Initial Thoughts:
Soaked in, aged in, marinated in… whatever, the Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Toro is supposedly a partnership between Drew Estate and one of the most exclusive brands of bourbon in the world, Pappy Van Winkle. Over-hyped or my next great smoke – that's what we're here to find out!
This Pappy Van Winkle cigar starts off with clear and distinct notes of soy sauce-based barbeque sauce. The cold draw slaps you in the face with the flavors of cedar and roasting hickory wood.
Through the first half-inch or so, the burn is okay, the draw is just a little bit tight, and the flavors are kind of smokey. However, I'm not getting just a ton of the bourbon flavors from the Pappy Van Winkle barrel fermentation.
Let's see if this Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Toro is over-hyped or if it's my next great smoke?
CigarScore:
Brand: Pappy Van Winkle / Drew Estate
Line: Barrel Fermented
Size: 6 x 52
Cut: Select Draw
Light: Torch
Price: $15
Wrapper: Kentucky Fire-Cured and Barrel Fermented Tapa Negra on top of a Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Smoke Time: 110 minutes
Final Thoughts:
As I continued smoking the cigar, those strong smokey flavors of barbeque and hickory faded.
I think it's a fairly well-made cigar with okay flavors. However, I think, as I did with the Acid Kuba Arte, that the Pappy Van Winkle is a mediocre cigar with a high price tag because of the infusion and because Drew Estate has to pay the Van Winkle family licensing fees.
If you're interested in cigars that have been aged in bourbon barrels, just look at this list of cigars made by Perdomo.
At the end of the day, the Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Toro earns a CigarScore 4.
