Initial Thoughts
The Draig K is a very unique cigar. I was actually told it’s a cigar for “tobacco nerds”. This cigar is very unique on the outside and I’m sure it has a lot in store for me on the inside as well. There is a great backstory about this stick that Gary has told on his website:
The “K” designation and Welsh theme recognize and honor both my family heritage, and the first initial of my friend Ken, a Welshman who died in a tragic auto accident at about the same time I was finishing this blend. The band was created by a friend of both mine and Ken’s who happens to be a children’s book illustrator, thus the pastel colors.
What a great way to honor a friend. After reading that I’m truly excited to see what’s in store with this cigar.
Don’t forget to read all the way to bottom for our #EmilioCigarWeek contest!
Looks
The wrapper for this Draig K comes from Colombia and it’s a very dark almost black maduro. There are very few veins running down the barrel. It would be entirely too difficult to see them anyway with the darkness of this cigar. Just looking at this cigar you can see that there are some very special qualities about it. I’m not typically a maduro guy, but I have a feeling I’m going to like this cigar.
The band was already discussed above and it’s nice to know some backstory about it. I’ll have to say when I first saw the band I was like, “what is this Puff the magic dragon? And why is he on my cigar band?” Now knowing the true meaning behind it, I feel like a dick. I’m sure Gary understands though, I know he’s gotten comments about this band but it’s something near and dear to him and I think that’s awesome.
I chose the robusto vitola out of the 3 options. I didn’t feel like a super small smoke, but I also didn’t want a long smoke either. I feel like the robusto can bring out a ton of flavor in these blends and when it’s available thats the vitola I usually go for.
Function
So when I was standing in the humidor at the B&M (which is where I reviewed this) I made sure to roll these Draig Ks through my fingers and perform an on site pinch test. They of course passed with flying colors. I wasn’t going to buy a stick that had soft spots in it! What do you think I am an idiot?… Don’t answer that please it would kill my self confidence.
So I always hate using the cutters in the cigar shops. They are so dull and shitty it just sucks. Of course I left my cutter and torch at home so I had use the ones that everyone else uses. I started off by using the V cutter, I couldn’t draw much air through the barrel so I went back over and used the dull as shit Xikar cutter they had lying on the counter. I’m surprised the wrapper stayed intact enough to smoke this thing. *Word to the wise, bring your own damn cutter!*
Once I finally had the cap removed I was ready to smoke!
Smoking
As I said, I didn’t have my torch so I was forced to use matches like a peasant boy working in the stables! What a disgrace I tried to hide my face so that no one could see me lighting this cigar with matches or else I would be shunned by the rest of the cigar smoking community!
Once I got the Draig K lit, it took off was burning nice and even for about five minutes. One of the interesting things about this Colombian maduro is the wrapper burns incredibly uneven and the ash is extremely jagged. The draw is great, but oh man the burn is crazy. I’m a very OCD person when it comes to a straight burn line. I tend to like to correct burns way too much because in the early days of smoking I would have cigars that would canoe and I’d just let them go thinking that was normal. Now I’m watching that burn like a hawk and if it starts to get out of control I bring back in where its supposed to be!
I had to touch up this stick a couple of times. One big correction during the first third and then just minor corrections the rest of the way through. The draw has stayed consistent, but man that is one ugly ash I have going on I’ll tell you that right now! How does the burn affect the flavor? That’s the real question you want answered right?
Flavor
I have a good feeling about how the flavor is going to reveal itself in this Draig K. The pre light aroma gave off a very sweet cocoa and coffee note on the foot. I was like taking a whiff of a perfect made mocha latte! Mmm. I need my coffee right now!
Once this cigar was lit I began to experience a ton of flavor. Sweetness and rich creamy notes coming through the smoke. It tasted glorious. This is absolutely one of the best flavored retrohales I’ve ever experienced. Nice and sweet with a dark rich Colombian coffee note to it. I typically drink Colombian roast coffee so the flavor is almost identical. They must put something special in the soil down there, perhaps cocaine? I don’t know I’m just saying they taste almost identical.
The second third was more of the same, but there was a nice blast of pepper and spice in this section. It was more on the lips at first but then the last couple of retrohales the spice really picked up and even made me tear up at once section. I reached for the fire extinguisher, but the manager at the B&M took it away and told me to man up. So I ran to the bathroom and cried. I came back feeling better about myself but everyone working was pointing and laughing at me.
The final third was very similar to the first. The spice subsided some and it was back to that original sweetness and creaminess rolled together. Man did this taste delicious! This is one maduro that I can actually say I’m a huge fan of.
Overall the strength of this Draig K isn’t that bad, I would call it a medium strength. However, I would label this as a full body stick in terms of flavor. Wow, it’s hard to think of other cigars that have this much flavor!
Would I Buy It Again?
Absolutely.
Is It an Every Day Smoke?
Ehh, I wouldn’t this is more of a special smoke. Not something that I would hit up every day.
Would I Buy a Box?
Yes! Thats odd for me to say, but this is definitely box worthy.
Conclusion
Overall, the burn was ehh not so great. The draw was on par. But man on man, talk about flavor. This made up for everything else that the cigar was lacking in. I think this is what they were going for. Gary knew that this leaf probably wouldn’t burn very straight or even, but he said this leaf is so exquisite and so special it’s going to make up for the rest of the cigar’s downfalls. It does exactly that! This Draig K is a tobacco lover’s dream!
Contest: Ok so I’m giving away a 5 pack of everything I smoke this week for #EmilioCigarWeek!
How do you enter? Simple. Leave a comment below on each post. Every comment left is an entry to the contest (Limit 1 per day)! Super easy, now go do it.
