2020 Cigar of the Year Countdown: #18: Undercrown Maduro Corona Pequeña by Drew Estate

“The expression great things come in small packages is very appropriate here. The Undercrown Maduro Corona Pequeña is an absolute flavor bomb.”

Wrapper: Otapan Negro Último Corte (Mexico)
Binder: Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut & Cured Habano
Filler: Select Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Cuban Seed
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Corona Pequeña: 4 x 44
Price: $5.50

Sponsor: Yes
Samples Provided for Initial Review: Yes
Review: Undercrown Maduro Corona Pequeña (9/11/20)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Brand): 7 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020)

Coming in at #18 is the Undercrown Maduro Corona Pequeña by Drew Estate. In 2020, just prior to the Tobacco Plus Expo, Drew Estate would introduce a pair of 4 x 44 line extensions to its Undercrown Maduro and Undercrown Shade lines. Drew Estate President Jonathan Drew has described the Corona Pequeña as a size that sits between the tin offering and Robusto size. It’s the Maduro offering of the Corona Pequeña that lands on this year’s Countdown.

Undercrown has certainly become the workhorse brand for Drew Estate. It was originally started in 2011 by Drew Estate factory workers who came up with the blend after it was no longer possible for them to smoke Liga Privada due to the demand on that product. Undercrown was derived from the primings not used for Liga Privada. The result was the original Undercrown Maduro blend. Today Undercrown is a monster brand for Drew Estate and now has the Undercrown Shade and Undercrown Sun Grown offerings.

The blend of the Undercrown Maduro consists of an Otapan Negro Último Corte wrapper from Mexico, a Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut & Cured Habano binder, and fillers a combination of Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaragua Cuban Seed fillers.

The Undercrown Maduro Corona Pequeña delivers many of the classic notes seen in the other sizes of the line coffee, dried fruit, earth, chocolate, as well as red and white Pepper. The flavors are concentrated into the small package delivering a full-bodied smoke countered by medium to full strength.

With the Undercrown Maduro Corona Pequeña, it lands Drew Estate on a Cigar Coop Countdown for the seventh time. It is also the third consecutive year Drew Estate has appeared on a Countdown.