The first cigar I ever tried from Southern Draw Cigars was the Kudzu Gordo.  As most of you know, I’m not a fan of the big ring gauge cigars, but Robert Holt, owner of Southern Draw Cigars, just asked me to give it a chance.  The blend on that cigar was tweaked just for that size.  Reluctantly, I tried it and I’m glad I did.   The box press made it more comfortable to smoke and the flavor was great.  Luckily, soon after that review, my local shop, The Cigar Shop in Biloxi, MS, picked up Southern Draw.  The reason I bring up the Kudzu Gordo is, not only can Southern Draw make large cigars, but they also make smaller ring cigars.

The Quickdraw is made for those times you can’t smoke something the size of the gordo or, like me, you just like smaller ring gauge cigars.  The Quickdraw is available in three different wrappers: Pennsylvania Broadleaf, Ecuadorian Connecticut and Ecuadorian Dark Habano.  It’s also available in two sizes:  petit corona and panatela.  Today, I’m reviewing the Quickdraw Pennsylvania Panatela

• Size:  5.5 x 40
• Wrapper:  Pennsylvania Broadleaf
• Binder:  Nicaraguan
• Filler:  Nicaraguan and Honduran
• MSRP:  $5.25
• Made by AJ Fernandez

Cigar provided by Souther Draw for review

Pre-Light

Pennsylvania broadleaf will never win any beauty contest, but this wrapper is better looking than most.  It has a rough leather appearance with a deep brown color.   The draw is a tad bit tight, but nothing too bad.  The flavors on the cold draw are raisins, toast and leather.

 

First Half

Like I stated earlier, the draw is a little tight, but not so much as I want to stop smoking it.  The flavors are quite good as I’m getting notes of charred oak, black pepper, leather, coffee and cinnamon.  Quite a nice combination with a spice bite in the back of the throat.  It does produce a good amount of smoke as well and the body is full.

Second Half

With it being a small cigar, the change in flavors isn’t too pronounced. The spice is still full and charred oak with the leather is still the backbone of the cigar.  I get more coffee notes now with a dark cocoa note, as well, near the end.  All in all, its a very flavorful cigar.

Overall Impressions

I’m not a big Pennsylvania broadleaf fan, but I did enjoy this cigar quite a bit.  It wasn’t just the size, which I really love, but the savory flavors as well.  It had just the right amount of spice for me as I’m also not one that enjoys a lot of spice in my cigars.  Overall, I think Southern Draw has a winner in the Quickdraw.  The only one I haven’t had yet is the Connecticut version which is the one I think I would love the most.  For the price, this is a fine cigar.