Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a very light yellowish-brown. It has a couple of decent sized veins visible and the seams are pretty visible due to vein placement, but they are rolled smooth. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap and as is tradition, the foot is covered with folded over wrapper leaf. The standard company band is present along with a pink and gold secondary band that displays the line’s name. The aroma from the wrapper was a very faint mix of leather and hay while the foot, although covered, seemed to give a very sweet hay note. The pre-light draws brings the same faint hay and leather mixture that I got from the wrapper with the addition of some spice present on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Toro has a light caramel colored claro wrapper. The soft pressed cigar has tight, visible seams and well pressed veins. A uniformed give on the firmer side is present throughout the entire cigar with no soft spots. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives dominant barnyard and faint cedar. Nosing the enclosed foot tells sharp white pepper and dried nuts. Cold draw reveals lip and tongue tingling white pepper, cigar ash and dry cardboard.

First Third

Initial draws brought a cinnamon toast note, but after a few draws, that fades away and more of a black pepper note and wood mixture takes over the profile. At a half inch in, the pepper mellows which reveals and underlying sweetness as the wood remains constant. At an inch in, some cream joins the mix of wood and pepper. The retrohale is a slightly dialed back version of the same profile. As the third comes to a close, the creamy wood and black pepper are really working together well. The pepper has a nice long finish as well. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

First third starts off with a plethora of sweetened cream balanced by black pepper. Inch in, a soft dry wood enters the profile. Retrohaling brings deeper black pepper and full flavored roasted nuttiness. Finish is medium in length with sweetened cream, soft black pepper and faint dry wood. Strength and body is at a consistent medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the wood takes front stage as the cream fades away and the pepper is a background note. At a half inch in, the pepper completely leaves the profile while some slight cream returns to support the wood note. The retrohale is now a toasty wood. At an inch and a quarter, some bitterness joins the slightly creamy wood. As the third comes to a close, the bitterness has gone away and is replaced by a slight vegetal note that combines with the creamy wood. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third has two notable changes: the profile becomes slightly dry wood and black pepper dominant over the sweetened cream and a nice baking spice deepens the complexity of the cigar. The retrohale still delivers a more intense black pepper and rich roasted nuttiness. The finish is longer with the same dry wood and soft black pepper, but loses out on the sweetened cream. Strength and body continues to be medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the profile is primarily wood with a slight cream note in the background. At a quarter inch in, a toasty note joins the wood while the cream is still in the background. The retrohale also carries the toasty wood note. At an inch in, the toast and cream leave and the profile is just wood. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third mimics the second third in every way. Still a profile centered around slightly dry wood, black pepper, tapered sweetened cream and baking spices. The retrohale still has a deeper black pepper and rich roasted nuttiness. The finish is fairly lengthy with dry wood and soft black pepper. Strength and body is still for the most part medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy, but always kept up with itself. The ash held on in inch and half increments.

Burn

Perfection in every way. Cool burning cigar with razor sharp burn line, sturdy ashes averaging 1.5 inch increments, and never a need to re-visit my lighter.

Draw

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

Overall

Although brief, the cinnamon toast note at the beginning was great. After that it settled into a nice pepper and wood note and kept transitioning. The final third was a bit of a drop, but overall pretty good. As expected, the construction was fantastic. Another of the newer Connecticuts that offers a bit more body and strength while the final third was more traditional. This is another solid offering from Southern Draw and I’m interested in trying the other vitolas. I would definitely recommend giving it a try and it’s an easy decision to say that I’d smoke more of these.

Draw

The draw struck the perfect balance between resistance and air flow.

Overall

When I think of a well made Connecticut “shade” cigar, it has to hit the mark on one main thing: creamy in nature, balanced by pepper and earthiness. The Rose of Sharon Toro did just that. This cigar having the sun grown Connecticut wrapper and Piloto Cubano, I expected a fuller spice delivery, which it did not quite deliver. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this cigar quite a bit and will gladly enjoy more in the future.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$1.41

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.17

Cost/Point

$1.33

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Toro