The shipment arrived very quickly and Uptown Cigar includes a neat little disposable humidification stick in each shipment so the cigars arrived in 'Light em up' condition. Looking at the cigar you can tell it's from New York. It just looks big and bold and brassy. It's a little bigger around than most Robustos. You can just picture some guy at a Mets game with one of these in his mouth complementing the ump on his play calls. The foot is tapered a little like some figurados I've seen and the butt is almost flat. It has a nice dark, oily looking Cameroon wrapper and feels really firm. But the aroma is what really hits you. It reminds me of vanilla and the cigar has a slightly sweet taste when you put it in your mouth before you light it. You can tell this is part of the Natural line from Drew Estates. That line's goal is to blend exotic tobaccos for unique cigar smoking experiences.

The proof is in the smoking, as someone famous once said (Who? Why, I think that must have been me!). You have to be a little careful cutting these what with the Cameroon wrapper. It's a might delicate.
 But the light is easy with that tapered foot and the burn is nice and even. I'm also becoming a real Robusto fan. The draw is so easy and the taste is so full. And the Brooklyn delivers taste in spades baby! No doubt about it. You're smoking a cigar dere! It's a, like I said, unusual taste like nothing I ever smoked before. Definitely full bodied without any harshness but how to describe it is a puzzle. It has the spicy taste of almost a flavored cigar but not quite. All I can say is if you like a full bodied cigar and want something different I got cha cigar right chere. 

All in all a real pleasure and a fun cigar to smoke. Right up my alley (Pssst. Want to buy a watch? Ooops. Wrong alley). Uptown Cigar is offering some other specials too so be sure to check out the October Value Hunters article before you visit the site but Uptown Cigar has a winner with those Brooklyns.

Here's the scoop...

Uptown Cigar Company and Drew Estate share a bond beyond the love of  great cigars.  That bond is Brooklyn, the place where all the senses come alive.  So when Uptown Cigar asked Drew Estate to create a blend exclusively for them,  it had to be worthy of its name, “Brooklyn",  "Brooklyn" became available July 2001 as part of the Drew Estate Natural line and will be found only at Uptown Cigar Company.  Not that that's a bad thing, as if you have ever dealt with Uptown Cigar, you've undoubtedly been taken care of.  Made and blended in
Nicaragua, "Brooklyn", sports a Cameroon wrapper. Like most cigars from Drew Estate, this is different than the norm.  If your one of those cigar smokers that equates different to "not for me", your probably right, this may not be for you.  On the other hand, unlike the Acid line or the Lars Tetens line, other fragrant cigars, the Brooklyn tries to be a "Mans Man" cigar.  It may pull this new exploit off quite well!

One reviewer describes the Brooklyn as having an "I dare you to smoke me" look about it.  That's understandable as the Brooklyn is a big robusto that makes you keenly aware you are smoking a cigar.

If you have smoked from the Drew Estate Natural line in the past, you'll be familiar with the construction.  A touch on the ragged side, yet able to allow a very enjoyable smoke from a construction standpoint.  One may worry about these cigars ever drying out, as the wrapper could take a beating if not kept at the appropriate humidity.

"The Brooklyn has a pre-light aroma that almost seduces you.  The cigar wafts a light perfume fragrance at you conjuring up images of far away places.  The light is almost instantaneous with a lot of smoke."

Everybody loved the aroma, which frankly surprised us.  You always seem to touch a nerve of the classic cigar smoker with aromatic cigars, but the Brooklyn is not nearly as romatically overpowering as the more common lines of fragrant cigars mentioned earlier.  With its pleasant but not overbearing aroma, the Brooklyn seems to be able to reach a quiet compromise with folk.

Taste caused fits among our reviewers!  We almost sensed a "damn I like this, but I really didn't want to " attitude among the reviewers. 

"This is a fine smoke!  Not one to normally leave the beaten path and try these "unique" cigars, I'm glad I did.  Unique probably isn't a fair descriptor, as the Brooklyn is a meaty cigar with very pleasant overtones.  Count me as a supporter."

"Despite the Brooklyn's appearance and strong fragrance, the taste is surprisingly light with very little after taste.  I tasted cedar mostly with a little bite during the short finish.  I found the flavor to be pretty smooth, light, and refreshing."

People fought the Brooklyn, and mostly lost.  Many reviewers reported having serious misgivings when approaching the cigar, but left impressed.  One of the most seasoned of reviewers utilized by T25C summed up his conundrum with the following analysis:

"The Drew Estates Brooklyn is a cigar of contrasts.  A big cigar with an “I dare you to smoke me� appearance.  I expected a full-bodied smoke based on the appearance.  The Brooklyn has a fragrant aroma that led me to expect the syrupy taste of a flavored cigar.  Neither expectation was realized.  Instead, Drew Estates throws you a curve with the big Brooklyn.  I guess appearances can be deceiving.

Curve #1.  I found the taste to be mostly refreshing which made the experience pleasant and easy.  This isn’t a cigar that dominates your taste buds and pushes you towards a particular smoking experience.  The Brooklyn lets you smoke and give your pallet a break, but at the same time refreshes with its light taste.

Curve #2.  I’m not a big fan of either flavored or scented cigars.  The Drew Estates Brooklyn gives you an intensely fragrant aroma without a syrupy taste. The Brooklyn isn't much to look at and the construction was poor.  But I like the aroma and taste, not for everyday, but for a break.  The Brooklyn is different from any other cigar I have smoked due to the fragrance, and light refreshing taste."

Overall we liked the Brooklyn, some of the reviewers loved it.  Without a doubt worth a try as it will open your eyes to some of the other offerings available in the cigar world.  If your a fan of any of the Drew Estate or Acid line of cigars, this is a must try, and can't be missed.  One of the more enjoyable cigars we have reviewed.
Vital Statistics:

                        Shape = Robusto 
                        Length=5 1/2"   RG =52 
                        Wrapper = Cameroon
                        Filler = Nicaragua
                        Binder = Mexico
                        Estimated Cost = $6.60 non-NY