Java Corona by Drew Estate - Review

The Java Corona Maduro by Drew Estate is a cigar that I have had maybe three of in my life. The first two were a few years ago, and then I recently had one again. Overall, it did not please the cigar purist in me, but some merits it displayed could earn it a permanent place in the humidor.

First, the positives: it is a beautiful cigar to behold, box pressed with a dark, rich and smooth wrapper, subtle cap, and sturdy labels. It's flavor is advertised as sweet, creamy, coffee-mocha flavor, and for the most part these were the flavors experienced.

Negatives: although the flavors were as advertised, they were more over-powering than pleasurable. The sweetness in the wrapper flavor did not balance well with the tobacco filling, especially during the first one third of the smoke. Many other reviews spin this sweetness as a positive thing, some saying "like smoking candy" as if this is a good thing. The point of a premium cigar is to give the customer a quality experience of tobacco blending with a subtle addition of flavors that emphasize the tobacco, not to cover up the tobacco with flavoring. Also, the draw was too easy, and as a result the cigar burned very quickly. Also, during the last one third of the smoke, the burn had already reached the cap, burning the fingers and lips and making it difficult to finish.

Verdict: The Java is simply not a classic cigar. It is an experimental sideshow cigar that many people have found they enjoy for its coffee flavor. It is a medium strength only because of the strong sugary flavoring and its Maduro wrapper. Can be best enjoyed with coffee or anything savory. Would not recommend anything sweet with it, as it provides plenty of that itself. In summation, it's foreseeable to keep a small stock of these if you can afford it, because sometimes a purely sweet treat can be what you're after. But for the money, do yourself a favor and head to the gas station and pick up some Swisher Sweets, because the Java is mostly a gussied up version of the aforementioned.

-PH