Cigar Geeks - Drew Estate Herrera Esteli Norteno Belicoso Fino

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Drew Estate Herrera Esteli Norteno Belicoso Fino
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Barry (benchjockey)

89
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique. This one has been generously sponsored by our member 05Venturer (Kent). The cigar provided for this round is the http://www.cigargeeks.com/cigardb/default.asp?action=showcig&cigar_id=89652">Drew Estate Herrera Esteli Norteno Belicoso Fino.

Herrera Esteli Norteño was the first blend released from the Drew Estate factory after Willy Herrera was named Master Blender in June, 2014. A sequel of sorts to the popular Herrera Esteli cigar, which earned a spot in 2013's Top 25 Cigars of the Year, the "Norteño" showcases extensively aged tobaccos from the Estelí and Jalapa growing regions of Nicaragua, coupled with a spicy Honduran binder and a rich, bold Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper, offering medium to full body and strength. The band design features the Guardabarranco, the national bird of Nicaragua, the country where the cigar is produced.

Drew Estate Herrera Esteli Norteno Belicoso Fino

Brand:: Drew Estate
Name:: Herrera Esteli Norteno Belicoso Fino
Length:: 5
Ring Gauge:: 50
Country of Origin:: Nicaragua
Filler:: Nicaragua
Binder:: Honduras
Wrapper:: Mexico
Color:: Maduro
Strength:: Medium-Full
Shape:: Torpedo
Average Member Purchase Price:: $8.17
Average Member Rating:: (8 Review(s))
Notes:: http://halfwheel.com/herrera-esteli-norteno-sizes-finalized/52397

This cigar was enjoyed with Ice Water

Pre-Light: 9 Points of 10 Possible

This box-pressed stick sported a chocolate brown wrapper with some visible veins that look to have been flattened. The feel was solid with no soft spots. The cap appeared to have been well applied. The pre-light draw revealed a woodsy taste. A straight cut went smoothly.

Lighting and Burn: 12 Points of 15 Possible

The cigar lit easily with a draw that, for me, was a tad on the tight side. Nevertheless, the smoke output was generous.

The ash looked a bit on the leafy side, but held firm until knocked off at about the three-quarter of an inch mark.

The burn wandered off line once in the second third but self-corrected. It did it again in the final third requiring a relight.

Construction: 27 Points of 30 Possible

Construction was solid. The cap, where cut, never caused a problem.The lone band was removed easily with no damage to the wrapper.

I found the draw slightly tight and the one relight was performed in the final third. Otherwise there weren't any issues.

Flavor and Aroma: 41 Points of 45 Possible

Spice was the initial taste followed by cream. There was a note of butterscotch with spice lingering in the background. Vanilla then appeared with earth becoming the dominant flavor followed by cream. At this point I would call the strength medium-plus.

The second-third opened with the return of butterscotch which then yielded to cocoa and back to butterscotch.

The final third saw a burst of milk chocolate flavor. The strength was now medium-full. The intensity of flavor had diminished with coffee and cream dominating. Retrohale brought a welcome hit of black pepper.

Summary

While I enjoyed the transition of flavors during the first two thirds, my main criticism of this cigar is the diminishing of flavors and their intensity in the final third. I would still like to smoke more of these.

My thanks to Kent for his sponsorship and for giving me the opportunity to participate.