Southern Draw Jacob’s Ladder reportedly uses at least two ligeros in the blend and it shows in the strength of the tobacco toward the end of the smoke.

My take is it’s a medium-full bodied smoke. The strength is medium until the last third where the nicotine really kicks up.

To fully prepare for smoking a Southern Draw, I let out a loud “Howdy, Y’all!” in order to accurately take a southern draw of a Southern Draw. I heard Lynyrd Skynyrd and Charlie Daniels playing in my head as in took the first puff. Since it’s a Jacobs Ladder Brimstone, I imagine I heard “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”

First impressions: black pepper, some chocolate and hints of leather (which I expound upon later). .A few minutes in, I’m getting notes of wood (not sure if it’s cedar or oak but* *it’s there), nuttiness, some creaminess, really dark chocolate, pepper is still there though less intense, softened by the chocolate, hints of dark roast coffee and the leather, maybe more like a general earthy mineral taste.

More on the leather: I have rarely tasted leather in cigars. More of a retrohale, aromatic sense. But this is the second time in 3 days I’ve actually tasted leather I can identify in a cigar. The question I have (and have had in general for years when it comes to flavor notes) is am I actually tasting leather or is it because I want to and my brain is telling my taste buds “you taste leather.” It’s an enigma wrapped in a riddle inside a mystery – or whatever Winston Churchill said. Whatevs! I taste leather. Let it be written. Let it be law – or reviewed.

If only this stick spewed more smoke. I’m not sure the thin veil of smoke it gives out is a detriment to the flavor. I just like plumes of smoke.

I needed to make a touch-up in the second third, but otherwise had no issue with the burn line. The ash held nicely. Rolled it off at an inch, although it was sometime stubborn in falling off. Better it holds on tight than falls in my lap. Right?

Southern Draw Jacob’s Ladder is an enjoyable stick. Good construction with just a few flaws. Plenty of flavor notes with some decent transitions to keep it interesting. I would smoke it again probably opting for the lancero next time. This is a reasonably priced smoke I suggest you try if you can still find one.

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