Back in September, Drew Estate introduced a completely new version of the Liga Privada 10 at the Intertabac Show in Dortmund, Germany. The company noted that the Liga Privada 10 Selección de Mercado Toro was carefully handcrafted to showcase the bold characteristics of a specially curated Connecticut Criollo capa leaf that was grown exclusively for Drew Estate by one farmer in the famed Connecticut River Valley.
Seleccíon de Mercado is Spanish for “Market Selection” and is a name that Drew Estate chose that hearkens back to the practice of selecting wrapper leaves for certain national markets by color designation. For Seleccíon de Mercado, Drew Estate selected only Connecticut Criollo capa leaves that are carefully processed to deliver a stunningly beautiful reddish-brown, or rosado, hue. The end result the company says, is a cigar that is robust in flavor but slightly less full-bodied than other Liga expressions.
The full blend is described as:
- Wrapper (Capa) – Connecticut Criollo
- Binder (Capote) – Mexican San Andres
- Filler (Tripa) – Nicaragua and Pennsylvania.
With an unfinished foot and the Cola de Pescado (fishtail) head, Seleccíon de Mercado is made by only Drew Estate’s top buncheros and rolleras and is available only in markets outside the United States. They come packaged in elegant 10-count boxes and have an MSRP in the range of $25 – $100/Cigar based on the country and region.
For this review I sampled 5 Drew Estate Liga Privada 10 Seleccion De Mercado Toros
Pre-Light Examination
The Drew Estate Liga Privada 10 Seleccion De Mercado is wrapped with what I would describe as a rugged, dark reddish-brown leaf that exhibits some noticeable veins and marbling running throughout. The color seems to vary a bit as you rotate the cigar which tells me there was no attempt to even the color out in any artificial way. It is as natural and unadulturated as you get. It has a loosely closed foot and is finished with an expertly applied Cola de Pescado (fishtail) cap.
Two bands adorn the cigar. The primary band uses a black and silver band… The secondary band is placed just below the primary and declares this as the “Seleccion De Mercado” printed in black on a silver background.
The cigar is fairly firm throughout, with just the right give when pressed between the fingers. Sweet floral notes are detected along the barrel and foot (closed).
Using my double blade cutter, I sliced the cap straight at the shoulder of the cigar and gave it some cold draw puffs that I found to be spot on with restriction delivering an excellent draw while offering a peppery sting to lips which starts to grow and engulf the palate along with a salty and savory array of notes.
My single flame Xikar lighter was used to ignite the foot, which took quickly tot he flame and grew to an even orange glow. As I puffed the newly ignited cigar, my palate was greeted with notes of coffee and peppery spice to begin the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Coffee and pepper notes to start
- White ash forms on top of a medium thick burn line that is a little wavy
- Sweet tobacco aroma wafts off the foot
- Sweet cream notes add to the early profile
- Coffee moves to more of an espresso nuance as a touch of cedar enters deep in the first third
- Maltiness and savory spice note blend in, adding to an already complex early profile
- Ash holds tight but it is a tad flaky
- Aroma transitions to vanilla aroma moving into the second third
- Ash drops in a decent chunk revealing a well-formed burn cone
- Mouthwatering citrus peel notes keep the expression going and tantalizing the palate
- Cocoa powder enters and slowly morphs into a rich dark chocolate note
- Added gentle spice notes form deep in the second third
- If that was not enough, a sweet cracker note enters in the final third
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time just shy of 2 hours
Final Analysis
The Drew Estate Liga Privada 10 Seleccion De Mercado experience kicks off with a delightful blend of coffee and peppery tones. Aromatic hints of sweet tobacco gracefully emanate from the cigar’s foot, complemented by the addition of sweet cream notes added to the profile. The coffee essence gradually transforms into a richer espresso profile, coinciding with a touch of cedar that emerges deep in the initial third. Complexity intensifies with a melding of maltiness and savory spice, augmenting the already intricate early flavors. The aroma evolves, transitioning into a fragrant hint of vanilla as the second third unfolds. The journey continues with a mouthwatering interplay of citrus peel notes that tantalize the palate. Subsequently, cocoa powder notes grace the palate and gradually transition into a decadent, robust dark chocolate note.
To further heighten the experience, subtle spice elements emerge deeper into the second third. And just when one might think it’s reached its pinnacle, a delightful addition of a sweet cracker note enters the scene in the final third.
This is one of the most complex cigars I have smoked this year, though with the complexity came balance in the numerous transitions through the journey. This is also a cigar you should smoke slowly to truly appreciate the complexity and nuances. Smoking it too fast, I learned, will cause the ash to become more flaky and the burn to get more wonky. I do believe this cigar will age well and though they seem to be pricey, if you can afford a box, grab one. I rate this a 95.
Point Deductions: (-1) Flaky Ash; (-1) Slight Jag in Burn
Bonus Points: (+1) Extremely Complex; (+1) Pleasurable and Consistent across Multiple Samples; (+1) Box Buy
