It was Monday 6:30pm in London on the 19th of January when I received an email from a fellow cigar lover and reader of Cigar Letters; Ed from Brooklyn, Michigan.
In the last Cigar Letter, I enquired into the cigar of choice from readers; Ed kindly pointed me in the direction of Drew Estate cigars.
This popular brand in the United States, is rather understocked in the United Kingdom - nevertheless, I knew in London, you can find anything and everything that ones heart may desire.
I arrived at James J. Fox on St James street in search of the finest Drew Estate cigars; the tobacconist eagerly showed me to one of the corners of the large humidor.
One immediately stood out, the wrapper looked raw, true to its roots, not over polished -there was nothing synthetic about it.
It was rough around the edges, you could see each leaf wrap around the next.
It was the Drew Estate Liga Privada No.9 The Flying Pig (what a masterful name).
Even the band… Yes, you know how we love the bands over at Cigar Letters… Transported me back in time, when analog prevailed and digital was yet a sci-fi dream.
The deal was sealed, I took my newfound rough companion upstairs to the lounge.
I entered the experience with no expectations, yet if I had, they would have been blown out of the water.
In my younger years I spent many nights in the woodlands, building fires and sleeping in camping chairs with friends who held the same nature. The Liga Privada transported me back to these times.
The smoke itself was reminiscent of a campfire, it was thick and plentiful, yet smooth like butter.
The draw felt honest, like the soil in which the tobacco grew was present in the burn. Disintegrating as the nicotine flooded my system.
I did not want to waste a centimeter of this cigar, I smoked it until my fingers began to singe as there was no more cigar to hold onto.
A gorgeous smoke. Thank you Ed, for your fine recommendation.
I would most certainly recommend this cigar to all fellow cigar lovers reading this letter.
As many of you know, I have been researching and writing on the origins of the cigar, which has fundamentally changed the way I experience cigars. It has given me a far deeper appreciation for these wonderful sticks that burn into the night.
You can read about it here: The Origins of the Cigar
Yours truly,
The Cigar Lover
Cigar Letters
Letter No.10