Let's cut straight to the chase - the ACID Kuba Deluxe stands out as Drew Estate's flagship infused stick packaged in slick aluminum tubes. This Nicaraguan-made Toro (6"x50) delivers mild-medium strength with botanical-infused flavors that'll make your humidor smell like a hippie's essential oil collection. At about $10 per stick in 25-count bundles, it's positioned as an entry-level premium for curious newcomers rather than purist snobs.
The cold draw punches you with vanilla extract sweetness that feels like inhaling a Yankee Candle. Initial combustion releases creamy smoke carrying artificial honey and floral perfume notes - think gardenia blossoms dipped in simple syrup. Moderate smoke output with zero throat irritation.
Around the 1.5" mark, the sweetness backs off to reveal damp earth and black pepper undertones. The infusion magic shows cracks here - synthetic cinnamon taste emerges like Big Red gum with slight chemical aftertaste. Burn line stays sharp despite the heavy oiling.
Last third brings unwelcome guests: acrid bitterness from accumulated sweeteners and tightening draw. Wise smokers nub it at the halfway point. Retrohale exposes alcohol-like vapors reminiscent of cheap vanilla extract.
