Cigars

Drew Estate Expands Availability of Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo
Drew Estate Liga Privada H99

Drew Estate’s prized Liga Privada H99 (Hybrid 99) Connecticut Corojo is now available as a regular production cigar exclusively to qualifying Drew Diplomat Program participants.

While all Liga Privada cigars have limited production capacity due to the rarity of the tobacco leaves used in each of the offerings, the magnificent capa leaves from the Connecticut River Valley that stand as the hallmark for each Liga Privada expression remain by far the most difficult component to procure. This has been especially true for Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo. 

Just one Connecticut River Valley farmer cultivates Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo’s capa leaf, a hybrid derived from Stalk-Cut Habano and Connecticut Corojo tobaccos that’s grown exclusively for Drew Estate. Since introducing Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo cigars in 2018, Drew Estate has only periodically released small batches of them due to the rarity of the capa leaf. Working alongside this farmer, we planted more H99 hybrid tobacco every growing season, and we have steadily aged and stockpiled this precious leaf. We are ramping up Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo’s production, and it is now regularly available to all qualifying Drew Diplomat Program partners and their customers.

Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo’s capa leaf is naturally sweet and contrasts perfectly with the robust spiciness of the Mexican San Andres Otapan Negro Último Corte capote and the dense earthy notes from the well-aged blend of Nicaraguan, Honduran and Pennsylvania Green River One Sucker tripa tobaccos. These cigars offer complex earth, leather and espresso notes, which dance on the palate in a luxurious and deceptively full-bodied smoking experience that builds with every puff and climaxes in an attention-grabbing finish.

“The H99 Connecticut Corojo is the triumphant result of hybridity, including traits of … dysfunction, functionality, flexibility, adaptability, survival, replicability, and most importantly procreation,” says Drew Estate Founder and President, Jonathan Drew. “In all my 26 years of experience as a tobacco man, I have never witnessed a tobacco hybridization with the depth and body of this Stalk-Cut Habano and Connecticut Corojo leaf. It’s nice to walk into the storage area at the factory and finally see some bales aged and stacked up, ready for production. Get your lighters ready … let’s burn.”

Available exclusively at qualifying Drew Diplomat Program participants, Liga Privada H99 Connecticut is packaged in 24-count boxes with an MSRP of $382.80/box and $15.95/cigar.

601 Black From Espinosa Cigars
601 Black

With Valentine’s Day upon us, it’s a day that can bring back the memories that we love and sometimes within the cigar industry a certain cigar may be brought back to remind us how much we missed and loved that particular cigar. 

Here we have the 601 Black Connecticut.  The 601 Black had been out of production for several years.  In 2020 this cigar was reintroduced as an annual limited editiion.  The 601 Black is a cigar that traces back to EO Brands, the partnership between Espinosa Cigars founder Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega.  601 Black was one of the original 601 blends released in the EO portfolios.  At the time it was released, it was considered a groundbreaking cigar in that it was one of the early Connecticut Shade blends to break the mold of traditional, milder Connecticut Shades and as Espinosa Cigars Director of Operations Hector Alfonso quoted, “the 601 Black was a cigar ahead of its time”. 

The 601 Black is certainly a cigar that might change your view on Connecticut Shade cigars.  Underneath the Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper leaf is a core of perfectly aged Nicaraguan long filler and binder tobaccos, yielding a more powerful and bolder smoke than an old-school Connecticut smoke. 

Getting ready to light this cigar up I take a few dry pulls to get the FULL aspect of the experience I am about to have.  In my dry draws I was able to pick up some caramel, toasted nuts, and cedar notes.  The cigar definitely started to get my glands active with saliva which was all before the cigar was even lit. 

As I began to light up, right off the rip, I was getting some very rich and flavorful pepper, cream, cedar, toasted nuts and dried fruit.  I can immediately understand why this cigar is typically not your traditional Connecticut Shade cigar.  As I continue to smoke the first 1/3 of the cigar it was staying strong with robust flavors of caramel, toasted nuts, cedar with a hint of floral notes to enhance my experience.  Continuing on with the second 1/3 of the cigar a nice frothy latte with some cocoa powder came to mind; coffee, cocoa, hints of sweetness, and molasses certainly surprised me yet the transition was certainly enjoyable.  As I continue with the last 1/3 of the 601 Black the strength and flavor really became prominent; molasses, espresso, cocoa, with hints of brown sugar.  

This cigar certainly illustrates why it stands out above most traditional Connecticut Shade cigars.  This cigar will absolutely pair well with your drink of choice.  The 601 Black is offered in boxes of 10 and ONLY in a Toro Size.  This cigar is most certainly one you want to hunt for. I would rate this cigar 4.9 out of 5 which say’s a lot because I can be quite picky on a cigar from start to finish but this cigar was absolutely delicious and almost flawless.  I did have one tiny burn issue half way through but it didn’t last long and the flavor profile was impeccable. Check out your local B&M to track some of these down!

Wrapper –  Ecuadorian Connecticut

Binder – Nicaragua 

Filler – Nicaragua

Price: Around $9.00 a stick

Website: www.espinosacigars.com

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 pints.

Crowned Heads Wabash Cannonball
Crowned Heads Wabash Cannonball

If you’re a fan of cigars then when you think of Nashville you think of Crowned Heads and how co-founder, Jon Huber, likes to celebrate everything Nashville. That theme was continued in the limited edition cigar made for the Casa de Montecristo store in Nashville, naming it the Wabash Cannonball. The Wabash Cannonball was a rollercoaster at the now closed Opryland USA theme park in Nashville from 1975 to 1997. The name originally came from an old folk song titled “The Great Rock Island Route.” In 1904, the song was rewritten and given the name “Wabash Cannon Ball,” referring to the train in the song. It has since been covered by many people including, The Carter Family, Johnny Cash, Bing Crosby, Woody Guthrie, Chuck Berry. Jon said “When we were approached to create an exclusive cigar for CdM Nashville, I immediately wanted to use the opportunity to pay tribute to a Nashville that is gone but not forgotten,” said Jon Huber, co-founder of Crowned Heads, in a press release. “Wabash Cannonball evokes that old Nashville vibe and the new world blend is one that will take the cigar enthusiast for a nice, long, flavorful ride.”

The wrapper is very dark with a matte finish. Some noticeable veins and seams, slight mottling and overall lumpy. I would describe the general look as being a bit on the rustic side. Given Jon’s comments on the idea of the cigar I feel like this look was intentional to give it that “old Nashville vibe” as he called it. The smell reminds me of cedar and chocolate, from the foot its more chocolate and some gram cracker. The cold draw has flavors of dried apricot and just some all around general sweetness but, the draw feels a bit on the tight side.

The first third is earthy with pepper on the back end and a finish that stays with you for a while. It’s smooth on the retrohale and has a good burn with a fair amount of light weighted smoke to fill the room. The draw is a little snug but not as tight as I thought it would be from the cold draw.

Moving into the second third the earthiness remains but a bit of cream and bread hop in making for a very smooth tasting smoke. The cigar really opens up at this point so much larger draws can be taken providing large amounts of smoke and flavor to the palate. The burn line stays sharp as well.

For the final third there is a slight spice that makes its way into the mix but that does not upset the balance of flavors that was created in the second third. Throughout the cigar the retrohale has stayed buttery smooth. The burn doesn’t waver and the smoke production stays on point.

This was an all around great cigar. The flavors were always full but not overpowering and the rustic look and feel made the experience even better. To me this fell into a medium category and could easily be smoked by anyone and paired with nearly anything. Of course my suggestion is going to be a nice whiskey out of Nashville like maybe something from Green Brier or Belle Meade. Being an exclusive just for CdM in Nashville it might be a touch tricky to get your hands on some. I was lucky enough to be out there for a work trip and swung by the shop to pick a few up. Being that these were released almost a year ago to the day and only 5,000 being made the numbers are probably dwindling so if you’re not in Nashville give the shop a call and see if you can order some before they are gone.

Wrapper –  Mexican San Andres

Binder – Nicaragua 

Filler – Nicaragua

Price: $10.70

Website: www.CrownedHeads.com

Made exclusively for CdM Nashville: 615-800-3397

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 pints.