Category Archives: News

by | June 10, 2020 · 8:56 am

News: Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero Goes Nationwide

Last one, I promise (unless I get another e-mail this morning!) This one has my attention. Stogies in Houston has an amazing track record of curating a fine selection of lanceros, I’ve had the good fortune of having sampled a few. Willie  Herrera has an amazing track record of having blended some fine cigars, even a few in the lancero format, and I’ve been fortunate to have sampled a few of those as well. One doesn’t see a great many Connecticut Broadleaf lanceros, so I’m really looking forward to getting my paws on some of these. 

 

 

Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero Goes Nationwide

 

Drew Estate announces today the national launch of the Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero Tienda Exclusiva, exclusively to Drew Diplomat Retailers. This release will be showcased on the upcoming Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

 

Initially launched as a Tienda Exclusiva to STOGIES World Class Cigar in 2016, the Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero is a testament to those aficionados who obsess over the smaller ring gauge vitola for its unique smoking experience. Every year Drew Estate pulls aside exceptional, higher priming broadleaf to use for limited edition releases, including this meticulously blended cigar. Featuring a high priming of Connecticut Broadleaf capa, with a bold Brazilian Mata Fina binder and rich Nicaraguan fillers, this Broadleaf Lancero is packaged in 15-count boxes and is a masterpiece from the mind of Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera.

 

From El Titan de Bronze in Little Havana, Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera exclaims, “There is always a challenge to blending lanceros. Sure, you have amazing broadleaf that’s going to really provide that burst of rich flavor, but the trick is how you bunch the filler leaves in a way that provides the complexity, so the cigar doesn’t become one dimensional. I knew when I first sampled this blend it was going to be loved, and now is the time to unleash it through our Drew Diplomat Retailers.”

 

 

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew President and Founder of Drew Estate adds, “Our Pre-Industry Team at La Gran Fabrica work Connecticut Broadleaf very hard in the pilones, using air flow, bulk pressure, water, and heat over years to reach the maximum flavor and color. Willy and the Production Team then follow up this process in blending this beautiful material into majestic blends for Liga Privada No. 9, Nica Rustica, as well as this very Herrera Lancero that we’re bragging about today.  The Herrera Lancero hits a whole new broadleaf profile, super delicious. As An Phan, our Senior Brand Manager says, “APPROVED.”

 

The Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero Tienda Exclusiva is sold in 15-count boxes with an MSRP of $186.96 and will be shipping in September.

 

For full coverage of Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero and all of Drew Estate’s upcoming national releases check out our 2020 #DESummerTakeover promotion at www.drewestate.com/summertakeover and be sure to tune in to Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

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 attract 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 | · 8:39 am

News: Drew Estate BOTL 2020 Releases Announced

I have to say it, does anyone think it’s funny that a cigar that was started as an internet forum cigar is a B&M exclusive? I just picked up on this and it hit my funny bone. Anyway, it’s a great smoke, I enjoyed the Lancero and Corona Gorda quite a bit. 

 

“B.O.T.L. Brown Label 2020” Set for Yearly Release

Drew Estate announces today the 2020 return of the limited edition “Brothers of the Leaf, Brown Label” cigar as a Brick & Mortar exclusive for Drew Diplomat retailers. This release will be showcased on the upcoming Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

 

In 2012, the BOTL cigar platform was created to pay homage to the brothers and sisters of our culture and passion, those with extreme knowledge and true fellowship of premium leaf.  With a lineup of three aficionado sizes, including Corona (5″ x 44), Corona Gorda (6 x 46), and Lancero (7×38), Drew Estate pays tribute to the core, traditional, discerning lord puffer.  B.O.T.L. Brown Label is blanketed in a bold broadleaf wrapper, layered in complexity with an Ecuadorian Connecticut binder and rich fillers from the North of Nicaragua.

 

 

From deep inside the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew Founder and President of Drew Estate writes, “In the words of the honorable Notorious B.I.G,  “I been in this game for years; it made me an animal; there’s rules to this shit; so I wrote me a manual; a step by step booklet for you to get; your game on track; not your wig pushed back.”  On a personal level, the B.O.T.L Brown Label provokes each lord puffer to ask the question for him or herself,  “Am I a B.O.T.L./S.O.T.L. or not?  If I am, then let’s burn it down.  If I’m not, that’s ok too .. let me feel this beast out and see what it’s all about.  B.O.T.L. Brown Label holds a unique journey of authenticity and understanding for each person who loves to explore life, period.”

 

BOTL cigars are shipping in August in the following 3 vitolas:

  • Corona 5” x 44 MSRP $133.95 per box/15
  • Corona Gorda 6 x 46 MSRP $144.00 per box/15
  • Lancero 7 x 38 MSRP $153.90 per box/15

 

For full coverage of BOTL and all of Drew Estate’s upcoming national releases check out our 2020 #DESummerTakeover promotion at www.drewestate.com/summertakeover and be sure to tune in to Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST

 

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 attract 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 | · 8:27 am

News: Tabak Especial Lonsdale and ACID 20 Toro and Tubo Cigars

I’m cheating here with a Drew Estate twofer, it’s two in the infused lines and you know that’s not really my area of focus. All the info is here, I’m just conserving some time and energy. In my defense, I do enjoy the occasional Tabak Especial, and I have had one Acid 20 and thought it was pretty good. 

 

Tabak Especial Goes Mad Elegant with New Lonsdale Size

 

Drew Estate announces today the release of the Tabak Especial Lonsdale line-extension in both Dulce and Negra. This release will be showcased on the upcoming Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

 

Historically, the “Lonsdale” size cigar has been underappreciated, especially in the United States.  However, spark one up and you’ll see why it’s so loved with seasoned cigar enthusiasts … and the Tabak Especial Lonsdale is no exception.  Perfect for pairing with your morning coffee, the Tabak Especial Dulce Lonsdale is a 6 ¾” x 44 vitola wrapped in a creamy Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, with lush Sumatran binder and rich Nicaraguan fillers. When you’re enjoying an after-dinner Espresso, however, you will want to grab a Tabak Especial Negra Lonsdale. This elegant smoke is wrapped in a very dense Maduro wrapper, and is the bold pick me up you need after a heavy dessert. Both Tabak Especial Lonsdale expressions are packaged in 10 count boxes, perfect for the grab and go.

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew Founder and President of Drew Estate pontificates,  “I remember back when we created the coffee infused space in like 2002, we used to tell dudes to burn one in the morning with their coffee … and they’d laugh at us … until they actually tried it.  Then, they were like “wow, these Tabak are str8 fire.”  So, here we are, 18 years later.  We wanted to drop a Tabak Especial that’s really regal, something majestic and upscale, but it had to have a high wrapper component … and this forgotten Lonsdale size was the perfect selection.  This royal Lonsdale’s got mad, heavy wrapper game and stupidity level taste, fresh gold elegance dripping all over that burner. Indeed, very proud to say that our gold gilded Lonsdale is pure class and satisfaction. On another note, its somewhat surprising to see just how many hard-core, full-bodied, strong cigar smokers really love our coffee infused selections, especially Tabak Especial.  It’s all love.”

 

The Tabak Especial Lonsdale is available in both Dulce and Negra, packaged in 10 count boxes with an MSRP of $85.10 per box and are shipping in July.

 

For full coverage of Tabak Especial Lonsdale and all of Drew Estate’s upcoming national releases check out our 2020 #DESummerTakeover promotion at www.drewestate.com/summertakeover and be sure to tune in to Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

 

 

ACID 20 Anniversary Line Grows with Release of “Toro” and “Robusto Tubo” Sizes

Drew Estate announces today the expansion of the ACID 20th Anniversary lineup with the addition of ACID 20 Toro and ACID 20 “Robusto Tubo.”  These releases will be showcased on the upcoming Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

 

In 2019, we celebrated an important milestone for Drew Estate with the global introduction of the chromed-out, smash hit, ACID 20 Anniversary.  Now, by popular demand, we premier the ACID 20 Toro (6” x 50) as well as the original ACID 20 Robusto in a new Tubo presentation.  Wrapped in a rich Mexican maduro capa, complimented with subtly evolving long filler leaves, ACID 20 is truly worthy of its double decade title.

 

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew Founder and President of Drew Estate recalls, “When we released ACID Cigars in 1999, we felt like it was “us against the world.”  They said that “we would be out of business in two months” and we even had a friend say “you won’t even last two weeks.”  But we knew that we created something special, something beautiful … so we decided to fight for it and not look back.  I think that the pain behind our struggle to survive for so many years made the debut of Acid 20 feel that much more impactful.  We wish to thank those of you who took the journey by our side, 1400CC, pedal to the metal.  Sincere appreciation for believing in us.”

 

The ACID 20 Toro (6”x 50) is packaged in 24 count boxes with an MSRP of $232.34/box and will be shipping in June.

 

The ACID 20 Robusto Tubo (5” x 50 box-pressed) is packaged in 5 count petaca box with an MSRP of $49.25/box and will be shipping in October.

 

For full coverage of ACID 20 Toro and Robusto Tubo and all of Drew Estate’s upcoming national releases check out our 2020 #DESummerTakeover promotion at www.drewestate.com/summertakeover and be sure to tune in to Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

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 attract 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 | · 8:08 am

News: Joya de Nicaragua Announces Cinco Décadas El Doctor

This is a news item from my friends at Joya de Nicaragua. I love the Cinco Décadas, although at $20 a pop I don’t smoke them often. They are really beautiful cigars, and I’m excited about this new size. 

JOYA DE NICARAGUA CINCO DÉCADAS EL DOCTOR

A LIMITED MASTERPIECE EXCLUSIVE FOR THE U.S. MARKET

 

Two years ago, when Fábrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua reached its 50th anniversary, it released its most emblematic blend to date: Cinco Décadas, a commemorative cigar conceived as a tribute to all of those that have shaped the company and thus the Nicaraguan cigar industry.

 

Every Cinco Décadas vitola has been named after historic icons, Diadema as it was the first shape ever made at the factory, El Fundador is a tribute to founders of the company, and El General, reminds us of one of the pioneers of tobacco in Nicaragua. Today, Joya de Nicaragua introduces “El Doctor”, a 6×52 Torpedo honoring , Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca, JDN’s visionary Chairman and Owner since the early 90s, and an impactful leader of our organization and industry.

 

 

“Giving identities to these special products is one of the most exciting things we do when we are about to release one of these gems that we have created at the factory. With Cinco Décadas it hasn’t been easy, as we want to recognize all the important icons or milestones that have shaped our history in the last five decades. For me it was very touching when our agency and marketing team proposed to me to name this vitola after my father, because it was a realization of how much he has been an influence to all of us,” said Juan Ignacio Martínez, Executive President.

 

This very special limited batch of just 600 boxes will be sold exclusively in the United States, and only by retailers that belong to the Drew Diplomat Retailer Program. Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Décadas El Doctor will be shipping in August 2020, and will be available along with the 2020 annual batch of 600 boxes of each of the rest of the sizes in the Cinco Décadas series.

 

 

“Cinco Décadas is the cigar we are most proud of in Joya de Nicaragua. We are truly limited in the amount of cigars we can roll in this blend, because we use our most talented torcedores and because we use the best tobacco in our factory. Our plan is to release one new size every year until the next big anniversary, but this year we may have another surprise, so stay tuned,” said Daniel Barrios, Global Commercial Director of Joya de Nicaragua.

 

This limited edition cigar will be introduced to the public by Juan Ignacio Martínez and the Drew Estate sales team in digital events across the country next month. Priced in line with the rest of the vitolas in the brand, Cinco Décadas El Doctor will be sold at MSRP $20.00/stick or $200/box.

 

ABOUT JOYA DE NICARAGUA

Joya de Nicaragua is a family owned tobacco grower and cigar factory. Established in 1968, it is the first and most authentic premium handmade cigar manufacturer from Nicaragua. Based in Estelí, many regard JDN as the patriarch creator of the Nicaraguan cigar industry, and its cigars are sold in more than 55 countries around the world. The company’s commitment to quality, along with its skillful and resilient people, have been rewarded with the industry recognition of C​igar Factory of the Year 2018 & 2019.

For more information, please visit

www.joyacigars.com

.

 

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by | · 6:34 am

News: Protocol Cigars Announces John Doe 2

I’m catching up on some news items this morning, so strap on your seatbelts.  The first one is a shop exclusive from Protocol cigars. I’m a little bit out of touch with the goings on at Protocol, but there seems to have been some changes there. I guess I need to catch up with Juan and see what’s going on. I sent him a CigarCraig sticker for his humidor door but didn’t get any feedback on it! 

 

Protocol Cigars announces their second release in the Protocol John Doe Series with the John Doe 2.0. John Doe is the name given to unidentified males until identification can be made at a later time. The cigars will be available in 10 count bundles with a $92.50 MSRP. The wrapper, binder, and filler are unidentified at this time. The only information available is place of birth. At this time it has been confirmed that the place of birth is the La Zona Cigar Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. This installment in the series is a true limited release with only 225 bundles in a 5X52 vitola, with an unidentifiable plain white cigar band. John Doe 2.0 will be available for purchase one time only, never to be released again. Once they are gone, they will be gone forever. 

 

Pedigree information: 

Wrapper: Unidentified

Blinder: Unidentified

Filler: Unidentified 

POB: La Zona, Esteli, Nicaragua 

 

Protocol Cigars is proud to offer this installment through Omerta Cigar Co. of 7700 S. Western Ave, Suite B, Oklahoma City,  OK 73139, and their online site: www.purocigarhouse.com. The release date will be Saturday, July 11th, 2020. There will be an in store event and online sales, more details to follow on both companies social media platforms. Bundles and single stick sales will be available to the public on a first come first served basis. 

 

“We are excited and honored to have been selected by our great partners in the industry for this phenomenal release. We look forward to a great rollout event and being a part of Protocol’s rise in the industry especially here in the MidWest! Thank you Kevin and Juan for this opportunity. ” Jarrett Jackson Managing Partner Omerta Cigar Co.

 

About Cubariueño Cigar Co.

 

Cubariqueno LLC (Protocol Cigars) founded in 2015 making hand rolled cigars in partnership with Espinosa Cigars and the La Zona Factory in Esteli Nicaragua.

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