Top 9 Cigars of 2019: #7 Drew Estate Florida Sun Grown

Over the next 9 days we’re counting down our picks for the top 9 cigars of 2019. Some of these cigars are new and some are not and all cigars were aged in our humidors a minimum of 2 weeks. All of the cigars selected achieved a minimum rating of “Boxworthy” and achieved the highest marks in all 10 of our recommendation criteria.- In Fumo Pax!
Drew Estate Florida Sun Grown
- Profile: Full
- Vitola: Belicoso
- Length / Ring Gauge: 6.5″ x 54
- Origin: Nicaragua
- Wrapper: Brazilian Mata Fina
- Binder: Honduran Habano
- Filler: US (FSG Corojo ’99), Nicaraguan
- Price: $14.00 [Box $280.00]
- Box: 20
- Other Vitolas: Robusto [5″x54], Toro [6″x52], Gordito [6″x54], Trunk Press [6″x54]
On the initial draw, I’m greeted with a burst of candied nuts followed by a spicy mix of cream and black pepper. Chocolate and nougat intonations delight and the long finish is laced with sweet almonds. Cedar intonations become more abundant on the finish. The texture is very smooth and there is a noticeable perfumed quality to the draw and in the nose. The flavor palette is well-balanced and the complexity is excellent. Transitions feature woodier profiles in general, but what makes the FSG unique is both the distinct character within each transition and the subtle ‘bridges’ between them. A sweet timbre of dark berries on the first and a savory, spicy jolt on the last. The blend of the FSG fires on all cylinders and the flavor palette is simply delicious.