Let's cut to the chase about Drew Estate's Undercrown Maduro Gran Toro - this 6"x52 parejo packs serious flavor at $8.40/stick. The oily Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper hides Nicaraguan core tobaccos aged in oak barrels. I've smoked three of these over six months, and they consistently deliver that signature Drew Estate density with better balance than the original Liga Privada.
Cold draw tastes like espresso grounds. Initial smoke coats the tongue with molasses sweetness, transitioning to dark chocolate bitterness by the 1" mark. Retrohale shows baking spices - think nutmeg and cinnamon with zero pepper bite.
Earthiness emerges with wet cedar notes. Smoke becomes creamier around the halfway point, like a café con leche with burnt sugar crust. Watch the burn line here - the triple cap tends to canoe slightly if rushed.
Strength kicks up at the band removal. Leather and black coffee dominate, with a subtle licorice finish. Nik hit sneaks up on you - this isn't a morning smoke despite the sweetness. Pair with bourbon to cut through the cocoa intensity.
The box-pressed torpedo sports visible tooth on the wrapper leaf. Post-light ash holds firm for 2+ inches. Smoke output surprised me - not quite Liga Privada levels, but thick enough for smoke rings. Let it rest 6 months minimum; fresh boxes taste muddled compared to aged singles.
Use a punch cut to preserve the wrapper's oil content. The pigtail cap tends to unravel with straight cuts. Store at 65% RH - any higher mutes the spice complexity.
