Just want to expand on something JayD said...
He happened to join me for our Xmas Party event at Twins Smokeshop and it was on the very day that I had received an air shipment of the 1st batch of ready to smoke T52s from the Y2009 T52 Stalk Cut Habano ligero crop so he and a few others got a few of them unbanded to sample.
Anyhow, I want everyone to be aware that the Y2009 crop was extremely thick, extremely oily, and an incredible pain in the ass to ferment - it took us far longer than we ever thought it would and is the reason why there was such a T52 shortage in Y2011.
Now for the good news - the cigars are finally ready to start being imported into the US again. You should start to see these showing up by late January on LP Authorized Account shelves. Also, they are exceptional in flavor in our opinion, the wrapper really turned out amazing.
Now for the confusing news - they are darker in hue than ever before, in fact they are the darkest Havana seed leaf I have ever seen on a cigar outside of a couple of the Cuban Limited Editions. They are glorious looking and tasting, but I can see how some consumers may wonder if we changed the wrapper to a maduro seed one.
We did NOT - this is 100% T52 Stalk Cut Habano grown in CT - no material changes whatsoever, it just ended up fermenting darker given its exceptional body and the time in the pilones it required to be right.
Some of our sales weenies argued we should have arrested the pilones earlier so as to maintain the colorado-maduro with a rojo hue achieve in the Y2007 & Y2008 crops, but we in the factory ignored them and did what was best for the flavor, aroma and burn of the leaf. We have always taken the standpoint that LPs are for the true connoisseur cigar smokers and that how a cigar tastes and smokes is the primary concern over any other. We smoke with our palate and nose, not out eyes...
Am I telling you they are ugly? Absolutely not, they are glorious looking, but considerably darker than any T52 before them. We are still fermenting some of the Y2009 crop so we wont know if this uber-dark color will be the case for the entire crop year, but I would say it is likely given the leaf we have reviewed to date.
As for the Y2010 crop, it is way too early too tell.
BR,
Steve Saka
Prez, Drew Estate
ps: We'd appreciate it if you would share this info if you happen to see a question about the T52 color on another forum or overhear it in a cigar shop. It is impossible for us to inform everyone, so thanks for your help.
pps: No. 9 or T52 blend... hmmm, that is like asking a father to choose which is his favorite son. It depends on the day and who last annoyed me... ;>
