Author Archives: CigarCraig

by | July 11, 2018 · 3:46 pm

News: Drew Estate Announces Small Ring Gauge Sizes for Liga No. 9 and T52 and New Papas Fritas Size

Here’s the daily news from Drew Estate, I’m still waiting to receive one we’ve all seen teased, maybe tomorrow…anyway, they soft-launched the Corona Viva size of the Ligas at CI’s Cigarfest earlier this year, but I didn’t see the other sizes coming. I guess there was a lot of smaller than normal leaves in the Connecticut Broadleaf harvest a few years ago. Anyway, I smoked a corona sizes No. 9 a few years ago that Saka had made up special, thanks to Coop, and it was pretty fantastic. You may fond this odd, but I’m not a huge fan of small cigars, but I’ll give these a try, and it stands to reason if they are making a bunch more first run cigars they will have picadura available to make the “Fritas”, be it Papas, or Nasty. 

 

Drew Estate announces the Corona Viva, Short Panatela, and Petit Corona vitola extensions for Liga Privada No. 9 and T52, as well as the Unico Serie Nasty Fritas will be available for Drew Diplomat Retailers. Each of the DDRP releases will be displayed in Drew Estate’s Booth at the IPCPR Convention and Tradeshow held, July 14-17, 2018 in Las Vegas Nevada.

 

The No. 9 and T52 Corona Viva, Short Panatela, and Petit corona will now be core sizes of the No. 9 and T52 lines, featuring the Liga Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf and Stalk Cut Habano blends, over plantation grown Brazilian Mata Fina binders, and Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers.

 

  • Liga Privada No. 9 Corona Viva 178 mm x 46 parejo, 24 CT, $290.40
  • Liga Privada No. 9 Short Panatela 114 mm x 46 parejo, 24 CT, $220.32
  • Liga Privada No. 9 Petit Corona 108 mm x 46 parejo, 24 CT, $240.24
  • Liga Privada T52 Corona Viva 178 mm x 46 parejo, 24 CT, $290.40
  • Liga Privada T52 Short Panatela 114 mm x 46 parejo, 24 CT, $220.32
  • Liga Privada T52 Petit Corona, 108 mm x 46 parejo, 24 CT, $240.24
  • Liga Privada Unico Serie Nasty Fritas, 101 mm x 52 conical vitola, 50 CT, $325.00

LigasNasty

 

 

The Nasty Fritas utilizes a Connecticut Broadleaf Oscuro wrapper and a plantation grown Brazilian Mata Fina binder over Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers. Like the Papas Fritas, the Nasty Fritas filler tobacco incorporates left over tobacco leaves that are short cut through the manufacture of Liga Privada No. 9 and Liga Privada T52 cigars.

 

From the Wynwood Safehouse, “We have been vibing on the Nasty Fritas at Cigar Safari. When the Diplomat App came out, the Papas Fritas quickly became a fan favorite with “Papas Fritas Tuesdays” and the Lit Mafia. I was telling a group at Safari about Nacatahuevos, which is my creation of Nacatamale with 2 over easy eggs on top. The group was like that’s the Esteliano version of getting nasty on some French fries. We’ve been enjoying it mostly at Cigar Safari in Nicaragua, but its time to get mega nasty with our homies.”

https://youtu.be/IDH_FBC2w70

 

ABOUT DREW ESTATE

Founded in New York City in 1996, Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing tobacco companies in the world. Under their mantra “The Rebirth of Cigars”, Drew Estate has led the “Boutique Cigar” movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco industry with their unique tobaccos and blending styles that attracting new and traditional cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Herrera Estelí Norteño, Isla del Sol, Kentucky Fired Cured, Liga Privada, MUWAT, Larutan by Drew Estate, Nica Rustica, Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, Tabak Especial, Undercrown, Florida Sun Grown, and Java by Drew Estate.

Drew Estate announces 6 smaller ring gauge expressions for Liga Privada line, plus a very Nasty Papas Fritas

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by | · 10:08 am

News: Villiger Cigars Releasing La Vencedora Gordo

Today’s news is from Villiger cigars, a line extension to their La Vencedora brand with a 6×60, which kind of intrigues me. It doesn’t say below, and I’m sure I’ll be corrected if I’m wrong, but this line is made at Joya de Nicaragua. 

 

Villiger Cigars, which is celebrating its 130 year Anniversary, unveiled its first ever full-bodied Villiger Cigar brand, the Villiger La Vencedora in early 2018. Villiger Cigars will now unveil the Villiger La Vencedora “Gordo” which is a new 6X60 size vitola at the 2018 IPCPR in Las Vegas. Reviews by consumers and media alike have been strong as the Villiger La Vencedora received a 92 rating by CigarSnob Magazine, a 92 Four Star rating by Cigar Journal, and a 90 rating by Cigar Aficionado. 

LaVencedoraGordo

 

Rene Castañeda, President of Villiger North America said,” The Villiger La Vencedora has been very well received and so much so that there has been demand to introduce a 6X60 vitola. We look forward presenting this new size and seeing all of our friends and colleagues at the 2018 IPCPR in Las Vegas.”

 

The Villiger La Vencedora Gordo will come in 25 count boxes with an MSRP of $10.50.

 

About The Villiger La Vencedora: The Villiger La Vencedora is the follow up blend to the Villiger La Flor De Ynclan which attained a top 10 ranking in Cigar Aficionado Magazine’s top 25 Cigars for 2017. The Villiger La Vencedora which translates to “The Victor” is the first ever full-bodied Villiger cigar, and carries a special meaning to Villiger Cigars chairman of the board, Heinrich Villiger.

 

The years 2016 and 2017 have served as breakthrough years for Villiger Cigars. The company mostly known for creating premium machine manufactured cigars, made a huge splash in the handmade premium market. The Villiger San’Doro Colorado, Villiger La Libertad, and the most recent, the Villiger La Flor De Ynclan have all garnered high ratings, and multiple top 25 rankings. For Heinrich Villiger, it meant it was time to unveil a legacy brand to complete the Villiger handmade premium cigar portfolio.

 

The Villiger La Vencedora or “The Victor” represents to Heinrich Villiger the arrival of Villiger Cigars to the premium handmade cigar segment. It was time, in his opinion, to push to the envelope and create a legacy cigar that will serve as a proper follow up to the acclaimed Villiger La Flor De Ynclan brand. This Nicaraguan puro wrapped in a beautiful Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro, boasts a potent full-bodied smoking experience, featuring highly seasoned, hearty flavors.

 

ABOUT VILLIGER SONS LIMITED AND VILLIGER NORTH AMERICA:
Villiger Sons Limited was established in 1888 by Jean Villiger in the small town of Pfeffikon, Switzerland, where Villiger remains headquartered to this day. The company manufactures and sells more than 1.5 billion cigars annually, world-wide. Today, under the leadership of Heinrich Villiger, the company prides itself in its commitment to quality, in all their products made in many countries around the globe.

Villiger

Follow Villiger Cigars North America on social @VilligerCigarsNorthAmerica #TheOriginalClassic

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by | July 10, 2018 · 5:37 pm

News: Drew Estate Annouces Rebranded Herrera Esteli Line

More news from the folks at Drew Estate, Sam there warned me a couple of weeks ago that this was coming! This time it’s a standardization of Willy’s Herrera Esteli line, along with a Brazilian maduro, which has me salivating!  Willy is a cool guy, I’ve known him for a while, but I don’t know what I did to piss him, off, he was always one step ahead of me at the PA Barnsmoker, I never could manage to get a moment to chat with him. It’s like he was avoiding me!  Check out his news:

 

Today Drew Estate announces the rebranding of the Herrera Esteli flagship brand, as well as the national release of the Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro and Herrera Esteli Miami. The entire, updated Herrera Esteli brand will be displayed in Drew Estate’s Booth at the IPCPR Convention and Tradeshow, held July 14-17, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

The Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro features a dense Plantation Grown Mata Fina wrapper, over a Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf binder with fillers from Nicaragua. Manufactured at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro was blended by Willy Herrera is presented in 5 vitolas.

 

  • Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Robusto Grande 5 ¼ x 52 MSRP $227.94/ Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Toro Especial 6 x 52 MSRP $241.94/ Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Lonsdale 6 x 44 MSRP $231.94/Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Fino 6 x 52 MSRP $269.94/ Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Short Corona Gorda 5 7/8 x 46 MSRP $203.94/ Box of 25

 

The Herrera Esteli Miami is crafted by level 9 rollers from Cuba at the El Titan de Bronze on Calle Ocho in Little Havana, Miami, – Willy Herrera’s Family Factory and the oldest remaining Fabrica in Little Havana. Like the Short Corona size featured at the 2016 IPCPR Tradeshow, the complete Herrera Esteli Miami line is expertly crafted with a lavish Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper over a rich Ecuadorian Sumatran binder with select fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. The new look of Herrera Esteli Miami features a black and gold color tone and is only available to Drew Diplomat Retailers in the following 5 vitolas:

 

  • Herrera Esteli Miami Robusto Grande 5×50 MSRP $109.97/ Box of 10
  • Herrera Esteli Miami Toro Especial 6×52 MSRP $117.47/ Box of 10
  • Herrera Esteli Miami Lonsdale Deluxe 6.5×44 MSRP $112.97/ Box of 10
  • Herrera Esteli Miami Piramide Fino 6.5×54 MSRP $127.47/ Box of 10
  • Herrera Esteli Miami Short Corona Gorda 5 3/4 x 48 MSRP $97.97/ Box of 10

 

From Little Havana, Willy Herrera, Master Blender of Drew Estate, “The Herrera Brazilian Maduro is my expression of the floral and earthy Brazilian Mata Fina tobacco. We use it typically as a binder or accent tobacco in the filler but I wanted to showcase its dynamic and unique texture. I really like the black and gold color tone of the Herrera Esteli Miami and how it fits into the brand portfolio with multiple vitola expressions in the Miami blend. Working with my family on this brand takes me back to my blending roots and sincerely excites me.”

 

The Herrera Esteli Habano and Herrera Esteli Norteno are receiving a new look for IPCPR 2018. Each will be presented in unified Herrera Esteli Branding and will now be packaged in 25 count boxes. Willy Herrera adds, “The uniform packaging for the Herrera Esteli line has elements of classic Cuban inspired branding mixed with modern simplicity. I loved the classic cabinet boxes, but it was time to partner with our retail tobacconists and create a more cohesive space for Herrera fans to find my blends on the shelf.”

 

Herrera Esteli Habano blend features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Honduran Binder, and filler leaves from Nicaragua, presented in the following core vitolas:

 

  • Herrera Esteli Habano Robusto Grande 5 ¼ x 52 MSRP $227.94/ Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Habano Toro Especial 6 x 52 MSRP $241.94/ Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Habano Lonsdale 6 x 44 MSRP $231.94/Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Habano Piramide Fino 6 x 52 MSRP $269.94/ Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Habano Short Corona Gorda 5 7/8 x 46 MSRP $203.94/ Box of 25

 

Herrera Esteli Norteno blend showcases extensively aged tobaccos from the Esteli, and Jalapa growing regions of Nicaragua, coupled with a spicy Honduran Binder, and a rich, bold Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper in the following core vitolas:

 

  • Herrera Esteli Norteno Robusto Grande 5 ¼ x 54 MSRP $227.94/ Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Norteno Toro Especial 6 x 52 MSRP $241.94/ Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Norteno Lonsdale 6 x 44 MSRP $231.94/Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Norteno Piramide Fino 5 x 50 MSRP $269.94/ Box of 25
  • Herrera Esteli Norteno Short Corona Gorda 5 7/8 x 46 MSRP $203.94/ Box of 25

 

We will no longer be supporting the 28 & 75 count refillable display trays or the 25 count refill bundles for tobacconists. Condensing to only 25 count boxes across the entire brand except for our limited production vitolas is really my vision of creating a cohesive brand experience. As we continue to collaborate with fine tobacconists around the country as well with our Tienda Exclusivas, we will also be updating the branding.

 

For full coverage of Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro, Miami and all of Drew Estate’s IPCPR national releases check out our 2018 #DEIPCPR promotion at www.drewestate.com/IPCPR. If you are attending IPCPR stop by for a smoke at the Drew Estate Booth (Booth #1814), and a cocktail under the Water Tower curated by John Drew Brands.

Founded in New York City in 1996, Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing tobacco companies in the world. Under their mantra “The Rebirth of Cigars”, Drew Estate has led the “Boutique Cigar” movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco industry with their unique tobaccos and blending styles that attracting new and traditional cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Herrera Estelí Norteño, Isla del Sol, Kentucky Fired Cured, Liga Privada, MUWAT, Larutan by Drew Estate, Nica Rustica, Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, Tabak Especial, Undercrown, Florida Sun Grown, and Java by Drew Estate.

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by | July 9, 2018 · 5:05 pm

News: Drew Estate Cigar Dojo Undercrown Dogma Going National

I still have an original Dogma around someplace, that was a really great smoke. They only made a few and you could only buy them from Smoke Inn, now it looks like they will be available from your better Diplomat retailers. Gotta love a large format Undercrown with a little extra oomph! 

 

Drew Estate announces the Undercrown Dojo Dogma will be returning to Drew Diplomat Humidors across the United States. “Dogma” was created originally to celebrate the one year anniversary of the online cigar community Cigar Dojo, a mobile application available on the Apple iTunes Store and Google Play Store. Undercrown Dojo Dogma will be displayed in Drew Estate’s Booth at the IPCPR Convention and Tradeshow, held July 14-17, 2018 in Las Vegas Nevada.

 

Dogma1The Undercrown Dojo Dogma features a tweaked blend of the original Undercrown Maduro Corona ¡Viva!, comprised of a Mexican San Andres wrapper, Connecticut Stalk Cut Habano Binder, and Nicaraguan and Brazilian Mata Fina fillers. Unique from the core vitolas of the core line of Undercrown, the Dogma is box pressed in a 6 x 56 vitola packaged in a commemorative soft pack of 10.

 

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew President & Founder of Drew Estate, “DE absolutely loves the Dojo community and app because it represents the finest in cigar fellowship and technology. Dojo Dogma signifies our commitment to this distinguished community with a deep sense of purpose, as Dogma was created with intense, heartfelt passion. This is probably my favorite limited edition to date, along with the ShadyXV.”

 

Dogma2From Colorado, Dojo Master Sensei, “Working with Jonathan and Drew Estate was a dream come true for the Dojo team throughout 2013/2014 and we could not have been more impressed with the final product. The return of the DOGMA is something we have always wanted to do, as the cigar’s unique shape and amped-up blend make for a stunning profile. We can’t wait for more enthusiasts to experience the legendary DOGMA first-hand!”

 

The Undercrown Dojo Dogma will be released at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival on August 25, 2018 in Broomfield, Colorado with the team from Cigar Dojo, Drew Estate, and John Drew Brands.

 

For full coverage of Undercrown Dojo Dogma and all of Drew Estate’s IPCPR national releases check out our 2018 #DEIPCPR promotion at www.drewestate.com/IPCPR. If you are attending IPCPR stop by for a smoke at the Drew Estate Booth (Booth #1814), and a cocktail under the Water Tower curated by John Drew Brands.

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by | · 5:00 am

News: El Artista Announces Cimarron Release

The Monday before IPCPR starts early with news from El Artista, the company that made a big splash at the show last year with Big Papi, David Ortiz, making an appearance at the booth promoting his cigar. Their Puro Amber and Pulita offerings are also very good “under the radar” cigars. Yet another cigar I look forward to trying. 

 

El Artista announces a new brand for its growing product offering.

Titled Cimarron, the line includes three separate blends. Two for US, one for the European market. The two US blends include one blend in San Andres wrapper and one in Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper. The binder is Dominican Negrito, grown by El Artista on their farms in and around Tabmboril. Each includes a multi-country blend of premium tobaccos including T-13 Hybrid developed by Radhames Rodriguez.

 

CimarronSuggested Retail pricing starts @ $7.20 for the Robusto.

Sizes

• 54 x 5 Robusto

• 50 x 6 Toro

• 60 x 6 Doble Toro

 

“Cimarron is an homage to the Cimarron regions in the US,” says Radhames Rodriguez, “I went to college in upstate New York. During my first summer I took a trip to the world famous Rockies. I was impressed by the majesty of the area. What especially struck me was the Cimarron valley, mountains, and river. This is a transition zone between the mountains and the plains. It has remarkable beauty. I hiked around the area and took photos and I never forgot; that vision stuck with me for a decade. I told myself then I would build a cigar brand for Cimarron.”

 

“We really spent time with this blend with particular attention on the quality of the tobaccos, the construction of the boxes, and the overall look which reflects our commitment to bring out the very best,” says Radhames “Ram” Rodriguez, President of El Artista USA. “Cimarron demonstrates Artista’s commitment to grow and roll the best tobacco and offer it at the best possible price,” says Kevin Newman National Sales Director, “Cimarron will offer US adult smokers a super-premium experience at a $7 price point.”

 

ABOUT EL ARTISTA CIGARS
Tabacalera El Artista S.R.L. started operations in Tamboril, Dominican Republic in 1956. Today TEA is one of the nation’s largest producers of premium cigars. TEA produces millions of cigars each year and distributes throughout Europe, Canada, United States, and Asia. Additionally, TEA manages farms in the Caribbean and South America where it grows premium tobacco leaf which it utilizes in its proprietary blends as well as sells to top cigar manufacturers in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Dominican Republic.

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