Review: Drew Estate “Dirty Rat” (Preproduction)
(Editor’s Note: As with all Preproduction cigar previews, this one will be a list of information about the 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.— brooks.)
Along with the Liga Privada No. 9 and the Flying Pig, Drew Estate President Steve Saka has been working on a new blend, the result is the so called “Rata Sucia,” Spanish for “Dirty Rat.” This is currently being produced in VERY small numbers only for Saka and a few lucky people inside and outside of the company. According to a quote by Steve:
(The “Dirty Rat” is a) byproduct of a project I was working on with Nicholas (Melillo) to try and recreate that LP #9 flavor in a corona size…which btw we never did get right imo, however while trying to do so Luis (our lead torcedor and gallery supervisor) came up with an amazing blend utilizing the techniques we developed together.
Steve has said in various postings and emails that this is a cigar that will most likely never see regular production, since the Corona is made with seven different tobaccos: five different fillers in addition to the wrapper and binder. In fact, it costs almost the same to produce it in a Corona as it does to make it in a Double Corona size, and it apparently needs to be made in the Corona size to keep the flavor and strength profile.
But enough of that, let’s get down to business, shall we?
- Name: Drew Estate “Dirty Rat”
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
- Wrapper: Stalk-Cut Sungrown Connecticut Valley Habano
- Binder: Plantation Grown Brazil Mata Fina
- Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua
- Size: 5 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 44
- Vitola: Corona
The first thing I noticed about this cigar when I saw it (besides the simple typed “Dirty Rat” label) was the pigtail, which I have always loved on a cigar. (And I have always wondered how long it takes to make a tail like that on a cigar.) The wrapper is a fairly dark chocolate brown, and there is a bit of oil, but not near as much as on the regular No. 9 or the Tatuaje T110. The cigar itself is very firm, but not overly much so, and it smells of pepper, sweet chocolate and cinnamon. The pre-light draw had flavors of pepper and cinnamon as well.
Immediately after lighting it up, I was almost overwhelmed with a bomb of spice on my tongue and the back of my throat. Honestly, it surprised me with its intensity, and I was a bit taken aback by it. The spice did calm down a bit after the first twenty puffs or so, allowing me to taste a bit of chocolate and just a touch of oak.
As the Second Third started, the spice calmed down, but only just a bit, and I could still taste it in the back of my throat. However, I also started tasting other flavors: a bit of cloves and cinnamon, but not a sweet taste — more tart than sweet.
The Final Third is where this stick shines, the spice came back with a vengeance, like a tidal wave, but interestingly, did NOT overpower the other flavors like it did in the beginning, just underneath the spice was a very heavy, meaty taste, along with a strong flavor of leather that continued until the end. Also, I honestly did not notice how strong this stick was until about halfway through the last third, and that was where it hit me.
Final Notes:
- Make no mistake (and don’t let the size fool you), this is one STRONG ASS cigar. I was extremely surprised at how the strength in this stick snuck up on me, and I was literally shaking and sweating by the time I was finished. One minute I was checking Twitter posts, and the next I was breathing heavy and sweating like a pig.
- It reminded me quite a bit of the Tatuaje T110 strength-wise, but the “Dirty Rat” saves its knockout until the end, while the T110 throws almost everything it has at you in the first half of the stick.
- The finish on this cigar was also excellent. I could tell that some very high quality tobacco was used to make it.
- Like all of the new Drew Estates blends, the burn and draw on this cigar was nothing short of astounding. I don’t know what they are doing to make the sticks consistently burn like they do, but whatever it is, it is working…
- This was a fairly slow burning stick for its size, and the Final Smoking Time was 1 Hour and 45 minutes…
The Bottom Line: (Imagine me talking face to face with Steve with a forlorn look on my face, a tiny tear threatening to fall down my cheek) For the love of all that is Holy Steve, you need to produce this cigar. It is like a crack pipe of spice and flavor that is addicting. The flavors are rich, and the spice, while definitely overwhelming at times in the smoke, only adds to the experience. I would give this a VERY high score if I could and I will be buying more from whoever is willing to sell them to me, although honestly, they are idiots if they get rid of these.
I enjoyed the taste of this blend quite a bit, but for some reason I needed to relight it a few times.
I always told every one that smoking is dangerous for health so please don't make smoking an habit.
Thanks to Brooks's generosity, I got the chance to smoke this the other day. Here's my review:
I wasn’t sure if I was more excited or terrified when the Dirty Rat arrived in the mail. After all, this is the cigar that reduced the mighty Brooks W. to a whimpering schoolboy, yet one who is eager to come back for more punishment.
(Reminds me of several Brits I know, but that’s another story.)
Just to be sure I was physically and mentally prepared for the nicotine overdose, I had a breakfast so vast, by the time I finished it was time for lunch. I inhaled three-quarters of a pizza, grabbed a liter of water, took the little bastard out to the smoking barn and began my adventure.
Prelight impressions: This is one solid cigar. Feel heavy, doesn’t yield in the least to the touch—actually, it’s as hard as a rock—and looks like they jammed enough tobacco in to make two of these coronas. Nice prelight aroma of tobacco and spice. Very dark, rustic wrapper. No beauty contest winner here…rough to the touch, with a prominent vein running the length of the cigar. Looks tough and mean.
I clip the pigtail and test the draw, which is firm but not tight. There is some nice tingly spice on the tongue.
Smoking impressions: As Brooks said in his review, you’re hit with a blast of spice and pepper, which quickly settles down. Additional flavors are dark chocolate, roasted meat, orange peel. Very nice aroma too, even in a drafty barn. I don’t have enough experience with Tats, but I would imagine there’s a similar taste profile to some of Pete’s stronger blends. There’s a lingering richness on the palate that is somewhat reminiscent of a fresh Hemingway maduro.
Summary:
Full-bodied, for sure, but not overwhelmingly so. I must have a higher tolerance for nicotine, because I didn’t experience any of the dizziness or sweats our generous host described. Overall, a nice cigar with flavors that stay with you for hours afterwards.
Thanks for giving me the chance to try this, Brooks!
Brooks I definitely enjoy the spices you described so well in detail and the pics as usual really help me enjoy that stick even though I'm not smoking it, lol!
~Terran
The Pig Tail cap is actually fairly simple to roll. At the last rolling event i attended they had participants do a pigtail cap instead of a traditional cap so as not to waste good tobacco on the mistakes.
and again...your photos are stunning!
Thanks for the review Brooks! Sounds like an amazing cigar. I would hope that we all get a chance to smoke a few. Hopefully Steve decides that it is worthwhile to bring these to the masses.
i dont care if we ever release the rat, just as long as there are plenty for the creative dir. to smoke!..: )
If ya thought the Rat was strong, wait til ya sample one of those dark corojo's...
Sounds like another good one. Glad I was not around you when you were "breathing heavy and sweating like a pig." :) If and when these do come out, can't wait to try some.
Steve was good enough to share one with us at HARD (Herf at Reno Damnit). He had a 3 finger baggie of them!
Very strong, but very tasty which you don't often find with this kind of strength.
I hadn't eaten much that day (1 CalNeva dog), as I was holding off for a good dinner at the steak house that night.
I did get a bit queasy, but the taste was so good I didn't mind.
I had just finished a Party Short, so that may have contributed to the queasy feeling, and with the cold weather I haven't been smoking my usual one a day.
I'm not sure I'm ready to pay $10+ for these, but I would be tempted and I'm told by my wife that I'm cheap.
Mark R, who mostly only smokes his stash of cubans these days, loved it, and I think he would shell out if Anita lets him.
I hope the 30 day run showed the necessary drop in production price.
HARD was one of the best in years, more people, more cigars, and hearing about what SS has to say about cigar manufacturing was a lot of fun. Watch for it on ASC, every year the weekend before Thanksgiving. Next year will be 12 the HARD way!
Thanks to Bob G for another great herf, and thanks to Steve for helping to make it even more fun.
ps: Nicholas also deserves credit on this blend along with Luis.
STS
Good God! Man up Brooks! Sniveling about the strength... sheesh! lol
Truth be told, I actually sometimes smoke these for breakfast, but yes I concur it is a really spicy, strong little mofo. Lately this cigar has been like crack cocaine for me - I find I need at least two a day.
As for production, we are just finishing up a 30 day production test cycle for the blend. It takes us about that long to accurately figure out what a cigar costs to make. Hopefully the running costs to producing it will prove significantly lower than the batch costings... Regardless, this cigar will never be "cheap" to produce... No matter what we do, this cigar will be very expensive and I am very concerned about releasing a $10+ corona into the marketplace, because even if it isn't true, people will assume we are gouging them...
Regardless, I am glad you enjoyed the smoke and keep up the blogging. Love the photos and the reviews - even the not so good reviews are great! You can tell you love doing it and that it is really personal, it is refreshing to read anything genuine these days.
BR,
Steve Saka
President, Drew Estate, Inc.
As always, Great review and pics.
Very nice review. I got a couple of these while visiting the Drew Estate offices, and can't wait to fire one up.
I had been waiting for this review! Great review and I sure hope they do decide to sell these.
That's intense. "For the love of all that is holy...." I'd buy some - you've got great taste Brooks!
x2 lilo... Sounds like a great stick. I loved the T110, but also like complex sticks so this sounds like it'd be a real hit... Shame they probably wont make it
great review brooks! it's too bad that if they don't make this i probably won't ever smoke it...
Great job Brooks and thanks for the strength warning!
Nice review Brooks! How do you get these cigars!?!
Thanks for the review Brooks! Yet another stick that will never see the light of day for me.
Yours truly,
Vicarious Babineaux