The main thing to understand about Drew Estate’s Liga Privada No. 9 line of smokes is that it was never intended to be sold to the public.
Liga Privada means “private blend,” and these cigars’ bands are stamped with the words “HECHO EXCLUSIVAMENTA PARA EL JEFE,” which translates to “manufactured exclusively for the boss.” The boss, in this case, was Drew Estate’s esteemed former president Steve Saka, who was solely responsible for producing these coveted cigars — widely acknowledged to be Drew Estate’s best — in the first place.
Yes, that’s right — these cigars were originally meant only for Saka and a select group of company insiders (the “No. 9” in the line’s name refers to the initial blend being the ninth out of dozens tested that was chosen after being judged “flawless”).
No expense was spared and no shortcut was taken in the making of these extraordinary sticks; they are simply immaculate in their character, construction and taste. This vitola, the Tubo, is Toro-sized and packaged in individually branded aluminum tubes for freshness.
The No. 9 Tubo makes use of Honduran and Nicaraguan Cuban-seed filler leaves from seven distinct farms, along with plantation-grown Brazilian Mata Fina binders and nearly black, hand-fermented Connecticut Broadleaf Oscuro wrappers. Each of these tobaccos is aged for at least one year, and just four pairs of veteran workers at Drew Estate’s Gran Fabrica factory in Estelí, Nicaragua are permitted to roll these limited-edition cigars, to keep them consistent from stick to stick.
Extremely solidly constructed, with an easy draw and an even burn, these rustic-looking cigars are full-bodied, with medium-to-full strength and complexity; they produce copious clouds of rich, dense smoke. The Tubo’s earthy, woody flavors proffer plenty of robust spice notes, along with a hint of sweetness and an herbal finish.
Available in boxes of 10, the No. 9 Tubo is one of the rarest and most sought-after Liga Privada releases, and this line — widely acknowledged to be Drew Estate’s best — is already hard to come by due to the cult following it’s amassed… So be sure to get your order in when you’re able to!