Southern Draw Ceegars

I happened across a review of the Southern Draw Firethorn stick a month or two back, and learned that two folks, Sharon and Robert Holt, had teamed with the AJ Fernandez firm to produce three lines of sticks...the Kudzu (full bodied, box pressed), the Firethorn (medium to full), and Quick Draw (little fellers, two different options of wrappers). The Holts were combining their passion for cigars with the Southern lifestyle and courtesy intrinsic of those old school folks who live in the American South.

Intrigued, I ordered a sampler of all three lines and began following their journey. I ordered the sampler on a Friday, they arrived on Monday, and were accompanied by a very nice personal email and a few days later, a hand-written note! How nice it is to deal with folks who will take the extra step! Now, I admit, as their company grows, that may not be practical, but it sure got my attention!

Along about this same time, out of curiosity, I bought a Liga Privada #9 and a Padron 1926. Both were supposed to be top of the line sticks, and they were...and I smoked the cigars in the sampler and these within the next few days. Although the two so-called super premium sticks were just that, I gotta tellya...to me, all of the Southern Draw cigars were just...hmmm, how you say?...better! And for a third of the money for the Padron, half the money for the Liga Privada!

Now, I admit to one and all that I don't have a sophisticated palette...it's like either 'Yep, this is pretty good'...or 'Well, it's okay but I like others better'...or 'El Ropo'. I can't discern things like 'during the second third of the cigar, elements of cornholio convert to butthole, with tingy little hints of corn nuts' and crap like that...I mean like, who gives one red rip? But, cigar reviewers gotta say something I reckon!

With these, all I thought was 'I really like these cigars' and 'I really like these folks I'm dealing with'. Nope, I'm not associated with the company, and I've never personally met the Holts, but I do like their style...and their product. And I just ordered a bundle of Firethorns, and when it's in the budget, there will be a bundle of Kudzus as well. The little Quick Draws? Well, I'm not a small ceegar type of dude...I like the 60 ring gordos.

They have a great website, I suggest y'all go take a peek...a sampler is only $35.00. Right now, their B&M's are mostly in Tejas, with only one currently in my state, California...but I don't care, it's easy enough to order via the net.

That is all!

Is that $35 for 3 cigars?

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Originally Posted by Old Smokey

Is that $35 for 3 cigars?

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Looks to be $35 for 5 cigars. They have a few other samplers as well.

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Originally Posted by Hardheaded

Looks to be $35 for 5 cigars. They have a few other samplers as well.

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Yes...five ceegars. One Kudzu, one Firethorn, three Quick Draws.

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Originally Posted by Yarddog

Now, I admit to one and all that I don't have a sophisticated palette...it's like either 'Yep, this is pretty good'...or 'Well, it's okay but I like others better'...or 'El Ropo'. I can't discern things like 'during the second third of the cigar, elements of cornholio convert to butthole, with tingy little hints of corn nuts' and crap like that...I mean like, who gives one red rip? But, cigar reviewers gotta say something I reckon!
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LMAO, Well said!

My b&m has been carrying them for a few months, I've tried the Kudzu a few times, it would say it's a decent cigar give it a try if you haven't tried one.

damn wish a B&M near me had them may have to order the sampler and give one to the local shop to try!!

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Originally Posted by Demuths1770

damn wish a B&M near me had them may have to order the sampler and give one to the local shop to try!!

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When my bundle arrives, I'm gonna take one of them up to Matt at Santa Barbara Cigar, give it to him, and suggest that he order a box or two and talk 'em up...if he likes them, of course, and/or believes that they will be a viable hit in SB...I think they will, since many of the trust fund babies in SB are 'boutique oriented', and a small cigar company just starting out will intrigue them! Or, in lieu of that, those who just enjoy a fine cigar, like myself, will buy them just for a nice, relaxing smoke!

There are a couple of cigar stores here in the local area, but I am not as comfortable with the ownership...nonetheless, I may do the same, because selfishly, it would be great to have a local B&M who stocks these! The rub is, as always, is that for a cigar just arrived in a shop to get any legs, it has to be talked up by the staff. Otherwise, the cigars just sit on the shelf, passively waiting for someone to take them home. As with any business, the success of a line of goods depends on the willingness of the ownership and staff to push it!

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Originally Posted by Yarddog

When my bundle arrives, I'm gonna take one of them up to Matt at Santa Barbara Cigar, give it to him, and suggest that he order a box or two and talk 'em up...if he likes them, of course, and/or believes that they will be a viable hit in SB...I think they will, since many of the trust fund babies in SB are 'boutique oriented', and a small cigar company just starting out will intrigue them! Or, in lieu of that, those who just enjoy a fine cigar, like myself, will buy them just for a nice, relaxing smoke!

There are a couple of cigar stores here in the local area, but I am not as comfortable with the ownership...nonetheless, I may do the same, because selfishly, it would be great to have a local B&M who stocks these! The rub is, as always, is that for a cigar just arrived in a shop to get any legs, it has to be talked up by the staff. Otherwise, the cigars just sit on the shelf, passively waiting for someone to take them home. As with any business, the success of a line of goods depends on the willingness of the ownership and staff to push it!

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i have a local shop that LOVES boutique cigars and i think if this is a good line i could see him carrying them.

It's not even close to a boutique cigar

boutique cigar may be the wrong wording but its still something my local shop would love to have if it is a worth while stick

I'm not certain what the officially accepted term of 'boutique cigar' is, but if it's a limited production, made and/or marketed by a small business, off the radar from the bigger brands, then I'm okay with calling them 'boutiques'... now if there is another term that's better, or if the term 'boutique cigar' means something else, please...edify me! I'm with demuths1770 in leaning this direction...now, that said, if I was the Holts, I might not want my cigar to be termed 'boutique'! I get that!

i was always under the understanding a boutique cigar is a small ran cigar that has limited B&M sales

Yeah...that's my impression. Anyone? Anyone?

My take of a boutique cigar is it has that one of a kind flavor. To me it's a distinct taste that I can't describe really, I just know it when I taste it.

I ordered a box of 6X60 Firethorns, and they came in last night. I have no problem smoking cigars right off the truck...as far as I'm concerned, a good ceegar had damn well be ready to go when I am, but I'll have to wait until a more appropriate time, as I had smoked a La Perla White Pearl on the two hour commute home. It was delicious.

First thing I noticed was the excellent design and construction of the box the Firethorns came in. In my opinion, the box reflects the sticks, and the box is well made, and one of the doors is a 'double door'...not a good design to sub in as a humidor, but it's shrink-wrapped, so no problem.

I'll report back when I've had a chance to smoke one...I've had one out of the sampler, but that was 52 ring gauge. These are bigger, and I expect a bit different smoke. Now, I'll warn ya...my review, as it were, won't be the wonky detailed treatise that some are able to pull off!

http://www.cheaphumidors.com/blog/ci...remium-cigars/

This looks like something I'd like to try. Looks like AJ F provided some help for some of the blends?

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Originally Posted by herman

This looks like something I'd like to try. Looks like AJ F provided some help for some of the blends?

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Just so! One of the reasons I was interested in the first place! The sampler might be the best way to try one...

I was given a Kudzu by Curt at Solid Rock. Very nice cigar indeed!