drew estate java bitter taste
i just purchased 2 boxes of drew estate java 1-waffe and 1-corona latte both boxes have a very bitter start and some turn creamy half way thru like the ones im used to smoking but some dont seem to come back at all. i have smoked both the latte and maduro for several years and have never encountered this problem--- are these smokes salvagable? i have heard that if you let them age for 60-90 days in humidor they will be ok? expensive to give up on. any suggestions?
Comments
gmill880,
Sorry to read about your experience.
Like all handmade cigars, not every cigar nor every box is perfect, but we do strive to make it make it so. So is it possible that you received a some less than ideal cigars? Yes it is.
When it comes to both those sizes, and in paticular wafe, they will almost always turn bitter if you smoke them quickly given their narrow ring gauge. In these thinner sizes it is very easy to overheat tobacco particularly if you are a guy who regularly smokes larger or stronger cigars.
Also, a slightly high moisture content in the leaf can turn cigars bitter so I would double check that on your end.
And yes, underfermented leaf can cause it also, but it is highly unlikely that is the case. Now as for underaged leaf, that too can contribute. Leaf is bale aged, but within some bales there may be some thicker leaf that could have used a little more time, so this could be it also, it shouldn't be, but could and yes, if you laid down the cigars for ninety additional days the problem might just resolve itself.
Regardless, send me an email with your "ship to" address and I will send out some smokes to make up for ones that are disappointing you. Plus if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you to send a few of the "bad" ones back to me so we can inspect them.
Sorry for the problem,
Steve
saka@drewestate.com
President, Drew Estate, Inc.
Hi all. This is my first post and I am new to the world of cigars.
I came across this website and forum doing a google search "java cigar bitter" since I too just had the same runin with the Java. I still taste it in my mouth.
The first Java I ever had was purchased at a Corona cigar bar in Orlando and man was it good! I immidiately fell in love with the infused mocha and became a fan of Drew Estates.
My experiences with Java since haven't been so well (I've had five now). I've had the waffe, along with the standard (robusto?) types. They all tasted bitter and killed the flavor.
While smoking a Kuba Kuba earlier today, I came to my own conclusion that heat is the culprit amd the Java must be lit and smoked VERY slowly. The kuba felt like a much much cooler smoke than the previous Javas I had smoked. Naturally it tasted very good until I got near the end, when the smoke got hot and the similar bitterness started to come through.
I don't want to give up on the Java. It initiated me into the cigar world so well. The next one I smoke will hopefully be lit properly (I am new!) and I will be able to enjoy it like I did the first one.
PS. Amazing that the President of Drew Estaes stepped up to the plate. I am very impressed! It made me want to purchase a Drew Estaes sampler but I am afraid it won't keep since I don't own a humidor and can't own one til x-mas. My girlfriend wants to get me a nice one.