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]

Coronado Brewing 'Stupid Stout 2015' Imperial Stout. Crown Series. 9% abv. 42 IBU. Black in color with a finger of thick rich mocha head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of coffee, dark chocolate, earth. Front taste of bittersweet chocolate, dark fruit, vanilla on the back. Aftertaste of cocoa powder, bitter plum, raisins, dank earthy hops on the sustain, with a dry finish. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is hot, creamy, sticky, silky.

This is an outstanding imperial stout that sits firmly and shiny in its category. The aroma promises chocolate and coffee, delivering with deep rich flavors all the way through. Ribbons of bitter fruit and vanilla sit under each sip, helping to create a round taste and feel that can only improve with age if you choose to sit on a bottle. Wonderful brew. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"This deep, dark, viscous brew stands up to other imperial stouts as well as the test of time, delivering defined, robust, chocolaty notes with a hint of hop freshness. As this beer ages, those big flavors mellow, leaving behind a smooth, balanced sipper. It's the perfect beer to warm up with as winter cold sets in, or as part of a vertical tasting session many years from now."

[source: bottle]

Zino Crown Platinum. 5x50. Nice construction with mostly smooth wrap and straight lines. Light brown wrap. Cut was a little rough, but the foot lit quite well. Effortless draw pre- and post-light. Taste on the first half was mild and creamy, simple tobacco profile with a slight woodsy spice taste on the back end. Second half extended the first, with a peppery aftertaste. Closer to the band, there was a pronounced bitterness that some may find off-putting. Burn was even throughout. Ash had even marbling, dropping promptly at an inch. 

This is a good cigar that doesn't quite live up to its reputation. Despite the marketing touting this cigar as big and bold, I found it was merely medium in body and mild in flavor. It may have been crafted in the same facility that makes Davidoff cigars and it may bear his first name ("Zino"), but this is no Davidoff smoke. Still, though it may not be a world-class cigar, it's a good one nonetheless, worth your time if you want something clean, simple, and mild. Recommended.

From the company:

"Elegance and strength unite perfectly with Zino Platinum Crown Series. Some of the most sophisticated and refined blends in the world hail from the famed Tabadom Factory in the Dominican Republic. This factory is notorious for producing the ever-popular Davidoff cigar brand in addition to Zino Platinum. Launched for the most affluent and high-demanding clientele, the Crown Series showcases stylish packaging and an exclusive, high-quality blend of the finest tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Peru. Each Zino Platinum Crown Series is approved by an elite quality control supervisor and available in a handy platinum tube. This full-bodied blend is crafted from approximately 75 percent ligero filler tobaccos that have been matured and well-aged up to five years. Strong but exceptionally balanced, this unique blend expels an outstanding, rich taste and aroma. The careful combination of rare tobaccos guarantees perfect combustion, delivering a luxurious cigar for the seasoned aficionado."

[source: cigar.com]