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
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