Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Toro 6x52

The Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Toro is a critically acclaimed cigar that has become a benchmark for Connecticut-style cigars, offering exceptional complexity and flavor depth while maintaining a smooth, approachable character. Named for the wife of the brand's co-founder, this cigar represents both personal passion and masterful blending.

Quick Facts:

• Brand: Southern Draw

• Series: Rose of Sharon

• Vitola: Toro

• Size: 6 inches x 52 Ring Gauge

• Origin: Nicaragua

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut

• Binder: Nicaraguan (Jalapa)

• Filler: Nicaraguan (Estelí, Jalapa, Ometepe)

• Strength: Mild to Medium

Detailed Breakdown

Pre-Light Experience:

• Appearance & Feel: The Rose of Sharon Toro is beautifully presented, often with its distinctive rose-patterned band. The Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper is flawlessly smooth with a golden-blond hue and slight oil sheen. The roll is firm and even, with a perfectly applied triple cap. Despite its Connecticut wrapper, the cigar has substantial weight and density in hand.

• Aroma: The wrapper offers delicate aromas of sweet cream, cedar, and honey. The foot presents more pronounced notes of cedar, roasted almonds, and baking spices.

• Cold Draw: The pre-light draw is perfect and reveals complex flavors of sweet cedar, cashew, cinnamon, and a hint of citrus.

Tasting Notes & Flavor Profile:

This cigar defies expectations for Connecticut-wrapped cigars, offering remarkable complexity while maintaining superb balance.

• First Third: The initial puffs are incredibly smooth and creamy, with immediate notes of sweet cream, cedar, and roasted almonds. A distinctive baking spice character (cinnamon and nutmeg) appears, along with a surprising hint of citrus zest that sets it apart from typical Connecticut cigars. The smoke is velvety and cool.

• Second Third: The complexity deepens as the body builds to a solid medium. The core creamy cedar remains but is joined by flavors of honey, graham cracker, and light coffee. The baking spices become more integrated, and a subtle floral note emerges, living up to the cigar's name.

• Final Third: The cigar maintains its refined character through the finish, with notes of cedar, cashew, honey, and light leather dominating. The balance between sweetness and spice remains impeccable, and the strength never overwhelms, providing a satisfying yet gentle conclusion.

Construction & Burn:

• Construction: Impeccable. The draw is effortless and produces abundant, aromatic smoke. The burn line is typically razor-sharp, requiring no touch-ups.

• Burn: Excellent combustion with a perfect burn rate that allows all the nuanced flavors to develop fully. The 52-ring gauge provides an ideal balance of flavor concentration and cool smoking.

• Ash: The ash is firm, light gray, and holds for well over an inch, demonstrating excellent construction.

Overall Impression & Summary

The Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Toro is a masterpiece of subtle complexity and refinement. It elevates the Connecticut-wrapped cigar category by delivering sophisticated flavors typically found in much stronger cigars, all while maintaining exceptional smoothness and balance.

Who is this cigar for?

• Connecticut cigar lovers seeking greater complexity and depth

• New smokers wanting a premium, approachable introduction to nuanced cigars

• Experienced enthusiasts looking for a sophisticated morning or afternoon smoke

• Any smoker who appreciates impeccable balance and construction

In short: The Rose of Sharon Toro transcends the mild cigar category, offering a drinking experience that evolves beautifully from start to finish. It's a cigar that proves elegance and complexity don't require heavy strength, making it a modern classic that continues to set standards for what a Connecticut-wrapped cigar can achieve.