The Liga Privada T52 was released on 2009 and was the followup to 2007’s Liga Privada No. 9. The initial vitolas available were the Robusto and Toro, later followed in 2010 by the Double Corona and Belicoso. Liga Privada climbed to legendary status a few years ago because of it’s media buzz and rarity, but luckily for consumers, it has become more readily available. Today we will be reviewing the Drew Estate | Liga Privada T52 Robusto.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
The blend for the Liga Privada T52 starts with a Connecticut River Valley stalk cut and cured habano wrapper, followed by a Brazilian mata fina binder and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. The unique part of the T52 is it’s stalk-cut wrapper. Normally, each leaf of the tobacco plant is cut and hung in a curing barn for weeks. With stalk-cut tobacco, the entire stalk (middle part of the plant that holds the leaves on) is cut and hung in tact from the barn. This allows the stalk to provide nutrients to the leaves even after being cut, and makes for a richer more hearty tobacco leaf. This is also a more expensive process.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Robusto Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 54
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Stalk Cut Habano
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Blender: Jonathan Drew, Steve Saka, Nicholas Melillo
Number of reviewers: 4 – Ryan H. (Ryan H.) John A. (Bostoneo) Matt (Mattehh) Dave W. (mdwest)
Price: $12.15
Age: 8 Months
Release Date: 2009
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 90
“Super toothy with a slight oily sheen on a dark, mottled wrapper. This one catches your eye pretty easily. ” –Dave W. (mdwest)
Aroma: 91
“A very pleasing creamy chocolate and leather profile going for the nose while flavors of heavy baking spices, namely cinnamon, hit the tongue. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)
First Third
Flavor: 92
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“The cigar is medium to full. Has a sweet and spicy dualing banjo feel to it. Draw is very nice. See if we can disect the profile a little more. It has a healthy spice that is both managable and enjoyable. Also has a cane sugar sweetness. Also has a nice earthyness that complements the profile corriander like” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“A sweet breadiness started out the cigar with a wood not present throughout. No real spice but only on retrohale. ” –Matt (Mattehh)
Second Third
Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The sweetness gains steam as the spice dials back. Burnt cream, also a smoky all spice abruptly leaves.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“Musty leather and sweet slightly burnt sugar usher in the beginning of round two. The burn gets all sideways again and requires yet another touch up to keep up one side. Nothing changed on the way out of this third, however the profile was quite enjoyable!” –John A. (Bostoneo)
Final Third
Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Strength continued to increase in the final third with the cigar ending as a full strength stick. No flavor changes were detected between the second and final third. ” –Dave W. (mdwest)
“Not much has changed since the second third. I am still getting a sweetness and a nut flavor. Near the very end I started to pick up a dark berry flavor. Nearing the end of this third it started to get a little harsh as well.” –Matt (Mattehh)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 90
“Free flowing but not airy.” –Matt (Mattehh)
Burn: 93
“This stick produced A LOT of smoke and reminded me quite a bit of the Drew Estate Liga Privada line with its smoke volume and color. The ash produced was a little on the flaky side and a medium grey in color, but held on easily past the 1″ mark even in a very high wind. ” –Dave W. (mdwest)
Construction: 91
“Construction was very nice performed very well” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“I really liked this cigar very enjoyable nice and complex with some transitions a well balanced profile very box worthy” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“Overall, this was a tasty stick that fell short of being a big crowd pleaser. The first third was teaming with flavor, however there on out it got linear but still tasty. The burn issues also detracted from the experience as multiple touch ups were required as well. I’d definitely give this one another go around though!” –John A. (Bostoneo)
“The cigar started out great with notes of wood and nuts. There was a overlying sweetness to the whole cigar that kept it all as one but had nice transitions throughout. The cigar kept me interested and waiting to see what the next third would be like. The draw was a little loose but I was getting an adbundance of smoke that was neither airy or light. ” –Matt (Mattehh)
“Had the stick I got not had the construction issues it did I think I would have enjoyed it much more. I’d like to give it another try sometime down the road and see how one without the draw and wrapper issues I experienced turns out. ” –Dave W. (mdwest)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 86
Reviewer
Apr
Aro
1/3
2/3
3/3
Draw
Burn
Const
Ovr
All
Ryan H.
90
95
92
92
95
88
93
95
92
John A.
90
92
90
90
90
95
78
88
90
Matt
95
90
92
92
95
95
97
95
95
Dave W.
90
90
88
90
90
83
90
85
88
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
Blind Cigar Review: Drew Estate | Liga Privada T52 Robusto
Overall Score – 91 – Very Good
Blind Cigar Review: Drew Estate | Liga Privada T52 Robusto
Summary
"The cigar started out great with notes of wood and nuts. There was a overlying sweetness to the whole cigar that kept it all as one but had nice transitions throughout. The cigar kept me interested and waiting to see what the next third would be like. The draw was a little loose but I was getting an adbundance of smoke that was neither airy or light. " -Matt (Mattehh)
