If you ran the Drew Estate cigar company, and you had access to some of the world’s greatest tobaccos for cigars you could make for yourself and your closest employees and associates, wouldn’t you consider creating a special line of sticks just to keep internally?
Well, surprise, surprise — Drew Estate wasn’t the first company in the cigar trade to do exactly this… and it likely won’t be the last, either. But while this practice is ongoing, the average smoker is now able to benefit, as Drew Estate finally decided to introduce its formerly strictly-in-house cigars for sale to the public through select retailers.
These cigars, known as the Liga Privada line (meaning “private blend”), have acquired a cult following ever since Drew Estate’s then-president Steve Saka chose the ninth formulation (the source of the “No. 9” in the line’s name) for its flawlessness out of several dozen trial blends, manufacturing a small run. Perfect in construction, character and flavor, no expense was spared and no shortcut was undertaken in the production of these cigars.
In 2018, Drew Estate celebrated the 10th anniversary of the release of the Liga Privada line — now acknowledged to be the brand’s best — by adding several vitolas, including this one, the Short Panatela.
Comprising a rich amalgamation of some of the world’s greatest tobaccos, the Short Panatela makes use of a jet-black Connecticut Broadleaf Oscuro wrapper, a plantation-grown Brazilian Mata Fina binder and Honduran and Nicaraguan Cuban-seed filler leaves from seven individual farms. All of these tobaccos are aged for a minimum of one year (with the wrappers being hand-fermented for 18 months). Just four pairs of workers at Drew Estate’s Gran Fabrica factory in Estelí, Nicaragua are allowed to roll these limited-production cigars, for the sake of consistency from stick to stick.
What the Short Panatela lacks in length (it’s 4.5 inches long), it more than makes up for in flavor. Boasting nonpareil construction, an easy draw and a razor-sharp burn, the Short Panatela is full in body and possesses medium-to-full strength. Flavors proffered within include white pepper, caramel, espresso, sweet cocoa and spice.
The Liga Privada No. 9 Short Panatela is an intensely satisfying 30-to-40-minute smoke that pairs well with an alcoholic beverage. Order a box of 24 today, and keep them in your humidor for your next smoking interlude.