Drew Estate 'Undercrown Shade' Gran Toro

Drew Estate 'Undercrown Shade' Gran Toro. 6x52. Medium brown wrap. Nice build, straight lines, smoothed veins. Cut and lit well. Medium-easy draw pre- and post-light. Burn was uneven at first but was easily corrected. First half taste of almond, light wood, mild herbal. Second half is walnut, oak, earthy spice. Mouthfeel is creamy. Ash is clean and marbled well, holding two inches with ease.

This is an excellent cigar, a well balanced smoke with plenty of wood and herb notes. The draw is mostly easy, gentle, with a smooth creamy taste across. The flavor is consistent down to the band.

Undercrown is a very popular series, very much in fashion at the moment, and there's a reason for the praise. It's a hip cigar that is actually deserving of its hype. Wonderful smoke. One of the best I've had in a long while. Strongly recommended.

From the company:

"Drew Estate will be launching a new line extension to their Undercrown line – 'Undercrown Shade,' a Connecticut Shade-wrapped cigar brand that will join the original San Andres-wrapped line. The final blend is medium-bodied, lush & ultra-smooth, flavors that only a shade grown wrapper can deliver. And so it is with great bravado that we share Undercrown Shade, and the continuing story from our factory floor... Undercrown Shade marks the first release blended by Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera not to fall under the Herrera Estelí brand family. Herrera’s continued involvement in blending and brand development within Drew Estate is evident with this new blend, as Herrera worked extensively with the Undercrown roller team who blended the original Undercrown line to develop this new Connecticut blend... Featuring an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Sumatran binder, as well as Dominican Criollo 98 and Nicaraguan Criollo & Corojo fillers, the new Undercrown Shade line will be presented in six vitolas, mirroring the San Andres-wrapped Undercrown core line that you’ve come to love."

[source: drewestate.com]