Drew Estate introduced its original Liga Privada No. 9 line of cigars to the public in 2007 after keeping it strictly as an in-house blend for then-company president Steve Saka and a few others in the top brass for a number of years prior. Because the line ended up doing so well (it has now reached quasi-cult status), Drew Estate wanted to follow up and release a stronger and more robust range of Liga Privadas — the T52 series.
After two years of preparation (with Drew Estate alternating between the third and fourth iterations of the final development blends and compromising on a “3.5” mixture), the T52 series was released in 2009, with this vitola — the Corona Viva — being added to the range in 2018.
The T52 series diverges from the No. 9 in a major way: instead of utilizing Broadleaf Oscuro wrappers, it makes use of stalk-cut, Connecticut-grown, Cuban-seed Habano leaves to surround the Honduran and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos (from seven individual farms) and Brazilian Mata Fina binder leaves inside these ultra-premium sticks.
As opposed to many other tobaccos which are primed — a process in which the leaves of the plant are removed immediately — stalk-cutting means that the leaves are left on their stalks to sit in the sun and hang in a warehouse for aging, so they can still absorb nutrients from the cut plant during this period. It is for this reason that the leaves are said to gain richer, earthier and bolder qualities, and they become especially prized for these traits by major firms in the industry.
Only the most experienced workers at Drew Estate’s sprawling Gran Fabrica cigar factory in Estelí, Nicaragua are allowed to roll T52 cigars in low quantities per day. The finished sticks are then sold exclusively through select retailers.
Boasting nonpareil construction, an excellent draw and an even burn, the Liga Privada T52 Corona Vivas are full-bodied, with medium-to-full strength. Notes detected in the T52 Corona Viva include wood, coffee, earth, orange rind and pepper. These sticks provide a medium-plus complexity and a satisfying finish.
If you haven’t tried Liga Privada smokes, you owe it to yourself to sample the T52 series. As with the rest of the Liga Privada family, these smokes can be rare to come across. If they’re available, you should order a box immediately because it’s impossible to know when they’ll be back in stock again.