Posts Tagged toothy wrapper

Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘Feral Flying Pig’ – prerelease

This week we are photographing and smoking the latest project out of the Drew Estate stable – a pre-release of Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘Feral Flying Pig’ (FFP). This is a follow-up, in my eyes, to the successful ‘Flying Pig’ (FP) project which was photographed and reviewed by cigarphoto.net as well (No9T52). Although both versions of the FP have received plenty of accolades, many, including yours truly, have expressed a constructive feedback regarding “ergonomics” and the size of the cigar. I’m not sure whether that feedback was considered or the follow-up project was already in motion, I am, however, pleased to see Drew Estate’s reaction and increase in the FFP’s length.

Let me be clear about the Feral Flying Pig (and any Flying Pig Family for that matter) in regard to aging. The Feral Flying Pig is the VERY BEST PIG we have ever done and quite possibly the very best cigar we have ever made (in my opinion of course). These will only get better with age, and might, just might, become an all time classic with a year or two on them. – Jonathan Drew

In my opinion this is by far and away the best Flying Pig blend – the taste and proportions are just perfect. They will be more expensive having just looked over the final cost, but I think those who are fans of this oddball will feel like they got a better value when they buy a box of these. The blend is so righteous we are right now working the tobacco schedule to see if there is anyway to make the FFP an ongoing vitola even if it is in a really limited capacity. First batch in late November – it will be released in waves of about 800 – 1000 boxes a month for the next 4 months or so as they age/taste right. We have decided to NOT make this a one-time batch release like the previous FP releases – rather we will continue to make it in small lots like we do Dirty Rats. – Steve Saka



Conceptually, the FFP looked very much like the FP: perfecto on steroids with a sexy pigtail. If you had a pleasure of enjoying the FP No9 and appreciated the wrapper and construction, you will definitely not be disappointed with the FFP. Work of art without seams and no visible veins ! In the FP T52 review I’ve noted extremely toothy wrapper and in the FP No9 review, “silky” smooth wrapper. Although Jonathan Drew had stated that FFP is wrapped in the No9 capa, I found its texture to be similar to the FP T52 – very toothy. After clipping the head, perfectly flowing draw. In flavor department, notes of wood / cedar at the beginning with a touch of chocolate / sweetness in the middle and increase in flavors toward the end. Definitely spicy / peppery finish on the palate, especially on retrohale. Although there was a decent amount of flavors in the FFP, in my personal opinion, most were muted compared to the FP No9. However, when it comes to the strength and the kick, the FFP shined like a glowing star ! This cigar had some kahunas. Full Stop !!! As mentioned in all previous Liga Privada reviews and as expected, the FPP produced an incredible amount of thick smoke. The burn line was top notch as depicted below. Ash, as with both FPs, could not have been any better.


Overall, another successful release from folks at the Drew Estate. If you are into big ring gauges, have enjoyed FPs (both flavor profile and shape) and appreciate an extra strength kick, I see FFP flying (* literally) off the shelf like its predecessors. After appreciating all three FPs, I’m still partial to the FP No9. I believe there is a bit more flavor and a bit less strength in the FP No9 and that combination agrees more with my palate.


** Thanks to Charlie Minato from thecigarfeed.com for w/b/f confirmation.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5 3/8″
Ring: 60

Construction > Great
Burn > Great
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Yes



Please consider the following post:
* Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40’
* Liga Privada T52 ‘Flying Pig’
* Liga Privada No9 ‘Flying Pig’

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40’

This week we are photographing and smoking one of the latest projects out of the Drew Estate stable – Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40.’ This long time coming lancero has been dreamed and talked about in many cigar lounge circles. Looking horizontally and vertically across Liga Privada brand, including core as well as Unico Serie, a lancero was the next logical, in my opinion, project to be tackled by the creative minds of the Drew Estate. As per cigar spec sheet located on the Drew Estate blog, ‘L40’ refers to the slightly larger ring size than your typical lancero. The additional girth was necessary to accommodate the desired blend of 5 tobaccos. The ‘L40’ recipe was in development for 2+ years prior to release.


One has to appreciate the look of the full box of Liga Privada. The ‘L40’ lancero is not any different. Fifteen well rolled, shiny, oily, veinless, full of aroma cigars are gracing the Unico Serie box. The selected specimen had few visible seams but overall excellent construction and well applied cap. After clipping it, excellent draw. There is nothing more annoying than plugged and excessively soft lancero, fortunately ‘L40’ had scored highly against those two requirements. In flavor department, a spice bomb out of the gate on the first few puffs. Definitely black pepperish lingering in the back of the throat. Mixed with the spice were hints of coffee, chocolate and clearly noticeable (periodically) sweetness. That intense spice level had cooled off in the second / third part of the cigar. Toward the end, coffee / chocolaty / sweet flavors were replaced with wood and cedar. Burn line was relatively acceptable, considering it was lancero. It was wavy but no manual intervention was required. Ash – surprisingly flake-less but DIRTY and when I say dirty, I mean exactly that. The color of the ash looked like someone dipped the tip of the cigar in the mud. Having said that, who cares ! One can not complete a review of the Liga Privada without talking about the smoke, the cloud, the atomic bomb mushroom cloud ! Like the rest of the Liga Privada, especially No9, ‘L40’ produced a ton of smoke which made photography session that much more enjoyable.


Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40’ was definitely an enjoyable experience. I have not had a chance to sample the pre-release so I can’t comment on improvements, if any (* check Tony Casa’s thoughts on the pre-release at
casasfumando). If you enjoy lancero vitola, I would recommend searching them out and experiencing it for yourself. I understand both Jonathan Drew & Steve Saka of Drew Estate have stated that Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40’ is a unique blend, differing from other Liga Privada blends. I can appreciate that statement but I can not look at the Liga Privada brand and not compare Unico Serie ‘L40’ to my favorites: Unico Serie ‘Dirty Rat’ or LP No9. I think we, the mainstream cigar smokers, often fall in the trap of forcing already excellent projects into other vitolas. Many of us love corona gordas, coronas, lanceros without fully appreciating the existing work. In my humble opinion, Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40’ is another well executed project but when it comes to the Liga Privada brand, my go-to will continue to be No9 toro and Unico Serie ‘Dirty Rat.’ In that order.



Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut & Cured Habano Leaf
Binder: Plantation-Grown Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: 3 Extra-Choice Nicaraguan Cuban Seed
Length: 7″
Ring: 40

Construction > Great
Burn > Good
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Yes



Please consider the following post:
* Liga Privada T52 ‘Flying Pig’
* Liga Privada No9 ‘Flying Pig’

- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)- 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Liga Privada No9 ‘Flying Pig’

- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)- 

In march of 2011 we have reviewed Liga Privada T52 ‘Flying Pig’ and now it is time to photograph and smoke its “twin brother” – Liga Privada No9 ‘Flying Pig.’ Although both T52 and No9 are quality products, for some reason folks subscribe to one or the other, not necessarily both. Personally, my preference goes toward the latter. I have tried T52 in different vitolas but I do find myself reaching for No9 99% of the time. My “poison” is No9 toro and I can smoke those back to back, and some. Let’s get back to the ‘piggy‘, shall we ?


Visually, there was not much difference between No9 and T52. Same size, same format, same super fancy pigtail, tightly packed. Wrapper’s texture however was very different. T52 was known to be very toothy where No9 felt and looked “silky smooth.” Lots of oils with no visible veins nor seams. After clipping the pigtail and lighting the cigar, excellent draw. Considering large ring gauge and tightly packed tobacco, I’m always amazed at how good of a draw one can experience while smoking Flying Pig. In flavor department, notes of wood / cedar at the beginning with touch of chocolate / sweetness in the middle and toward the end. Very small amount of spice, almost undetectable, in my personal experience. Burn, ash, amount of smoke … nearly perfection. Liga Privada No9, flying pig or parejo, is The “Chu Chu Train” of the cigar industry. This cigar produces so much smoke that sometimes it is overwhelming. From photography perspective, as you can see below, this is the ultimate “model.


If you enjoy Liga Privada No9, the ‘Flying Pig’ should be up your alley as well. The unique format should add that extra excitement to the overall experience. Personally, I will continue to enjoy both No9 and T52 piggys in my rotation but my disposable cash will most likely go toward parejo vitolas.


Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras
Length: 4 1/8″
Ring: 60



Construction > Great
Burn > Great
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Yes



Please consider the following post:
* Liga Privada T52 ‘Flying Pig’

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Liga Privada T52 ‘Flying Pig’

- click on photographs - 

Piggy, piggy, piggy …


Liga Privada T52 ‘Flying Pig’ cigar left me with a bag of ‘mixed’ emotions. Vitolas that I usually buy & smoke are in corona, corona gorda, lancero territory, hence delay in smoking Flying Pig. This perfecto on horizontal steroids and lack of vertical hormones was definitely visually more pleasing from photography perspective than smoking lust. If you are into ‘NUB’ concept and enjoy wide ring gauge cigars, this is The Unicorn.


On the outside, the Piggy was packed well, really well. Extremely toothy wrapper and fancy pigtail were the main characteristics of the cigar. Although the middle of the stick was 60-wide, the foot was small enough to go up against a single flame torch lighter. The very beginning presented small amount of sweetness on the tip of the cigar. Few puffs into it, I was able to taste a bit of spice in the back of my throat. As I was going through the narrow head and working my way toward 60 ring gauge, I was putting extra effort to extract more flavor and more smoke – all without much success. Frequent retrohale didn’t help either. “Good things come to those who wait” and it came, full force. Cigar went from no smoke to smoke machine in a matter of split seconds. Fortunately same applied to the flavor department. Each puff had a good amount of cedar, cocoa, coffee, chocolate and enjoyable sweetness that lingered in the background. From burn & construction perspective, overall, very impressing. Although similar to smoke & flavor ‘questionable’ beginning, the latter part was top notch with razor-sharp burn line. Ash was tight and had a ‘clean’ / light gray look to it. See what else my colleagues have said: acigarsmoker, casas fumanfo, nice tight ash, stogie review.


This ‘freaky’ looking cigar solidified my believes and vitola size preference. Although I can appreciate the novelty, the Flying Pig concept (* not the wrapper / binder / filler combination) will continue to stay in my rotation as an occasional treat. Continuing with an animal theme, give me a Liga Privada ‘Dirty Rat’ and I will smoke that cigar back to back, day after day. Liga Privada T52 ‘Flying Pig’ was definitely an experience, both smoking wise as well as photographing it. A tremendous amount of smoke had a positive impact on last few shutter clicks – see photograph of the nub. Thanks to Drew Estate, Jonathan Drew, Steve Saka, and the gang … Well done !


Specs:
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Stalk-Cut Habano
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Dominican, Honduran, Nicaraguan
Length: 4 1/8″
Ring: 60



Construction > Great
Burn > Good
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Yes


Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,