Blind Cigar Review: Drew Estate | Liga Privada H99 Toro

Cigar Info

Drew Estate brought a lot of new releases to the IPCPR trade show this year, this one was maybe the most well received. The new blend is called Liga Privada H99 and uses a Connecticut Corojo wrapper. This is the first new regular production Liga Privada since the T52 in 2009.

The blend uses a Corojo wrapper from the Connecticut River Valley wrapped over a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers. The binder is a Otapan Negro Ultimo Corte that Willy Herrera says pairs well with the sweetness of the wrapper. The Liga Privada H99 comes in one vitola at release, a toro that measures 6 x 52 and comes in boxes of 24 with an MSRP of $343.92 per box. There will be more vitolas in the future. The cigar was introduced at IPCPR this year, but as of this release has not been shipped, and this is banded as a pre-release.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Corojo
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Blender: Willy Herrera
Number of reviewers: 5 – Mickey T. (irratebass) John I. (John I.) Jeff (ExpendableYouth) John A. (Bostoneo) Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Price: $14.33
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: N/A
Contributed by: Drew Estate

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 92

“Very very dark wrapper with lots of veins & seams. It looks to be a Toro in size. Silky smooth to the touch.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

Aroma: 93

“A hint of wood on the body. Lots of manure on the foot. On the cold draw I get quite a bit of cream, sweet coffee, wood, a bit of earth and baking spices. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

First Third

Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Opens with a big punch in the teeth with bright pepper and some real bite. Smoke is really rich and gets deep into the throat and sinus cavities. Leaves a nice sear on the retrohale. Thirty minutes in I’m just enjoying the hell out of this. It’s full of big rich meaty flavor and the construction is really exceptional. Light colored ash held really well, more like stacking quarters than dimes given the girth of this beast. ” –John I. (John I.)

“Burnt sugar and fresh cut wood begin this big boy off the initial light. This eventually tapers down into a sweet light brown sugar, cocoa and spicy bonanza. An inch in and the spiciness takes a back seat to allow the more subtle notes of light brown sugar, cocoa, figs and a leather aftertaste to come forth. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)

Second Third

Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The pepper has died down a bit in the second-third and has been overtaken by the mineral and leather notes present in the first-third. There is still a subtle sweetness, coco, and earthiness that is rounding this third-third out quite nicely. The retrohale still has the same mineral, pepper, and leather from the earlier third and is mostly a continuation from earlier. The construction, draw, and smoke output are spot on. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)

“Losing strength. We are doing some.transitioning to a more earthy profile the sweet is still present. A box of these is definitely in my future, if not one many. Draw and burn are spot on” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Final Third

Flavor: 95
Strength: Medium

Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“As the finish commences there is a bit of sweetness lending to the black licorice or clove type flavor. Nice transition after a very savory experience up to this point. Need a lot more of these. ” –John I. (John I.)

“The last third starts with a touch up as the wrapper has been lacking in keeping up with itself the whole duration. Previous notes of light brown sugar, rich fig sweetness and cocoa return. Building up to the end the flavors only intensify in body while the spice ramps up to max. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 96

“Draw had a good feel not wide open but just enough resistance.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Burn: 91

“The burn was razor sharp from beginning to end. It never needed a touch-up or relight. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)

Construction: 96

“So, so good. Great sipping cigar. ” –John I. (John I.)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 96

“This cigar started out really nice in the first couple of thirds then just went flat for me. There was some nice sweet cream, with a mix of caramel and walnuts, but then it went to your typical wood/spice stick. I would smoke it again, but don’t think I would seek them out. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“Just totally loved this cigar. Nice big flavor from the outset. Super rich smoke totally coats the palate, all the nook, crannies, and spots you weren’t even aware existed. Starts of with reach peppery meaty flavors and transitions into some sweetness and baking spices toward the finale. Can’t beat dinner and dessert. Much larger ring smoke than I typically favor, but this could turn me into a big ring guy. Buy boxes. ” –John I. (John I.)

“The cigar had a great balance of flavors from third to third. There was enough transitions it and profile changes to keep me interested and the core flavors were crisp and clean. This was a pretty strong cigar so I would recommend having a meal before lighting up. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)

“This was a thoroughly enjoyable smoke that I could recommend to anyone that enjoys medium bodied and flavorful cigars. The flavor profile of light brown sugar, spices, and figs were very enjoyable as they each took turns highlighting themselves. Definitely a box where the smoke that I would buy multiples of!” –John A. (Bostoneo)

“I want boxes. An over all awesome cigar that didn’t disappoint in any department. Lacking complexity but doesn’t need it with the flavor profile and the overall performance of the cigar” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 102

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Blind Cigar Review: Drew Estate | Liga Privada H99 Toro