Southern Draw Kudzu Toro cigar review 

2/13/2023

 

A beautiful boxed pressed cigar from a great company.  Yeah, AJ Fernandez and mostly Nicaraguan, what's not to like.  Equadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper that is double fermented.  Medium full.  All Southern Draw cigars have been pretty good in my experience. 

Not gonna lie, I hope this one's good.  Very promising with a beautiful wrapper, very firm roll, it even smells good.  

First few puffs are loose and slightly spicy with tastes of sweetness, which hasn't developed yet.  Kind of like caramel but nutty and creamy.  Can taste cedar and oak.  

But, I know better than to get my hopes up from the first few minutes.  I've smoked many that were great first third and turned to El cheapo. But those were rolled super loose and prices were all over the place.  No gimmicks in this brand.  

So far it is burning good, slightly off center burn, but I'll rotate it before I touch it up.  It's pretty smooth and if say slightly stronger than medium so far.  

It's about 46 out with not much wind.  Great smoking weather.  Good easy draws of good flavors.  Has a red pepper taste with sweet undertone.  Can taste some cedar and chocolate.  Very smooth but full of flavor. 

The 180 flip in my fingers evened out the burn, so burn is almost perfect.  I've had this one aging for a few months and this is first Kudzu I've smoked from a sampler.  Got a few more and I think they're all aged enough to fully enjoy, but they might get better if I'm lucky.  But no hints of greenness or harshness.  

And it's burning about the right speed.  As I stated it's a tight roll, so it's already well aged and must be premium tobacco to get such smoothness with strong flavors and smoke slow.  That is what makes me rate cigars high.  Yeah, there good ones that are loosely rolled that smoke good and long, but not very many.  Most loosely rolled are milder and later get hot and harsh.  This one seems just right. 

Picking up a great taste of cedary sweetness left on my palate. Has that earthy Nicaraguan taste but still very smooth and creamy.  Leaves a chocolate taste in your mouth.  Kind of like a little Debbie Swiss roll.  Haven't had one of those in twenty years but that is what this reminds me of. 

35 minutes in and it is great. If I can get at least an hour, it's a great Toro.  (If I don't smoke it too fast and hard, kind of hard not to).

Profile has stayed med-full.  Developing some more woodsy tastes, losing its red pepper taste to a more sweet wood and chocolate taste.  

Starting to feel some relaxation.  Still super smooth and full of creamy smoke.  It's definitely not mild as my palate is full of all the flavors previously described.  

It's just a damn fine smoke.  

How about Ruben and cherise from Jerry Garcia band.  Makes for a great smoking jam.  

All the strong flavors are blinding like the band blends the guitars and organs. Each has their own profiles.  

About full profiled now. 

Some might need a drink to cleanse their palate, but it is awesome flavors throughout.  I'm gonna smoke til the end and enjoy it.  

About an hour in.  This cigar has developed into a full flavored one and is still delivering more and more flavors.  Charred oak, toasted cedary sweet flavors.  

I'd say this the best Southern Draw smoke I've had.  Will look for more, but they are $200 a box.  Worth it.  If you can find for less, just buy it.  

Not super strong, but enough to satisfy you at the end of any night.  Finishing strong. Just right for a great night of great weather. Yeah, it's cold out now, but this is what it's all about.  Im fully satisfied and ready to hit the sack.  Got over an hour of great smoking.  

Overall: 94

Flavor 95, complexity 93, burn 94, experience 94, value 92.