Pappy Van Winkle Tradition – Cigar Review

When two powerhouse brands come together for a collaboration, the expectations are usually set way too high and are rarely met. When we heard that Drew Estate was going to create an homage to the Pappy Van Winkle brand we found ourselves reenacting the famous Mervyn’s Commercial, waiting like a kid the day before Christmas. What was conceived, was a blend that Julian Van Winkle, the current president of the Van Winkle brand fell in love with and Jonathan Drew was more than happy to name it after pappy.

Drew Estate’s Pappy Van Winkle Tradition is a rich blend that showcases both brands with top-tier quality and expert craftsmanship.

“Drew Estate is honored to represent the Van Winkle Family with an ultra-premium cigar that reinforces the legacy of America’s true living icons, Julian Van Winkle. The Pappy Van Winkle “Tradition” features an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper, Indonesian Binder and aged fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.” ~ The Drew Estate Team

What’s Inside:

• Wrapper: Ecuador Habano Oscuro
• Binder: Indonesian
• Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican

Construction:

Wrapped snug in an Ecuador Habano Oscuro leaf, the Nicaraguan and Dominican spice are showcased from the easy draw and perfectly crafted roll. The classic Drew Estate rich flavor profile shines through and is highlighted by the complexity of the aged fillers.

Draw:

With just a small clip, the Belicoso Fino style features a near perfect draw, allowing the air to flow freely through the fillers, letting the smoke evolve with each puff. This tell-tale Drew Estate characteristic makes their brand the perfect vehicle to match alongside the highly-coveted Van Winkle name. Basically, the draw gives you the perfect blend of medium to easy pull, and never wavers throughout the stick.

Burn:

While there were moments of a little unevenness during the first and third sections of the cigar, the burn only needed help to stay on track a couple of times. The easy draw may have contributed to the slight peaks and valleys in the Ecuador Habano Oscuro wrapper, but overall, the consistency of the burn was more than acceptable and doesn’t warrant a negative.

Aroma:

Prelit:

• Brown Sugar
• Toffee Brittle
• Black Pepper

Lit:

• Roasted Pecans
• Leather
• Black Coffee

Flavor:

One of the things I enjoy about Drew Estate cigars is how complex and intricate they are. Even when the flavor profile isn’t up my alley, it still delivers a broad spectrum of nuances and subtleties. The Tradition, however, was definitely up my alley and for that matter, lives on the same block. Its robust notes of coffee mingle with toffee brittle to create a stunningly balanced smoke. Add in the thick smoke from the easy draw, and the flavors change and evolve as the burn progresses.

Value:

The only hiccup in this process is the price. Hovering around $25.00 a stick, they are going to set you back quite a bit. You are paying for the names on the label as much as you are for the smoke, so double that with the icon of the bourbon world, and you have yourself a great stick at a high price. The Tradition is an amazing smoke and the price will, unfortunately, make it out of reach for some. If you are lucky enough to have a little extra dough, this is a treat for a special occasion you won’t regret.

Buy Now starting at $195 for a box of 10