Drew Estate - Nica Rustica "El Brujito"
This is a stick that I have been back and forth with. The first one I smoked was well aged and I thought it felt like a phoned in blend. There was no soul or passion to speak of. The second one I smoked was just a few days out of the JR humidor. It tasted like mud and pepper on steroids.
So far this one is earth, coco, pepper, and a tease of cream. All of the flavors are muted and I'm waiting for it to show off.
Edit:
The ash fell off just past .75" and the char line straightened out. I wouldn't say that the flavors are showing off, but they are stretching their legs at the moment. Sweet coco and dark earth keep jockeying for dominance, but nuts and red pepper are making an appearance as the cream increases. It reminds me of some homemade chocolates that my father-in-law brings back from Mexico. It just needs a dash of cinnamon. Not bad.
Nearing the halfway point a super strong wood element enters for a couple of puffs. To name it would be to get it wrong. It doesn't take long for the wood to fall back in to the mix and make this a very balanced smoke. Wood, coco, deep dark earth, pepper, cream, sweetness, and tobacco make up the flavor list. It borders on complex with a nice smooth finish on the the longish side.
110 minutes later and I'm thankful for the extra breakfast this morning. I recommend this after a Mexican dinner with chorizo or "Guerrero Beef Barbecue." (The second dish is a regional dish from the west coast of Mexico and hard to find in America.)
