A unique and delicious appearing double figurado, the Liga Privada Feral Flying Pig was released over six years ago. While I am not a Drew Estate fanboy by any stretch, I do enjoy the tasty Liga line, even while declaring them overpriced. The Ligas include Dirty Rat, Ratzilla, L40, Papas Fritas, Feral Flying Pig, and the UF-13. I have smoked all of them except for the Pig, today I smoke and review my first.
Prelight
Wrapper: Connecticut broadleaf viso
Binder: Nicaraguan blend
Filler: Brazilian mata fina
Vitola: 5.4 x 60 figurado
Price: $16
The Feral Flying Pig is covered in a seamless, yet quite oily and toothy wrapper which has a dark chocolate shade. The pre-light scent is a combination of spices, fruit, cocoa, and coffee. The cigar itself is very hard when squeezed. The shape of the Pig is a neat looking perfecto, like the old stogies you would see on vintage cartoons, and the pigtail cap adds a nice touch, I suppose this cigar wouldn’t make sense without one. 🐷
Flavor and Smoke
On the light and first few puffs, a pronounced spicy chocolate flavor hits the palate. The retro-hale and all around smoke is surprisingly smooth for a beast of a cigar. I also find notes of cream and cashews.
The burn-line gets uneven not long after lighting, which is not uncommon for a unique shape, especially one that has a thick wrapper such as the Pig. I overcome my OCD urges, and decide this time I would let it try and work itself out, without help from the torch. 😄
The Pig worked itself out nicely. Most burn-line issues will resolve after the first part of any unique shaped stogie.
The spice in the flavor profile, which is much like cinnamon, lingers on the tongue for quite some time. This cinnamon zing adds a literal spicy heat on the palate, but it’s not too overbearing.
The smoke output is okay, but not nearly the clouds I would expect to flow from a Drew Estate Liga. Normally, any Liga will produce an absurd amount of smoke, even while sitting in the ashtray. This has always left me skeptical about Drew Estates cigar making process, the wrapper leaf on these sticks are either super oily, or artificially treated in a way to produce such large amounts of smoke.
As I near the midway point, the profile swiftly shifts to a very dark tone. The rather delightful notes I was able to distinguish begin to meld together, into a one-dimensional deep tobacco flavor. It's not putrid by any means, but something that can be found in any ol' cheap and dark stick.
Now I notice a slight buildup of tar at the cut, I was able to wipe it away before it got out of control, but this is not a good sign, like the warning lights on a vehicle's dash. Addin to the seemingly imminent downfall, the FFP is beginning to get hot and squishy.
I’m finishing up the final third, the flavors never recovered. The nuances proceed to even more dark, thick, and one dimensional flavors. At least it is not bitter, but it is also not very pleasant, it appears I have tainted piece of pork here.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Drew Estate Feral Flying Pig missed the mark. I enjoyed the first half, but after that, it quickly went downhill. When I say all Liga are somewhat overpriced, the Pig takes it to another level, budget bacon with a brand name price. Your money is better spent on a Ratzilla, or truthfully, any other in the Liga line.
Perhaps I received a bad stick, I doubt it, but I will update this review if anything changes when I get a chance to smoke another Feral Flying Pig, however I'm not rushing out to do so.
-Greg
My emoji rating: 😕
(🤢😖☹️😕😐🙂😀😋🤗😍)
Smoke time: An hour and a half.
Cigar paired with: Appleton Estate Rum
Price opinion: 👎🏻
Recommend/buy again? I will try another, but I can not recommend at this point.