Cigar Geeks - Drew Estate Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Toro

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Drew Estate Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Toro
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Barry (benchjockey)

94
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member BewareDaPenguin (Adam). The cigar provided for this round is the Drew Estate Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Toro.

The H99 is the first regular production blend in the Liga Privada series to be introduced since 2009, and sold only to "qualifying Drew Diplomat Program retailers." Aside from the premium heritage of flavor and craftsmanship the brand is already well known for, the H99 is exciting due to its use of a Corojo-seed leaf grown deep in the Connecticut River Valley, giving it a delicious and complex spice found only in quality Corojo tobacco. Beneath that lies a rich Mexican San Andres binder and superb Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers.

"The H99 Connecticut Corojo is the triumphant result of hybridity, including traits of... dysfunction, functionality, flexibility, adaptability, survival, replicability, and most importantly procreation," said Jonathan Drew, co-founder and president of Drew Estate, in a press release. "In all my 26 years of experience as a tobacco man, I have never witnessed a tobacco hybridization with the depth and body of this Stalk-Cut Habano and Connecticut Corojo leaf."

Drew Estate Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Toro

Brand:: Drew Estate
Name:: Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Toro
Length:: 6
Ring Gauge:: 52
Country of Origin:: Nicaragua
Filler:: Honduras
Nicaragua
Pennsylvania
Binder:: Mexico
Wrapper:: Corojo
Connecticut
Color:: Colorado
Strength:: Medium-Full
Shape:: Toro
Notes:: https://halfwheel.com/drew-estate-announces-initial-liga-privada-10-aniversario-h99-shipments/287800 https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/liga-privada-h99-connecticut-corojo-gets-new-size

Pre-Light: 8 Points of 10 Possible

This cigar sports a dry Connecticut Corojo wrapper with a prominent vein that runs most of its length.
The body is solid, hard to the touch and there is heft with it being heavy in hand. I tasted sweetness from the pre-light draw.

Lighting and Burn: 14 Points of 15 Possible

A straight cut went smoothly and the cigar lit remarkably quickly. The smoke output is plentiful, the draw perfect. The burn doesn't waver and the ash is strong. At this point the strength is medium.

After a little while I stopped paying attention to the burn which remained true. No relights were required. I also let the ash grow before tapping it off at an inch and one-half.

The burn was slow. I didn't time it but it was over a two hour smoke.

Construction: 29 Points of 30 Possible

The construction was flawless. There wasn't any problem with the burn, cap or wrapper. The wrapper looked the same throughout the smoke. I don't recall ever smoking a stick that lit this easily and quickly.

Flavor and Aroma: 43 Points of 45 Possible

Right from the start sweetness dominates. Kind of like butterscotch.

In the second third I picked up a taste of sourdough bread. Also some dark chocolate. Butterscotch continues to dominate, but there is a spicy edge to it. The strength has increased to medium-full.

The chocolate has become more of the milk variety in the final third. I also got some pepper on the retrohale.

Summary

This was an outstanding smoke. I loved the in-your-face butterscotch flavor. Butterscotch with a spicy bite. It's not a particularly complex stick, but who cares? It provided maximum enjoyment. My thanks to Adam for his generous sponsorship and giving me the opportunity to experience this wonderful cigar.