Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9 Robusto

It’s another Saturday, and I can’t think of anything better to do than to get out of the house and do something. Unfortunately I’m rendered partly immobile due to a sprained ankle brought about by the previous night’s drunken stupor. I’m tempted to just sit outside in the backyard, but even that sounds like a big effort. Besides, the sun isn’t shining on this slightly chilly Portland morning anyway.

That doesn’t stop me from enjoying a cigar, however. I rummage through my humidor, lost in the myriad possibilities of what can be enjoyed. Maybe something from Arturo Fuente? Perhaps a Zino Platinum Crown series? Or should I settle for a Montecristo? “Nope,” “maybe,” and “some other time” are the replies I give to my own questions. It seems like this is going to take a while.

“Taking a while” was quite an understatement. A few more minutes go by and I finally settle on the highly rated and much sought-after Liga Privada No. 9 robusto from Drew Estate.  It’s a fine selection if I do say so myself, and one that I will definitely not regret given my predicament. I obviously need a good and enjoyable smoke to offset this rather unfortunate mobility issue.

I light up my cigar and after a few minutes, pepper, cocoa, and toast flavors begin to emerge followed by a fruity aftertaste in the cigar’s short finish. From the start, the No. 9 is a veritable smoke bomb; the volume of smoke coming from the cigar’s perfect draw and razor-sharp burn line is something I’ve never seen from a cigar that I’ve enjoyed in the past. As the burn line reaches the second third of the stick, a nuanced combination of nutmeg and paprika become apparent and solidifies the No. 9’s sophisticated flavor traits.

While Drew Estate is certainly a bona fide cigar company, its origins are very different from the likes of Padron and Arturo Fuente. It wasn’t founded on the back of a patriarchal founder and continued by his offspring. Instead, it was founded by a man who had a passion for cigars and the guts to pursue a dream. That man was Jonathan Drew who, together with a few other people, released both traditional and flavor-infused hand-made cigars that have been acclaimed the world over.

As I inspect my cigar selection, I can’t help but admire the quality of the wrapper and the overall craftsmanship of the cigar. It’s as if no expense was spared in creating this beautiful work of art. A luscious Connecticut broadleaf maduro envelops the entire stick and hides a Brazilian Mata Fina binder, and with its oily and toothy texture combined with a flawless wrapping technique, this maduro wrapper certainly makes the entire cigar a joy to the eyes.

And rightly so, given that the Drew Estate’s main intention was to create a cigar for the personal smoking pleasure of Steve Saka, the company’s CEO. Fortunately for the smoking public, they decided to release this line for the enjoyment of others. That decision proved to be a boon for Drew Estate as Liga Privada became one of the most sought-after cigars in the market, and also became one of the most elusive brands as Drew Estate couldn’t keep up with the demand.

I light up my cigar and after a few minutes, pepper, cocoa, and toast flavors begin to emerge followed by a fruity aftertaste in the cigar’s short finish. From the start, the No. 9 is a veritable smoke bomb; the volume of smoke coming from the cigar’s perfect draw and razor-sharp burn line is something I’ve never seen from a cigar that I’ve enjoyed in the past. As the burn line reaches the second third of the stick, a nuanced combination of nutmeg and paprika become apparent and solidifies the No. 9’s sophisticated flavor traits.

Another flavor transition occurs as the burn reaches the last third of the cigar, with a spicy rendition of coffee, cherry and dark chocolate coming through to give the experience a different façade.

Due to its hard-to-find notoriety, expect to pay top-dollar for the Liga Privada No. 9 if you find a store that sells it (though many online retailers have them in stock these days). I’ve heard reports of cigar shops demanding as much as twenty-five dollars per cigar, but there are a few that sell it within the ten to fifteen-dollar range. It’s definitely a box-worthy purchase if you can afford it, and one that you will not regret.