Southern Draw Cigars has been around for a couple of years now and, once again, I am late to the show. Inspired by southern culture and, specifically, the southern gentleman, US Veteran Robert Holt created a cigar company and brand focused on respect and integrity. The company teamed up with one of the most esteemed cigar makers in Nicaragua, AJ Fernandez, for the production of their cigars.

Southern Draw’s portfolio has grown over its few short years in business with Jacobs Ladder, Kudzu, Firethorn, Rose of Sharon, and QuickDraw. QuickDraw, as with the rest of Southern Draw’s lines, are produced at Tabacalera Fernandez De Nicaragua S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua. Three wrapper options are currently available including Ecuadorian Connecticut, Ecuadorian Dark Habano, and Pennsylvania Broadleaf. Keeping with the theme of the brand, the two available sizes are on the smaller end of the spectrum with a Petite Corona (4 1/2 by 44) and Short Panatela (5 1/2 by 40). The QuickDraw Petite Corona comes packaged in 50-count boxes that will run you about $225 or $5.00 per stick.

You can purchase the Southern Draw QuickDraw from our site sponsor Famous Smoke Shop. Make sure to use coupon code “CASASAVINGS” for $15 off orders over $100.

THE FACTS

Price: $5.00
Vitola: Petite Corona
Size: 4 ½ by 44
Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
Start Time: 1 Hour

PRE-LIGHT

Southern Draw’s QuickDraw Pennsylvania is dressed an extremely dark, nearly black Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper. There is a ton of texture on this rustic looking leaf that is loaded with tooth, veins and bumps. Sugar-like crystals glisten down the leaf as I work through my pre-light inspection.

The cigar is firmly rolled from head to foot and I am met with a pungent aroma of barnyard and wet earth as I bring the wrapper of the cigar to my nose. With the shaggy foot, the aroma is mostly the same with a hint of richness and sweetness. A shallow cut through the small pig-tail cap reveals a firm draw, which I expected to be due to the shaggy foot. Rich cedar and light baking spices are on the cold draw.

FIRST LIGHT

As soon as the foot of the Southern Draw QuickDraw is lit, the draw opens up and heavy and dark flavors pour out with notes of leather and a rich coffee. The richness really comes out as I retro-hale the smoke, along with a faint spice. The spice is building in both the flavor department and heat, warming my palate, as the cigar progresses. The QuickDraw Petite Corona is burning with a minor wave as a white ash forms. The ash held just short of an inch, which is pretty impressive for such a small ring gauge cigar.

MIDDLE THIRD

The QuickDraw Pennsylvania gains in richness as the flavors remain consistent with the prior third. The flavors are medium/full and I am beginning to feel the strength this small cigar has to offer. At the back end of the flavors there is a tartness and sweetness that is beginning to peak through. The tartness is something I find in most Broadleaf cigars.

FINAL THIRD

As I begin the last leg of my journey of the QuickDraw Pennsylvania, I find the tartness to be moving forward, trying to keep up with the darker flavors of charred wood, leather and coffee and a caramelized sugar sweetness. The flavors have made it to the full realm and the strength is on par. And the spice is showing no signs of slowing down as I near the end of the smoke. 

WRAP-UP

I don’t know why I waited so long to light up a cigar from Southern Draw. The QuickDraw Pennsylvania is exactly what I look for in a cigar. Big flavors, full strength, spice that keeps the palate alert, and a whole lot of richness. I love the Petite Corona format, but, at the same time, I didn’t want the cigar to end. The cigar developed a wave in the burn here and there, but it didn’t distract me from everything else going on. I highly recommend the QuickDraw Pennsylvania and I consider it a box worthy cigar even in a 50-count box!