Let's dive straight into Drew Estate's boldest creation - the Liga Privada T52 Corona Doble. This 7"x54 parejo comes packed with Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper and Nicaraguan-Honduran guts, delivering 90+ minutes of medium-full intensity. Each box contains 24 cigars aged for a year post-roll, though that $444.60 price tag makes it more special occasion smoke than daily driver.
Initial puffs unleash black pepper and espresso beans with a leathery undertone. The dense smoke carries visible oil particles - typical of well-aged San Andrés leaf. Retrohale stings slightly with white pepper, leaving cayenne heat on the lips.
Dark chocolate dominates as the burn line passes the band. Charred oak replaces initial pepperiness, accompanied by a mineral tang resembling iron filings. Smoke output doubles here, requiring slower pacing to control nicotine intake.
Unexpected sweetness emerges through caramelized cedar notes. Tar builds up near the nub despite perfect combustion, introducing bitter cocoa powder accents. Most smokers cut it short before the last inch to avoid harshness.
The oily wrapper feels slightly toothy under fingers with minimal veins. Triple-seam cap holds firm during cutting. Compact ash maintains structural integrity for 2-3" drops. Draw resistance sits at ideal 3/10 - enough tension for flavor concentration without puffing effort.
Drew Estate's "private blend" project involved 7 experimental iterations before settling on the #3.5 wrapper grade from San Andrés Valley. The maduro leaf undergoes 18-month fermentation, then mates with Jamastran Valley binder for 12 months pre-roll. Production capped at 250 sticks/day ensures quality control.
