Southern Draw Firethorn cigars quickly added to the popularity of Southern Draw Cigars when they were introduced as the second line from the Holts and Tabacalera Fernandez. With bold blends and premium handmade construction, it's not difficult to see why this was (and still is) such a successful stick.

A double fermented, top-shelf Ecuadorian Habano wrapper hints at the flavor experience that waits inside. There's a Mexican San Andres binder and a blend of aged Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos to please even the most experienced of palates.

Once lit, Southern Draw Firethorn produces dense, medium-body smoke with its own complex aroma profile of cream, caramel, toasted nuts, and baking spices, along with the sweet scents of those expertly blended tobaccos.

Available from Cigars.com in five good-sized vitolas, from the 5.5" Robusto to the 6.5" Gordo and its skinny cousin the Pome Lancero, these Southern Draw cigars are worth every inch of your humidor.

Brand overview

Southern Draw Cigars was founded by a family of veterans including Robert and Sharon Holt, who the studio's popular Rose of Sharon line is named after. The brand operates on a "culture of honor" and a belief in the long-held tradition of hospitality in the South. As part of this commitment, Southern Draw Cigars pledges its support to individuals in need in tobacco-growing countries, places where cigars are produced, and back home in the US.

This positive outlook on life has helped Southern Draw to grow steadily since its launch, and the partnership with master tobacconist AJ Fernandez and his factory Tabacalera Fernandez certainly hasn't hurt either.

In this Southern Draw Firethorn cigar review, we'll take a deep dive into the flavor profile of Firethorn, to uncover some of the scents and sensations that Fernandez has incorporated into this modern classic.

Cigar specs

• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Strength: Medium-Full
• Wrapper: Rosado
• Binder: San Andrés
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Smoke Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Sizes Available:
  • Southern Draw Firethorn Robusto (5.5 x 54)
  • Southern Draw Firethorn Toro (6 x 52)
  • Southern Draw Firethorn Perfecto (6 x 56)
  • Southern Draw Firethorn Pome Lancero (6.5 x 40)
  • Southern Draw Firethorn Gordo (6.5 x 60)

Cold Draw

Southern Draw Firethorn pairs well with a long list of drinks. The recommendations from Southern Draw include pale ales and lagers, dark red wines like Syrah and Malbec, neat scotch or cognac, and mixed drinks containing vodka, rum, gin, and tequila - Long Island Iced Tea, anyone?

Once you have your beverage by your side, clip the cap of Firethorn and you're ready to experience the cold draw. Through the covered foot, you may detect fruity, floral notes and the sweet taste of the wrapper tobacco. Take a further draw immediately after lighting for more of that wrapper flavor, or give Firethorn a moment to toast before you inhale.

Flavor profile: first third

The fruity profile kicks off the post-light smoking journey of Southern Draw Firethorn, with a backdrop of caramel and a sprinkling of baking spice. This evolves during the first third with a toasty quality coming through - think toasted fruit bread with unsalted butter - as the spices begin to mellow a little.

For more of the sweet fruit aroma, spend a little extra time on the retrohales, which also add a sparkly pepper quality to enliven the palate. As those initial flavors meld together into a well-rounded background, the sweetness reduces slightly and transforms into the richness of dark fruits and ripe cherries.

Flavor profile: second third

Into the second third of Firethorn, it begins to live up to its name with charred cherries and toasted nuts coming through more strongly. There's a suggestion of caramelized sugar but, as the middle third continues, this and the toasted aspect fade away to allow the aged fruit flavors to really shine.

Flavor profile: final third

Like a three-act stage show, the whole cast returns to the stage for an ensemble finale of dark fruits, a chorus of deep caramelized flavors and foreground of sweet and peppery spices. It's a crescendo that both ends Firethorn perfectly, while also leaving you wanting to spark up another stick right away, with no harshness in the final moments of the nub.

Conclusion

Southern Draw Firethorn is not one of the strongest in terms of the body, but its flavor profile delivers plenty of the promise of its name, with those toasted, almost charred fruit flavors and prickly spices combining perfectly.

If this Southern Draw Firethorn cigar review has ignited your palate, buy now at Cigars.com in boxes of 20 - and don't forget to have your favorite craft beer, boutique wine, scotch, or spirit by your side when you light up.