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: Adam (BewareDaPenguin)

85
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 Water

Pre-Light: 8 Points of 10 Possible

Cigar looked really nice and firm. The roll was very nice, no noticeable blemishes that really stood out. Wrapper was a nice dark oily deep brown, and it looked like it was going to be a good stick. Nice label, pretty basic, but the color scheme was nice, and the band was applied without any excess glue getting on the wrapper that's one of my pet peeves.

Lighting and Burn: 12 Points of 15 Possible

It definitely put out a ton of smoke, I didn't really expect much less coming out of the DE Line, most of them billow smoke out like a chimney, this was no exception. I did have to touch it up a few times, as it was running on one side, so it was a tad annoying, but not terrible. Total smoke time was around an hour for me.

Construction: 26 Points of 30 Possible

It scored extra points because of the slick box pressed torpedo, a nice little touch, and not easy to pull off, but I had to ding it for the runs man, to bad as the rest of the stick was really well made. The cap cut clean, the wrapper looked really nice, like I said the roll isn't easy to pull off and it looked very nice. Cigar smoked as expected less the burning issues I had.

Flavor and Aroma: 39 Points of 45 Possible

This was a little stronger then I had expected it to be. I assumed it was be in the medium range, but just looked the part of a more intense cigar. But there was a bit of a pepper bite that followed it throughout the entire cigar, and that coupled with the smoke volume, definitely put this in the Med-Full range for my pallet. It only really mellowed out a bit into the 2nd third where I was picking up some almond notes, and the oil from the wrapper left a pretty sweet slick on your lips as well. Wasn't overpowering strong but it was for sure like I said stronger then I had assumed having smoked a lot of DE sticks. Not overly complex, but what it gave was nice if that's what you are looking for. I'd think this was be nice to burn down after a nice grill out with the family. I think I'd actually prefer this stick in a little bit smaller roll, as the strength and volume would handle it better for me, but overall it was a really good stick!

Summary

Thanks again to Kent and Geeks for the chance to smoke this stick and give it my opinion. I guess I'd say overall it was a solid stick, a little bit stronger then expected but not overpowering by any means. Also if you a fan of DE I'd give it a try as this seems to be a little more fuller flavor if that's what you're into! Thanks again!