Southern Draw Cedrus Hogan

The Southern Draw Cedrus Belicoso (aka “The Hogan”) is a 5.5" x 52 box-pressed belicoso fino. It has an Indonesian Besuki wrapper over a Nicaraguan Habano binder and a mix of Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. The blend is known for its strong cedar-forward character with baking spices, and it lands in the medium to full-bodied range. The name is a nod to Phil and Shelly Hogan. Company founder Robert Holt credited them for their support and contributions in the early days of the brand. As Holt put it when the cigar was announced in early July 2018, the Hogans “have been as steadfast and enduring as the cedar tree even as they have humbly remained in the shadows of our early successes.” Robert Holt, Southern Draw Cigars, Cedrus "The Hogan" announcement (July 2018)

Stogie at a glance

Info thanks to Cigar Dojo

Pre-light appearance and feel

Beautiful toothy wrapper, more brown that it appears in some photos online.

First third

Lots of pepper and baking spices on the light, great aroma, more complex than the taste so far. Pepper on the retro, slight creaminess on the finish on the palate. Medium long finish. Beautiful toothy wrapper, lots of smoke from the light. Getting into the first third the flavor is starting to evolve past pepper and baking spices. Lovely aroma, just what I look for. Starting to get some cedar before the pepper on each draw. More cedar now, with a tanginess on the finish. Finishing the first third with lots of cedar, some leather and tangy baking spices on the palate finish. Long finish.

Middle third

Just started getting some new flavor developments in the second third. So much smoke and great aroma make this very satisfying. Some leather on the finish coming in very late. Great construction, ash is stacking dimes. Into the second third starting to get a little sweetness mixed in with the leather and cedar. Great combo, still long finish, tanginess has slightly died down. Slightly wavy burn but nothing serious. Even more sweetness now, but still mainly powered by the leather and cedar. Lots of woody cedar. Still leather on the finish, with a some pepper coming thru again. Some black coffee notes as well coming thru. As I get through the second third starting to feel some do the strength, great addition to the experience. More leather on the finish now. Long finish. Strong ash, naturally fell off during the second third, flavor is evolving again, some salted chocolate notes appearing now. Coffee coming thru stronger now as well, but still with a heavy dose of cedar and leather on the finish. Pepper peaks back in from time to time, but not too much. Cedar becoming more prominent again, draw is tightening up every so slightly. There have been some inconsistencies in the draw and smoke output, but that's the only negative during this stogie. Tanginess has turned into almost a blonde coffee flavor, with some fruitiness to it. Still lots of cedar and leather as the main notes. Little more fruit and pepper during the end of the second third. The pepper and the sweetness make a great pairing in this stogie. More pepper on the finish now at the end of the second third. Very enjoyable. Pepper is also reminding me of actual red bell pepper with its slight natural sweetness. In finishing the second third noticing more of the strength now.

Final third

In the last third much more leather than anything else but with some cedar. Sweetness has calmed some. Lots of leather on the finish. Cedar is coming back more. It's a great rotation back and forth between leather and cedar. Ash still holding strong. Burn evened out. Some coffee on the finish as well. Cedar leather and a little coffee in the start of the final third. Also some more pepper coming back. The smoke has been very cool for the whole stick, starting to slightly heat up now. Very much enjoying this slightly unusual vitola, it's a charming shape. Sweetness still comes back for a puff or two every now and then, but then gets overtaken by pepper and spices. Still perfect aroma for me. Leather starts to be the predominant note as the cigar is wrapping up, with some pepper on the finish.

Burn, draw, and construction

Great burn, no issues at all. Draw started off good, but occasionally got tighter before going back to a relaxed easy draw. Construction was nearly perfect, only slightly minor waviness on the burn line, after one touch up the burn stayed perfect for the rest of the smoke.

Score

90/100, get as many as you can cause they are hard to find! I was lucky enough to stumble on to a 10 pack and I have smoked 5, and I'm saving the rest!

The full meaning of the cigar

The Latin name is Cedrus libani or Lebanese Cedar trees were highly sought after for ancient woodworking. The woods high quality, pleasant scent and firmness made it a popular building material for Holy temples, palaces and sailing vessels. Cedars popularity endures today as it is the most utilized wood in the premium cigar industry and the image of the CEDRUS tree serves as the biblical inspiration for our brand art.

Western Red Cedar known as “the Hogan”, native to the Pacific United States, growing to 200’ tall and living up to 1,000+ years, this tree demonstrates the firm, reliable and beautiful characteristics of cedar. Our bridge to an ancient symbol and a wood that has proven valuable through the ages.

We offer tribute to Phil and Shelly Hogan, a relationship that began in 1996, a friendship turned “closer than family”. Their love and support of Southern Draw Cigars began in 2014 when they rallied family and friends to support our mission even in the face of uncertain risk.