and only feels like medium+.
2nd Third: Some black pepper flavors seem to have crept in and cling to the back of my throat now. The smoke is pretty smooth and smokes like an aged stick. The syrupy sweetness continues through to this point now and some cereal/malt has joined the fray. Not as complex as the 1st third, but the cigar is still a thrill with the amount of thick smoke that coats the sensory organs.
3rd Third: *Cough,… cough*,… the strength has caught up to me now. The body of the Feral Pig is full blown and this cigar is starting to kick my ass. Flavors are ramped up nicely now providing a memorable conclusion to the stick. “Feral” pretty much sums up the wild flavors that seem to have appeared. A large amount of spiciness has started to cling to my throat. The flavors end with amped spicy sweet beef jerky, chocolate malt, dirt, earth, and mushroom like flavors.
WARNING: Smoke at your own peril!
Value : Rating: 
I am going to go out on a limb and say this cigar is well priced. Yes, I know, it $15+ dollars. But in its defense, it smokes for 2+ hours, is jam packed with flavors, is a uniquely shaped stick, is beautiful to look at, burns perfectly, goes well with your favorite rum, cognac, or scotch,… and on and on and on,… I could keep going,… Hopefully you get the point :)
Overall Rating : Rating:
It’s early in the year, but this is already at #1 for top cigars for 2012 so far. I looooooooove this cigar! I wasn’t that crazy of the Feral Pig’s predecessors such as the No. 9 Flying Pig, which I reviewed for this website, nor the T-52 version. The shape in the other Pigs posed some awkwardness in smokeablility. The longer version seems to cure those problems. The burn in this version is much better and the smoke production is crazy. Truthfully the strength was more than I am definitely used to (or prefer usually) but with some time in the humi I think these issues will calm down. What’s even better is that I believe there will be better numbers of these to go around for awhile. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and Brazilian Mata Fina combo seems to complement each other beautifully, the wrapper lends a deep earthy core and the binder gives a punch of sweetness. All hail the Broadleaf, Drew Estate did it again!!! ‘Til next time folks,… keep on smoking my friends.
