Owned and operated by a family of veterans, Southern Draw returned last year with its most potent offering to date, both in terms of strength and body – the Jacob’s Ladder Brimstone. Meaning “the stone that burns”, this archaic term stems from the biblical metaphor (the cigar’s full title is “Jacobs Ladder – Hail, Fire and Brimstone”) that signified God’s fury against sin.
Born from a collaboration between AJ Fernandez and Ethan Jacob (the son of Southern Draw founders, Robert & Sharon Holt), the Texas-based premium cigar brand has attempted to push the smoke out by producing a punchier and deeper version of the already-bold Jacob Ladders cigar.
Cigar Specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Strength: Medium/Full
- Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf USA
- Binder: USA Maduro
- Filler: Potent Triple Ligero, from Nicaragua and Dominican Republic
- Smoke Time: 90-145 minutes
- Sizes Available:
How is the Jacobs Ladder Brimstone constructed?
The different elements that make up the cigar’s complete title are applied to each of its triple ligero filler tobaccos. The three types of ligeros hail from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, with the additional variety giving the cigar a more powerful blend than its two-leaf predecessor.
Like the original, it uses a Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper, but instead envelopes a USA Maduro binder.
When you see the Brimstone for the first time, you can’t fail to be impressed with the regal presentation, which makes an undeniable visual statement. Two bands adorn the cigar and follow similar color schemes.
The primary band sits on top of a royal blue background, with its gold lettering and swirling flourishes showcasing the traditional Southern Draw logo. The secondary band is unique to this 6 x 56 perfecto. It brazenly declares the ‘JACOBS LADDER BRIMSTONE’ name over a white backdrop, and is finished with a cedar sleeve that covers the body and foot of the cigar.
A good perfecto can be tricky to roll, but the Brimstone’s construction is simply impeccable. The unique shape with its kind of flared out bottom reminds me of those ‘pirate cigars’ that an 18th century swashbuckler had. It is intricately tapered at both ends, the cap is well applied, and the perfecto foot is expertly finished.
Notes on the cold draw
After removing the sleeve, the residue aroma of cedar continued to linger with earthiness and black pepper. I unraveled the toothy wrapper, which had an intense expresso appearance and a slightly gritty feel to the touch.
Cutting just above the cigar’s cap to keep the tapered head intact, I tickled the Brimstone along my nose. I picked up what I can only describe as a fuggy wood note along the barrel.
Prior to firing up the brimstone, the dry draw delivered a mixture of both dark and sweet chocolate, alongside notes of light cedar, earth, and a spot of manure, around medium-full.
How did it taste?
With its perfect resistance and clear draw, I found the smoking phase a tale of two halves. Key flavors of coffee, white pepper, dark chocolate, anise, and earth were prevalent throughout, but it was past the halfway mark when those flavors became more alluring and the retrohales became more delicate.
The cigar exhibited a well balanced mix of mellow, yet complex flavors that took my pallet on a ride that threatened to imbalance my tastebuds (in a good way!). Cigar enthusiasts cherish this smoke, and I would be more than happy to go through the long journey once more to experience the diverse combination on my palate.
First third
When foot and fire first collided, the Brimstone kicked off with earthiness, cedar, warming pepper notes, and the grinding waft of roasted coffee beans. As the cigar charred its way through the nozzle tip, the coffee and earth notes emerged to the forefront. The high quality burn remained, and a cloying sweetness seeped into the flavor profile.
Second third
Once the burn passed the nozzle, the cigar became much toastier as woodiness and creaminess came into play. It was apparent that other flavors not as prominent had begun to alternate in intensity, most notably the pepper notes that tingled the back of my throat. A hint of orange citrus, with retrohales of dark chocolate, strawberry, and creamy bread only added to the dynamic flavor explosion.
Final third
As I approached the final third, my palate certainly grazed a new depth of creaminess, although the rich spices, bittersweet dark chocolate, and espresso notes kept the cigar on even ground with what had gone before. The spices definitely contributed to giving the cigar an added kick, without overpowering the blend. Some saltiness also returned during the conclusion, with the long finish leaving me fully satisfied, well after it had turned to ash.
How strong is the Jacobs Ladder Brimstone?
The Brimstone is not one for the faint of heart. If you thought the Jacob’s Ladder was strong, I’m telling you now – this blows it out the water. While it struggled to get to full strength until the latter half of the cigar, the intensity crept up through the burn and did not let up down to the nub.
In my opinion, this is why you should fill your belly before lighting up a Brimstone (a hearty meal and a glass of bourbon should do the trick).
Closing Thoughts
The intensity of the Brimstone is what sets it apart from the original Jacob’s Ladder. If you are in the mood for a demanding cigar, it raises the bar a couple of notches. Its hearty blend of rich earthy and sweet notes with hints of dark chocolate should appeal to both the novice and connoisseur stogie smoker alike.