If you’re one for branching out your cigar horizons, then allow me to introduce you to the Cedrus from Southern Draw. The blend marks the fifth official core-line cigar from the veteran-owned company, keeping credence in the inspiration behind its previous releases: faith, family, and the flora around us.

While the first four blends stemmed towards a flower theme with smokes including the Desert Rose and Rose Of Sharon, the Cedrus will strike a chord with dendrologists – those with an acute curiosity into the science and study of trees and other woody plants.

The Cedrus takes its name from Cedrus libani or Lebanese cedar as it’s commonly known. These trees were highly desirable in ancient woodworking, and have numerous biblical references – for example, the Jewish prophet Solomon procured cedar timber to build the temple in Jerusalem.

The wood itself is renowned for its firm core and pleasant scent. Its popularity continues to stoke the cigar industry, where it’s still used to craft humidors, and even wrap cigars instead of cellophane.

Robert Holt and his team have clearly gone to tremendous lengths to honor the legacy of this top-quality wood, so let’s see if my smoke could match the tree’s evergreen heritage.

Cigar Specs

• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Strength: Medium Full
• Wrapper: Besuki TBN – Sumatra, Indonesia
• Binder: Habano 2000- Estelí, Nicaragua
• Filler:  
  • Viso: Piloto Cubano – Dominican Republic,
  • Criollo ’98 – Estelí, Nicaragua
  • Seco: Habana ’92 – Quilalí, Nicaragua
  • Ligero: Corojo ’99 – Jalapa, Nicaragua
• Smoke Time: 90-95 minutes
• Sizes Available:
  • Gordo (6 x 60)
  • Belicoso Fino (5.5 x 52)
  • Robusto (5.5 x 50)
  • Toro (6 x 50)

What is the construction like?

Akin to the rest of the Southern Draw portfolio, the Cedrus is made at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A. in Estelí. As you would expect, it’s a very well-rolled cigar, but this military precision is also reflective in the stick’s appearance.

The patented, vertically stacked box design takes on the shape of ammo can, with its gridded cedar layout ensuring the construction remains intact (a common issue for vertically aligned presentations).

As my ‘bullets’ stood firmly in place, their pointed tip design along with the branding color combination of army green and vintage gold bore the insignia found on service members’ uniforms.

The Cedrus is one of Southern Draw’s most diverse blends with the filler containing four different types of tobacco: Dominican Piloto Cubano Viso, Nicaraguan criollo 98 viso from Estelí, Nicaraguan Habano 92 from Quilali, and Nicaraguan Corojo 99 ligero from Jalapa. 

There’s a dark leather consistency to the Indonesian Sumatra wrapper varietal, which is also a first for the company. On the nose, there is tang and cedar from the wrapper, while the foot is a dry cocoa note. The sharply pointed cap clipped easily, meaning the time had arrived to amp up my enjoyment.

What I made of the cold draw

The pre-light draw is medium-firm and brought a mix of leather and hay, with a slightly grassy note of white pepper. My stogie and lighter were now on a collision course as I braced for take-off.

What I thought about the cigar’s flavors

The Cedrus was unlike anything I had smoked before. It has a unique taste in that it doesn’t fall into an obvious flavor profile, but it was definitively rich, earthy, and sprightly on my palate.

There’s a distinctive dash of spice that derives from the Indonesian spice profile, as well as an herbaceous twist that comes from the Quilali tobacco, which is cultivated in a mountainous region of the country.

You can’t name a cigar “Cedrus” and not at least impart a little of that subtle sweetness. Many of the cedar notes I experienced were very pronounced and helped coalesce the flavors.

The spice and herbal qualities jumped in and out of the flavor profile to great effect, with welcome hints of nuttiness, chocolate, and pepper to help lift them to even greater heights.

First Third

My opening puffs gave me enough sweet cedar to cause intense salivation. Some peppery spice notes joined the profile at half an inch in, parrying back and forth with the cedar to take the lead.

The mix of spice alongside the sweetness in the woodsy notes was simply divine. Black licorice with its aniseed properties cleans the palate towards the end of the first stanza. It lingered for what seemed an eternity and was really palpable in the retrohale.  

Second Third

The profile took a bold, earthy turn in the middle part of my smoke. The peppery spice remained but had noticeably softened. Rich cocoa, along with the cedar from the first third retained an element of sweetness to keep the stogie impressively balanced.

As the second third comes to a close, the earthiness intensified, with the cedar taking on a musty quality that really connected me to the ligneous heart of a forest.

Final Third

The transition to the final third brought newer depths of complexity. Those herbal qualities really started to shine, as the cedar started to fade. Interestingly, with an inch to go, I received an unexpected delivery of dark chocolate notes that had a citrus tickle to them. This meant they fell perfectly in the gap between being too sweet or acidic.

As I smoked my stick down to a tiny, finger-burning nub, a warm creaminess cozied my pipes, while pepper continued to linger on the finish.

How strong is the Cedrus?

The strength, body, and flavors stayed smack in the middle for virtually my whole experience. Some might suggest it wise to have a bite to eat (we recommend choc chip cookies) beforehand, but I see this as an ideal blend for newcomers due to its constrained potency.

Final thoughts

The Cedrus is different from any other stogie you’re ever likely to come across. There’s an accessible depth and complexity that’s inspired by a passion to evoke the woodsiness behind the cigar’s story. This is yet another consistent performing cigar from Southern Draw Cigars that is well worthy of a place in your personal cigar stash.