
Southern Draw is a premium cigar brand that has skyrocketed in popularity recently.
A few years ago, while visiting family in Austin, Texas, I first noticed Southern Draw cigars dominating the shelves of every cigar shop. Now, they seem to be everywhere I go, even as far out as the Pacific Northwest where I live.
Even Paul, Mr. BespokeUnit himself, mentioned that Southern Draw is a new staple in his rotation. Thanks to our partners at Cigar Page, I finally get to put them to the test!
I chose to start with the Cedrus because I love the flavor of cedar. I have a unique Spanish cedar box that I use to age my cigars long-term, and this blend promises a lot with its cedar notes and complex flavor profile. I’ll be reviewing it via the following sections:
Southern Draw Cedrus Cigar Details
- Brand: Southern Draw
- Range: Cedrus
- Reviewed Vitolas: 5.5 x 54 Belicoso
- Wrapper: Indonesian Besuki
- Binder: Habano 2000 (Nicaragua)
- Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
- Factory: Tabacalera Fernandez
- Handmade: Yes
- Body: Medium
- Estimated Smoking Time: 70 Minutes
- Pricing: $149 / Box of 20 [Latest Price On CigarPage]
This Cedrus and all Southern Draw cigars are rolled in Estelí, Nicaragua. More specifically, they’re rolled at Tabacalera Fernandez, a cigar factory so named by its founder, AJ Fernandez, who produces his premium cigars under his own name.

Look & Feel Of The Southern Draw Cedrus
- Wrapper Hue: Milk Chocolate
- Rolling Consistency: Even
- Spring: Slightly Soft
- Aromas: Cocoa, Graham, Mint
The Southern Draw Cedrus boasts a beautiful Indonesian wrapper with plenty of texture and a striking matte sheen. Despite its soft box-pressed vitola, some areas of the cigar feel notably softer.
The aroma from the body and foot is a delightful blend of cocoa, graham crackers, and a minty effervescence. Inspecting the foot of the cigar, I’m pleased to see darker ligero leaves incorporated into the filler.
Reviewing The Southern Draw Cedrus Cigar
Pre-Lighting Experience
- Draw: Slightly Loose
- Aromas: Cedar, Molasses, White Pepper
Using my trusty guillotine cutter, I cut the cap off the Cedrus, revealing wonderful aromas of cedar and a molasses sweetness.
On the back of the palate of the dry draw, there’s also a white pepper funkiness present. Moreover, the draw seems slightly loose compared to what I typically prefer.
1st Third Smoking Experience
- Notes: Black Pepper, Cedar, Tarragon
Upon lighting up, the Cedrus delivers the signature Nicaraguan black pepper flavor. After a few puffs, notes of cedar and herbal tarragon emerge on the back of the palate.
The retrohale reveals an oaky quality, reminiscent of a good bourbon.
2nd Third Smoking Experience
- Notes: Clove, Grass, Cedar
In the second third of the Cedrus, herbal flavors become more prominent, with notes of clove and a fresh-cut grass aroma.
Of course, the cedar remains present, while the retrohale introduces a warm cinnamon sensation.
Final Third Smoking Experience
- Notes: Honey, Black Tea, Cedar
Approaching the lower band, a delightful sweetness emerges, reminiscent of floral honey. There are also hints of black tea tannins mingling with the persistent cedar flavor. This might explain why the blend is named Cedrus.
The retrohale continues to offer warming spice aromas, now featuring freshly grated nutmeg.
Overall Burn
- Ash Backbone: Solid
- Burn Angle: Straight
- Temperature: Cool
- Draw: Perfect
- Final Smoking Time: 70 Minutes
All of my review samples smoked flawlessly and were full of flavor. The burn line was straight, which is not an easy feat for box-pressed vitolas.
This being said, I noticed that these cigars smoked faster than other similar-sized cigars, likely because box-pressed cigars generally have less tobacco than round cigars.
Overall Experience
The Cedrus comes adorned with stunning olive drab green band with gold detailing and ecru writing. Under the Southern Draw logo is the Latin inscription “soli deo gloria” or “Glory to God Alone.”
The cigars are packaged in a beautiful weathered green shoebox-style box with intricate gold detailing. While it may not have many embellishments, it certainly stands out among other boxes. A notable marking is a golden stamp that reads “US veteran owned and operated.” Super cool.
Pairing Recommendations For Southern Draw Cedrus
This cigar is gorgeous and perfect for a daytime casual hangout session—ideally on a porch or in a rocking chair.
Food-wise, the woody flavor notes would pair excellently with grilled fish or grilled summer veggies like squash. I personally think this blend is enhanced with some sweetness—apple pie would be my first choice!
Drinkwise, the Cedrus was made for whiskey.
Bourbon would be an excellent choice, but I’m pairing it with Mar’s Iwai 45, a Japanese whiskey that’s pretty close to a very clean scotch. I think the cedar notes of the Cedrus bring out a beautiful apple flavor in this particular whiskey. Plus, they’re both forest green, so you know they have to go together.
If a softer drink is on your mind, a nice glass of sweet iced tea, especially with some lemon, would pair great with those same woody notes. A butter white wine would also go along amicably with the herbal qualities of the Cedrus’ blend.
Closing Thoughts
While researching this cigar, I kept wondering which came first, the name or the blend. Did the blenders intend to create a super cedar-flavored cigar, or did the name find them?
I was hoping to figure out if they did some sort of unique aging or some other cedar infusion but I could not find anything of the sort.
Nevertheless, I’ll wrap this review up by saying that I found the Southern Draw Cedrus to serve as the perfect summer afternoon cigar. It is easily pairable, perfectly medium strength, and smooth smoking. At around $150 for a box of 20, it is easy to recommend.
"A cigar that’s absolutely worthy of its name, the SD Cedrus’ woody and herbal notes make it an ideal summer smoke, especially considering its price."
Further Reading
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