Cigar: BOTL
Size: 6 x 46 Corona Gorda
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Filler: Nicaragua MSRP: Around $10.00 per cigar
Cigars provided by the manufacturer
This next cigar has been one that has been occupying space in my humidor since the summer and I’ve finally gotten around to giving it a proper review. Drew Estates partnered with the online Brothers of the Leaf to create the BOTL back in 2012. Fast forward to this year, the company decided to make that cigar a national release at this year’s ICPCR. While I have been an active reviewer for the better part of a decade, the BOTL was not one cigar I was familiar so I was naturally excited to give this one a shot. Thank you to Drew Estates for the chance to give this cigar a proper review.
No construction issues on the cigar chosen for review (last of the group). After the V cut, the cold draw brought about strong hints of wood and leather onto the palette while the pre-light aromas were a mix of stronger leather and dried fruit. The light gave a balanced draw with opening flavor notes of the aforementioned leather and wood, accompanied with moderate spice notes on the aftertaste. One interesting note, at least for my palette, was that the cigar started right away well into the full bodied range of strength but as I started getting into the initial smoking of it, everything from the strength to the flavor profile mellowed out. This was noticed 14 minutes into the cigar. The strength and flavors held true to this state for awhile until the 33 minute mark. This was the point where the strength and flavors began coming back strong. Heavier wood and leather pounded away at the palette in the final 21 minutes that remained in the cigar’s lifespan. Total smoking time on the BOTL was a quick 0:52.
I found a couple of quirks with this cigar during the review process. While the draw had a nice balance to it, I felt in the first third that there was a plug somewhere within the tobacco to where I had to work a little bit harder to keep it moving along. It also burned a bit uneven at first and after a few minor corrections, it smoked without issue after that.
By-The-Numbers
Pre-light: 2/2
Construction: 1.75/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.75/10
To recap the BOTL:
- Lots of strength in a slimmer package with a flavor profile similar to many Nicaraguan cigars I have smoked in the past.
- This is one cigar that probably won’t appeal to everyone. The strong start and finish to this cigar may be a bit too much for some. I gave one to a friend awhile back and got the following text from him a few days after: “Damn that BOTL is strong! Am I going to be able to pass a drug test after smoking this?” (Glad you liked it Ozzie)
- I do like the price point on the cigar; I feel it’s about where it should be.
- I’ll certainly consider these, should I find them at any local B&Ms or they pop up at the online stores I regular.
Thank you once again to Drew Estates for the opportunity to review the BOTL. Thank you to all of you for reading.
