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Drew Estate Java Review

Mr.Erskine

I am the Walrus
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Another brisk day in good ole Delaware...



I had a Drew Estate Java today, obviously. I coupled it with a couple of Folger's Black Silk. I like that coffee, my wife--not so much. This cigar was a little soft. I think I'm having slight humidification issues--I'm using beads in my tupperdore and always leave one corner open, but the humidity still hangs around 73%.

The wrapper is dark, beautiful and flawless.

The foot smelled of cocoa, chocolate, and a hint of coffee.
Clipped the cap clean with my Cuban Crafter's guillotine cutter. ( I know, not as snazzy as a Xikar, but it does a good job. :) )
Prelight draw smacks of coffee and a hint of cocoa. However, the draw is perfect. Tight, but not too tight.



1/3

This stick started rough. Very earthy, but it faded quickly. The flavors in this cigar came in spurts, and at some points were difficult to detect. Throughout the first third the flavor that was dominant was coffee and earth. It was neither unenjoyable nor enjoyable, honestly. Because of the breeze it took a while for me to get a good smell of the smoke that this cigar produced. When I finally did get a good whiff, it was chocolate-y/cocoa-y, pleasant, really.



2/3

The ash built up to about an inch and a half before the wind blew it off. A shame, really, the ash was a solid and pretty dark grey. In the second third, the coffee flavor remained but the earth flavor dwindled away and was replaced by cocoa--NOT chocolate-like cocoa--but cocoa. It was during the second third that this cigar developed a burn issue. I would love to have blamed it on the breeze, but the breeze wasn't really strong enough to create problems. Toward the end of thise third, this cigar was putting out bursts of peppery spice.



3/3

Pretty much more of the same, except the bursts of peppery spice became more pronounced. There was nothing wow about this cigar, pretty much par for the course for me with Drew Estate, although, please don't let that cause you to think that I didn't enjoy this cigar. It's a hell of a lott better than the Kuba Kuba IMO, and I did like it well enough.



The finish on this cigar was coffe-ish.

In the end, I will smoke more of these because these are a decent cigar. It's not a top pick, by any means, however. Most of it was blah, but the flavor that I did get was consistent throughout the cigar. This is the second time that I have had one of these, and my first experience with this was better than this one. It may have had to do with the fact that I am sitting in some wintery breezes while I'm smoking--I don't know.

I would HIGHLY recommend trying one of these before passing judgment. And don't let the Drew Estate band throw you.
 

njstone

BoM January 2010
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Nice review!

There are only 3 infused sticks that I will smoke (thus far). The Java line, the Tabak Especial, and the CI Legends Copper (all by DE). I'll only smoke them occasionally, usually with others who are smoking them, but I always keep some on-hand as they make a great cigar to give to someone who only occasionally smokes cigars. Everyone who's tried them with me has loved them.

That said, I like Jonathan Drew's non-infused sticks a LOT more. The Naturals line is great and a very fun change (pipe-like), especially the Root and Jucy Lucy. The Chateau Real is great. The LVH line makes a great yard gar. And then of course the Liga Privada line is ... amazing.
 

whodeeni

the Cigar "Gangsta" ;0(
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i smoked one, and wasn't that impressed about a month and a half ago..
i agree earthy, chocolaty... blaaaaah, blah, blaaaaaaah, blah, bllllaaaaaah, blaaaaah, blaaaaaah! *lol*

I might have to try one of those tatiana mocha's and see if it's any better....

Great Pics, and i loved your paperclip cigar holder... "Ingenius"! (Headed to the
dollar store right now!):stretchgr
 

Mr.Erskine

I am the Walrus
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Dover, DE
i smoked one, and wasn't that impressed about a month and a half ago..
i agree earthy, chocolaty... blaaaaah, blah, blaaaaaaah, blah, bllllaaaaaah, blaaaaah, blaaaaaah! *lol*

I might have to try one of those tatiana mocha's and see if it's any better....

Great Pics, and i loved your paperclip cigar holder... "Ingenius"! (Headed to the
dollar store right now!):stretchgr
Thanks! I have like a billion paperclips, so I have as many holders as I want.. Although I will probably use a corn holder thingy before too long.
 
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Thanks for the review, sir.

Folger's Black Silk coffee is awesome. I always have a canister of it.
 
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"I like that coffee, my wife--not so much."

Nice review. Sorry you don't like your wife...
 
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"I like that coffee, my wife--not so much."

Nice review. Sorry you don't like your wife...
I don't care who you are....that's funny right there! I was gifted one of these and enjoyed it. Maybe enjoyed the aroma as much as the smoke. I thought it was a bit soft as well, and worried about draw and maybe the thing would self-destruct. Didn't have either issue. I'm not going to run out and buy a box, but thnk I may get a fiver to occaisionally enjoy with some Seattle's Best Post Alley Blend. Great coffee!
 

ciggy

"TommyBoy"
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These are a cigar I smoke once in a great while just to mix it up from time to time. This cigar "Java" and "Irish Hopps" are the only flavored cigars I care for so i keep a few of them on hand. The women really like the Java's so in the summer eve's it's nice when we can get our wives in on the cigar action.
Nice review and Pics!!
 

RobustoMoe

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Bahrain
Nice review Bro !
When I started being serious about cigars (Almost a year ago), I was looking all over the net to get a five pack of these and eventually the urge kinda went away.

I kinda perceived them to be on the "sweet artificial" side of flavors but it seems that its not. Hmmmmm, the urge is coming back :grin:
 

swat253

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The DE Java was one of my first smokes last year when I started to smokes more often. I've had a couple and liked them a lot. I usually suggest the Java when my "new to cigars" friends/co-workers join me for a smoke during the day. Nice review!
 
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