Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Toro. This is a cigar we last assessed back in May 2017.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan (Viso, Seco); Dominican Piloto Cubano (Ligero)
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Tabacalera Fernandez)
Toro: 6 x 52

Earlier this year, Southern Draw Cigars unveiled its second Connecticut Shade offering, the Rose of Sharon. The Rose of Sharon is the company’s second Connecticut Shade cigar following up the QuickDraw Connecticut. While the QuickDraw Connecticut is a line that focuses on smaller, thinner connoisseur sizes, the Rose of Sharon offers a different blend in a box-press format utilizing what can be considered more traditional sizes for the U.S. market. The cigar pays tribute to Southern Draw Cigars’ Chief Evangelist and Founder Robert Holt‘s wife Sharon. We assessed this cigar back in May in the Toro size, today we take another look at this cigar.

In addition to the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Rose of Sharon features Nicaraguan tobaccos in the binder and filler. The filler also utilizes Dominican Piloto Cubano. The Toro size is a box-press measuring 6 x 50 and it is one of three on-going offerings in the Rose of Sharon line by Southern Draw cigars. As with all Southern Draw Cigars, the Rose of Sharon is produced at AJ Fernandez’s Tabacalera Fernandez.

One difference since we last assessed the Rose of Sharon cigar is the banding. At this year’s IPCPR Trade Show, the company replaced its standard Southern Draw band with a pink version that matches Rose of Sharon’s secondary band.

 

Similar to my prior experience with the Rose of Sharon Toro, I detected notes of cream, cedar, fruit, and black pepper. Earlier in the smoking experience, I picked up more in the way of the cream notes, but toward the second third, there was a transition to a more cedar profile. Throughout the smoking experience, I found the fruit and pepper notes delivered a nice balance of sweetness and spice. One other difference is I didn’t quite get as much in the way of nut flavors this time. Strength and body-wise, I found the Rose of Sharon remained in the same spectrum as before. This is a cigar that started out mild to medium in strength before progressing to medium in the second half. Meanwhile, the body started out medium before progressing to medium to full in the last third.

The Rose of Sharon has been a very successful cigar for Southern Draw and for good reason – this is an excellent cigar. More importantly, I’ve found it to be consistent. I mentioned that the Rose of Sharon Toro is a cigar that can appeal to not only the novice or experienced cigar enthusiast, but to either a classic or contemporary cigar enthusiast. The dialed-back strength of this cigar can appeal to those who prefer a classic profile while there is just enough body to keep those contemporary cigar enthusiasts who like a cigar where the flavors have more body. It’s a cigar I’d smoke again – and it’s worthy of a box purchase.

Summary

Key Flavors: Cream, Cedar, Fruit, Pepper, Nut
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium+
Strength: Mild to Medium (1st Half), Medium (2nd Half)
Body: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Remainder)
Finish: Very Good

Rating

Assessment: 4.0-Box Worthy
Score: 92

References

Previous Assessment:  Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Toro
News: Southern Draw Cigars Announces Availability of Rose of Sharon
Price: $9.50
Source: Southern Draw Cigars
Brand Reference: Southern Draw

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop