AshMap
Overview
The Flying Pig is Drew Estate's inside joke that became a collector's obsession — a 4.5 x 60 figurado so stubby and bulbous it looks like it wandered in from a cartoon, yet it smokes with a seriousness that belies its proportions. In the Undercrown Sun Grown line, this limited vitola functions as a kind of stress test: if a blend can hold its architecture through a flared foot, a rapidly expanding ring gauge, and a pigtail cap, it has nothing left to prove. This one passes. The Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper — a Colorado-shade leaf with a tawny, toothy surface and a faint natural sheen — is the first thing you notice in the hand, and it announces itself on the cold draw with dry cedar and a whisper of raw sugar.
Lighting the flared foot is its own event. The open geometry ignites almost instantly, and the first draws arrive dense and voluminous, coating the palate with creamy cedar, roasted almond, and a mild white pepper that prickles rather than bites. The wrapper's sun-grown sweetness pushes forward early — raw honey and toasted bread, the kind of note that makes you check the band to confirm you're not smoking something Connecticut-shade. There is no timid opening act here; the cigar starts in the middle of its story.
As the burn climbs into the widest section of the figurado, the body deepens considerably. Dark caramel and espresso settle onto the palate, followed by dried fruit — raisin and fig — with a leather undertone that grounds the sweetness. The honey from the first third has evolved into something closer to bittersweet chocolate, and the smoke texture remains thick and creamy even as the flavor intensity climbs. This is the section where the Flying Pig earns its reputation: the transition is seamless, the complexity feels earned rather than forced, and the retrohale begins to carry a gentle, building spice.
The final third intensifies without turning harsh. Earthy oakwood and dark cocoa take the lead, with the spice on the retrohale now a persistent, pleasant hum rather than a background note. Strength notches up to medium-full — noticeable, but never punishing. The creamy texture persists all the way to the nub, leaving a long, satisfying aftertaste of roasted nuts and espresso. Construction is exceptional for such a complex shape: the draw is open and effortless, the ash firm and salt-and-pepper gray, and while the uneven foot geometry occasionally demands a minor touch-up, the burn holds a respectable line throughout. At 45 to 60 minutes, it delivers a full journey in a fraction of the time a Churchill would demand.
Cigar Specifications
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Sun Grown — Colorado |
|---|---|
| Binder | Nicaraguan (Jalapa) |
| Filler | Nicaraguan and Honduran long-fillers, aged |
| Country of Origin | Estelí, Nicaragua (Drew Estate JOYA factory) |
| Vitola / Shape | Flying Pig (Figurado/Salomon-style) |
| Size | 4.5 x 60 |
| Strength | Medium-Full |
| Price | $12–$16 per cigar |
| Tier | Premium |
| Aging | Standard aging per Drew Estate production protocol; no extended post-production aging noted |
Tasting Notes & Flavor Progression
First Third
The flared foot and unique construction deliver an immediate rush of creamy cedar, roasted almond, and mild white pepper. Sweetness from the Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper asserts itself early — think raw honey and toasted bread. The smoke is dense and voluminous from the first draw.
Second Third
The body deepens considerably as the burn enters the widest section of the figurado. Notes of dark caramel, espresso, and dried fruit (raisin, fig) emerge with a leather undertone. The sweetness shifts from honeyed to something closer to bittersweet chocolate.
Final Third
The final third intensifies with earthy oakwood, dark cocoa, and a pleasant building spice on the retrohale. Strength notches up to medium-full without harshness. The creamy texture persists into the finish, leaving a long, satisfying aftertaste of roasted nuts and espresso.
Construction, Burn & Draw
Construction is exceptionally well-executed given the complex vitola — the draw is open and effortless, delivering thick, creamy smoke. The burn, while occasionally requiring minor touching-up due to the uneven foot geometry, holds a respectable line, and the ash is firm and salt-and-pepper gray.
Pairing Recommendations
Spirit
Aged Guatemalan rum (e.g., Ron Zacapa 23) or a wheated bourbon like Maker's Mark 46 — both complement the cigar's caramel and chocolate sweetness without overpowering its nuanced earthiness
Wine
A Grenache-forward Côtes du Rhône or a domestic Zinfandel — the fruit-forward, medium-tannin profile mirrors the cigar's dried fruit and spice complexity
Non-Alcoholic
A double espresso or cold brew concentrate — the coffee's roast amplifies the cigar's cocoa and nut notes beautifully
Who Should Smoke This?
Picture a smoker who has been at this for a few years — someone who has burned through the standard Toro and Robusto rotations and is now hunting for shapes that do something different. It's a Saturday afternoon in late autumn, the kind of day where you have exactly one hour of quiet before the rest of the world intrudes, and you want that hour to count. You already love Nicaraguan tobacco for its backbone but you've grown tired of the same peppery script. The Flying Pig rewards that restlessness: it gives you the richness of a full-bodied smoke in a compact format, with a sun-grown wrapper that adds honeyed sweetness and cream to the equation. You'll finish it satisfied, not stuffed — and you'll immediately want another.
Bottom Line
The Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig is the rare limited vitola that justifies its hype: a short, fat figurado that delivers a full sensory arc in under an hour without a single wasted puff. At $12–$16, it's one of the best values in the premium tier and an essential box for any Drew Estate collector. Buy them when you see them, because they don't stay on shelves.
Similar Cigars
Explore all Undercrown Sun Grown cigars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig a strong cigar?
It's rated medium-full (4 out of 5 on the strength scale). Physically, that means you'll feel a noticeable nicotine presence by the final third — a gentle headiness rather than a knockout punch — especially if you smoke it on an empty stomach. The creamy texture and sweetness keep it from feeling harsh, but newcomers should eat first and take their time.
What does Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig taste like?
The first third delivers creamy cedar, roasted almond, mild white pepper, raw honey, and toasted bread. The second third shifts to dark caramel, espresso, raisin, fig, and a leather undertone with bittersweet chocolate sweetness. The final third brings earthy oakwood, dark cocoa, and a building spice on the retrohale, finishing with roasted nuts and espresso.
How long does Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig take to smoke?
Expect roughly 45 to 60 minutes. The 4.5 x 60 Flying Pig figurado burns slower than its short length suggests because of the fat ring gauge, but the flared foot and open draw keep it from dragging. It's a focused-session cigar, not an all-afternoon commitment.
What is the best pairing for Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig?
An aged Guatemalan rum like Ron Zacapa 23 is the ideal match — its caramel and vanilla notes mirror the cigar's second-third sweetness without overwhelming the earthy finish. If you prefer whiskey, a wheated bourbon such as Maker's Mark 46 works beautifully. For wine, choose a Grenache-forward Côtes du Rhône or a domestic Zinfandel. Non-alcoholic? A double espresso amplifies the cocoa and nut notes.
Is Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig good for beginners?
Honestly, no — not as a first cigar. The medium-full strength and the $12–$16 price point make it a poor starting point when you're still calibrating your palate and your tolerance. Beginners are better served by a milder Connecticut-shade cigar at half the cost. Come back to the Flying Pig after you've smoked a dozen or so medium-bodied cigars and can appreciate what the sun-grown wrapper is doing.
Where can I buy Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig?
Because the Flying Pig is a limited, periodically released vitola rather than a year-round standard production item, you won't find it in every shop. Check reputable online cigar retailers that carry the Drew Estate portfolio, or ask your local tobacconist to notify you when their allocation arrives. When they're gone, they're gone until the next release.
What is the price of Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig?
Expect to pay $12–$16 per cigar at retail, depending on your market and the shop's markup. Given the limited production and the complexity it delivers in a 45-to-60-minute smoke, that puts it squarely in the value tier for premium limited vitolas.
Is Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig worth aging?
It's worth laying down a few, but don't expect a transformation. The cigar ships with standard Drew Estate aging and no extended post-production rest, and the Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper is already expressive. Six to twelve months of humidor time will round off the white pepper and deepen the dried-fruit notes, but this isn't a cigar that needs five years to come together. Smoke one fresh, age one, and compare.
What wrapper does Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig use?
It uses an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper in a Colorado shade — a medium-dark tawny brown leaf with a slight natural sheen and a toothy texture. That wrapper is the star of the blend: it tames the Nicaraguan core's aggression while layering in honeyed sweetness and creaminess that define the cigar's character.
Where is Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig made?
It's hand-rolled at Drew Estate's JOYA facility in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Flying Pig vitola is produced in limited quantities rather than as a year-round standard release, which is why it appears and disappears from shelves periodically.