Drew Estates Natural: Irish Hops

[kaisersozei]

Mac hit me recently with a “Weird Stuff” bomb, so in honor of Kevin/Winstonshumidor’s trip to Esteli, I decided to light up the Drew Estates Irish Hops yesterday afternoon. Am I representing the VCM, or what?!



Actually, I’ve been interested in this stick for about a year, but never had the desire to drop $30+ for a 5er from CI. Despite their marketing hype, which reads:

At play are some of the world’s finest and most exotic tobaccos, expertly blended to generate a luxurious taste sensation unlike any other on the planet. The Irish Hops is a complex, medium-bodied cigar that’s rich, silky-smooth, creamy, sweet, and booming with bold flavors. This toro, measuring 6" x 52, combines an exotic mixture of unique tobaccos with Brazilian and Nicaraguan long-fillers. Patiently aged and masterfully blended, these leaves are then coated by a dark and oily San Andres Negra wrapper from Mexico. The result is complex from the get-go and enjoyable to the nub.

We'll see....

Appearance/Construction
This is one ugly wrapper—thick, dark & veiny, with a slight sheen. The cap was sloppy, and the twisted shaggy foot was interesting



but I think it helped the cigar light very easily. From start to finish, I’ve never had a cigar put out as much smoke from the foot as this one did. Perhaps it’s all that oily stuff the cigar is infused with. It looked like a tire fire, only didn’t smell as bad.



Flavor
Prelight draw was of chewing tobacco (think: Levi Garrett) and the prelight aroma was heavy, like a box of chocolates. And despite what momma always said, I had a pretty good idea what I was going to get. A headache.

I always struggle with enjoying sweet-tip cigars. This one just wasn’t as overpowering as the Acid blue series, but it still affected my ability to pick out flavors. Although there isn’t anything subtle about DE blends. Heavy, full-bodied with an overpowering earthy chocolate—not the “natural” chocolate you get from some decent maduros. This was a chocolate that basically covered stale tobacco. Every so often I would get some Honduran-like raisin bread, but those blasts of decent cigar flavor were short-lived.



I stuck with it, though, and after I got past a perfumey section midstick, the cigar toned down to what I would consider a more normal smoke. I picked up some nice ginger & cherry flavors in the last 2”, which were unique and surprisingly not nasty. After about a dozen puffs of that, though, I decided I’d had enough and put this stick out.

I was left with an aftertaste of stale tobacco, typical of other Drew Estate cigars I’ve smoked. Had to smoke a DPG Blue after dinner in order to erase that completely.

Final Thoughts
As a homebrewer and someone who favors exotic and creative microbreweries like Dogfish Head, I can appreciate what Drew’s trying to do with these cigar blends. I know there’s a huge market for DE cigars, particularly the Acid line. On the other hand, I don’t think I’m part of that market. I’m glad I finally had a chance to cross this one off my “wonder what it’s like” list, but I won’t be buying any.

Thanks for the chance to smoke one, Mac—I have to work up the nerve to get through the rest of that bomb you sent me!

[Savor the Stick]

Thanks for suffering thru this...so I wouldn't have to.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by kaisersozei

Perhaps it’s all that oily stuff the cigar is infused with.

The Natural line is not infused, hence "Natural". It's just a blend of tobaccos from 14 different countries to come up with the strange flavors. I still stay away.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

The Natural line is not infused, hence "Natural". It's just a blend of tobaccos from 14 different countries to come up with the strange flavors. I still stay away.

Some of which are what would have become pipe tobacco had the curing not been arrested partway through the casing process.


The Irish Hops is one of the "heaver" cigars in the line. Something that someone who likes flavored pipe tobacco might enjoy. Or someone looking to bridge the gap from ACIDs to traditional cigars. It's a brilliant bit of blending, it's just not for everyone (including me)

[kelmac07]

Saved me the trouble...thanks for taking one for the team Gerard!!