Undercrown 10 by Drew Estate Toro

The boys at Drew Estate have caused quite a stir in the cigar industry in the last few years. With the release of a multitude of unique brands, they're quickly becoming known for producing high quality, premium smokes – including the Undercrown line. The Undercrown 10, which is in your shipment today, was created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Undercrown, which went from humble and unanticipated beginnings to become a widely successful sensation with novice to veteran cigar smokers alike. If you don’t know the Undercrown’s beginnings, it all started when the rollers who were responsible for rolling their ultra-high end Liga Privada #9 were told to stop smoking the blend as the cigar production was already behind demand. The solution? The rollers themselves created their very own premium version using some of the same rare tobaccos, but from different primings and vintages. The result was nothing less than outstanding, becoming the original Undercrown.

The Undercrown 10 showcases the essence of the original by featuring a bevy of Nicaraguan and Brazilian fillers that is hugged by a Connecticut River Valley broadleaf binder that is then all secured by a beautiful dark Mexican San Andrés wrapper. This combination will lend bold and rich notes of black pepper, earth, sun-dried cherries, and cocoa. Willy Herrera, Drew Estate’s master blender, compared the overall profile to that of Mexican Hot Chocolate. Pair this Cigar Aficionado 91-rated smoke with a Syrah, such as K Vintners The Hidden Syrah 2018.

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.