Southern Draw Kudzu Lustrum Lonsdale

Somewhat new to the cigar scene, Southern Draw has been making waves throughout the industry with owner Robert and Sharon Holt. Southern Draw is owned and operated by a family of United States military veterans and is dedicated to producing high quality, unique, and consistent handmade premium blends. According to their website: "Our brand was founded on the tradition of the “Southern” Ladies and Gentlemen which has been referred to as a “culture of honor” however our brand has since grown beyond the traditional South and with that growth we aspire to be part of a culture where we should avoid intentionally offending others and have a reputation for not accepting improper or divisive conduct towards others… We also respect the rich cultures and traditions of tobacco growing and the production of premium hand made cigars by honoring the vital importance of the “Draw”, referring to that wonderful, tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited and allows the smoke to be slowly drawn into the mouth."

The Holts never imagined that their little cigar company would achieve such success as quickly as they did. To say thank you to all the people that gave them a shot and kept coming back for more, they created the Kudzu Lustrum to be their crown jewel, featuring the best of the best tobaccos and production. Handcrafted in Nicaragua, this limited release Nicaraguan puro features a core of Nicaraguan tobaccos and a zesty Ometepe binder, and is topped with an uber flavorful Media Tiempo habano wrapper. A quick note on the Media Tiempo leaves: they come from the rare top part of the tobacco plant, which are very small and sprout at the top of the plant above the ligero priming. Rated 92 by Cigar Aficionado, once lit, notes of pepper, earth, leather, oak, and dark fruit will coat your palate. Full bodied and delicious down to the nub, this smoke will pair best a small batch bourbon.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.