IPCPR 2017: Drew Estate

Drew Estate seems to bring its A-game to IPCPR every year and this year was no different.

In addition to completely changing up its booth—the all metal Brooklyn Bridge that dominated past trade shows was replaced by a large as life graffiti-tagged water tower—the company dropped a bombshell by announcing that it was adding 4 x 32 mixed fill vitolas for almost every brand it makes.

Mixed-Fill Tins

These are mixed filler cigars, and unlike the Papas Fritas, they are not hand rolled. While 15 different releases have been announced in the new size, more blends are almost certain to follow, including the Undercrown Sun Grown. Release dates vary, with Undercrown shipping in August, while the Liga Privada and Herrera Estelí items will begin shipping in November.

In addition, a smaller nine sleeve counter top display is being offered to retailers, presumably for those who do have the room for the larger water tower display.

• ACID Krush Blue Connecticut (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• ACID Krush Red Cameroon (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• ACID Krush Gold Sumatra (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• ACID Krush Morado Maduro (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• ACID Krush Candela (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• Liga Privada No. 9 Coronet (4 x 32) — $2.50 (Sleeves of 50, $150)
• Liga Privada T52 Coronet (4 x 32) — $2.50 (Sleeves of 50, $150)
• Tabak Especial Cafecita Dulce (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• Tabak Especial Cafecita Negra (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• Undercrown Maduro Coronet (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• Undercrown Shade Coronet (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• Herrera Estelí Club (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• Herrera Estelí Norteño Club (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• Kentucky Fire Cured Ponies (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)
• Larutan Dirties (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Sleeves of 50, $110)

Launch Date: August 2017/November 2017

Florida Sun Grown

A partnership with Jeff Borysiewicz of Corona Cigar Co., Florida Sun Grown was originally released last year as an exclusive for Borysiewicz’s stores in Orlando and Tampa. The blend incorporates tobacco sourced from the Florida Sun Grown Farm in Clermont, Fla., and will now be available to Drew Diplomat accounts nationwide.

In addition to the original four vitolas, the release will include a limited edition toro vitola that was originally offered exclusively at events and is made up of a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, Mexican binder and Honduran, Nicaragua and Florida sun grown fillers.

• Wrapper: Brazilian Mata Fina
• Binder: Honduran habano
• Filler: Nicaragua & Florida Sun Grown

• FSG Robusto (5 x 54) — $11.50 (Boxes of 20, $230)
• FSG Toro (6 x 52) — $13 (Boxes of 20, $260)
• FSG Belicoso (6 1/2 x 54) — $14 (Boxes of 20, $280)
• FSG Sixty (6 x 60) — $15 (Boxes of 20, $300)
• FSG Limited Edition Toro (6 x 54) — $15 (Boxes of 10, $150)

Launch Date: July 2017

Pappy Van Winkle Tradition

It seems that this blend was one of the first that Willy Herrera worked on, even before he officially joined Drew Estate back in 2011. The blend was chosen by Julian Van Winkle, president of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery after he tried some samples. Interestingly, another of the blends that Herrera worked on at the same time went on to be come the Herrera Estelí.

While five the vitolas will be regular production releases, two of the sizes—the Corona and Lonsdale—will be given out by Jonathan Drew and will be a Drew Diplomat Reward Event exclusive respectively.

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
• Binder: Indonesia
• Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua

• Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Coronita (4 x 46) — $14.60 (Boxes of 10, $146)
• Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Corona (5 1/2 x 44) — Jonathan Drew/Julian Van Winkle Exclusive
• Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Belicoso Fino (5 x 50) — $24.60 (Boxes of 10, $24.60)
• Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Robusto Grande (5 1/2 x 54) — $21.60 (Boxes of 10, $216)
• Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Toro (6 x 50) — $23.60 (Boxes of 10, $236)
• Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Lonsdale (6 1/2 x 44) — Drew Diplomat Reward Event-Only
• Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Churchill (7 x 48) — $23.60 (Boxes of 10, $236)

Launch Date: October 2017

Undercrown Sun Grown

While this blend has been seen on the market in very small quantities for at least six months, the Undercrown Sun Grown was officially released at this year’s trade show.

The brand is the third incarnation in the Undercrown line, following the original Undercrown which was released in 2011, and the Undercrown Shade which was released in 2015.

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
• Binder: Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut and Cured Sun Grown Habano
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Undercrown Sun Grown Flying Pig (3 15/16 x 60) — $12.72 (Boxes of 12, $152.64)
• Undercrown Sun Grown Robusto (5 x 54) — $8.48 (Boxes of 25, $212)
• Undercrown Sun Grown Corona (5 5/8 x 46) — $8.20 (Boxes of 25, $205)
• Undercrown Sun Grown Belicoso (6 x 52) —  $9.84 (Boxes of 25, $246)
• Undercrown Sun Grown Gran Toro (6 x 52) — $9.02 (Boxes of 25, $225.50)
• Undercrown Sun Grown Gordito (6 x 60) — $11.20 (Boxes of 25, $280)
• Undercrown Sun Grown Corona Doble (7 x 54) — $10.38 (Boxes of 25, $259.50)

Launch Date: August 2017

Acid Blondie Candela

Essentially a candela-wrapped version of the Blondie, this particular blend was previously available only in the company’s G-Fresh single serve pack.

• Wrapper: Candela
• Binder: Undisclosed
• Filler: Undisclosed

• Acid Blondie Green (4 x 38) — $5.62 (Boxes of 40, $225)

Launch Date: July 2017

Acid Kuba Kuba Green

A candela-wrapped version of the Kuba Kuba.

• Wrapper: Candela
• Binder: Undisclosed
• Filler: Undisclosed

• Acid Kuba Kuba Green (5 x 54) — $10 (Boxes of 24, $240)

Launch Date: July 2017

Acid Blondie Red

A Cameroon-wrapped version of the Blondie.

• Wrapper: Cameroon
• Binder: Undisclosed
• Filler: Undisclosed

• Acid Blondie Red (4 x 38) — $5.62 (Boxes of 40, $225)

Launch Date: July 2017

Acid Blondie Gold

A Sumatra-wrapped version of the Blondie.

• Wrapper: Sumatra
• Binder: Undisclosed
• Filler: Undisclosed

• Acid Blondie Gold (4 x 38) — $5.62 (Boxes of 40, $225)

Launch Date: July 2017

Acid Krush Classic Green

A candela-wrapped version of the Krush Classic.

• Wrapper: Candela
• Binder: Undisclosed
• Filler: Undisclosed

• Acid Krush Classic Green (4 x 32) — $2.20 (Tins of 10, $22)

Launch Date: July 207

Brooks Whittington

I have been smoking cigars for over eight years. A documentary wedding photographer by trade, I spent seven years as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I started the cigar blog SmokingStogie in 2008 after realizing that there was a need for a cigar blog with better photographs and more in-depth information about each release. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars. I am a co-founder of halfwheel and now serve as an editor for halfwheel.