Let's talk about Drew Estate's Undercrown Shade Gran Toro - the 6x52 parejo that's been turning heads with its Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. This box of 25 sticks hits $210.13, packing Nicaraguan fillers and a Sumatran binder that creates what many call "the workers' smoke with boss-level flavor."
The cold draw serves up cedar shavings with faint citrus zest. Initial puffs deliver creamy coffee notes - think cappuccino foam rather than espresso bite. Smoke output stays moderate, with clean combustion lines despite the hefty ring gauge.
At the 2-inch mark, white pepper enters through nasal retrohale. The Nicaraguan fillers flex their muscles with leather undertones while maintaining that signature Connecticut smoothness. Ash holds firm in 1.5" segments.
Last third brings subtle earthiness - damp forest floor rather than heavy barnyard. Citrus returns as sweet orange peel, battling pepper spice in the finish. No harshness detected, though nicotine creep suggests a 75-minute smoke window max for most.
The magic happens between Ecuadorian Shade wrapper (that's Connecticut seed grown overseas) and Nicaraguan core tobaccos. Drew Estate's Estelí rollers use priming selection to soften the typically bold Nica leaves - Criollo 98 and Corojo play nice here. Sumatra's binder adds just enough spice to keep things interesting.
