6” X 52
Vitola – Toro
Wrapper – Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler – Nicaragua
Binder – Mexican San Andres
Duration: 1Hr 45
Release Date: 2013
Blender: Jonathan Drew & Willy Herrera
Pre Light
The Nica Rustica is visually great with a rustic feel. The almost yellow-aged looking band, a bit of a rough wrapper, the slightly imperfect pigtail cap and the covered foot all add to the rustic, aged look. As far as the wrapper goes, it is a deep, rich dark chocolate brown that has a slightly rough feel to it. It is so oily and rich though, that it almost overcomes the texture to make it feel soft.
The wrapper’s aroma has a rich barnyard sweetness mixed with cocoa and some minor nuttiness. A singular note of dry cocoa bordering on milk chocolate is so strong it drowns out anything else on the cold draw.
First-Burn
This delivered a clean faultless smooth draw with thick smoke joined by a pleasant floral aroma in this medium-bodied format. With a beautiful bright white ash, this stogie produces flavors of sweet hay along with a dominant oak & vanilla that’s delivered in an elegant, smooth profile. The Nica Rustica is in my opinion, what Drew Estate wanted smokers to enjoy while being thrown back on a rustic journey through old world Nicaragua.
Second-Third
Coming into the second-third, one thing is for certain, there is a real complexity and great depth of flavour with a rich spice in the background.
The cigar continues to impress with a faultless (Bullet Straight) draw line with the almost perfect soft white ash. The Nica Rustica continues with that subtle sweetness and a note of lovely caramel while the oak notes are still there, which works perfectly in my opinion.
Final-Third
The final third (the business end) of this Nica Rustica cigar is still providing a faultless draw line and has stayed alight the entire duration, with no touch ups. The ash has continued to fall in large white clumps and smoke output is exactly how I like it, as it fills the room with incredible floral aroma. Even near the end of this cigar, I am still getting the sweetness with caramel. However the spice is now becoming dominant with dark chocolate resting on my palate. Burn, draw and ash all continue to be amazing showing the construction of this cigar is incredible. This is a medium-bodied cigar and highly recommend this to be added to any humidor, to be had at anytime of the day.
