When legend blender Willy Herrera wanted to collaborate with Drew Estate, they came up with a Cubanesque cigar. This flavor profile is hard to achieve, but they succeeded. The smooth richness with medium strength and rich flavors are a great treat for an occasional cigar.
Moreso, this cigar is a special edition that is available in select stores nationwide. Herrera Esteli is a gem that Drew Estate and Willy Herrera reserved for the discerning enthusiast. If you are looking for a great value cigar for a limited edition, read this Herreri Esteli Habano Lonsdale Deluxe review to see if it’s for you.
This review of Herreri Esteli Habano will also introduce you to the flavor profiles of Cubanesque cigars.
| Wrapper Origin: Nicgaragua | Shape: Lonsdale |
| Length: 6 | Ring: 44 |
| Wrapper: Habano | List Price: $244 (Box of 25) |
| Origin: Nicaragua | Strength: Full |
Appearance of Herrera Esteli Habano
The box the Herrera Esteli Habano has a simple touch of elegance. Its red velvet cover has a quiet, luxurious demeanor lined by a gold sash. The typescript of Habano on both sides of the sash overlay adds a vintage style as well.
The cigar itself has a basic band. With the same gold-theme lines, the chocolatey Ecuadorian Habano wrapper stands out. While the veins are prominent with some lumpy parts, the construction of the cigar is firm.
Smoking Experience
The cold draw has no exceptional flavors but relaxing with some pleasant hay.
As the first third progressed, the creamy aromas remained pleasant. The burn is quite uneven, but the ash is solid. The pepper in the retrohale and mild spice in the flavors combine with the woody, cedar notes to start the smoking session fresh. There is also some sweetness in the notes, while the short finish helped puncture the strength at medium.
At the second third, the strength stayed at medium. But the sweetness has softened a little bit. The creamy aroma is consistent, still making the smoke a pleasant one. The profile remained woody with the spice, which also settled a little bit. It has mild to medium tones, but the flavors are still rich with the cedar notes.
The final third showed the same flavors but with more complexity. I sensed some scorched oak, vanilla, cream, mild spice, and nutmeg. This combination makes the profile overall earthy and woody while having bursts of pepper in the first and second thirds. In the final third, you would be able to sense the Cubanesque profile that Willie Herrera blended.
The draw is smooth throughout, and there was only one time that relight was needed. The wavy burn is alright as it self-corrects. The solid ash sticks for a little over an inch. The strength is also not bitter in the aftertaste. The flavor has a dried taste. The smoking time lasted more than an hour, almost an hour and fifteen minutes.
Overall
The smoking experience from the Herrera Esteli Habano is solid. It’s got the right notes to start, mellowed with some creaminess, and ended with a full-body and medium strength profile. Nothing bitter, but the richness of the flavors at the end was distinctly Cuban. If you are looking for a Cubanesque cigar, this cigar is good to have. The earthiness and oakiness, leather, cedar, and pepper flavors are suitable for a morning cigar. You can combine this with a mellow drink to complement the full bodied-flavor. I give it an 85.
Other Cigars Reviews
Other Drew Estate Cigar Reviews
MUWAT
The MUWAT (My Uzi Weighs a Ton) cigar line is a unique collaboration between Drew Estate’s Subculture series and Joya de Nicaragua, with the cigars crafted in Nicaraguan factories. Its name is inspired by a quirky moment when Jonathan Drew, the creator, likened a bundle of these cigars to the heft of an Uzi. The MUWAT + 11 variant stands out due to its smaller ring gauge than other MUWAT vitolas, offering a robust experience for enthusiasts who prefer cigars on the slender side. Wrapped in a San Andres Maduro, it presents a dark chocolate sheen, subtle oiliness, and a straightforward band design. Flavor-wise, it starts with hints of chocolate, cedar, and wood, followed by a gradual increase in peppery spice that eventually dominates the profile while maintaining a harmonious balance with sweet, fruity, and woody undertones. Despite a less-than-perfect draw in the second third, the MUWAT offers a balanced, enjoyable experience overall, making it a worthy addition to any aficionado’s humidor.
Drew Estate Larutan Egg
Drew Estate’s Larutan Egg cigar from Nicaragua boasts a distinctive egg-like shape and is notable for its solid construction and ash retention. However, despite its promising start with gentle flavors of cedar, nuts, and a touch of sweetness, it falls short with a challenging draw, leading to a bitter aftertaste and a flavor that becomes bland and charred in later stages. Additionally, the lack of a decorative band slightly diminishes its aesthetic appeal. This concludes the review of Drew Estate Larutan Egg.
Other Nicaraguan Cigar Reviews
CAO Black Ltd. Bengal
The CAO Black Ltd. Bengal cigar boasts a blend of contrasting light and dark flavors, offering a unique smoking experience for cigar enthusiasts. This cigar features an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper with fillers from Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Its appearance is marked by a light brown, slightly oily wrapper and a distinctive CAO cigar band. While smoking, initial flavors include coffee, graham cracker, earth, and a hint of citrus, which intensifies as one progresses through the cigar. Although the flavor combination was found to be somewhat imbalanced, the cigar’s construction, including draw, burn, ash, and smoke output, was commendable. Cigar lovers who are curious about a blend of diverse flavors might find the CAO Black Ltd. Bengal worth a try, as evident from this review of CAO Black Ltd. Bengal.
AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro Geniales
AJ Fernandez, a prominent Nicaraguan cigar maker, presents the Last Call Maduro Geniales, a premium handmade cigar featuring a unique Pennsylvanian Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. This variation differs from standard Broadleaf wrappers, offering an oily, dark brown hue. A simplistic band somewhat diminishes the cigar’s aesthetics despite the rich flavor profile boasting notes of spice, sweetness, leather, toasted nuts, and dominant roasted coffee. While the strength and flavors remain consistent throughout the smoke, some may find the flavor lacking a peak in the final third. Construction quality is impeccable, with an even burn and durable ash. The Last Call Maduro Geniales is ideal for coffee aficionados, providing a consistent flavor, but it may not be an everyday choice for all. This review of AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro Geniales gives a detailed insight into its appearance, smoking experience, and overall performance.
