Drew Estate Herrera Estelí Norteño Robusto Grande

#7 Top 25 Cigars of 2016

94 points, Cigar Aficionado

The Herrera Estelí Norteño Robusto Grande is a sophisticated, soft box-pressed smoke that represents the "Northern" soul of Nicaraguan tobacco. Blended by Willy Herrera, this expression utilises a rich, toothy Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper to encase a potent core of aged Estelí and Jalapa long-fillers. The result is a medium-to-full-bodied experience that prioritises depth and sweetness over aggressive strength, making it a perfect choice for the seasoned palate.

Upon lighting, the Robusto Grande delivers an immediate burst of dark cocoa and rich espresso, beautifully balanced by an undercurrent of natural tobacco sweetness and sweet cedar. As the cigar progresses through its $5\text{½}\times 54$ frame, the smoke remains exceptionally creamy, introducing subtle notes of black pepper and earth that linger on a long, clean finish. This is a masterful blend that showcases Drew Estate’s ability to marry traditional craftsmanship with bold, modern flavour profiles.