If you’re an experienced cigar smoker, you may have heard of Drew Estate’s often hard-to-come-by Liga Privada No. 9 line. Originally, Liga Privada sticks were created only for Drew Estate’s former president, Steve Saka, and a small number of the firm’s top brass. (“Liga Privada” means “private blend,” and the “No. 9” in the name comes from the number of the formulation for these sticks’ original mix out of dozens tested, ultimately judged by Saka and his associates to be “flawless.”)
Very simply, no expense was spared and no shortcut was taken in the making of these limited-production sticks; they are simply immaculate in their construction, character and taste.
In 2008, Drew Estate finally decided to offer these smokes to the public for the first time through select retailers. Stamped on the cigars’ bands were the words “HECHO EXCLUSIVAMENTA PARA EL JEFE,” which translates to “manufactured exclusively for the boss.” Since then, this line — widely acknowledged to be Drew Estate’s best — has established a cult following like no other, with many devotees willing to go to extremes to secure just one box of these coveted sticks.
This vitola of the renowned Liga Privada No. 9 line — the Parejo Toro — features Nicaraguan and Honduran Cuban-seed filler leaves from seven individual farms, an exotic, plantation-grown Brazilian Mata Fina binder and a nearly black, rustic, Connecticut Broadleaf Oscuro wrapper. All of these tobaccos are aged by Drew Estate for at least one year (the wrapper is hand-fermented for 18 months). For the sake of consistency, just four pairs of workers at the firm’s sprawling Gran Fabrica factory in Estelí, Nicaragua are allowed to roll these limited-run cigars.
Very solidly constructed, with a smooth draw and a razor-sharp burn, these well-balanced sticks are full-bodied, with medium-to-full strength and decent complexity, producing billowing, creamy clouds of chewy smoke. Smokers of the Parejo Toro have reported mildly sweet essences of leather, cedar, dark cocoa, black pepper, raisins, coffee and cream among this stick’s numerous notes.
Bundled in boxes of 24, the Liga Privada No. 9 Parejo Toros are not easy to come by; secure yourself a bunch today, as it’s unknown how long they’ll be available for.