In April of 2016, Southern Draw Cigars announced the QuickDraw Connecticut. This blend is an extention to the existing QuickDraw line of Ecuadorian Dark Habano and QuickDraw Pennsylvania Broadleaf blends. Robert Holt and AJ Fernandez blended this to give a balance body, strength and flavor not typically found in Connecticut wrapped cigars. It comes in two vitolas: Petit Corona: 4.5×44, and Short Panatela: 5.5×40. Today we are reviewing the Southern Draw | Quick Draw Connecticut Short Panatela.
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 4.5×44 petit coronas are boxed in 50 count boxes and 25 count bundles and the 5.5×40 short panatelas are boxed in 25 count boxes and 25 count bundles. The QuickDraw was blended to be in the $5.00 – $6.00 range and last 30 minutes.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Short Pantela
Length: 5.5 ”
Ring Gauge: 40
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Conneticut
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan & Honduran
Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez
Blender: Robert Holt
Number of reviewers: 4 – Mickey T.(irratebass) Jason H.(Jokey Smurf) Eric (smalls29) Kevin S. (KBS1153)
Price: $5.50
Age: 1 Year 9 Months
Release Date: April 2016
Contributed by: Southern Draw Cigars
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 89
“This is a “cute” little cigar with a pig tail and a covered foot. The wrapper looks a bit frail. The seams of the leaf look like they are beginning to come apart. It has a very light brown wrapper. But still a nice looking cigar.” –Eric (smalls29)
Aroma: 89
“The aroma is predominantly sweet cedar, with just a hint of smoke as the sweetness fades. It almost smells like someone was smoking a cigar while this was rolled, or where it was stored. The smoke isn’t the stale overpowering smoke that reminds me of a nasty ashtray, but instead is the aromatic smoke that comes from the burning foot of a premium cigar. It is really quite nice.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
First Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Mild to medium smoke. I’m getting salt, cashews, sweetened coffee with hints of hay and grass. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“On the retrohale I detected tastes of pepper and in the background a bit of coffee and leather. ” –Kevin S. (KBS1153)
Second Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Bread, oatmeal and some type of breakfast cereal has shown up…..frosted flakes maybe? The hay/grass is just barely there now. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“The second portion of this cigar has continued to be extremely mild and easy to smoke. The sweetness has returned, and is not hinting at notes of shortbread cookie. There is still the bread flavor, but not quite as creamy. As this portion is ending there is a bit of a charcoal note that is starting to break through…sort of like a lightly burned toast.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Final Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Still an enjoyable cigar. Mild and sweet. Burning well and leaving a nice peppery tingle on the tongue. The flavors are nicely balanced and relaxing. I am noticing a pleasant odor on the smoke. It is a nice exhale.” –Eric (smalls29)
“This cigar remained firm throughout the event. The ashes were solid and I only had to relight it once after letting it rest several times. The flavors remained constant throughout the event with the pepper giving way to the cedar in the end. ” –Kevin S. (KBS1153)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 91
“The raw draw was fine as was the draw throughout the event. It was completely even. ” –Kevin S. (KBS1153)
Burn: 94
“This was a highlight of this cigar. The burn was nice, cool, and slow…and nearly razor sharp. For such a small cigar to last 45 minutes is a surprise for me.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Construction: 93
“Construction was excellent. Tightly wrapped, had some veins running though it, but didn’t cause any issues. I liked the pigtail “nipple” and the closed foot. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 90
“Overall this was a decent smoke with plenty of smoke output. Had some interesting flavors with the bread, oatmeal, grass/hay.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“This cigar had quite a nice, mild beginning, and had it stayed there, it would have been something I’d have recommended as a morning, or light smoke. Unfortunately, I’m literally left with a bad taste in my mouth as the harsh burned flavors at the end have really turned me off. Hopefully my sample was the exception to the rule here.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“A very enjoyable cigar. Mild to medium in flavor and a nice balance of flavors. I enjoyed the pepper and Connecticut stayed well balanced throughout. There was worry about the splitting of the cap but it stayed together well. I did get a couple of flakes in the mouth but it did not deter from the experience. This is definitely one to enjoy with a cup of coffee, maybe a blonde ale.” –Eric (smalls29)
“The flavors of this cigar all gave way to one another and that made it an enjoyable cigar. The fact that it remained solid throughout was impressive. I did not gauge this cigar but it appeared to be about 44 and many times they become soft and this cigar did not. ” –Kevin S. (KBS1153)
"A very enjoyable cigar. Mild to medium in flavor and a nice balance of flavors. I enjoyed the pepper and Connecticut stayed well balanced throughout. I was worried about the splitting of the cap but it stayed together well. I did get a couple of flakes in the mouth but it did not deter from the experience. This is definitely one to enjoy with a cup of coffee, maybe a blonde ale." -Eric (smalls29)
