As the longest vitola in the Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9 line — at a Churchill-sized seven inches — the Parejo Corona Doble (Double Corona) from this rarified range is one of the best ways to sample a smoke that has deservedly reached cult status among cigar aficionados.
And speaking of Cigar Aficionado, the magazine bearing that name accorded this exceptional stick a nearly unheard-of 94 rating, ranking it 10th on its list of the Top 25 Cigars for 2015.
Let’s start at the beginning: the Liga Privada (meaning “private blend”) No. 9 line was originally created by former Drew Estate president Steve Saka exclusively for consumption by himself and the company’s top brass (the “No. 9” indicates that this blend was the ninth formulation out of dozens that eventually won the favor of Saka and his crew). Now, this strictly limited-production line — widely acknowledged to be Drew Estate’s best — is finally for sale to the public at selected outlets, and in the process, it’s amassed a following so dedicated and loyal that Drew Estate can’t make enough of these sticks to satisfy demand.
Surrounded by an alluringly dark Connecticut Broadleaf Oscuro wrapper, the Liga Privada No. 9 Parejo Corona Doble utilizes a plantation-grown Brazilian Mata Fina binder, along with Nicaraguan and Honduran Cuban-seed filler leaves from seven unique farms. All of these tobaccos are aged for at least one year (the wrappers are hand-fermented for 18 months). Only four pairs of workers at Drew Estate’s Gran Fabrica factory in Estelí, Nicaragua are permitted to roll these limited-run cigars, which are, in turn, sold exclusively through select merchants.
Offering solid, symmetrical construction and dense packing, the Parejo Corona Doble nevertheless draws beautifully, burns evenly and outputs generous quantities of smoke. Medium-bodied, with full strength, the Liga Privada No. 9 Parejo Corona Doble boasts earthy, leathery and herbal notes of spice, toffee/caramel, sweet dates, chocolate, hickory and coffee beans. Orange peel, anise and sweet tar mingle throughout the finish.
This is a massive, strong cigar with one of the heaviest tobacco blends on the market. Do you think you can handle it? If so, pick up a box of 24 sticks for your humidor today… you won’t be disappointed.