2020 Cigar of the Year Countdown: #13: Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Desert Rose Belicoso Fino

“What an addition the Desert Rose is to the Southern Draw Cigars’ portfolio! This is a cigar that fires on all cylinders- flavor, complexity, and construction.”

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Claro
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano (Condega)
Filler: Honduran Corojo ’99, Dominican Piloto Cubano
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez de Nicaragua
Belicoso Fino: 5 1/2 x 52 (Box Pressed)
Price: $11.99

Sponsor: No
Samples Provided for Initial Review: Yes
Review: Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Desert Rose (Belicoso Fino) (4/19/20)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Brand): 4 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

Coming in at #13 is the Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Desert Rose Belicoso Fino. The Rose of Sharon line is a line that pays tribute to Sharon Holt of Southern Draw Cigars. In 2019, an offshoot of the line was introduced known as Desert Rose. Desert Rose utilizes a different blend than the original Rose of Sharon line.

The Desert Rose replaces the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper found on the original Rose of Sharon with a thicker, heartier Ecuadorian Claro wrapper that the company refers to as “Cloud Grown.” The blend also uses a Nicaraguan Habano binder from Condega. Finally, the fillers are a combination of Honduran Corojo ’99 and Dominican Piloto Cubano. As with all Southern Draw Cigars, production comes from AJ Fernandez’s factory in the Dominican Republic. Desert Rose was initially released in a 5 1/2 x 52 Belicoso Fino – the size that lands on this year’s Countdown.

The Desert Rose Belicoso Fino delivered notes of cream, berry, cedar, classic wood, black pepper, toast, and hay. The cigar delivered a medium-bodied smoking experience countered by mild to medium strength in the first half and medium strength in the second half.

For Southern Draw Cigars, it marks the fourth consecutive year the company has landed on the Countdown (and fourth time overall). It’s Southern Draw Cigars’ highest position to date. At this point in time, Tabacalera AJ Fernandez becomes the second factory to land two cigars on the 2020 Countdown.

Southern Draw Cigars won the 2019 Cigar Coop Prime Time Award for Small/Medium Company of the Year – and Desert Rose was a key part of why the company earned this honor.