News: Drew Estate Announces Suspension of In-Person Events

I usually avoid posting negative news stories, but this one kind of hits home, since I was planning to attend the Connecticut Barn Smoker next week.  More importantly, I continue to be impressed by the way Jonathan Drew cares about his staff and consumers, and takes these measures to protect them. Say what you want, but I’ve known JD for over a decade, and have first hand experience with him dealing with medical situations, he takes things seriously, and doesn’t fool around when it comes to the health and well being of those in his charge. When my son had a medical emergency in Esteli back in 2011 he was with us in the Esteli ER and wasn’t leaving until he knew everything was OK. I don’t know how I would have handled that situation without him.  So as much as I am saddened to miss the Barn Smoker, I trust that it’s for the best.  There will be another time. 

Today Drew Estate announces the cancellation of its 2021 Barn Smoker season, as well as the postponement of DE25 (Drew Estate’s 25th Anniversary Celebration at Southfork Ranch in Dallas, TX) due to increasing health and safety concerns resulting from the rise of the COVID-19 Delta Variant, which continues to spread rapidly throughout the country. For the same reasons, effective August 14th, Drew Estate personnel will not attend any multi-vendor events, trade shows, and, until further notice, will not attend any Drew Estate In-Store Events in person (all of which we will seek to work with our retail partners to hold virtually for the time being).

This decision to suspend all in-person events is designed to ensure the safety of our team members, our valued trade partners, our vendors, and, of course, the tens of thousands of consumers who attend our events nationwide as best we can and applies to all events, inside or outside of any size, including In-Store Sales Events, Multi-Vendor Events, Trade Shows, and Experiential Events.

The following events have been cancelled for the remainder of 2021, postponed (in the case of DE 25th Anniversary Event), or suspended until further notice (in the case of in-person Drew Estate In-Store Events):

Connecticut Barn Smoker – August 13 and 14

DE25 – September 25 (postponed until 2022)

Kentucky Barn Smoker – October 6

Florida Barn Smoker – November 18 and 19

All In-Person Participation at Multi-Vendor Events and Trade Shows (effective August 14th)

All In-Person Drew Estate In-Store Events (effective August 14th, will be replaced as virtual)

For all Barn Smoker attendees, they will receive a full refund of their ticket price within 3-5 business days of this announcement, and will have the first opportunity to purchase Barn Smoker tickets next season. While we have only announced a postponement of DE25, because we do not yet know exactly when circumstances will allow us to reschedule in 2022, we will at this time provide a full refund to all who purchased tickets directly from Drew Estate, and all such ticket purchasers will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets when DE25 is rescheduled. DE25 attendees who purchased a ticket or table directly from Drew Estate/Eventbrite will also receive their refund within 3-5 business days, however if they have purchased a ticket through a retail partner, they should contact that retailer directly.

From Drew Estate Headquarters in Miami, FL, Glenn Wolfson CEO of Drew Estate notes, “This decision was incredibly difficult and painful for our Executive Team, especially knowing how excited all of us were to be back together again for our lifestyle event season, as well as with all of you for our Brick & Mortar events. We want to take this moment to thank our retailers, farmers, suppliers, vendors, and countless others who’ve made significant contributions in partnering with Drew Estate to plan and deliver these world-class events. Many thanks as well to our Territory Managers, Ambassadors, and Marketing team members for their never-ending great work, both at our large experiential events and at our In-Store Events with retail partners.”

Fans of Drew Estate in-store events will be able to digitally connect with JD, Pedro and Willy and their local territory manager through our virtual event platform! You will be able to obtain your favorite Drew Estate cigars and the latest swag from our retail partners, including the fun and education of receiving 25 years of DE knowledge. Find your next event at www.drewestate.com/events or tune in live to a Territory Manager’s Facebook page.

From Sag Harbor, NY, Drew Estate President and Founder Jonathan Drew adds, “My heart deeply aches as we make this announcement. We were truly looking forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary together in Dallas and getting back both to the farms and your stores, together in fellowship, after being away for so long. I imagine that there will be feelings of disappointment and confusion from our consumers around the globe, but just know that your good ole Drew Estate is right by your side, as always, loyal and unwavering. We look forward to being reunited real soon, safely sharing our love of the leaf, together and in person. In the coming weeks, we will begin to provide our loyal DE Family the details of our pivots to upcoming Freestyle Live’s, Freestyle Live: Special Edition, Marquee Events, plus new concepts in virtual store events. Love you guys, be safe. Long Live the Rebirth of Cigars!”

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.