Reaching deep  in the darkness of my humidor the other day, I pulled out the latest in the Drew Estate Kentucky Fired Cured line – The Swamp Thang. The little critter has been hiding in there since July of last year simmering and maturing, just waiting for a human hand to take it out into the light so it display all  its brilliance. The day was right, just the right humidity in the Stogie Press lounge, so the transition was smooth and easy. I took the little rascal out and introduced to my yard friend Dino the Dragon, who wanted to have a taste of it. Who was I to argue with a dragon and a swamp thing.  Turns out, it was match made in cigar heaven. Just look at the love going on there.

Jonathan Drew and Drew Estate officially announced the Kentucky Fire Cured Swamp Thang at the 2016 IPCPR. That is where I picked up a sample and have held to it ever since. In fact,today , the official  press release has come out announcing that the Swamp  Thang and Swamp Rat will be shipping to retailers. Here is a little info about the Swamp Thang.

There are three different sizes of this funky creature:

• Swamp Thang Toro (6 x 52)
• Swamp Thang Robusto (5 x 54)
• Swamp Rat (6 x 46).

The blend is a unique as the name:

• Wrapper – Candala
• Binder and Filler – Kentucky Fire Cure Tobacco

Drew Estate stated in the press release:

This thing should not be, and it’s a deeply disturbing yet pleasing smoke. Deep in the swamps it is lurking, waiting to be discovered. By pairing this deliciously sweet candela wrapper with the smoky & tasty Kentucky Fire Cured tobaccos, an eerie mystery has been revealed for a unique and powerful experience.

Pre-Light Examination

The Kentucky Fire Cured Swamp Thang is wrapped with a smooth, pale green, Candela wrapper that is quite pleasing to look at. It is all but veinless and though it looks like it stops at the band,  it actually continues to the head and a small Kentucky fire cured leaf is wrapped around it from  the band to the cap. The band is the standard Kentucky Fire Cured band with no indication that it is the Swamp Thang. you just know it is because of the green color.

The aroma of this cigar is closely similar to the original Kentucky Fire Cure with that deep hickory smoke scent. after the clipping the Cap, you will  notice the green candella leaf under the brown outer wrapper.

The cold draw was lightly restricted and offers that distinctive fire cured flavor along with some pepper and sweet butter.

It was now time to set this Thang on fire.

For this review,  I sampled the Kentucky Fire Cured Swamp Thang Robusto

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Cigar Review Notes

• Magical sweetness entered from the candela wrapper .
• Much less smoked hickory on the palate than the original KFC
• Ash falls early
• Just past the half-inch and the smoke is actually quite smooth and easy on the retrohale
• The sweetness and hickory blend like a BBQ sauce lingering on the palate
• Medium grey ash with a slight flake
• Pristine burn so far
• Thick char line
• Salty butter enters after the end of first third
• And I am picking up a mix of fruit, it is subtle, but there
• Aroma is roasted hickory but again more faint than the original KFC
• I have to say I like the impact of the candela on this it was a brilliant concept!
• Dry Leather enters especially on the lips
• Spicy roasted nut enters just before the band
• Gets interesting at the end with the additional wrapper
• Touch more hickory and savory notes coming in
• Spice builds through the end – a rather radical change
• Medium Strength
• Total Smoking Time was just over an hour or so.

Overall, the Drew Estate Kentucky Fire Cured Swamp Thang was quite the unique smoking experience. The burn was awesome and the smoke was delivering a flavors that enticed the palate. I have to say i like the Swamp Thang better than the original KFC, but that is just my palate. If you were to pair this,  I suggest a some Mash Bourbon, and if you can it try some  of the new John Drew Brands Brixton Mash Destroyer. 

Even my buddy Dino the Dragon agrees with my assessment.

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Here is the Official Press Release announcing the shipment to retailers today