Cigar: Drew Estate Factory Smokes Maduro
Size: 7×50 (Churchill)
Wrapper: Maduro
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Indonesian
MSRP: $40.99 per bundle of 25 cigars from Cigars International
If you are one of the many who are competing in this year’s Pick’em League, you’ll at least recognize this next cigar review. It is among one of the bundles that can be chosen should anyone happen to win. Drew Estate announced the Factory Smokes at this year’s ICPCR. The company had this to say about the cigar:
Skillfully manufactured at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, alongside the same buncheros and rolleros who create premium cigars, Factory Smokes by Drew Estate are economically priced due to their bulk manufacturing and less expensive bundle packaging. A handmade value priced line of cigars perfect for sharing with your friends on a Monday, mowing the lawn, washing the car, you know, smoke it, enjoy it, toss it if you must, then grab another.
I’m all about finding a solid bundle cigar and when I saw these announced, I knew that I would be reviewing them sooner or later. My initial purchase was three of the four bundles: the Maduro, the Shade and the Sweet (all in a Churchill vitola). While I will do my best to review the other two before the end of the year (and the Sun Grown when I get around to ordering them), I can tell you I have enjoyed all of these so far. But to make it official for the maduro, let’s get this cigar into a proper review.
No construction issues on the cigar chosen for review. I got touches of dried fruit and leather from the pre-light aromas while the cold draw gave only light woody flavors. The light after the straight guillotine cut gave a nicely balanced draw and opening flavor notes of black pepper and wood. This is one maduro that will not overpower as I found the starting strength to be slightly above medium with an easy finish on the palette. The cigar stayed as is in terms of strength and flavor for the majority of its smoking time. I began noticing heavier pepper and wood notes at the 51 minute mark, with a slight increase in strength. The Factory Smokes Maduro continued along this profile until the end of its smoking time, which concluded at 1:30.
Besides one re-light near the very end of the cigar because it went out on me, the Factory Smokes Maduro chosen for review was lit, smoked and put down without a hitch.
By-The-Numbers
Pre-light: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.75/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.75/10
To recap the Drew Estate Factory Smokes Maduro:
- This line of bundle cigars are more than likely a big hit for Drew Estate and the maduro will be a big hit for smokers looking for an inexpensive maduro that has a nice balance of flavor and strength.
- Despite the maduro wrapper, the strength of this cigar is not enough to scare away those who prefer milder fare. Smoke these without worry.
- The cigar is almost a steal for how inexpensive they are. Fantastic deal.
- Lots more of these are going to be bought in the future for my humidor. They are the perfect cigar to fill up your humidor with and not put your bank account into a world of hurt.
Thank you so much for reading. I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you.
