2017 Cigar of the Year Countdown: #28: Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Robusto

“This is a strong cigar, but it doesn’t overwhelm the flavors and they are bold enough to allow the various nuances to be showcased.”

Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf, Lancaster, USA
Binder: Ecuadorian Maduro
Filler:
-Viso: Nicaraguan (confidential);
-Seco: Nicaraguan (confidential);
-Ligero: Nicaraguan Estelí, Jalapa
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Tabacalera Fernandez)
Robusto: 5 1/2 x 54
Price: $9.50
Review: Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Robusto (11/12/17)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Brand): 1 (2017)

Coming in at #28 is the Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Robusto. Jacobs Ladder lands Robert Holt and Southern Draw Cigars their first appearance on a Cigar Coop Countdown. Jacobs Ladder is the company’s second Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapped cigar following up the QuickDraw PA Broadleaf. While the QuickDraw PA Broadleaf is a line that focuses on smaller, thinner connoisseur sizes, the Jacobs Ladder offers a different blend, utilizing what can be considered more traditional sizes for the U.S. market. It does serve another role, offering the company’s boldest and most powerful cigar released to date.

Jacobs Ladder is the second Maduro cigar to land on the 2017 Cigar Coop Countdown. It’s a blend that consists of a Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro wrapper, an Ecuadorian Maduro wrapper and a filler of Nicaraguan tobaccos. The Robusto size measures 5 1/2 x 54. As with all Southern Draw Cigars, Jacobs Ladder is produced at AJ Fernandez’s Tabacalera Fernandez factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

The Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Robusto delivers bold flavors of coffee, dark chocolate, cedar, and earth. There is also a nice subtle fruit sweetness that surfaces for a short time midway through the cigar. As mentioned, Jacobs Ladder was a cigar positioned as the boldest offering in the Southern Draw portfolio. This cigar is a full strength, full-bodied cigar from start to finish.

Tabacalera Fernandez is a factory well-known for working with Pennsylvania Broadleaf and Jacobs Ladder is a fine example of the raw materials Holt had available to him. This is a cigar that not only comes up big with strength, but it’s also one that comes up big with flavor.