My Weekend Cigar: Drew Estate Liga Privada T52 Toro

” What they do is begin by cutting the entire stalk from the field rather than harvesting the leaf in primings. In the stalk curing process, instead of the leaves being tied into a 50-leaf gavilla, hung in the barn, and then cured, this entire stalk is speared at the base, hung upside down and allowed to cure entirely on the stalk. By curing the leaves on the stalk, the process takes almost twice as long as picked leaves because the stalk serves as a life support system for the leaves. Rather than just sucking the nutrients and oils from their own stems, the leaves now live off all of those same components, but much more highly concentrated in their stalks. The result is leaves that are extra intense in flavor and rich in oils.” (SMOKE Magazine – Winter 2010)

The cigar also gets its name from the seed variety used for the wrapper. Named “Type 52,” the seed originated in the 1800s. The filler is a blend of Nicaraguan, Dominican and Honduran longfiller, with a spicy Brazilian binder. But enough back-story. Let’s get to the main event.

First of all, this cigar is beautiful. The wrapper is attractively dark and oily with a chewy elasticity. The pre-light flavors were essentially woody with a hint of espresso and spice on the tongue. Using the No.9 as a benchmark, as expected, the cigar lit and burned perfectly.

The first few puffs were exceptionally creamy with a spicy-woody edge that eased-up after the first half-inch. Flavors of espresso began to surface as I traveled along, for what I would call a hearty, woody, coffee-like base with excellent balance. The smoke was also exceptionally smooth and complex with some sweet tobacco notes on the finish. The 52-ring gives this cigar the kind of ample girth that’s great for chomping-down on, too.

The flavors remained consistent right into the final act. Although some reviews have noted that the cigar becomes much spicier in the latter stages, this was not the case for me. Every puff was a delight.

Final thoughts: The Liga Privada T52 is a true full-flavored treat with a wickedly attractive aroma that brings this luxurious smoking experience full circle. This cigar is also designed for more “experienced palates.” At $10.95/stick, they’re not cheap, but this is one of those few cigars that’s worth its sticker price. (_[GK]__{{{