Originally released as a 6 ¾ x 52 Torpedo in October 2009 as the second Monster in the series, Drac is the third cigar in the Monster Mash series up for review after the Frank and Wolf. If you would like some back story on this series, check out the Frank review. I have not smoked an original Drac, however, there is some infamy surrounding that release. The original Drac boxes were painted on the inside which led to the cigars that were placed in the box to absorb some of those paint smells. Certainly that was a mistake, but that is not a concern today with this Drac!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: 5 ¼ x 52 Belicoso
Price: N/A
Release Date: September 2021
Company Website: https://www.tatuajecigars.com/
Expectations
From previous experiences with this wrapper on Nicaraguan cigars, Pete’s stuff included, I anticipate a full flavor experience with a more savory profile of earth, wood, and spice. I also tend to get some minerality out of cigars adorned with this particular wrapper, and I have experienced some harsh bitterness with some Tatuaje cigars that use Habano wrappers.
Prelight Characteristics
This cigar has a very dark, toothy wrapper. I really like the band and text colors for this cigar band. It fits the Drac name and looks good on the cigar. This Drac smells of sweet cedar and manure and the cold draw is cloves and nutmeg. Although these prelight characteristics do not mean much, I am a big fan of everything about this cigar before lighting.
First Third
First light puffs reveal a medium body and flavor with notes of pepper, earth and cocoa. The draw has a nice resistance level with about half of the taper removed. This cigar requires double puffs in order to get smoke on the draw. It seems to be burning fine, however. This cigar is much more tame right off the bat than anticipated. It’s quickly taking on a creamy quality. About an inch in and the flavor is up to medium-full with notes of creamy earth on the draw and some sugary sweetness and cocoa on the finish. The retrohale shows some pepper and dark fruit sweetness. These flavors hold throughout the remainder of the first third. The draw and burn have been great, the only “issue” is the double puffs needed to get smoke production. This made the experience a little lackluster.
Flavor - 3/4
Performance - 2.5/3
Experience - 1.5/3
Overall - 7/10
Second Third
The ash dropped to start the second third. The flavor is still at medium-full, the body has come up to join it, and there is no strength yet. The flavors are still centered around cream, earth, cocoa, and dark fruit. Nearing halfway, the cocoa has become sweeter like a chocolate milk powder and is primary on the draw. The retrohale is very sweet and slightly fruity. This cigar still requires double puffs in order to get good smoke production. Nearing the end of the second third and there is a slight minerality that comes and goes on the retrohale. The draw flavors are sweet cocoa, the retrohale still shows a fruitiness, and the finish has an earthiness to it. The draw and burn have still been great.
Flavor - 3/4
Performance - 2.5/3
Experience - 2/3
Overall - 7.5/10
Final Third
Moving into the final third and the flavor is up to full, the body is medium, and the strength is still not noticeable. The draw flavors are now a dark fruit sweetness, the retrohale holds some of the sweetness with a little earth. The finish shows a little pepper with the dark fruit sweetness. Midway through this third and the sweetness has mostly dropped out and you are left with earth on the draw. For the first time some wood is showing up to join the earth. The pepper is amping up on the finish. It is still requiring double puffs. A little bitterness is showing up now and the palate is drying out a touch. There’s a toastiness coming in and the dark fruit is joining in again. A slight touch up is needed. The finish is becoming very long and the flavors are getting washed out a touch. Nearing the end it started going out on its own and got bitter and harsh as I tried to save it.
Flavor - 2/4
Performance -1.5/3
Experience -1.5/3
Overall -5/10
Overall Experience
Overall I will say that I was quite surprised with the first two thirds. I am not surprised by the final third as I expected some of the harsh bitterness, but I was happy I did not experience that until the end. The first two thirds were a much sweeter, richer profile than I anticipated, and although the flavor profile was fit for a fuller, bolder experience, this cigar lived in the medium territory. This actually made the experience unique for me because I find these flavors more in those bolder cigars where the flavors are more standout and distinct, but this Drac displayed them in a more complex, nuanced way. This was similar to how I felt about Frank. The final third was more like Wolf, unfortunately. Maybe this particular cigar was an anomaly and in other cigars the final third would be more similar to the first two thirds. However, I still think it was an overall good cigar and falls between Frank and Wolf for me. The final smoke time was one hour and 26 minutes
Final Score - 6.5/10
This Monster Mash box was purchased by me through UpDown Cigar in Chicago. Feel free to reach out to me with questions, concerns, criticisms, or just to talk at @guitarsandcigarsfarm on Instagram, or via email at trevor@whiskeyandwhitetails.com.