Liga Privada Pichardo Cigar Review: A wolf in sheep’s clothing

The Liga Privada Pichardo Cigar might look like a very unassuming cigar as it sits quietly in your humidor, but it is anything but quiet when it comes to flavour and smoke quality.

Liga Privada as a brand had never really crossed my radar before, mainly due to their price over here in the UK. Also, coming from Drew Estate, they hadn’t really interested me as I’d heard a lot of mixed thoughts about their cigars. My previous experience with Drew Estate cigars was limited to the Acid Blondie and the less said about that, the better.

Looking through my humidor to pick out something to smoke, this one caught my eye. The lovely white an gold band glinted and winked at me so I just had to get it out and give it a smoke.

Sliding out of the wrapper I could feel that there was some very light veining, but nothing really visible. Looking over the Liga Privada Pichardo cigar, the foot looked like the end of a chocolate flake. The gentle aromas were sweet with caraway seeds and hints of sheep grazing pasture.

My opening draws on the cigar were rich, creamy and full of liquorice toffee. The smoothness of the first draws was prevalent right the way through the cigar as well as in the texture of the smoke which looked like billowing clouds. My first drink with the cigar was a glass of Mount Gay Eclipse rum. This really did enhance the flavour of the cigar.

Towards the end of the first third, the Liga Privada Pichardo cigar gave its first hint at the spice and pepperiness to come. As the main flavour transitioned from the sweet opening to a more savoury roast of well done fillet of beef, I got a gentle tickle of horseradish.

These meaty flavours were sustained throughout the middle section of the cigar and left me salivating and ready for a traditional Sunday roast dinner of roast beef with all the trimmings and lashings of gravy. The generous glass of ruby port I had poured was the perfect partner for this portion of the cigar.

I was rather jolted out of my reverie but a kick of habanero chilli at the commencement of the final third. It was at this point that the cigar really changed character. I noticed the mess that the cigar had been making. Luckily most of it was in my ashtray, but the few ash balls that I had were very crumbly.

A good blow through and purge cleared away the intense spiciness and brought forth a rich flavour of prunes that remained for the rest of the cigar. I smoked the Liga Privada Pichardo cigar well past the band but didn’t feel that it was a cigar to smoke right down to the nub due to the shape of the ash.

Over all, this was a beautiful tasting cigar that was let down by the construction. It is a cigar that I wouldn’t say no to having again, but probably wouldn’t want to pay top dollar for.

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Liga Privada Pichardo Cigar Details