A Brief Cigar Review – Drew Estate Undercrown Shade

The Undercrown Shade is a light and mellow cigar perfect for the morning, or newer smokers.

The cigar rollers at the Drew Estate factory were challenged with creating a mild cigar that featured a Connecticut wrapper, but one that also was rich in flavor. The process took over a year to develop. Me not being the largest Drew Estates fanboy, I haven't had the Shade before last night.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Sumatra
Filler: Dominican Criollo 98, Nicaraguan Corojo & Criollo
Size: 6 x 52 (Gran Toro)
MSRP: $9

The construction looks impeccable, with only very tiny veins on a very silky, smooth wrapper. DE Shade looks delicate but feels sturdy. The pre-light scent is quite faint with some cedar and slight barnyard aromas. I punch cut the cigar, the draw is nice and loose which is what fits my smoking style. The cold draw doesn't produce a lot of flavor.

Not long after lighting, the flavors are very light as expected from a Connecticut shade wrapped cigar. I can pick up cedar, vanilla, and mild coffee that is almost like a latte with some hazelnut. There is very little spice with the Undercrown Shade, and the occasional retro-hale out of the nose is cool and mellow.

The smoke is plentiful, but not super cloudy, of course not sparse either. The burn is on the quicker side, but nothing I wouldn't expect from a light Connecticut cigar, they are usually packed pretty loose.

As the cigar progresses, I realize how mild it really is, or maybe it is getting just a little boring. It leaves me craving something with a little more flavor and strength. Although it is the evening, and this is probably better as a morning or daytime cigar, so I guess this mildness can be a good thing. About halfway through, the flavors do not change much, but a little bit of peppermint zest is added to the mix.

Towards the end of the Undercrown Shade, the flavors are mostly the same, with a little more hazelnut. The flavors are more concentrated which is welcome for such a mild smoke. I am also happy it hasn't become bitter and dark which can happen with mild cigars, especially if you smoke them too fast.

Overall I enjoyed the Drew Estate Undercrown Shade. I would have liked it more if it was mid-day and paired with a good coffee. It would have been better to save it for a weekend afternoon instead of placing it in my evening cigar position. DE Shade reminds me a lot of the Padron Damaso that I reviewed recently. The Damaso is a few dollars more, but probably worth it if you want mild, but also more flavor and some spice. I rate the Drew Estates Undercrown Shade 8.75 out of 10.