Smoked: Drew Estate Undercrown Sun Grown & Weller Antique

Smoked at: Wetherington, Ohio

Drew Estate Undercrown Sun Grown is made with Nicaraguan filler, a Connecticut binder and a light brown Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper with visible but minimal seams and veins. The cigar has two bands, including a footer proudly announcing it’s a Sun Grown.

Cedar, peanuts, milk chocolate, cream, nutmeg, and an herbal/vegetal/floral earthiness. The flavors are more nuanced than other Undercrowns I’ve smoke with the exception of the Shade. It takes a while for any transitions, but by the second third some complexity kicks in. A wider array of kitchen spices, more pepper, less cowbell and clove, vanilla and sweeter cream are present. The sweet cream is almost like the taste of soft serve ice cream and a malted milk shake. There are also hints of coffee in the background. The last transition during the final third included bread/toast, leather and mineral notes. I just wish there could have been more balance and consistency puff to puff. It’s medium-full bodied and medium strength.

Now for the construction: wrapper issues began early and out of nowhere during the first third. A call to my local cigar glue paramedics had the cigar back on its feet quickly with minimal damage – except for the appearance of the wrapper. A soft spot caused the wrapper problems. Surprisingly enough, the draw was perfect, the smoke output was acceptable, and the burn line was spot on until it burned through the wrapper tear. Then it was off kilter the rest of the way. Touchups just made the wrapper worse. The ash was flaky and fell off 3 times before ever reaching close to the one-inch mark.

The construction issues likely prevented me from fully experiencing the Undercrown Sun Grown. The flavor profile was interesting and unlike other Undercrowns. The wrapper problems detracted from what may have been a more enjoyable smoke. I should give this cigar a second chance down the line.

The Weller Antique was exceptional. I just wish I had paired it with a different cigar.