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.
