Cigar Review: Nica Rustica Short Robusto by Drew Estate

• Vitola: Short Robusto
• 4.5” x 50 ring gauge
• ~$6
• Sample provided by Drew Estate

Background

Drew Estate introduced Nica Rustica about 2 years ago in a single Toro size called El Brujito (“Witch Doctor”). The aim of the blend was to showcase native Nicaraguan tobaccos from Esteli and Jalapa. Earlier during the year it came out, I had spent a few days visiting the Drew Estate operations in Nicaragua and smoked an early version of the blend. It was interesting and unique, but a bit “wild” in flavor and extraordinarily strong in terms of nicotine. The final blend turned down the wild flavor and nicotine hit considerably and I enjoy it, but I never did enjoy the vitola…it tends to smoke a very long time and, while it’s good, it was never a terribly complex blend and I got bored with it.

To my horror and delight, Drew Estate produced two new vitolas of the blend this year…a Belicoso (called “Belly”) that is both longer and fatter than the original Toro (I can’t imagine ever wanting to smoke it, to be honest) and a Short Robusto that is both shorter and thinner than the original…and sounds just about perfect for me.

The Nica Rustica blend uses Nicaraguan (Esteli and Jalapa) fillers, a Mexican San Andres Negro binder, and a Connecticut Broadleaf Mediums wrapper leaf. This particular sample was one I was sent by Drew Estate in November. I also had a show sample in July and my local rep gave me one at Tweet-Up, so this is about the third time I’ve smoked this blend in this size.

Prelight

The Nica Rustica branding has held up well in my eyes. It’s unique among the DE brands and among other brands in the humidor…it’s nice, but not too nice for the brand…and it is immediately recognizable. I am always happy to see a beautiful, oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. This one was dark chocolate in color, with some darker vein lines. The hand-twisted cap was tight and the closed foot all work together to reinforce the “rustic” nature of this blend.

Bringing cigar to nose, I got a definite sweetness in the natural tobacco and earth components of the wrapper. With the closed foot, there wasn’t a lot of difference to the aroma there…maybe just a bit of pepper added. The cold draw was easy and I got flavors of leather and earth, with a touch of sweetness.

Flavor

As I lit up the bunched up wrapper at the closed foot, I got a big pepper blast as well as cocoa powder and muted sweetness. As the filler started burning, there was a large earthy component added to the flavor profile. The smoke was medium-to-full in body right from the start, displaying a good amount of punch. The retrohale was very peppery.

The second third had a greater sweetness to it along with lots of leather and earth. The pepper spice continued unabated, as well.

In the last third, the Nica Rustica had more chocolate, more spice, and a bit of citrus twang.

Construction

I had a very solid ash, great draw and very even burn line. The cigar did go out on me once in the early going when I didn’t puff for about a minute, but it lit back up very easily.

Value

The price point on these has always been excellent. This vitola is even cheaper, making it a great everyday value smoke.

Conclusions

As I noted above, Nica Rustica is not the most complex cigar in the world and because of that, I tend to get bored smoking the larger vitolas. In this smaller Robusto size, though, it excels at delivering a very fine flavor that kept my interest alive. It’s still a full-bodied cigar and might have more nicotine than newbies can take, but I would put this right up there with the Tatuaje Tattoo as a great moderately priced cigar that is easy to smoke every day.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10

Site sponsors Small Batch Cigar and Stogies World Class Cigars offer Nica Rustica for sale on their websites. Small Batch has the Short Robusto available HERE. Stogies has the original “El Brujito” vitola available HERE.