Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Drew Estate Liga Privada Único Serie Velvet Rat is dark brown, has some marbling to it along with a fine tooth. There is a network of lightly raised veins, very smooth seams and a single cap that is finished with a twist and a flag. The band is the traditional Unico Serie design and denotes the name of the line. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of raisin sweetness and lightly damp wood. The foot brings a fuller version of the same combination with a slightly higher amount of raisin sweetness. The pre-light draw brings aged and lightly musty cedar along with a very mild spice.

First Third

The cigar begins with lightly musty wood and mild black pepper. At a quarter inch in, the mustiness and black pepper both become a bit fuller. At three quarters of an inch in, some earth joins the profile. The retrohale is musty wood and earth with mild black pepper. At an inch and a half, the earth and pepper are very mild with the musty wood up front. As the third comes to a close, the black pepper picks back up a bit. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the musty wood gains a toast note and is up front with the dry earth and black pepper even just behind it. The retrohale is musty wood and dry earth. At an inch and a half in, the black pepper is very faint. The third wraps up with an even mix of toasted, musty wood and dry earth with faint black pepper. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Final Third

The final third continues on with an even mix of toasted, musty wood and dry earth with faint black pepper. The retrohale is musty, toasted wood and dry earth. At an inch in, the toast note becomes pretty heavy. The cigar wraps up with musty and heavily toasted wood, dry earth and faint black pepper. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy at times, but the big issue was the cigar going out frequently. I had to perform six re-lights.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

Overall, the Drew Estate Liga Privada Único Serie Velvet Rat started nicely, but became average by the second third as the flavor profile was pretty basic. This cigar doesn’t have the vibrance it once did, which is understandable due to its age. The burn issue was a bit maddening as there didn’t seem to be anything that was obvious to cause the cigar to go out so frequently, maybe just the heavy tobaccos not burning as efficiently as they should. If you have some of these, smoke them, as time isn’t going to make them any better.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.13

Cost/Point

$2.72

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Drew Estate Liga Privada Único Serie Velvet Rat