Southern Draw

Southern Draw is a brand of cigar makers based out of Texas. In addition they are military veterans that formed a cigar company and have achieved success with various lines they’ve put forth.  The ones I’ve smoked have been impressive with their different flavor profiles in each brand.  The Rose of Sharon line is a tribute to Robert Holt who is the founder of Southern Draw’s wife. This particular cigar in its perfecto form takes a skilled hand to work and the vitola is a limited edition created for certain retailers. The most gracious part of this release is that Southern Draw is taking a percentage of the profits and donating them to aid veterans in need.  Not knowing what I was smoking save for it being a perfecto vitola I was surprised with the outcome.  

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed : Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Perfecto
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
• Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
• Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
• Size: 6 x 56 Perfecto

Appearance and Construction

The Rose of Sharon is a well rolled shapely perfecto and as such has tapered pointed ends on both the head and foot. I notice there are minimal veins on the café au lait colored wrapper. I also observe that there is a slightly lighter shade of tobacco leaf at the foot where the cigar tapers off. I’m not sure if this is intentional to the vitola or not. With the exception of a soft spot at the foot the Rose of Sharon is packed full of tobacco.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

After a swift straight clip with my Lamborghini guillotine cutter, I take a dry draw that is airy and delivers wood and raisinated flavors. Using my single flame lighter I gently torch the foot and the draw catches immediately with toast and soggy graham cracker coming through.  As the cigar burns past the taper, some grittiness and earth hit my lips and the smoke comes off rather mild in these notes. As the ember progresses, the burn runs slightly off which doesn’t seem to affect the flavors as floral accents of rose petal emerge with an underlying woodiness on the finish. The Rose of Sharon continues with an overall mild profile with all these flavors more subtle than pronounced.

The ash on the Rose of Sharon Perfecto at midway is a lovely dark/gray and the burn line straightens out rather nicely. The cigar produces ample smoke which brings forth some sweetness intermixed with oak in a seamless balance. The retrohale is of pencil lead and oak notes which linger in the nose. Then, on a surprising turn, the cigar picks up a bit with a medium body and in your face graphite and cedar. The Rose of Sharon shifts between mild and medium with a nuttiness hitting my palate on the finish. Overall the blend still maintains an average mildness to the smoke.

Towards the final third, the mild profile offers toasted almond and butterscotch and a steady stream of smoke with a continuously easy draw. The body once again dances around a medium profile with some black pepper and an oaky finish. But that doesn’t not last long as the mildness and floral notes enter with wood in the background. At its end, nuttiness along with clotted cream wafted through the cigar in a delicate fashion that needs to be concentrated on in order to appreciate.

As I take my last few puffs, the wood and nuts became the main flavor that accent the profile. A mild easy-smoking perfecto.

Conclusion

I’ve smoked several Southern Draw lines and I give the company a lot of credit, especially for bringing so many different flavor profiles to their lines. This was my first Rose of Sharon I’ve smoked and now knowing they were going for a milder profile I’d say they certainly achieved it. I enjoyed the wood, pencil lead, nuttiness and the floral notes that came through and the craftsmanship was top notch. It can be a challenge to create a mild cigar that delivers nuanced flavors and although I wish the Rose of Sharon had more of it, for the novice and aficionado its worth picking up a stick especially to support a great cause.

Final Rating: 89

Up for review today is “The Thorn” from Southern Draw Cigars. It’s a member of the Rose of Sharon brand from Southern Draw, and Robert Holt told me via Instagram that this is his personal favorite size of the Rose of Sharon.  As you’ll read below, this cigar is very good. It’s also a downright gorgeously presented cigar, and I hope I captured some of it in the photos here. Read on.

Product Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Southern Draw Rose of Sharon “The Thorn” Review
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown Connecticut
• Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
• Filler: Nicaraguan Viso/Seco, Dominican Ligero / Piloto Cubano
• Size: 6 1/2 x 40

Appearance & Construction

Well what can I say. The Thorn is just a magnificently presented cigar. Everything about it, from the pink, gold, and black double bands, to the semi closed foot and the strange pig tail-like cap is done flawlessly. It really creates the feeling that this is a special, well thought-out cigar.

The outer Ecuadorian Sun Grown Connecticut wrapper is a light, golden brown with a few small veins and rolling seams. The cigar is slightly spongy when squeezed and seems to be packed consistently. A whiff off of the foot showcases notes of cedar, honey, mild spiciness, and baked bread. The cold draw is about a 7.5/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness, and gives notes of warm bread, light spices, and some sweet woodsiness.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Thorn opens surprisingly robust, with concentrated flavors that are balanced between sweet, spicy, and creamy. Distinct flavors include buttered bread, spicy cedar, floral bouquet,  vanilla, and a nice finely ground pepper. The retrohale as well is nicely balanced between sweet, toasted bread and light black pepper. Excellent flavor. I’d place The Thorn at mild to medium bodied at kick off. Construction wise, smoke production is excellent, and the burn seems to be progressing evenly.

Things start to change at the end of the first inch, with body and strength both jumping to medium. The character of the smoke has shifted to be a bit less buttery and a bit more dry, and the wood that was just minutes ago a supporting character is now front and center. Thankfully, there are plenty of great secondary flavors, including a stronger floral note, light chocolate, and a touch of citrus. It’s always a pleasant surprise when a cigar changes flavors so rapidly.

By midway the second third, The Thorn’s construction is still impeccable, with a straight burn and an ash that seems to want to stay on forever. Strength and body have both settled at medium. Flavors are a bit less distinct, with a substantial black pepper and charred oak.

In the final third, The Thorn turns a bit harshness – much to my own heartbreak given how great the cigar has been thus far. The gentler notes of before are replaced with charred oak, lemon peel, and burnt espresso. Construction thankfully is still excellent.

Overall, it’s a bit of a disappointing ending given how good the first two thirds of the experience is. Still, a cigar I’m grateful to have smoked.

Conclusion

Though not a perfect cigar, Rose of Sharon “The Thorn” has flavor and style in spades. It’s absolutely a cigar to smoke again. I was floored by the presentation, and the complexity and movement of flavors was downright addictive.

That said, the final third developed some harshness that hurt the overall experience. Regardless, this is a cigar to pursue (right now) before supplies are out.

Final Rating: 89