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| #5: Liga Privada Unico Serie Ratzilla by Drew Estate |
Today we begin the “Fab Five” – a.k.a the start of the Top 5 Cigars of 2012. Coming it at #5 on the 2012 Cigar of the Year countdown is the Liga Privada Unico Serie Ratzilla by Drew Estate. The Ratzilla was released in limited quantities in 2012. Size-wise it is a longer (6 1/4 x 46) than the Dirty Rat (5 x 44). The Unico Serie in the Liga Privada line focuses on “one size, one blend”. The Ratzilla is a modified/tweaked blend from the Dirty Rat, thus is being ranked as its own blend. What we found was an amazing cigar experience and one certainly worthy of a top five ranking.
Drew Estate becomes the first company in 2012 to place three cigars on the Cigar of the Year countdown. The Ratzilla joins the Liga Privada Unico Serie Flying Feral Pig (#7) and the Undercrown Corona ¡Viva! (#13) This is also the second cigar in the Liga Privada line to make the top ten in 2012.
True to the blend modification, the Ratzilla was not just a larger version of the Dirty Rat. It definitely stood up on its own. A lot of different flavor nuances can be detected along the way – including: coffee, chocolate, earth, leather, pepper, orange citrus, cedar spice, and cream. The flavors are full-bodied and complemented by full strength. The burn and draw score very well on this Corona Grande sized cigar.
When the original Dirty Rat was received, it ranked as our #22 Cigar for 2010. Fast forward to 2011 and the cigar continued to age better – so much so that it finished as our #1 Most Improved Blend for 2011. The Ratzilla smoked like a cigar that could rank in the top five much earlier than the Dirty Rat did, so the sky is the limit for this blend.
Click here for our original assessment of the Liga Privada Unico Serie Ratzilla.
Blend Profile
Wrapper: Connecticut Valley Stalk Cut and Cured Sun Grown Habano
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Nicaragua and Honduran
Vitolas Available
Like all of the cigars under the Unico Serie umbrella, they only come in a single vitola. In this case its a 6 1/4 x 46 Corona Grande
Recommended Vitola: 6 1/4 x 46 (Default)
