Natural Ltd. by Drew Estate

Drew Estate is known for their Acid line, a series of unique, aromatic blends. Whenever I am in our retail store and recommend a Drew Estate product, I see the gears inside their head start to turn, and there’s no doubt in my mind that they’re thinking ‘flavored’ or ‘aromatic’. Considering my DE recommendations usually include the Natural line, this is not a good thing. The Natural line is not flavored, or aromatic. Actually, none of Drew Estate’s cigars are flavored – say that word in Jonathan’s presence and you may lose your tongue. But I digress; the secret behind the Natural line is the use of exotic tobaccos that you won’t find in your more traditional cigars. Leaves from Haiti, Turkey, and various other places are used. Even some of the world’s best pipe tobaccos are blended to create some of the cigars within the line. And let’s not forget the names. They’re great, and my favorite is the Pimp Stick, which is why I tried it so long ago, and am trying it again today.

With a name like Pimp Stick, I feel like I should be smoking this while cruising in a tricked-out Cadillac with shag carpeting. Unfortunately, my ride is the shop, so this desk will have to do. I’ve always enjoyed the pre-light aroma that this perfecto promotes. Cedary sweet and very pleasant. Already, I’m glad I am revisiting this cigar. I fire it up and it all comes back to me. An explosion of flavor ranging from a light sweetness to a rich toasty note that lingers long after the cloud of smoke above me clears. The flavors seem to amplify as I reach the thickest section of the cigar, and for once, my co-workers are not complaining about the smell (I smoke a lot of bad, BAD samples). The Cameroon leaf helps transform this blend into a solid medium-bodied smoke, and adds a slightly nutty flavor to the mix. As it tapers down, the flavors begin to mellow a bit, ending with a creamy, relaxing finish. Complex would be an understatement; this cigar is a roller-coaster ride for my palate. You won’t catch me enjoying a Pimp Stick every day, but I’ll be more than happy to revisit it on a regular basis.

You've got to be kidding me! Webster's Unabridged defines "pimp" to be "one who provides gratification for the lust of others." Interesting! That's not exactly the vision that comes to mind, but I guess I have a lust for cigars and my pimp could be any one of the manufacturers that produce them. So, you could say I've been smoking pimp sticks for years. Just don't tell my wife, she won't understand.

I've been hesitant to reach into the humidor for this one. The regular Acid line is fairly aromatic. The Ltd Def Sea and Kong Cameroon are my favorite. But, I really have to be in the right mood. On the Natural side of the house, these cigars are more "normal" (besides the names) and I've really enjoyed the Leche and Root. (Have you seen that Acid Egg? If anyone has smoked one, I'm curious to know how? Drop me an email.) Maybe the name is throwing me off, but I'm not sure what to expect from the Pimp Stick. Cameroon wrapper with strains of Dutch filler tobacco grown in Nicaragua. (To be honest, I've never heard of such a thing - strains of Dutch filler tobacco? - sounds exotic.)

This morning I received an email from my good friend Jim. We've been bantering lately about some strong cigars (like Diesel, Cusano Killer Cameroon, and others) and much to my dismay he writes "I received my CI Natural Collector's Box. I tore it open and lit up one of the Pimp Sticks. What an OUTSTANDING cigar!" I almost called the paramedics to find out what this imposter did with my friend Jim. He assured me he was ok and that I had to try one.

The Cameroon wrapper is smooth and a little veiny. Each one is impeccably rolled with a unique shape (each cigar in the box has a slightly different contour and length.) I snipped the head of this perfecto and lit the foot directly without clipping it. Oooh Nellie! It fires up nicely and immediately starts to burn smooth and even. A subtle, mild aroma immediately fills my office - I can't place it exactly, smells a bit like Anisette (an Italian liqueur often put in coffee.) The flavor is quite mild, but with a little zap! at the start. From the cut end, I see some bright yellow leaves - perhaps some ligero is weaved in giving the cigar a little extra bounce.

The ash is chalky white. It doesn't hold for much more than a 1/2 inch, but the draw is wonderful. The flavor is subtle, and mild, with an ocassional zap! thrown in. The burn is consistent and can be offered as the perfect pre-dinner smoke. The flavor disappears quickly with no harsh tones, no aftertaste, but keeps you coming back for more.

I'm smoking this one in the office and it's perfectly suited for the task. Often, our telephone reps complain their eyes are burning when I fire one up, but not today. I may try this at home and just tell the wife I lit one of the 12 giant votive candles we have around the house. I bet it'll work - the aroma is very pleasant and not overbearing.

From start-to-finish, this stick holds consistent flavor right down to the nub. It never burns hot and could serve just perfectly as my palate cleanser before I head out for some steaks.