This stubby 4.5" x 40 petit corona from Drew Estate's Liga Privada line packs serious complexity into its compact frame. Rolled with a Connecticut River Valley sun-grown Habano wrapper over Brazilian binder and Central American fillers, this $250.99/24ct box release shows why blendmaster Jonathan Drew burned through seven prototypes before settling on the "3.5" iteration. The oily dark wrapper glistens with promise, though you'll need patience - these require minimum 1-year aging post-purchase to tame their fiery Nicaraguan core.
Initial puffs deliver black pepper and damp earth through tight draw. Chocolate-covered espresso beans emerge at the 1/2" mark, though watch that canoeing - these dense rolls need frequent touchups. Retrohale stings with white pepper sharpness.
At 2" the Brazilian binder flexes its muscle with stewed plums and charred hickory. Smoke output doubles unexpectedly, coating the tongue in baking spices. Draw eases up but watch heat management - small vitola turns bitter if rushed.
Last inch brings licorice ropes and mineral twang that'll divide smokers. Nicotine creep hits hard despite small format - better suited for after-dinner than morning coffee. Bitter dregs suggest 45min optimal smoke time despite physical capacity to nub.
Grown in Nicaragua's volcanic Estelí soil, the ligero-heavy blend uses seven different primings from Jalapa Valley farms. What sets T52 apart is the 18-month fermentation on Connecticut-stalk cut wrapper leaf, creating that signature oily sheen. Hand-rolled in 250/day batches at Drew Estate's Gran Fabrica, these showcase Nicaraguan puro power despite the Honduran binder's sweet interruptions.
