Drew Estate

Drew Estate Unveils Único Serie Porchetta, an Exclusive for Casa de Montecristo Lounges

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DE Liga Privada Unico

Drew Estate, renowned for its Liga Privada brand, introduces a new addition to the Único Serie – Porchetta. Following the tradition of naming cigars after pork dishes, such as Pork Beli and Pancetta, the Liga Privada Único Serie Porchetta is inspired by the traditional Italian roasted pork dish, celebrated for its rich layers and savory seasonings.

Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate, describes Porchetta as a “meaty, in-your-face, turbulent journey of flavor and aroma.” Exclusive to Casa de Montecristo brick-and-mortar lounges across the US, Porchetta is a box-pressed 6″ x 46 belicoso boasting a stalk-cut Connecticut Habano wrapper aged for three years. The binder is Brazilian Mata Fina, complemented by fillers from Nicaragua and Honduras.

Presented in a 6 x 46 Box Pressed Belicoso size, the cigar mirrors the essence of its culinary namesake, promising enthusiasts a palate-pleasing, depth-driven smoking experience. While a specific launch date is not disclosed, consumers are encouraged to check Casa de Montecristo’s Casa Rewards page for availability. The cigars, priced at $19.25 per cigar MSRP, come in 20-count boxes. Stay tuned for the flavorful journey that Porchetta brings to Casa de Montecristo lounges.

Drew Estate Unveils “Liga Privada 10 Selección de Mercado” Exclusively for Overseas Connoisseurs

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Drew Estate, a prominent name in the cigar industry, is gearing up to release an exclusive new variant of Liga Privada 10. This distinct expression is scheduled to be unveiled at the Intertabac Show in Dortmund, Germany, on September 14, 2023.

The “Liga Privada 10 Selección de Mercado,” which translates to “Market Selection,” pays homage to the time-honored practice of selecting wrapper leaves based on color for specific national markets. Sized at 6 x 52 (Toro), the cigar stands out due to its Connecticut Criollo capa leaf. Notably, this leaf, known for its unique characteristics, is cultivated solely for Drew Estate by a single farmer in the renowned Connecticut River Valley. To enhance the luxury quotient, only the finest rosado Connecticut Criollo leaves are chosen for the Selección de Mercado.

Jonathan Drew, the Founder and President of Drew Estate, emphasizes the global nature of this product launch. “Liga Privada is renowned for its intense, full-bodied, and earthy flavor, synonymous with the Connecticut River Valley’s terroir. However, Selección de Mercado is conceived differently, aiming to offer an unprecedented Liga Privada experience tailored for the international palate. The uniqueness of the blend can be summarized as an authentic non-Cuban cigar that encapsulates similar flavor depths,” states Drew.

Despite its robust flavor profile, the Selección de Mercado is crafted to be medium-bodied. The featured rosado capa is paired with a mix of Mexican capote and tripa tobaccos sourced from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania. This intricate combination produces a cigar that is not only richly balanced but also possesses refined espresso undertones, harmonizing with the earthy notes from the Connecticut Criollo. In terms of design, the cigar exhibits an unfinished foot and a distinct Cola de Pescado (fishtail) head, a touch by the craftsmen responsible for the Liga Privada 10 Aniversario. Connoisseurs can expect the Selección de Mercado to be available in boxes containing ten pieces.

Drew Estate Unveils Exclusive Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Flying Pig Cigars for Barn Smoker VIPs

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Drew Estate has announced that VIP attendees at their Barn Smoker events will be given exclusive access to the new Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Flying Pig cigars. The announcement was made during their latest “Freestyle Live: Special Edition” broadcast on April 27.

The new Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Flying Pig will be included as part of the VIP ticket package, with each VIP attendee receiving a 12-count box of the new product. In addition, Drew Diplomat Program retailers who register and attend any Barn Smoker will have the opportunity to purchase up to five 12-count boxes of the H99 Flying Pig cigars for resale in their stores, with each box retailing at $246. However, this offer is limited to 50 per Barn Smoker event.

Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate, has high praise for the new product, describing the blend as a “true masterpiece”. According to him, the hybrid wrapper of the H99 Liga Privada combined with the Flying Pig vitola gives the product a distinctive appeal.

The H99 Connecticut Corojo Flying Pigs’ capa, debuting at the Pennsylvania Barn Smoker on July 15, is a unique combination of Stalk-Cut Habano and Corojo seeds. The blend is intended to provide a rich and sweet flavor. The capa is grown exclusively for Drew Estate by one farmer in the Connecticut River Valley. The cigar’s robust character is completed by the spicy Mexican San Andres Otapan Último Corte capote and a blend of well-aged Honduran, Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Green River One Sucker tobaccos, offering luxurious notes of earth, espresso and leather.

For more information about the Barn Smoker events and the new Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Flying Pig cigars, visit barnsmoker.com.

Blind Review: Blackened Cigars ‘M81’ by Drew Estate

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A musician, a master distiller, and a cigar maker met at a lounge. This sounds a lot like the beginning of a stereotypical joke. However, in this case, it would be the start of one of the more ambitious collaborations I have witnessed since I started smoking cigars. This project Blackened started with Rob Dietrich, Blackened American Whiskey Master Distiller, the middleman, who brought together his partner James Hetfield (co-founder, lead singer, and guitarist of Metallica), and his friend Jonathan Drew (co-founder of Drew Estate Cigars). The M81 derives from the band name ‘Metallica’ and 1981, the year the band was formed. The project took about 2 years of sampling and tweaking until they got to the exact profile they were looking for.

In a press release, Hetfield stated, “BLACKENED Cigars ‘M81’ by Drew Estate is a dark, bold, and unapologetic collaboration into what Rob, Jonathan, and I believe is the perfect full-bodied cigar”.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Blackened Cigars ‘M81’ by Drew Estate
  • Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
  • Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
  • Filler: Nicaragua Maduro & Pennsylvania broadleaf
  • Size: Corona Doble (7″x 50)

Appearance & Construction

The light brown color cigar reminds me a lot of Fall foliage, which is appropriate for the month we are in, November. The surface feels oily and grainy, like sandpaper. Visually, I am very impressed with the quality of the wrapper leaf: no veins or blemishes. I can hardly tell where the seam begins and ends.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

There is a combination of citrus and cocoa powder scent off the wrapper. Of the foot of the cigar, I get sweet and tart stone fruits with a good amount of pepper spice flooding my olfactory. Once I cut off the cap, I went for a cold draw and got leather, oakwood, and dry apricot.

I take out my Visol duel jet lighter and start slowly toasting the foot of the cigar. A stream of silky smoke glides past my nose, and I get an alluring sweet, and creamy scent from it. The first puff of the cigar is better than what I anticipate it to be: creamy smoke with tree bark, roasted peanut shell, dark leather, and lingering white pepper spice. There is a savory and meaty characteristic to the tobacco while puffing on it, and it has a refreshing citrus on the finish. The retrohale is very satisfying, with an abundance of black pepper spice along with caramel and cedarwood on the finish.

As predicted, the construction is immaculate. The burn line is razor sharp, the airflow is a perfect 7 out of 10 restrictiveness, and this cigar produces a copious amount of smoke. The only negative is that I can’t pair this delicacy with a dram of scotch or a cup of espresso since I am reviewing this cigar.

I arrived at the second third and was instantly reminded of when I traveled to New Orleans. As if I am sipping on a cup of coffee at Cafe du Monde, I get sweet and bitter chocolate, chicory, oakwood, leather, and black pepper spice. There is still a lot of spice on the retrohale with caramel, citrus tang, and cedarwood.

Once I got to the final third, the cigar decided to give my palate a break. The cool smoke has flavors of roasted peanuts, cedarwood, cocoa powder, and a hint of spice. And through the final retrohale, I got a sendoff with toffee, cedarwood, and red pepper spice.

Conclusion

As if this cigar is imitating one of many masterpieces composed by James Hetfield, whereas the first third is the intro, the second third is the many verses and bridges, and the final third is the outro. In terms of flavor, the Blackened M81 by Drew Estate did just that. The brazen flavor of sweet and dark cocoa, the unique chicory, and the plentiful amount of spice meld well with one another. The citrus on the finish refreshes my palate and encourages me to puff on.

Final Rating: 92

Blind Review: Drew Estate Nica Rustica Adobe

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In 2013, Drew Estate introduced a new line of cigars called Nica Rustica. The purpose was to pay homage to the beautiful Esteli, Nicaragua, where colorful barrios shine brightly within the mountains and the home of La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate.

This year, Drew Estate created a second expression under the Nica Rustica portfolio called Nica Rustica Adobe. It came with a recent Freestyle Live Event Pack under the guise of a mystery cigar.

In an interview, Jonathan Drew, founder of Drew Estate, describes Nica Rustica Adobe as “…a proud and no-nonsense cigar that represents our strong bond between La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate and its beautiful Nicaraguan home, where the mountains meet the sun.”

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Drew Estate: Nica Rustica Adobe
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
  • Binder: Brazil
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: Toro (6″x52)

Appearance & Construction

The light brown wrapper on this cigar looks smooth but is quite dry to the touch. There are a few tiny cracks throughout the cigar, with several visible veins running the surface amok. Even so, this cigar still feels mighty sturdy.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The cafe au lait colored wrapper gives off a faint sweetness on its surface. When I traveled down to the foot of the cigar, it got more tart with a dash of pepper spice, which tickled my nose. I slice off the cap using my trusty Xikar XO cutter and go straight in for a cold draw. The flavor is fruity: sweet and tart apricot, to be exact.

As soon as I light the cigar, I go in for a puff and get a combination of sweet and savory taste with profiles of charred wood, dry hay, raw sugar, and black pepper spice. I retrohale the next puff and got a satisfying amount of red pepper spice. The spice lingered for a while before it decided to settle down. I was then able to identify roasted peanuts and cedarwood. The finish of this cigar is unique; I got left with mesquite flavors from the retrohale and sweet and spicy sawdust on my palate. So far, this cigar has a solid build. The burn line is slightly wavy but even. The restrictiveness is on the tighter side for me, about an 8 out of 10. Even so, it gives off a plethora of smoke.

Sadly, I only enjoyed about an inch and a half before a tunnel formed, and it was big enough for me to hear my echo if I screamed into it. I run my fingers halfway down before I feel a solid spot where the tunnel ends and reluctantly cut almost 2 inches off.

I fast-travel to the second third and relight the cigar. The smoke becomes creamy as I taste raw almonds, dry hay, and sweet toffee. The spice on the palate is gone completely. I then retrohale and got greeted by the same red pepper spice from the first third. Similar to the reappearance of the red pepper spice on the retrohale, the tunneling resurfaced half an inch in, but it was not as big as the first one, and I decided to power through.

Unfortunately, the final third did not get any better, as the filler tobacco is almost non-existence at this point. I get sweet and creamy raw almonds and cedarwood before the smoke gets too hot. I did one last retrohale, and it was delightful! I got sweet and tart stone fruits, creamy toffee, dry hay, and a satisfying amount of pepper spice. I wished that the last retrohale lasted a little bit longer.

Conclusion

The Nica Rustica Adobe had potential. I thoroughly enjoyed it before the tunneling and on the final puffs. I like the constant sweet and creamy profile; it was welcoming, but the construction issue was too much to bear. Overall, I don’t think this is a good representation of the Nica Rustica Adobe; I will seek out another one and hope it will redeem this one.

Final Rating: 76

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