I honestly cant recall the circumstances on Thursday that led me to a short smoke, but I dipped into my dwindling supply of Chateau Real Small Club Corona Maduros for a quick, but delicious smoke. Sadly, Drew Estate discontinued this line, I suppose because everyone didn’t like them as much as I did. I personally believe the price point was a little high for a mild to medium traditional cigar from a company who, at the time, was known for their infused cigars. I bought a box of these and the Gran Cru Perfectos several years ago on clearance and still have a few of each left. The San Andres maduro wrapper is dark and oily, and it’s a mocha flavor bomb. It sets a benchmark for how a cigar should burn and draw too, as they are always perfect in that regard. These are great little 30 minute smokes, and I’ll be sad when they are gone. I think these were Drew Estate’s second foray into the traditional cigar market, that is if you count La Vieja Habana The Early Years in with the regular La Vieja line.
Friday evening I grabbed a cigar that I had seen in the same box the Chateau Reals were in, and I couldn’t really recall where it came from. The cigar was a toro called Flor De Nicaragua, and I had a suspicion it was from Joya de Nicaragua, which was confirmed through Instagram correspondence. Apparently, this is made for the European market and must have followed me home from Nicaragua lat year. This size is called the Magnum 52, and is 6″ x 52, with a light wrapper with a reddish tint. The website lists this as colorado claro, and I’m always concerned that people will think the wrapper was grown in Colorado. Not the case, of course, as colorado is another word for red in Spanish. The cigar was a treat to smoke, I found it to be milder than many of the Joya offerings, but loaded with flavor. This is a cigar that I’d love to get my hands on again. They offer it in some excellent sizes, a traditional corona gorda and a 4 ½ x 56 Grand Cańon specifically pique my curiosity. This is a nice smoke, perhaps we’ll see these in the USA like the Rosalones last year.
Saturday afternoon I selected a cigar that Will Cooper (Cigar-Coop.com) sent me last year around my birthday. He sent a far nicer selection than I deserve, and included in this was a Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2011. Since is was a special occasion (Saturday, nice weather, done working in the yard, you know…), I decided this one was the next up for the afternoon walk. This has a Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro wrapper, although some older reviews list it as Conecticut Broadleaf, I’m inclined to think is was the former based on the flavor. I have smoked the 2012 which has the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and it was decidedly different. These were made in the My Father factory in Esteli, and it certainly smoked like a cigar that would be made there. It’s also noteworthy that this is a box pressed torpedo, which is neat. It was a really good smoke, lots of rich flavors with the pepper you’d expect and some sweetness. I enjoyed this cigar until I burned my fingers. Thank you, Will, I wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to smoke this rare gem.
When Gary Griffith of Emilio Cigars comes across a really special tobacco, he creates a blend around it and releases it in his limited Draig line. It’s a shame that he mis-spelled Craig, but I appreciate the sentiment. Seriously, Draig is the Welsh word for Dragon, and there’s a dragon on the bands of the cigars in this line. I had the good fortune of smoking a couple of the Draig K a while back, and didn’t really “get” the blend. There was an inflammability in the wrapper, and what looked like it should be a cigar I’d like, wasn’t. So the Draig Cayaquero sat on the top shelf of my humidor for a while, begging to be smoked, yet scaring me a little, would I like this iteration of the Draig? Like it’s predecessor, this cigar had a unique flavor, unlike anything I can remember. Unlike the Draig K, I liked it and it burned perfectly. It was savory, meaty, and different. I don;t know how many of these are out in the market place, but if you see them, give one a try.
OK, I’ve just listed four cigars that are hard to find, sorry about that. I’ll try this week to stick to new and/or readily available cigars. Please bear with me if I smoke something that I’ve featured here before (I do that from time to time anyway). Now, it’s a beautiful Sunday, time to find something for today’s after brunch and hockey walk.
Until the next time,
CigarCraig
