Coming in at #13 on our 2012 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Undercrown Corona ¡Viva!. The Undercrown Corona ¡Viva! by Drew Estate is a cigar that was released in 2012.   This is one of these cigars that skirts on the border of new vitola and new blend.  Since it turns out the ¡Viva! is a modification from the original Undercrown blend, we made a decision that this cigar can qualify for the 2012 Cigar of the Year countdown.  The Undercrown ¡Viva! was originally released in a corona size vitola.  Drew Estate CEO Steve Saka hinted to us back in August that we could possibly see more ¡Viva! vitolas in 2012.

The Undercrown Corona ¡Viva! marks Drew Estate’s first entry in the 2012 Cigar of the Year countdown.   The Undercrown line was launched in 2011 and last year earned an honorable mention in our 2011 Cigar of the Year countdown.  This also marks the fourth consecutive year that Drew Estate has appeared on the countdown.  The Undercrown ¡Viva! uses a San Andres wrapper and marks the third blend in our countdown to use a Mexican wrapper – joining the (#16 rated) La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva and the the (#26 rated) Nestor Miranda Special Selection Danno 2012.

The genesis of the Undercrown line involved using alternate primings from the same tobaccos that were acquired and used in the Liga Privada blend.  The end result is we found the Undercrown Corona ¡Viva! to deliver one of the most highly complex flavor profiles seen in 2012.  We picked up ten different flavor notes during this cigar experience including: Cedar, Floral, Berry, Honey, Natural tobacco, pepper, cinnamon, raw syrup, coffee, and earth.  The flavors are definitely full-bodied and countered by some medium to full strength.  The ¡Viva! has an outstanding burn and draw to it.

Click here to read our assessment of the Undercrown Corona ¡Viva!

Blend Profile

Wrapper: San Andreas Otapan Negro Ultimo Corte
Binder: T52 Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut & Cured Habano
Filler: Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Cuban Seed

Vitolas Available

Corona ¡Viva!: 5 5/8 x 46

Recommended Vitola: Corona ¡Viva!