Southern Draw Desert Rose cigars are produced by AJ Fernandez at his Nicaragua factory and come in a 5.5 x 52 box-pressed Belicoso Fino vitola, available in singles or in humidor-filling boxes of 10.

Each stick contains a blend of aged long-filler tobaccos including Piloto Cubano and Honduran Corojo 99 sourced from the Dominican Republic. A Nicaraguan Condega binder and Ecuadorian Claro wrapper hold together the carefully assembled construction, which is quite pale in color with a pointed bullet-like tip. The Southern Draw and Desert Rose logos feature on a twin band wrapped neatly around the shaft.

With a complex flavor profile and the expert construction that Fernandez is known for, these Southern Draw cigars make for a memorable smoke. Complexity builds over time, so it's worth stocking up on a few spares to set aside over several months. Buy online from Cigars.com for great savings on 10-packs and add these AJ Fernandez cigars to your humidor today.

Brand overview

Southern Draw Cigars was built on the tradition of Southern hospitality and the 'culture of honor' its owners believe in. The brand is operated by a family of veterans and is committed to supporting individuals in need both in the US and in Nicaragua, where the hand-rolled cigars are produced, as well as in other countries where cigars are manufactured and tobaccos are grown.

Although the brand has grown since its launch, founders Robert and Sharon Holt remain strong believers in avoiding causing deliberate offense to others and fighting improper conduct against others. This inclusivity underlines the brand's activities through to the present day and is a hallmark of each new cigar Southern Draw Cigars launch.

In this Southern Draw Desert Rose cigar review, we'll take a closer look at Fernandez's handiwork from the need-to-know specs of this deeply satisfying cigar, to the flavors you should look out for while smoking it.

Cigar specs

• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Strength: Medium
• Wrapper: Ecuador
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Dominican Republic / Honduras
• Smoke Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Sizes Available:
  • Belicoso (5.5 x 52)
  • Belicoso Fino (5.5 x 52)

Cold Draw

A complex and powerful cold draw packs together a long list of aromas. There are white pepper notes and a rich creaminess, hints of citrus, the warmth of barnyard hay, and the sweetness of chocolate and caramel. There's plenty in there to please the palate and it's worth setting aside a little extra time to explore the draw and get every ounce of enjoyment out of it before you set this stick ablaze.

Flavor profile: first third

As you might expect from the cold draw, the first few drags on the lit cigar come with medium strength and plenty of flavors. There's cream, spice, marshmallow, light chocolate, and the richness of molasses. Expect an even greater abundance of aromas if you focus on the retrohales, or if you've had Southern Draw Desert Rose waiting in your humidor for longer than a few weeks.

Flavor profile: second third

The middle third is where Fernandez's expertise really comes into its own. The carefully blended tobaccos are rich and well-balanced, with the long list of flavors still making their appearance, without fighting for attention. The body is on the medium end of mellow, while strength remains medium, creating impressive consistency.

Flavor profile: final third

Into the home straight and those flavors continue to do their thing. There is a developing hint of spice that reinvigorates the experience - consistency here is no bad thing, and Southern Draw Desert Rose never loses its intrigue. Equally, there are no unwelcome surprises as the stick burns down through its last couple of inches.

Conclusion

Desert Rose is another hit from the Holts and AJ Fernandez. It joins a growing list of hugely popular and successful Southern Draw cigars that includes Firethorn, Jacob's Ladder, Kudzu, and Rose of Sharon - named after company co-founder Sharon Holt.

While the flavor profile develops during storage, that's no reason not to try one of these cigars the day they arrive, as there's plenty enough complexity in the premium blend filler tobaccos, to begin with. If you have the patience and the humidor space though, buy a box and keep several safely stored to see how the smoking experience evolves in a few months' time.

Southern Draw Desert Rose cigars are available now in boxes of 10 from Cigars.com, in a 5.5 x 52 Belicoso Fino vitola. Add a box to your cart now to avoid missing out on a uniquely enjoyable experience, whether you light up on the day of delivery or six months down the line.