On the Drew Estate Undercrown 10 Robusto: A Decade’s Worth of Smoke

You pick up this Undercrown 10 Robusto, a tidy 5×52, and right away you know it’s got some story behind it. It’s Drew Estate’s nod to ten years in the game with the Undercrown line, rolled down in La Gran Fabrica in Nicaragua. They built this one right: a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, a stout USA Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and Nicaraguan filler. It’s a blend that promises something layered.

Light it up, and the first third comes at you with a smooth, welcoming handshake. You get those clear, unmistakable notes of cocoa and espresso, solid and present, and right there with it, a slight, gentle spice that just touches the palate. It’s not a punch in the face; it’s more like a subtle invitation. This initial profile sets a good, honest tone for what’s to come.

Move into the second third, and those core cocoa and espresso flavors hold their ground, acting like the bedrock of the experience. But things start to shift, subtly. You’ll notice a slight mineral note creeping in—a clean, almost flinty edge—and then a distinct earthy quality joins the party. It’s not a drastic change, but it’s enough to keep you engaged, to make you pay attention to how the flavors are playing off each other. It shows they knew what they were doing with this blend, letting it evolve without getting muddled.

By the final third, the whole thing just builds. Those cocoa and espresso notes, now fully developed, come on with a bit more richness and assertiveness. The mineral and earthy tones from the middle section also deepen, fitting right in with the main profile. What’s key here is that this increased intensity never gets harsh. It keeps that enjoyable, refined character from start to finish, wrapping things up in a consistently satisfying way.

So, the Drew Estate Undercrown 10 Robusto delivers a well-thought-out smoke. It starts with a clear, approachable mix of cocoa, espresso, and that hint of spice, then brings in those earthy and mineral layers, and finishes strong but still smooth. If you appreciate a cigar that tells a consistent, evolving story and stands on solid ground, this one’s definitely worth your time.