Cigar Review – Drew Estate Undercrown SHADYXX
“I’m a criminal
‘Cause every time I write a rhyme,
These people think it’s a crime
To tell ’em what’s on my mind
I guess I’m a criminal
But I don’t gotta say a word,
I just flip ’em the bird
And keep going, I don’t take shit from no one”
Now why would a cigar review start out with #EMINEM lyrics?
- I’ve been writing about criminal law all day – wrestling with the maximum nullem crimen sine lege – there is no crime unless the law says it’s a crime.
- So the lyrics here are particularly apt for what I’ve been writing about.
- Today’s cigar is the UNDERCROWN SHADYXX by DREWESTATE, in collaboration with SHADY RECORDS, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Shady Records, the label founded by Paul Rosenberg and Eminem.
- The Undercrown ShadyXX is not the first collaboration between Drew Estate and Shady Records. Back in 2014, the two parties teamed up to release the Undercrown ShadyXV – a cigar that was released for the 15th anniversary of Shady Records
Cigar details
NAME: DREW ESTATE UNDERCROWN SHADYXX
SIZE: 5 x 50 (Box-Pressed Belicoso)
WRAPPER: San Andres Mexican
BINDER: Connecticut Stalk Cut Habano
FILLER: Nicaraguan and Brazilian Mata Fina Country of Origin: Nicaragua
FACTORY: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
STRENGTH: Medium-full
SMOKING TIME: 90 minutes
FLAVOUR NOTES AND IMPRESSIONS
This chocolate brown box-pressed belicoso was firm to the touch, with no squish or soft spots. I loved that the colouring on both of the bands is the same blue and gold used on the Liga Privada line from Drew Estate. The band on the foot has the latin text “HABE FIDUCIAM SUMUS UBERIFERUM” – which, loosely translated means “Trust us, we’re shady”.
I used a straight cut on this belicoso tip. The dry draw exhibited cocoa and something slightly fruity.
Once lit, there were ample plumes of chewy smoke. The first third was predominantly spicy pepper and cocoa. The second third was chocolatey, with the pepper moving into the background.
Throughout, the smoking experience was smooth and flavourful. Retrohale sparingly, cos the pepper notes on the retrohale can be a bit punchy – but I did so enjoy it. The SHADYXX starts out at as being deceptively medium bodied, and then quickly ramps up to full-bodied. Despite being full-bodied, the cigar maintained and developed the flavour profile from foot to nub. The SHADYXX was totally nub-worthy, and thanks to my trusty Cigar Dagger, I was able to enjoy it all the way down to the nub without burning my fingers.
I didn’t have any major burn issues, and the burn line was relatively straight. The ash was a light charcoal grey, which held on solidly till just after the half-way point.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In terms of strength, this cigar is not for the uninitiated or inexperienced cigar smoker. Even experienced aficionados will get a head-rush from this beauty. As these cigars are not regularly produced, if you’re a fan, I’d suggest buying a few and storing them in your humidor, because it’s going to be at least another 5 years before Shady Records and Drew Estate collaborate for another anniversary milestone release.
The only crime would be not smoking this stick
Written by Suhayfa Bhamjee – @janebond5050
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