After a sizable amount of over-eating, and a touch too much red wine, the need to relax and digest a bit before slipping into a long winter slumber is in order. This is about the time when the cigar smokers in the group steal away for a stogie around the fire pit, or if things look really nasty outdoors, down to the garage.

Enter Fat Bottom Betty by Drew Estate and Deadwood Cigar Co. This collaborative blend is the sister spin-off to Leather Rose, which I reviewed a while back as a "saloon cigar." So it comes with all of the pipe tobacco-style aromatics and flavors, a sweetened tip, and perhaps most importantly, flavors of Christmas cookies and eggnog. 

But this is no infused smoke here folks, but merely a cigar that has been built around a secret blend of tobacco strains to achieve a single goal: To provide us with the flavors of the Christmas desserts we adore... with none of the calories.  

[Buy 5-Pack]

Unlit Impressions 

Oily and neatly rolled, the mystery wrapper used on ol' Betty seems to be a bit on the lighter side of the fermented spectrum, at least for a maduro. In fact, I could have easily mistaken this blend for a regular habano if it was debanded and left in my Kobi humidor. Veins are neither too rough nor undetectable, and the overall build quality of the cigar looks and feels top-notch, so it's not like I'm complaining. 

Like the rest of the Deadwood line (which is commonly referred to as "The Three Yummy Bitches"), this blend relies upon retro tattoo flash art for its banding and marketing. This creates a timeless look that in Betty's case, is somewhat difficult to photograph without a polarizing lens due to the sheer amount of gloss placed upon the paper. If memory serves, Leather Rose relies upon a matte finish for her bands, which to me appeared more appropriate and easy to shoot.

Now as for aromatics, well let's just say that there's a reason why people insist that these cigars are infused, when they really are not. Scents of spiced Christmas cookies and vanilla, ginger and chai, oiled leather, licorice, and rich pipe tobacco all flow down the wrapper until they terminate on that closed foot. This leads me to the time-honored challenge of detecting aromas from the encased foot of the cigar, which needless to say is nearly impossible. Maybe there's some mocha in there somewhere, along with a little cedar. But that's about all I can ascertain.

Cold draws quickly confirm this claim, and remind me that yes, like the other "Bitches" in this lot, there is indeed a sweetened tip on this blend. Chewy and potpourri in intensity, cold pulls will tell you all there is to know about what this blend, and what it is about to offer, which for fans of cookies and eggnog, is downright marvelous.

Initial Smoke

Gingerbread and dark molasses, milky eggnog, and more of that mixed potpourri increase the flavor profile of the blend the moment that closed foot is sparked. Potpourri playing tonsil hockey, and a touch of cinnamon spiciness striking during the last moments of a retrohale are the only heat to be found. Little effort is required to gather a deep pull of smoke, and that is surprisingly light and playful upon the palate. 

1st Half   

As a very sharp ash builds on one end, the eggnog bowl overflows, punctuated by drizzles of chocolate syrup and that doughy breadiness of baked holiday sweets. There's an odd pink bubblegum taste flitting about, which is its own sweet spiced addition, and remains inconsistent in its conduct. 

Retrohale after retrohale later, and the joy of Christmas has me firmly by the tongue. Candied gingerbread houses coated in dark molasses, with roasted pecans sautéed in salted butter serving as shingles, and cinnamon graham crackers standing tall as the doors to the house that Betty built. 

Medium at every detectable point, and pushing for a longer finish with each passing pull, this maduro manages to make you think you are smoking something mild when in reality it is far bolder.

2nd Half 

Transitions aren't as much of an occurrence as they are an embellishment of all that the dessert tray has had to offer up until this moment. That means more servings of the same flavors from before but with quite a bit of additional depth added to each one. 

Levels of fresh flavors do finally arrive once the final third begins, and that is where a spicier tingle starts to touch the palate, where it remains until the very end. Dried hardwood holds fast to lighten the mood, and that's a good thing considering how much heavy cream, vanilla, and cinnamon are spilling forth. Retrohales are particularly sensitive to these touches, with the stronger side of the potpourri bowl still stirring the nostrils. 

Parting Puffs

At the end of this blend comes the only time when a touch of mocha maduro magic makes itself known. It's a very chewy section of the stick, with a slight funk and a firm presence that is square in the upper section of medium making the final statement. It's not a bad way to close out a cigar, but it isn't very memorable either.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

This is yet another cigar from Drew Estate that builds a stunner of an ash that can be discarded after each third. Ultra-clean burn lines, a sleigh ride smooth draw, and creamy smoke that has the texture and lingering power of pipe tobacco take this blend in the most favorable of directions. 

Final Thoughts  

The holidays have just gotten a bit more jolly thanks to Fat Bottom Betty. Not only does she provide us with the sweet taste of the desserts and drinks we adore, but all of the creamy smoke she produces feels perfect for fireside smoking sessions with a bold glass of port wine. 

Furthermore, this blend makes for an ideal last minute Christmas gift for that cigar enthusiast friend or family member. Just be sure to stuff those sticks inside either a Flint Cigar Travel Bag or a Hard-Shell Leather Cigar Case from Klaro to guarantee that they are protected, humidified, and presentation-ready on Christmas Day. 

Flavor, Aroma & Transitions

Depth & Complexity

Construction, Burn & Physical Appeal

Backstory & Branding

Overall Balance & Repeatability

Stogie Specs