Cigar Review: Liga Privada No. 9

Flying Pig, 4.125“ x 60 ring gauge, approx. $12
I have not reviewed a Drew Estate product since the time of the original Tiki Bar blog, way back in early 2007. Then, all I knew Drew for was my beloved Natural Dirt as well as my less-well-loved Acid and Ambrosia sticks. Jonathan DRew has come a long way since then. The Liga Privada #9 was originally released in 2007 and the line-up has been expanding ever since, to the current range of 5 vitolas, including this infamous “Flying Pig.” The No. 9 features filler tobacco from the Dominican Republic and Honduras, a Brazilian binder, and a Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper. Because Drew Estate always meant “infused” or “flavored” cigars to me (as well as the bargain-priced La Vieja Habana and Chateau Real lines) I have always had trouble making myself give up $10 or more for any of these sticks. This is my very first experience with Liga Privada.

The appearance of this cigar was as comical as the name: short, stout, and--frankly--turd-like, especially with the tapered ends. It is finished with a nice pigtail, which is appropriate. The wrapper itself was rough-looking, veiny and mottled--not exactly a pretty wrapper; I kind of expect more for the price. It was fairly oily to the touch but the capline was quite rough. The aroma from the body was faintly of leather and tobacco--kind of a classic humidor smell--the small foot gives off almost no aroma that I can detect--maybe just a touch of barnyard. Prelight this stick had some savory spices and a little anise--it was a mixture of savory and sweet but everything was very faint. The draw was excellent.

Initial puffs featured some leather and a really nice dried berry flavor along with a little black pepper in the retrohale. Overall it all started off very smooth and rich. The first third proceeded to be luxuriously earthy and leathery, although there were notes of cocoa powder and dark roast coffee in there, too. The body was medium-to-full and the draw provided plenty of smoke. This stick smoked almost like a Nub--slow and steady with a rich, full flavor from the very start. There was a ton of flavor here--more than any Nub I have had, but very nuanced and subtle, too.

The second third started off as I tapped ash for the first time. The cigar immediately got fuller in body and more earthy in flavor, with an even deeper coffee flavor. Most sweetness went away and there was a rough, harsh edginess to the smoke in the throat, but it was smoother than ever on the retrohale. After going a little crooked in the first third, the burn line evened out on its own very nicely. By the end of the second third, the Flying Pig was starting to pack a little punch, too.

The last third was really more of the same as the second: coffee and earth primarily. The body had ramped up throughout to be just into the full category and the flavor was full and satisfying all the way down to the nub. With a hefty price tag, it is a sure bet I will not be adding Liga Privadas to my humidor as a regular smoke, but they are definitely good enough to warrant an occasional purchase. This was absolutely a very good smoke.

Body: 8/10

Strength: 8/10

Complexity: 8/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 1.5/2

Construction: 2/2

Flavor: 4.5/5

Value: .5/1

Total: 8.5/10