Cigar Info
Earlier this month, Drew Estate announced the “Freestyle Live Event Pack.” This interesting concept is meant to coincide with a live facebook event taking place almost a month after it was announced. It started with the company shipping participating retailers across the United States a limited amount of Freestyle Live Event Packs. Now here’s the interesting part, each of the packs includes three “new ultra-premium cigar” unbanded and undisclosed and to be revealed live on the show. Also as part of the Event Pack you get a travel humidor, cutter, lighter and a raffle ticket. This new mystery cigar is what I will be reviewing here and you can learn the identity during the live show. I, like everybody else, have no idea what it is, but I will maybe throw out a guess.
The raffle ticket included in the Freestyle Live Event Pack is a chance to win one of three prizes: a Drew Estate Standing Tower humidor (third prize); a Drew Estate branded bar designed by Dog at Subculture Studios (second prize); or a Suzuki Supermoto DR-7400SM dirt bike (grand prize). In a nice touch, retailers who participate are also entered for a chance to win one of three prizes: a Drew Estate Standing Tower humidor (third prize); a Drew Estate branded bar designed by Dog at Subculture Studios (second prize); or a Mega Standing ashtray, three Dream Seat recliners and a $5,000 credit for store improvements (grand prize). Prize winners will also be announced during the live show.
Each Drew Estate Freestyle Live Special Edition Event Packs sell for $40 and only 2,300 were made. There’s still time to pick one up before the live show Thursday, May 6, at 7 p.m. on facebook.com/drewestatecigar.
Vital Stats
Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Blender: Undisclosed
Price: Undisclosed
Age: 2 Weeks
Release Date: May 2021
Contributed by: Drew Estate
Pre-light
The wrapper smells musty and a bit like barnyard, everything you like to smell before you light up. The foot is pretty much the same, as is the cold draw. I will say it’s rare that all three of those pre-light experiences all produce the same taste and smell. The wrapper looks like a high quality Connecticut Broadleaf, so my first instinct is saying Liga Privada, but we will have to see how it smokes.
First Third
Right away I get some really nice black pepper spice paired with cedar and espresso, a great first impression. The smoke production, draw and burn are all superb, exactly what you’d expect from a Liga Privada. Getting into the meat of the third, the cedar is replaced by cocoa, which goes well with the espresso flavor. At the end of the third, the espresso notes really come alive. Overall a great first third.
Second Third
The ash held on all the way to the second third, but I tapped it off so I didn’t ash myself, as I do quite frequently. The burn has required just ever so slight touch-ups here and there, but overall very good. Almost immediately into this third an oak note comes to the forefront of the profile, a nice change. The cocoa lingers during this third making for another nice combo. At the end of this third, you are really getting that gritty, earthy taste you expect from Connecticut Broadleaf, along with the previous cocoa and oak flavors.
Final Third
This third is quite a bit different than the first third, and that is not a bad thing. The current flavors are cocoa and earth, still with a tiny bit of oak. Not much change during this third, but it still remains enjoyable, draw and burn are perfect.
Overall Impressions
Overall, I really enjoyed this. I would be shocked if this doesn’t turn out to be a Liga Privada or even a new entry in the Unico Serie. I’m really excited for the reveal and you should pick up a pack if you find one and be sure to tune in to the live show to find out what it is. The flavors changed quite a bit which I always appreciate, and they are always a good pairing. Construction was on point the whole time. I am glad I have a couple more of these boys to light up.
