2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown (Coop’s List): #15 -Undercrown 10 Toro by Drew Estate

“Drew Estate did an amazing job at making these cigars “All Dekk’d Out”…this was an impressive offering. It’s a cigar that has gotten better over time.”

Wrapper: High Priming Mexican San Andres
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Toro: 6 x 52
Price: $12.00

Sponsor: Yes
Samples Provided for Initial Review: Yes
Review: Undercrown 10 Toro by Drew Estate (10/13)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Brand): 8 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

Coming in at #15 is the Undercrown 10 Toro by Drew Estate. The Undercrown 10 was a line created to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Undercrown brand. This was a release that was Drew Estate’s most high-profile release in 2021. Undercrown 10 had a soft launch as an unbanded “Mystery Cigar” included in a Freestyle Live Limited Edition Event Kit that was made available to consumers prior to the company’s Freestyle Live Broadcast. On the broadcast, it was revealed that the Mystery Cigar was the new Undercrown 10. Undercrown 10 would then be introduced to the market in late May joining Undercrown Maduro, Undercrown Shade, and Undercrown Sun Grown as the fourth pillar of the Undercrown brand.

Like the original the Undercrown Maduro, Undercrown 10 also uses a San Andres wrapper. The difference is the San Andres wrapper for the Undercrown 10 is a higher grade and priming. The remainder of the blend incorporates “the very finest Broadleaf binder from the Connecticut River Valley, and a tripa blend of select and rare Nicaraguan tobaccos.” Production is handled at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Toro measures 6 x 52.

The theme “ALL DEKK’D OUT” is present on the packaging of the cigar. Perhaps the most unique packaging feature is a simple thin gold ribbon that is draped over the cap of the cigar and rests under the front and back of the band.

The Undercrown 10 Toro delivers flavors of coffee, cocoa, baker’s spice, red licorice, pepper, and cream. This is a much different cigar than the original Undercrown in that the Undercrown 10 is richer and spicier – particularly in the final third. The strength and body of this cigar started out medium and progressed to medium to full in the second half.

This is the eighth year Drew Estate has landed on the Countdown, including the past four years in a row. Nicaragua continues to be the story of the 2021 Countdown. Of the sixteen cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the 11th one from Nicaragua.