Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a lighter brown and has some darker variations in a few places. There are a few decent sized veins visible, but they are well pressed. The seams are smooth but easily visible due to the color variations in the wrapper. The head is finished off with a well applied double cap. There are two bands with the primary being the traditional Undercrown band, but in a red and gold color combination. The foot band uses the same colors and designates Sungrown. The aroma from the wrapper is a nice golden hay while the foot brings natural tobacco sweetness and a slight leather note. The pre-light draw is a lot of that same golden hay note I got from the wrapper along with a bit of leather.

Pre-light Experience

The Drew Estate Undercrown Sun Grown Corona has a light caramel wrapper shade. Construction feels and looks well done as there is a uniformed give, no soft spots, tight seams, well pressed veins and a well applied double cap. Nosing the wrapper gives rich spicy cedar. Aromas from the foot tells rich cedar, roasted nuts and white pepper. Cold draw gives hay, white pepper and dry wood.

First Third

Things start out with a heavy wood and equally heavy baking spice. At a half inch in, the baking spice mellows which smooths out the profile quite a bit, but there’s still a bit of edginess to it. On the retrohale the baking spice is upfront which has a decent bite to it while the wood note is in the background. As the third comes to a close, the wood gains a bit of char while the baking spice is right at the same level as the wood. The strength in this third is right at medium.

First Third

The first third packs quite a little punch. A nice heavier black pepper spice is followed by natural sweetness from dry roasted nuts. Further, a fine grit earthiness and dry barnyard rounds out the mouth draw flavors. Retrohaling gives a slight sting to the nostrils with black pepper and deeper roasted nuttiness. The finish is comprised of fine earthy grit, cedar and lingering black pepper on the rear palate. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a light bitterness joins the slightly charred wood and baking spice. The baking spice has left the retrohale and it is now just a slightly dry wood. At a half inch in, a slight cream joins the profile which brings greater balance to all of the components. At an inch in, even with a slight creaminess paired with the charred wood and baking spice, the profile still becomes a bit drying. As the third comes to a close, the baking spice has diminished, leaving it in the background while the slightly charred wood is up front in a still dry profile. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Second Third

The second third ups the ante from the first third. The profile is still spicy and sweet based off the same mixture of heavier black pepper and sweet and creamy mixed nuts. But the intensities of both notes are more intense. The increased intensities also is paired by a stronger cigar, now medium-full. The profile also picks up a rock like minerality, furthering the earthiness of the cigar. Body maintains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, a little bitterness returns, pairing up with the charred wood and faint baking spice. At a half inch in, the retrohale gains a little mustiness to go along with the wood. At three quarters of an inch in, the mustiness makes it’s way into the mouth draws and creates an even higher level of dryness for the profile. At an inch and a quarter, the cigar begins to heat up which brings some mintiness to mix with the charred wood and mustiness. The baking spice is no longer present. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third’s flavor profile is similar to the first third, providing the same dose of heavier black pepper, sweetness off dried roasted nuts and minerals. A slight bitterness forms, but not to overtake the other flavors. Strength and body remains medium-full and medium, respectively.

Burn

The burn line was slightly wavy the entire way but never needed any attention. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Burn

The burn was a bit of a let down. Two complete re-lights within the first and second third. The draws had to be quite frequent or else I risked the burn going out. Other than that, ashes were fairly tight, even burn line and a cool burn.

Draw

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

Overall

In reviewing this as the second vitola of the line that we smoked, I was looking forward to how it would perform as we smoked the Flying Pig previously. From the prior experience, I was hoping that the parejo shape would provide a longer experience with some of the flavors I got at the beginning of the pig. That wasn’t the case as I didn’t get those focused flavors at all. This cigar was primarily wood and baking spice in a bit of an unbalanced presentation. Construction was great, so no attention was needed there, but for me, thus far, the Flying Pig presents the better profile. While this vitola is cheaper than the pig, I would reach for the pig before going back to this vitola.

Draw

The draw was perfect. Perfect resistance and airflow.

Overall

This is by far my favorite format in the Undercrown Sun Grown line. Having smoked the pig, toro and now the corona, the corona packs the most amount of punch in flavor intensities. The flavor intensities are also well matched by a stronger cigar (medium-full). The only let down was the pesky burn, having to constantly keep a close eye on and frequency of draws. But I’ll take that for the great flavors the cigar provided.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$1.37

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.12

Cost/Point

$1.15

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Drew Estate Undercrown Sun Grown Corona