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For any of our readers that don't already know Drew Estate's Unico Series is what they do with their experimental cigars that don't fit in any other line but are too good to ditch such as the Feral Flying Pig. The L40 is John Drew's stab at a lancero which he doesn't actually favour. It is technically not a lancero as the ring gauge is 40 not 38 (hence L40) because he felt that he couldn't fit the blend he wanted into a 38 ring gauge. The length is 7" and the smoking time about two hours. This is billed as a strong cigar and not for beginners so take your time or greet the toilet. I did the former.
The wrapper looks like a Maduro but it is patchy in colour almost like a bad dye job but apparently it is a Connecticut leaf. It was quite soft to the touch and had a sweet cocoa scent. Once cut the draw was very light and tasted of earth and pepper.
This cigar lit easily and was soon producing lots of smoke and I mean lots. Even at rest it was billowing forth. The ash was a dense almost white and had the same texture as a Montecristo that MarkLondon smoked a few weeks ago. The ash dropped at an inch and then every inch after that. The burn line was perfect and for the first five inches I could just walk away and leave this without fear of it going out like some that die when you look away from then. In fact it was so good that I sorted out all my packaging collection (boxes and bubble wrap) in the back of the garage. However when it got to the final two inches it wouldn't stay alight despite three relights so I let it go.
As for the flavour? It started out mild with a nutty flavour and a hint of pepper on the finish. After the first inch it became more creamy with that same peppery finish. Into the second third and it developed a mineral like taste for a while until the creaminess reasserted itself at the half way mark. The pepper went away for a while and the nuttiness returned till the final third when the mineral taste and pepper staged a comeback necessitating a purge to take the edge off it.
In summary this was a good cigar overall with transitions and interesting flavours but give me a Cohiba Lancero any day.
L40a.jpgL40b.jpgL40e.jpg
The wrapper looks like a Maduro but it is patchy in colour almost like a bad dye job but apparently it is a Connecticut leaf. It was quite soft to the touch and had a sweet cocoa scent. Once cut the draw was very light and tasted of earth and pepper.
This cigar lit easily and was soon producing lots of smoke and I mean lots. Even at rest it was billowing forth. The ash was a dense almost white and had the same texture as a Montecristo that MarkLondon smoked a few weeks ago. The ash dropped at an inch and then every inch after that. The burn line was perfect and for the first five inches I could just walk away and leave this without fear of it going out like some that die when you look away from then. In fact it was so good that I sorted out all my packaging collection (boxes and bubble wrap) in the back of the garage. However when it got to the final two inches it wouldn't stay alight despite three relights so I let it go.
As for the flavour? It started out mild with a nutty flavour and a hint of pepper on the finish. After the first inch it became more creamy with that same peppery finish. Into the second third and it developed a mineral like taste for a while until the creaminess reasserted itself at the half way mark. The pepper went away for a while and the nuttiness returned till the final third when the mineral taste and pepper staged a comeback necessitating a purge to take the edge off it.
In summary this was a good cigar overall with transitions and interesting flavours but give me a Cohiba Lancero any day.
L40a.jpgL40b.jpgL40e.jpg
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