The Drew Estates Tabak Especial cafe con Leche - The Review

Drew Estates Tabak Cafe con Leche

This has been a hard review to write! I think I have smoked 6 of these bad boys, and each brings me a new experience! In my opinion, which isn't overly experienced, this is a GREAT cigar. It is almost perfectly crafted, perfectly balanced, perfectly flavored cigar.

So... before you read much farther, if you are not a fan Drew Estates infused variants of cigars you may want to give this review a pass.

However, if you would like to try something new, something strong, yet smooth. Something with not to subtle hints of coffee and cocoa and slightly sweet. Read on and pick one of these up from the guys at the Cigar Cave and enjoy!

So I am sitting on the Cigar Porch, the Traeger is smoking away on some baked potatoes and chicken and the weather has turned a bit towards rain. It is the perfect time to sit outside, a stout cup of coffee in hand, laptop at the ready and light up a cigar.

The first thing you notice when you pick up the Cafe con Leche torpedo shaped Tabak is how well crafted it is. It is perfect! the wrappers are smooth and void of any heavy veins, bumps or ridges. Note how well they Maduro and Connecticut wrappers blend; the line is nearly seamless The blending of the two wrappers provides a unique smoking experience: a strong initial light, from the 1/2 inch Maduro foot it then mellows for the next two thirds of the smoke before getting back to the strong, oily Maduro wrapper.

Smoking this cigar is a pleasure. From the first inch to the last nub, it never is harsh or bitter. I would class this as a medium to mild cigar, though I believe it is officially classed as a medium-full bodied smoke. Maybe I am getting desensitized by all those full powered sticks I seem to like!

The flavor of the coffee infusion really comes through when you smoke it. The infusion is complete, but subtle enough that the great tobaccos that Drew Estates are known for come through. Flavors abound in this stick! Once you get past the coffee, there are hints of cream, vanilla, and a touch of spice.

...Well, the first half has flown by far too fast! One of the nice things about these cigars is that because they are such a pleasurable experience to smoke that I never want to put it down! Consequently it smokes far too fast!

One of the things I look for in a good cigar is how well the ash clings as I smoke. Like every Drew Estates cigar I have smoked, the ask on the Cafe con Leche clings and clings and clings... I usually get over an inch and a half before feeling compelled to flick it off into the ashtray (the wife hates it when it falls onto the deck. The ashes seem to stick to the Trex decking as well as they do to the end of my smoke!)

A few more GREAT features of this cigar:

•  The cap is really well attached. I don't know about you, but I hate it when you make the perfect cut on the head of a cigar and spend half the time peeling bits of cap off your lip because it wasn't adhered well enough to the wrapper. This is not the case with ANY Drew Estates cigar that I have smoked (and I have smoked a few!).
• The Label. I know it sounds corny, but here is another area where Drew Estates has the competition whipped. They make a great label. I know the label seems like a small thing, but the detail that goes into each of their labels is just indicative of the great care and quality that they put into all their cigars. They choose the best tobaccos, they spend copious amounts of time to age and prepare them, they take pride in rolling some of the finest examples of hand rolled cigars I have seen, and the label just is the icing on the cake.
• From beginning to end its flavors are balanced and complex; even when you are down to the nub!

Another one bites the dust!

As I said, this was a hard review to write because the cigar is a very good smoke. Complex, smooth, tasty. I couldn't really wrap my brain how to describe it. Am I ready to put a box of 25 of these in my humidor? probably not. But, will I make sure there are always a few on hand to break out when the mood strikes? You bet!

If you are looking for something new, with a medium flavor, be sure to pick up one or five of these to try. You will not be disappointed! I have yet to not take one of these to a nub!

And to all my Southern Oregon reader, be sure to get by the Cigar Cave and check out the whole Drew Estates line-up!

Cheers!

Upcoming Review - Drew Estates Tabak Especial Cafe con Leche

Wow!

... Just Wow! Maybe it was just a whimsical first impression, maybe I was just tires and my judgement skewed, maybe my taste buds have finally failed me...

Maybe this cigar was just that good!

What ever the reason, I have got to get another one and make sure that I was not just mislead by the late hour, a long day of golf and a great dinner that was still settling! But this Drew Estates Tabak Especial Cafe con Leche was a great review. From the first draw to the nub I left in the ash tray as I made my way off to bed.

I will post a full review of this cigar this week! Keep your eyes posted!

Saison by Oliva

I have to admit that I am fairly fond of Oliva Cigars as the first real cigar that I smoked in adulthood (and liked!) was an Oliva. What series I do not know, only that it was big, had what I later learned was a dark maduro wrapper and was powerful enough to make me sit up and pay attention!
Lesson No.1: DON'T (I repeat) DON'T INHALE! And from that first painful inhale I grew to love a great cigar. I think my wife would prefer that I didn't like great cigars, but good or fair cigars instead as the price point would be far better! However, why smoke a rag when you can actually enjoy the taste and aroma of a finely crafted hand rolled cigar.
So to today's cigar selection... This one came to me through Cigars International (a kind gift of 8 cigars a month from my loving wife!) and you can read their colorful review here.
The first thing you notice about this, like most Oliva cigars is its flawless construction. The wrapper is smooth and flawless, it is quite firm when squeezed (gently I promise!) and the cap is well attached. The Habano wrapper has a nice even color, lighter than I normally prefer, but leaning towards darker well aged wrappers that I normally prefer. The gauge is not too large (52 x 6"), I start to shy away as the gauge gets too large, but this stick is nicely proportioned and screaming to be lit!
So I always challenge myself to taste the flavors that all those high paid cigar reviewers claim are in the cigars that I am smoking. To be quite honest, I don't think my palate is quite that discerning. After a slight toasting with a wooden match the stick lit right up and the first half inch burned even and smooth. I picked up a fairly strong taste of pepper (or spice if you prefer), but totally missed the leather (who wants to smoke leather any way!), earth, coffee and other flavors that cigar reviewers seem to rely on. As it burned, it did take on a smoother, woody flavor that is not un-enjoyable at all. It was a fairly hard draw, a fact that did not surprise me given the firmness of the cigar before lighting. It was not so hard that I felt I needed to cut a larger opening, or pierce the center to promote better air flow.

The first inch and a half is done, and the pepper has subsided and the flavor has improved. I really like it when a cigar does that! The flavor is now distinctly woody with just a like "bite" on the exhale, not at all bad for a five dollar cigar (when bought 20 at a time!).

The ash keeps hanging on! ... and on... and on... and on... This is a well made cigar! 2+ inches and I had to knock it off for fear of spilling it on my precious laptop!

I don't know if this is one that I will run out and stock my humidor with, but a couple hanging around in there might not be a bad thing. The Saison by Oliva has finished much smoother than it started, and with only two inches left, it still hasn't smoked "hot" or gotten overpowering (like I was smoking the resins from the previous 4 inches!) which is exactly what I look for in a fine cigar.

Another great evening on the deck, enjoying the setting sun, a tasty adult beverage and a great cigar!

Cheers!

My new personal goal is to post AT LEAST one review per week of a new cigar that I have not tried.
... Goals are great, but attaining them is even better.
Check back soon for my next great smoke!

5 Vegas AAA second impression

This is my second AAA from 5 Vegas from the Cigar Cave, and I have to say it is better the second time around. The first one struck me as harsh and WAY too spicy! Not what I am looking for in a cigar at all!

But this one... This one was much more to my liking!
The first inch is still VERY spicy, and the entire stick is strong to say the least. But, it melts as it smokes, and the spicy tones blend to a rather enjoyable woody/nutty flavor (for me at least).
The ash is as strong as the smoke! Clinging on until the two inch mark or better.

I paired this stick with a Lagunitas Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale and found it to be a great combo. The red is not nearly as "red" as I like my Ales, but it has good flavor, no real aftertaste, and the hop blend was quite good.

I've made it down to the  last two inches or so... It is strong and smooth. the flavor still has a hint of spice, but it is not harsh, not overpowering and entirely smokeable! 

So... If you like a strong cigar with a lot of spice notes, this is the stick for you! I know I will be trying another in the future. Not going to put this one on my "do not try again!" list.

Cheers!

Jm