Review: Liga Privada No. 9

Manufacturer: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate S.A.
Country: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua/Honduras
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Size: 6 x 52
Overall Impression: B-

I saw the Liga Privada No. 9 at the B&M a few months ago for the first time. Being unfamiliar with this special blend from Drew Estates, I picked up several based on the look and feel of the cigar. I know alot of folks find the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper to be unattractive, however I find the dark rustic appearance appealing. Combine that with the heft this cigar carries and the classy presentation on the band I was hooked.

According to Drew Estates this cigar was created for the smoking pleasure of the company's president, handcrafted by their factory's best torcedors, and not infused. All in all I think the first half of the cigar hits the mark. After that it is an average smoke at best.

I have smoked 5 of these over the past two months and can report a consistent experience. I have kept them stored at 66% rh. As mentioned above, the Liga Privada No. 9 sports the typical look and feel of a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper: very dark brown in color with a slightly rough texture, and some small, but noticeable veins. There is a nice oily sheen to it and again the overall look works for me because I know the wonderful flavor and aroma the wrapper leaf offers. Ultimately I don't care about the presentation as long as it puts out.

Construction: Nice heft, felt solid head to foot, no soft spots. Good cap. Prelight draw had about the right resistance. Prelight flavor to me was good ole barnyard. In my previous experiences with this cigar, the star of the show has been the construction with the flavor coming in good but not great. Using my Lotus triple flame table lighter the cigar lit easily. For the first half the burn was mostly even, slight variation, producing a solid gray ash up to an inch in length. After the first ash, I noticed a small hole in the filler. It did not negatively affect the draw, burn, or flavor however. The draw and burn remained consistent to the end. No relights or corrections needed.

Flavor: With the first few draws I detected espresso notes and a hint of sweetness on the finish. The draw produced plenty of smoke. Some leather and mild spice was detected in the nose. After about the first inch the smoke started delivering an aroma of roasted nuts. At this point the dominant flavor changed to leather with a citrus finish. So far a top shelf smoke. After the halfway point, the flavors detected in the first half dissipated giving way to earth with a peppery finish. Normally I nub my cigars but not in this case since the flavor was rather bland.

Overall impression: I like this cigar, however at $10 per stick it is pricey for what it delivers. Still I'll keep one or two around for when I'm in the mood. Not recommended for aging.