Helluva Cigar Podcast Episode One: Liga Privada Undercrown Review

Helluva Cigar Undercrown Robusto Review

http://www.buzzsprout.com/10517/84554-undercrown-robusto-review

Cigar Review: Undercrown Robusto by Drew Estates

Before I get started I have a confession to make. I'm biased toward Drew Estates. Don't get me wrong, I'm biased toward other companies also, but I started out smoking Drew products and the majority of the time (the Java Wafe being the exception) I like the new things I try.

When I first started smoking I went to the drug store and bought some Garcia Vegas, because that's what gramps always kept in his freezer. I smoked the first one and thought I was in heaven, not because it was a great cigar, but because I was a cigar. Heaven was gone by the third stogie. I went to the local shop and threw myself on their mercy. They asked me some questions and recommended the Acid Kuba Kuba as a cigar that was aromatic and not over powering. It was my first real cigar, and the crew at Drew Estates have done right by me ever since. So forgive me if I sound like a fanboy. I just keep going to the brands that satisfy me, and look for new ones that challenge me.

About the Cigar

The Undercrown series is designed to be a step down from Drew's highly rated Liga Privada line. I have heard it described as the little brother to that line. Let's not get carried away, it's no little brother. It's more like blue collar first cousin, designed to fit working men's budget and satisfy the discriminating smoker's palate.

This isn't an easy compromise to pull off. How did the Undercrown do? Read on.

Construction


The construction of this robusto (5x54) was, as expected, exceptional. It was a step above some of the other D.E. products that I have enjoyed in the past. The dark maduro wrapper was veinless and wrapped perfectly. The wrapper comes from Mexico, and is said to be harvested late to increase the sugar content and give it a creamy flavor. It does just that, especially in the first third.

Draw

The draw on this cigar was good at first and got better an inch or so into the stick. This cigar produces luxurious amounts of smoke. The retrohale had notes of pepper which weren't highly present on the inhale. I also noticed that when I drew air across my tongue there was a minty flavor left behind. Nice touch!

Ash and Burn

The ash was almost all white, but got a more grey an inch or so in. It hangs on forever. Seriously, you can smoke this bad boy to the nub and still have a couple of inches of ash on the end. Very impressive. The burn was even throughout the smoke, with some slight waviness present.

Flavor

The first draw yielded leather and pepper overtones. My initial impression was that the cigar was medium to full flavored, and by an inch in I was really impressed with the smooth and creamy flavor. This cigar keeps the flavor full without being abrasive.

I didn't notice the creaminess as much in the second third of the cigar. Leather and earthiness were present and added to the complexity of the flavor. The final third brought back the creamy flavor from before, and coupled it with a spice filled finish. The flavor was complex and kept my attention throughout the cigar.

Summary

I am a big believer that a cigar shouldn't be just something you smoke, it should be something you experience. Favors and smells should come back to you when you remember it. This cigar lived up to that. It was a flavorful and interesting smoke at a reasonable $8.00 price. It is one helluva cigar!

Construction 4.5
Draw 4.5
Smoke 4.0
Burn/Ash 4.75
Flavor 4.25

Overall. 4.5/5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=keRrgjcazKwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=keRrgjcazKw

Cigar Shop Review: Carmack's Cigar Shop, Noblesville Indiana

I wanted to write a quick, if somewhat biased, review of one of the local cigar shops. Carmack's is located in downtown Noblesville (just north of Indianapolis) right on the square. It is an institution to local cigar and pipe enthusiasts. The shop has a big selection of home humidors in the front, along with a large humi that he keeps his stock in. There is a wall humi as well that stocks premium cigars.

Pipe smokers will love the place. There is a large selection of pipes and loose tobaccos, and the staff is knowledgeable of them.

The real draw of this place is the TV room. There are several sets in the room and I spent a recent afternoon watching the first round of the NCAA tournament there. There are a large number of leather chairs and a good crowd. This pale has the mandatory grouchy old bastards that hang out, along with some younger guys that round out the crowd.

The owner, Jeff Carmack's, took over the business after his dad passed last year. He's worked there for a long time and had a great taste in sticks. I let him pick out a couple for me and he grabbed a Gurkha Wicked Indi. He said "I'ce never been a big Gurkha fan but lately they've come out with some great cigars. This one stands out." I have it in my humidor now, and I'm waiting for a warm afternoon to try it out. Winter is lasting a while here I the hoosier stae, and it's cutting into my outdoor cigar smoking.

Jeff also recommended the L'altier LAT52. I have it aging a bit as well, and smoked an Undercrown robusto while I was there. It was a nice cigar, and a memorable experience watching Duke handle Albany.

This is a great, multi-generation shop. It's walls are ringed with celebrities that have visited when in the area. They host cigar events regularly, and they are knowledgeable without being cigar snobs. A newbie could walk in and be treated as well as a seasoned smoker.

I've shopped at Carmack's for years, regularly making the thirty mile trip to visit them. It's always been worth the effort. Carmack's is one hell of a shop.

Cigar Trivia

Ring Gauge is the width of the cigar divided by 1/64th of an inch.

Winston Churchill was said to have smoked ten cigars a day. The lengthy Churchill's were names after him, but he seldom smoked more than half a cigar before discarding it.

The cigar band can be tacked to Catherine the Great, who didn't like the feel of to wrapper or the stains that were left on her fingers. She had cigars wrapped in silk.

A thousand tobacco seeds can fit in a thimble.

This site is about the world of cigars. I will be posting reviews of  cigars that are off the beaten path, offering a different experience. Anyone can review an Opus X and tell you it's great, but whatabout those   other cigars that offer a different perspective?

I will also review sticks that are five bucks and under, looking for diamonds in the rough. Long term plans include a video podcast, and reviews of cigar stores and bars.