As part of their fall 2020 release, Southern Draw Cigars included a new Presidente vitola of their acclaimed Jacobs Ladder Brimstone blend. The new line extension, Un Presidente, is not a political statement by any means as it is purely a coincidence that it was being released on the eve of major U.S. elections, but rather a respect to some phenomenal Cuban classic cigars of similar or the same size.
In the press release, Ethan “Jacob” Holt noted the following about the Un Presidente:
“For those, myself among them, that enjoy the original Jacobs Ladder Brimstone blend but have a desire for a thinner ring gauge and the ability to prolong their smoking enjoyment (without the necessity of cutting and lighting another cigar), we are introducing a Gran Corona 9.0×48 size. This cigar is regal looking and offers a delicious flavor combination and a subtler full body that is unique to this blend, AKA Un Presidente in honor of some of the classic Cuban cigars that have utilized these special size 9.0×48 cigar molds.”
Handcrafted at AJ Fernandez Cigar Co., the Un Presidente has a blend described as:
- Wrapper: USA
- Binder: USA
- Filler: Nicaragua
The Un Presidente is expressed in a single (9 x 48) Presidente vitola and has been added as a full-production release of Southern Draw. They come packaged in 5-count handmade “petaca” or wooden cigar boxes. The company notes that ‘The cigars have been aged for 10 months, delivering the desired, slight “mellowing” of the otherwise bold blend. The resulting flavor is well balanced for such a large sized cigar.’
For this review, I sampled five Un Presidentes that I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Brimstone Un Presidente is a beautifully constructed Presidente vitola. Dark brown in color with a slightly gritty (toothy) feel, it is firm to the touch from head to foot with essentially no visible veins and the seams are all but invisible. A well applied cap and closed foot finishes the presentation.
As with the original Jacobs Ladder Brimstone, it is adorned with two bands. The primary is the standard Jacobs Ladder blue band with the Southern Draw logo printed in gold. The secondary band is placed just below the primary and uses a blue, white and gold motif. It boldly declares this as the “JACOBS LADDER BRIMSTONE” in gold on a blue background.
Running the Un Presidente along the nose, I detected sweet baking spice notes and earth along the barrel and the foot.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder and found the cold draw to have a decent restriction, albeit a closed foot. The draw offered a musty earth note and a growing pepper.
With the pre-light examination much to my liking, I reached for my double flame torch and warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of sweet and peppery smoke. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Right off the first lit puffs I was greeted with notes of sweetness and gentle pepper
- The smoke volume is immediately full
- A light grey to white ash forms on a thin char line
- Savory and meat notes join the profile as the pepper pulls back a notch
- Cedar sweetness enters after after an inch and half of burn
- A slight jag in the burn develops but does not require a touch up
- Citrus tang notes move forward after about two inches of burn
- Ash fell revealing a well formed and centered burn cone
- Strength starts to ratchet up
- Dark chocolate notes join the profile, blending well with the early sweetness
- Savory aroma notes waft off the foot
- Delicate spice enters just south of the secondary band
- Spice increases with a slight background of fruit moving through the final third
- Full Strength
- Total Smoking 2 hours and 30 minutes
Overall, if you enjoyed the original Jacobs Ladder Brimstone, and you have a good two and a half hours to sit back and smoke, you will certainly enjoy the Un Presidente. As described, the flavors were more mellow yet complex and well balanced through the long journey. The strength certainly crept up through the burn, slowly reaching solidly full, long before the end. Although this is a meal unto itself, this is one you want to eat a big meal before smoking and would be enjoyed by the most seasoned palate. I rate this a 96.
Point Deductions: (-1) Slight jag in burn;
Bonus Points: (+1) Buy a Box; (+1) Extremely Complex and Balanced; (+1) Pleasurable Experience through Multiple Samples
