Cigar Review: Southern Draw Firethorn Augusta – Rated 91

Originally introduced in 2014, the Southern Draw Firethorn has been a core line for the company and also has evolved in different formats and tweaks since its debut.

The latest extension to the Firethorn line is the “Augusta“, a nod to the Georgia city just outside of Ft. Gordon – the home to the U.S. Army Cyber Command and U.S. Army Signal Corps where members of Robert Holt’s family served. It is also a nod to the most prestigious tournament in all of golf and the soul and deep musical influences of long-time Augusta resident, James Brown who began his illustrious music career by entertaining military troops at Camp Gordon. It is no secret that Holt and his Southern Draw family has a deep love for the military and veterans.

Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta

The blend for the Firethorn – Augusta is a unique variation of the original Firethorn, embracing changes in both ratios and aging of the same select tobaccos:

  • Wrapper: Habano Rosado – Ecuador
  • Binder: San Andres Maduro – Mexico
  • Filler: Proprietary – Nicaragua

The Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta is expressed in a (5.5 x 54) Belicoso Fino and comes packaged in 10-count mazos (bundles). MSRP has been set at $9.99/Cigar.

Even the mazo has an updated design for this release, reflecting the Holt family’s memorable parts of Augusta, GA.

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For this review, I sampled three Firethorn-Augusta Belicoso Finos, which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.

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Pre-Light Examination

The Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta is a beautifully constructed, silky smooth, box pressed belicoso fino. Medium brown in color with a slight oily sheen, the cigar is well packed with just the right amount of give along the barrel. It has a smooth edges and minimal veins along with an expertly applied belicoso cap. The looks alone scream out, “Fire me Up“.

Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta

Two bands adorn the cigar. The primary band uses the same band as the Firethorn line, proudly displaying the Southern Draw logo in the center. A secondary band is placed just below the primary, using the same motif, and declares this as the “AUGUSTA” variety.

Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta

I ran the Firethorn-Augusta along the nose and detected a lightly pungent, fermented leaf note along the barrel. The foot offered a mild nut like aroma.

Using my trusty CigarMedics HumidiMeter, I stabbed the foot and got a perfect 65% reading. Good to Go!

I sliced the cap at a 45 degree angle, like I do most torpedoes and belicosos. Once opened up, I took some cold draw puffs that was just a bit snug and and delivered notes of natural tobacco sweetness, earthiness and a hint of pepper.

It was time to get the journey started. I reached for my double flame Bugatti Mirage lighter and warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first peppery burst of smoke. Follow along as I burn the Firethorn-Augusta to ash.


Cigar Review Notes

Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta
Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta
Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta
Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta
Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta
  • Initial draw offers a white pepper blast
  • The pepper receded rather quickly and made way for floral notes
  • Medium volume of smoke
  • A white ash forms on top of a straight, medium thick char line
  • Slight jag in the burn
  • Cream and sweetness add to the profile
  • Ash drops early but reveals an excellent burn cone
  • Cedar nuances fill the background of the profile
  • Touch of spice mixes in midway through the burn
  • Ash falls often
  • Profile stayed fairly consistent through the second half
  • An added cinnamon spice broke through near the final
  • Medium Strength
  • Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes

Overall, the Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta was a pleasant smoking experience that offered a balanced array of flavors through a medium strength smoke. I especially enjoyed the early Cubanesque floral notes. The burn was decent, with just a slight jag here and there, but the ash did fall often through the journey. I would say this worth picking up a fiver and I rate this a 91.

Point Deductions: (-1) Slight Jag in Burn; (-1) Ash Falls Often; (-1) Medium Volume of Smoke

Southern Draw Firethorn-Augusta