[Note: As with all Preproduction cigar previews, this one will be a list of information about the upcoming cigar and general impressions from smoking it. There will be no final rating given, as I believe it is not equitable to rate a cigar that has not yet been finalized and released to the public. Having said that, initial general impressions are almost always accurate.]
When I heard that Drew Estates was releasing a new size in the Liga Privada #9 blend (which I reviewed here) called the "Flying Pig", I honestly thought it was a joke.
However, I have to admit that the name sticks, and the unique shape and look of the cigar does not hurt any either.
For those of you who may not be aware, when Jonathan Drew took over the Drew Estates brand, it was best known for it's "infused" cigars...the Liga Privada #9 (which translates to "Private Blend #9") was originally created just for Steve Saka (Drew Estate President), much like Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars and the Black Label...
The Liga Privada #9 "Flying Pig" is a limited edition vitolas for 2009 as thy are very time consuming to make ( the average production per pair is 125 p/day)...Steve Saka picked the shape from a photograph of an 1895 cigar salesman's size-selection case. It is a fairly fat perfecto shape (4" x 60)that has not been in production since the 1930's. Only 2,000 boxes of 12 each (that would be 24,000 total cigars) have been produced, and the MSRP will be $12 each and they should be in stores next month...It also has a bit more ligero and is stronger than the usual Liga Privada #9 (which I can attest to)...
First, the little pigtail on top kicks A**...great looking stick, thicker then I expected (what I would call a "Stout" stick), and is quite a bit more oily then the regular #9...The wrapper is also quite a bit darker, more of a dark espresso bean color...
One of the most amazing things about this stick was the the draw was PERFECT the entire way through...usually, in a cigar this size and shape, the draw can be, shall we say, problematic...but they nailed with this one...I was VERY impressed...
Taste wise, this cigar was similar to the Regular #9, but amped up, almost like it was on steroids...Flavors were Dark Chocolate, leather (especially in the last third) a great woodsy cedar and a wonderful Spice that really kept the stick interesting for the entire smoke...it never got bitter, not even at the nub...
Another interesting aspect to this cigar was that the smoke coming off the cigar while being torched was some of the most peppery I have ever smelled...A very different smell then most smoke, for sure...
The Bottom Line: Assuming that nothing changes between this stick and the final production (and there is no reason to think that anything will) if you can find one (or more) of these cigars, I suggest you buy them, at the very least to try. The price is great for what you get, a spicy yet complex bomb of flavor that is never overwhelming, and it is a great stick to look at as well...
~brooks