Released to retailers in December of 2018, the Drew Estate Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro started showing up in social media posts since then. The Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro was announced at the 2018 IPCPR and reflected the new face-lift for the Herrera Esteli that also includes the “Habano’, “Norteno”, and most recently this year, the “Miami”.
During the release of the Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro, Willy Herrera, Drew Estate’s Master Blender noted:
“With the Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro, I wanted to bring the Mata Fina to the forefront of this blend. This tobacco has such a unique texture and it showcases the lush floral and earthy notes I wanted to capture in this cigar. In addition, now that the Herrera Esteli line has been repackaged blending modern simplicity with classic Cuban style, it really shines on our retailers’ shelves and brings unity to the brand.”
The Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro is manufactured at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Esteli, Nicaragua and is available in 5 vitolas, each packaged in 25-count boxes with the unified Herrera Esteli Branding.
- Robusto Grande 5 ¼ x 52 MSRP $227.94/ Box of 25
- Toro Especial 6 x 52 MSRP $241.94/ Box of 25
- Lonsdale 6 x 44 MSRP $231.94/Box of 25
- Fino 6 x 52 MSRP $269.94/ Box of 25
- Short Corona Gorda 5 7/8 x 46 MSRP $203.94/ Box of 25
The blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Plantation Grown Mata Fina
- Binder – Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf
- Filler – Nicaragua
For this review, I sampled two, Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Toros.
Pre-Light Examination
The Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro is a dark brown, bumpy, and veiny cigar that has a light tooth throughout the leaf. The wrapper has a decent oily sheen. It is well capped and solid in the hand with a nice weight to it.
The cigar is adorned with a single band that uses the new, unified Herrera Esteli design and in this case incorporates a teal, white, and gold motif. The words “HERRERA ESTELI by DREW ESTATE” is proudly printed in white on the teal background.
Running the cigar along my nose, I picked up a lightly pungent barrel while the foot exuded a sweetness, pepper, and plum notes.
I used my double blade cutter to give the cap a straight cut, right across the shoulder of the cigar. Proceeding with some cold draw puffs, I noted it was spot on with restriction and offered notes of butter, earth, and pepper.
So far, I like the profile of this cigar and I could puff and chomp on it some more before I ignite it, but like all reviews, we eventually have to burn the leaf to ash. I used my double flame torch lighter and warmed the foot to a nice orange and even glow, gently blowing on the foot to be sure it was perfectly ignited. Leaning back in the Stogie Press Lounge, I drew in the first few puffs that graced my palate with notes of light pepper and cocoa as I cued up an old DOORS concert from 1968.
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Cigar Review Notes
- First puffs offer light pepper and cocoa
- Cedar enters along with a enticing natural tobacco sweetness
- The aroma adds more sweetness to the air in the lounge
- A light grey ash develops on a thin char line
- Sweetness builds, adding the cocoa notes, providing a nice treat to the palate
- Ash fell early with a classic and well defined ash bud
- As the cocoa remains and a hint of growing spice enters
- Ash remains flaky
- Slight wave in the burn appears midway
- Fruit notes add to the mix – I am going to say plum
- Pleasant nut finish near the end of the second third
- Aroma shifts to a toasted oak
- Medium spice continues in the final
- Burns a bit hot at the end
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Overall, the Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro was a medium body and strength cigar that offered a pleasant array of notes and aromas. There was a core of sweetness and cocoa through most of the first half eventually shifting to more spice as it burned to the finish. It did have a flaky ash and there was a slight wave in the burn but never needed a touch up. The final third burned a bit hot. This is worth a picking up a five pack and makes for a great mid afternoon or late evening smoke. I rate this a 92
Point Deductions: (-1) Wave in Burn, (-1) Flaky Ash; (-2) Smoke is Hot in the Final
