A new spin on Drew Estate’s Kentucky Fire Cured line has begun appearing at a handful of retailers around the country ahead of a larger release at the upcoming IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
The Kentucky Fire Cured Sweets line uses a blend of a lightly sweetened Mexican San Andrés wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder, while the filler contains Nicaraguan tobacco and fire cured tobacco from Hopkinsville, Ken. The company says that the end product has a mouth feel that “is like bacon maple goodness mixed with bourbon and barbecue.”
It’s being released in four sizes:
- Kentucky Fire Cured Sweets Just A Friend (6 x 52) — $7.20 (Packs of 10, $72)
- Kentucky Fire Cured Sweets Fat Molly (5 x 56) — $6.20 (Packs of 10, $62)
- Kentucky Fire Cured Sweets Chunky (4 x 46) — $5 (Packs of 10, $50)
- Kentucky Fire Cured Sweets Ponies (4 x 32) — $1.30 (Tins of 10, $13)*
*estimated pricing, cigar not pictured
The line is being produced at Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A. in Estelí. Drew Estate is also producing retail display trays so that customers wishing to purchase single cigars are able to do so. Additionally, details about the Ponies vitola, which figures to look much like the company’s collection of other blends that come in the same size and 10-count tins, is forthcoming in the near future.
The Kentucky Fire Cured Sweets line was initially released to the following 13 retailers:
- Davidus Cigars (Frederick, Md.)
- Cigar Box (St. Clair, Pa.)
- House of Time Inc. (Baltimore, Md.)
- Emerson’s, (Virginia Beach, Va.)
- The Cigar Shop of Bird Road (Miami, Fla.)
- Anstead’s Tobacco (Fayetteville, N.C.)
- Cox’s Smokers Outlet (Louisvillle, Ky.)
- Jungle Jim’s Market Inc. (Cincinnati, Oho)
- Cigar Shop and Lounge (Clarksville, Tenn.)
- Maxamar Ultimate Cigars (Orange, Calif.)
- Club Humidor – San Antonio (San Antonio, Texas)
- Smoking Cave Outlet (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
- JR Cigars (online)
The cigars are scheduled to begin widespread shipping to all retailers in August.
Update — A representative from Drew Estate informed halfwheel that the tins are called Sweet Ponies, not Sweet Petits as had been originally listed based off a retailer’s listing for them. Additionally, the MSRP is $13 per tin, not $18 as originally reported.
Update (July 3, 2018) — Drew Estate formally issues a press release about the Kentucky Fire Cured Sweets today, as well as releasing images of the cigars. Several details have been updated, including the MSRPs, shipping date, and disclosure of the factory making the cigars. This story was originally published on June 20.