JC Newman

August 26, 2017

Drew Estate Florida Sun Grown Robusto (5 x 54)







Video review HERE.


Florida Sun GrownFSG” Cigars feature tobacco grown in Clermont, Florida, by Jeff Borysiewicz, owner of Corona Cigar Company and the Florida Sun Grown Farm.

The “FSG” by Drew Estate project began in 2011 and debuted in 2016 at the Florida Barn Smoker. The core FSG blend features Florida Sun Grown filler as an accent tobacco to select Nicaraguan fillers which adds an authentic Florida agricultural nuance to this unique and captivating blend. The binder is a Habano seed tobacco from Honduras and the cigar is finished off with a lush Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper.

In addition to four core sizes, Drew Estate is releasing a Limited Edition Trunk-Pressed Toro. This prized cigar features its own unique blend which utilizes a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Mexican binder, and Florida Sun Grown filler tobacco, along with fillers from Nicaragua and Honduras.

From the Florida Sun Grown Farm in Clermont, Florida Jeff Borysiewicz said, “Drew Estate’s commitment to the American tobacco movement is unmatched. From the Connecticut River Valley, to barns in Kentucky, and to my farm in Clermont, Florida, nobody supports American leaf farmers like Drew Estate. Since 2010 I’ve pioneered the resurgence of Florida tobacco believing that consumers in the United States would be excited to bring American tobacco agriculture back to the forefront. When I purchased the land for our farm, I spent countless hours analyzing the temperature, sun-light, wind, humidity, and altitude that would bring my farm as close to the conditions of Pinar del Rio, Cuba as possible. These are very exciting times for this farm and for American tobacco.”

From his Wynwood Safehouse, President and Founder of Drew Estate, Jonathan Drew said, “My friendship with Jeff spans almost 20 years. When Jeff first approached me about his idea to bring Florida tobacco back to the premium cigar industry I promised him that Drew Estate would stand by his side, just as we have done with the farmers in Connecticut and Kentucky. Pioneering anything is never easy, but what Jeff and his entire company have done is a truly breakthrough innovation. Drew Estate is genuinely committed to American tobacco.”


Blend:
Wrapper: Brazilian Mata Fina
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Florida  Sun Grown, Nicaraguan

The Florida Sun Grown “FSG” by Drew Estate is available for purchase in the following vitolas from Drew Diplomat Retailers:

Robusto (5 x 54), MSRP $230.00/20 CT Box REVIEWED TODAY
Toro (6 x 52), MSRP $260.00/20 CT Box
Belicoso (6 ½ x 54), MSRP $280.00/20 CT Box
Sixty (6 x 60), MSRP $300.00/20 CT Box
Limited Edition Box-Press Toro (6 x 54), MSRP $150.00/10 CT Box



The cigar is well made and a dark brown in color with a slightly oily wrapper. It also has a nice, dense feel in the hand.





The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors were citrus peel with some bitterness but after having several of these I know that will quickly change. After only 1/4 inch the flavors transitioned into a tangerine-like citrus, brown sugar, cinnamon, light clean leather, and coffee at the base. There was black pepper which I rated at an 8. 





1 1/2 inch in (25 minutes) the sweet citrus flavor is morphing into a sweet cedar. You still have the brown sugar, cinnamon, and light leather but now there are also some buttery whipping cream notes. The cigar is medium bodied at this point. The finish is a sweet cream, almost a whipping cream flavor, and a minor amount of lingering black pepper. 




Around the midpoint (46 minutes) the leather notes are much more elevated and also the black coffee. The whipping cream flavor is still there with a touch of buttery notes. The cedar and brown sugar notes are still there but I don't have the cinnamon notes anymore. The cigar is a low grade medium to full bodied. Because of the increased leather on the front end you now have leather on the finish to go along with the sweet cream notes. The lingering black pepper is about the same; possibly up a tad. 




With about 1 1/2 inch remaining (1 hour 9 minutes) the flavors are starting to revert back toward the way they were in the beginning. The leather has toned down. The buttery whipping cream is more elevated, there are more cedar notes and brown sugar, and even twinklings of cinnamon notes again. The cigar is still medium to full bodied. The finish has more of the sweet cream notes again. The whipping cream notes have a white chocolate feel to them at times. The burn has been nearly perfect throughout the entire smoke. 




The cigar lasted 1 hour 21 minutes. The flavors continued on their path to revert back to the beginning. I even got flashes of citrus notes in the final stages. I still had the brown sugar, light cinnamon, and nice, sweet, buttery whipping cream notes. There continued to be flashes of white chocolate notes also. The leather was light and nice tasting. And, there was a light black coffee base. The cigar ended at medium to full bodied. The finish was cream with light leather notes. The lingering black pepper improved and was the best it's been. This was a good cigar. Not overpowering but flavorful. The fact that it uses tobacco from Florida is not a bad thing either. Good cigar. You can purchase these cigars HERE.


Score: 93

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