IPCPR 2018: Drew Estate

Drew Estate always brings its A-Game to the IPCPR Convention & Trade Show and this year was no different. While the booth was pretty much exactly the same as last year—including the massive graffiti-tagged water tower that literally towered over everyone who walked into it—and the music was blaring pretty much the entire time the show was open, there were a number of surprises as well.

The company had released a large number of press releases before the show even started, with some notable new products including a new Unico Serie blend, a 10th anniversary cigar for Liga Privada, a new Herrera Estelí release and four new bundle lines.

Herrera Estelí Brazilian Maduro

The first new regular production Herrera Estelí blend is the Herrera Estelí Brazilian Maduro, which will ship in five different vitolas in October. Unlike the original Herrera Estelí release, this blend uses a mata fina wrapper from Brazil over a Connecticut broadleaf binder and fillers from Nicaragua.

• Wrapper: Brazil (Mata Fina)
• Binder: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Robusto Grande (5 1/4 x 52) — $9.12 (Boxes of 25, $227.94)
• Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Toro Especial (6 x 52) — $9.68 (Boxes of 25, $241.94)
• Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Lonsdale (6 x 44) — $9.28 (Boxes of 25, $231.94)
• Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Fino (6 x 52) — $10.80 (Boxes of 25, $269.94)
• Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Short Corona Gorda (5 7/8 x 46) — $8.16 (Boxes of 25, $203.94)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: October 2018

Herrera Estelí Miami

Originally sold as a limited release in 2016, the Herrera Estelí Miami is now getting the regular release treatment when it ships to retailers in October. While that version was available exclusively in a single 5 3/4 x 48 corona size—that is also being carried over—the new release will be sold in four additional vitolas and will once again be rolled at the El Titan de Bronze factory in Miami where Herrera worked before joining Drew Estate.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano Oscuro)
• Binder: Ecuador (Sumatra)
• Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua

• Herrera Esteli Miami Robusto Grande (5 x 50) — $10.99 (Boxes of 10, $109.97)
• Herrera Esteli Miami Toro Especial (6 x 52) — $11.75 (Boxes of 10, $117.47)
• Herrera Esteli Miami Lonsdale Deluxe (6 1/2 x 44) — $11.30 (Boxes of 20, $112.97)
• Herrera Esteli Miami Piramide Fino (6 1/2 x 54) — $12.75 (Boxes of 10, $127.47)
• Herrera Esteli Miami Short Corona Gorda (5 3/4 x 48) — $9.80 (Boxes of 10, $97.97)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: October 2018

Liga Privada 10 Aniversario

While Drew Estate is promoting 2018 as the 10th anniversary of Liga Privada, that is not exactly the case. Although it was not really sold until 2007—that was when the No. 9 Parejos debuted in 48-count cabinets—the Liga Privada blend was previewed at RTDA in 2006. (You can read the entire history in our review of the original 2006 Liga Privada here.)

Whatever the case, Drew Estate is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Liga Privada line this year and thus has a cigar to commemorate the occasion, the Liga Privada 10 Aniversario. Incorporating a unique criollo-seed wrapper grown in the Connecticut River Valley, the new cigar will debut in a single 6 x 52 toro size that features a cola de pescado head similar, albeit not identical, to the UF-13 and a closed foot. However, the company says it will produce Corona Doble, Robusto and Torpedo vitolas of the blend in the future.

• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Criollo)
• Binder: Mexico (San Andrés Otapan Negro Último Corte)
• Filler: Nicaragua & Pennsylvania

• Liga Privada 10 Aniversario (6 x 52) — $17.90 (Boxes of 10, $179)

Production: 1,000 Boxes of 10 (10,000 Total Cigars)

Launch Date: October 2018

Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo

Perhaps one of the most interesting new releases this year is the Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo, the first new regular production Liga Privada line since 2009. Debuting in a 6 x 52 toro vitola, the new cigar uses a corojo-seed leaf grown in the Connecticut River Valley and is being sold in boxes of 24 that will ship to retailers in October, although a representative for the company told me that the numbers would be scarce at first.

• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Corojo)
• Binder: Mexico (San Andrés Otapan Negro Último Corte)
• Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua

• Liga Privada H99 (6 x 52) — $14.33 (Boxes of 24, $343.92)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: October 2018

Liga Privada Único Serie Nasty Fritas

A new Liga Privada Único Serie release is always a big deal and the Nasty Fritas made some waves when it was announced. The new cigar is rolled in a conical shape measuring almost four inches long with a 52 ring gauge at its widest point. However, perhaps the most interesting thing about the Nasty Fritas is the fact that like the Papas Fritas, the filler tobacco in the new cigar incorporates leftover tobacco leaves that are short cut through the manufacture of Liga Privada No. 9 and Liga Privada T52 cigars.

• Wrapper: Brazil (Mata Fina)
• Binder: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Liga Privada Único Serie Nasty Fritas (4 x 52) — $6.50 (Boxes of 50, $325)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Liga Privada No. 9 Corona Viva, Short Panatela and Petit Corona

Much like the Undercrown Corona ¡Viva!, the Liga Privada No. 9 Corona Viva is a 6 x 46 corona gorda version of a modified No. 9 blend. The company also released two other vitolas in the No. 9 blend: a Short Panatela that measures 4 1/2 x 46 and a Petit Corona that comes in at 4 1/4  x 46.

• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
• Binder: Brazil (Mata Fina)
• Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua

• Liga Privada No. 9 Corona ¡Viva! (6 x 46) — $12.08 (Boxes of 24, $290.40)
• Liga Privada No. 9 Petit Corona (4 1/4  x 46) — $10.01 (Boxes of 24,$240.24)
• Liga Privada No. 9 Short Panatela (4 1/2 x 46) — $9.18 (Boxes of 24, $220.32)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Liga Privada T52 Corona Viva, Short Panatela and Petit Corona

As with the No. 9 line above, Drew Estate released not just a Corona Viva vitola in the T52 blend, but also two other sizes: a Short Panetela that measures 4 1/2 x 46 and a Petit Corona that comes in at 4 1/4  x 46.

• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Habano)
• Binder: Brazil (Mata Fina)
• Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua

• Liga Privada T52 Corona ¡Viva! — (6 x 46) — $12.08 (Boxes of 24, $290.40)
• Liga Privada T52 Petit Corona (4 1/4  x 46) — $10.01 (Boxes of 24,$240.24)
• Liga Privada T52 Short Panatela (4 1/2 x 46) — $9.18 (Boxes of 24, $220.32)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Undercrown Dogma

Originally created with online cigar community Cigar Dojo in celebration of its one year anniversary, the Undercrown Dogma was released in 2014 and had been sold exclusively through Florida-based Smoke Inn. The box-pressed 6 x 56 toro gordo is getting a wider release this year as Drew Estate has announced it will be made available to all Drew Estate Diplomat retailers after its debut at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival in August.

• Wrapper: Mexico (San Andrés)
• Binder: U.S.A. (Connecticut Habano)
• Filler: Brazil & Nicaragua

• Undercrown Dogma (6 x 56) — $10.80 (Bundles of 10, $108)

Production: Limited Production

Launch Date: Aug. 25, 2018

Factory Smokes Sweets by Drew Estate

There are four different blends in the Factory Smokes by Drew Estate lineup, each of which uses a different wrapper over an Indonesian binder and mixed fillers from Indonesia. In the case of the Factory Smokes Sweets version, that wrapper is a habano leaf.

• Wrapper: Undisclosed (Habano)
• Binder: Indonesia (Sumatra)
• Filler: Indonesia (Sumatra)

• Factory Smokes Sweets by Drew Estate Robusto (5 x 54) — $1.80 (Bundles of 20, $36)
• Factory Smokes Sweets by Drew Estate Churchill (7 x 50) — $2.30 (Bundles of 20, $46)
• Factory Smokes Sweets by Drew Estate Toro (6 x 52) — $2.10 (Bundles of 20, $42)
• Factory Smokes Sweets by Drew Estate Belicoso (6 x 54) — $2.40 (Bundles of 20, $48)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: July 2018

Factory Smokes Maduro by Drew Estate

As the name implies, the Factory Smokes Maduro by Drew Estate incorporates a maduro wrapper.

• Wrapper: Undisclosed (Maduro)
• Binder: Indonesia (Sumatra)
• Filler: Indonesia (Sumatra)

• Factory Smokes Maduro by Drew Estate Robusto (5 x 54) — $2 (Bundles of 20, $40)
• Factory Smokes Maduro by Drew Estate Churchill (7 x 50) — $2.25 (Bundles of 20, $45)
• Factory Smokes Maduro by Drew Estate Toro (6 x 52) — $2.13 (Bundles of 20, $42.50)
• Factory Smokes Maduro by Drew Estate Belicoso (6 x 54) — $2.63 (Bundles of 20, $52.50)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: July 2018

Factory Smokes Shade by Drew Estate

The Factory Smokes Shade by Drew Estate is covered in an undisclosed shade-grown wrapper.

• Wrapper: Undisclosed (Shade-Grown)
• Binder: Indonesia (Sumatra)
• Filler: Indonesia (Sumatra)

• Factory Smokes Shade by Drew Estate Robusto (5 x 54) — $2 (Bundles of 20, $40)
• Factory Smokes Shade by Drew Estate Churchill (7 x 50) — $2.25 (Bundles of 20, $45)
• Factory Smokes Shade by Drew Estate Toro (6 x 52) — $2.13 (Bundles of 20, $42.50)
• Factory Smokes Shade by Drew Estate Belicoso (6 x 54) — $2.63 (Bundles of 20, $52.50)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: July 2018

Factory Smokes Sun Grown by Drew Estate

The Factory Smokes Sun by Drew Estate is covered in an undisclosed sun-grown wrapper.

• Wrapper: Undisclosed (Sun-Grown)
• Binder: Indonesia (Sumatra)
• Filler: Indonesia (Sumatra)

• Factory Smokes Sun Grown by Drew Estate Robusto (5 x 54) — $2 (Bundles of 20, $40)
• Factory Smokes Sun Grown by Drew Estate Churchill (7 x 50) — $2.25 (Bundles of 20, $45)
• Factory Smokes Sun Grown by Drew Estate Toro (6 x 52) — $2.13 (Bundles of 20, $42.50)
• Factory Smokes Sun Grown by Drew Estate Belicoso (6 x 54) — $2.63 (Bundles of 20, $52.50)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: July 2018

Isla del Sol Gordito

After getting a surprising increase in orders at last year’s IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, the regular Isla del Sol line now has an additional vitola in the form of a 6 x 60 Gordito that will ship to retailers in September.

• Wrapper: Indonesia (Sumatra)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Isla del Sol Gordito (6 x 60) —  $5.72 (Boxes of 16, $91.52)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: September 2018

Isla del Sol Maduro

In addition to the new large vitola in the regular line, there is a new Isla del Sol blend that uses a maduro wrapper over Nicaraguan tobacco in the binder and filler instead of the regular sumatra leaf from Indonesia. The new release will ship to retailers in September in four different sizes, all priced less than $6.

• Wrapper: Undisclosed (Maduro)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Isla del Sol Maduro Robusto (5 x 52) — $5 (Boxes of 10, $50)
• Isla del Sol Maduro Toro (6 x 52) — $5.40 (Boxes of 10, $54)
• Isla del Sol Maduro Gran Corona (5 x 44) — $4.60 (Boxes of 10, $46)
• Isla del Sol Maduro Churchill (7 x 50) — $5.80 (Boxes of 10, $58)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: September 2018

Kentucky Fire Cured Sweets

Drew Estate’s Kentucky Fire Cured line already had a distinctive taste; now it’s getting a sweetened version. The new line started showing up to a few retailers earlier this month and 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, Ky. Additional retailers should start seeing the new cigars in August and Drew Estate is also producing retail display trays so that customers wishing to purchase single cigars are able to do so.

• Wrapper: San Andres (Mexico)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua & U.S.A. (Kentucky)

• Kentucky Fire Cured Sweet Chunky (4 x 46) — $5 (Bundles of 10, $50)
• Kentucky Fire Cured Sweet Fat Molly (5 x 56) — $6.20 (Bundles of 10, $62)
• Kentucky Fire Cured Sweet Just A Friend (6 x 52) — $7.20 (Bundles of 10, $72)
• Kentucky Fire Cured Sweet Petits (4 x 32) — $price (Tins of 10, $price)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Drew Estate Tins

And then there were the tins. After debuting last year in 15 different blends, 13 more of the 4 x 32 sized cigars were announced, including the Joya Red, Joya Black and Undercrown Sun Grown Coronets. These are mixed filler cigars, although unlike the Papas Fritas they are not hand rolled.

• Kentucky Fire Cured Swamp Thang Sweet Ponies (4 x 32) — $1.30 (Tin of 10, $13; Sleeve of 50, $65)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: July 2018

• Ambrosia Clove Tikis (4 x 32) — $1.30 (Tin of 10, $13; Sleeve of 50, $65)
• Isla del Sol Sun Grown Breve (4 x 32) —$1.30 (Tin of 10, $13; Sleeve of 50, $65)
• Isla del Sol Maduro Breve (4 x 32) —$1.30 (Tin of 10, $13; Sleeve of 50, $65)
• La Vieja Habana Habano Bomberito (4 x 32) —$1.30 (Tin of 10, $13; Sleeve of 50, $65)
• La Vieja Habana Maduro Bomberito (4 x 32) —$1.30 (Tin of 10, $13; Sleeve of 50, $65)
• La Vieja Habana Shade Bomberito (4 x 32) —$1.30 (Tin of 10, $13; Sleeve of 50, $65)
• JOYA Black Tin (4 x 32) —$1.30 (Tin of 10, $13; Sleeve of 50, $65)
• JOYA Red Tin (4 x 32) — $1.30 (Tin of 10, $13; Sleeve of 50, $65)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: September 2018

• Deadwood Baby Jane (4 x 32) — $1.80 (Tin of 10, $18; Sleeve of 50, $90)
• Kentucky Fire Cured Sweet Ponies (4 x 32) — $1.30 (Tin of 10, $13; Sleeve of 50, $65)
• Kentucky Fire Cured Swamp Thang Ponies (4 x 32) — $1.30 (Tin of 10, $13; Sleeve of 50, $65)
• Undercrown Sun Grown Coronets (4 x 32) — $1.80 (Tin of 10, $18; Sleeve of 50, $90)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: November 2018

• Joya de Nicaragua Añtano Tin (4 x 32) — $1.80 (Tin of 10, $18; Sleeve of 50, $90)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: February 2019

New Retailer Tin & Single Pack Display

Finally, Drew Estate was showing off a smaller display for those who do have the room for the larger water tower display. The new display holds up to eight different tins—four on each side—as well as spots for single packs on the other two sides.

Brooks Whittington

I have worn many hats in my life up to this point: I started out as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, then transitioned to photographing weddings—both internationally and in the U.S.—for more than a decade. After realizing that there was a need for a cigar website containing better photographs and more in-depth information about each release, I founded my first cigar blog, SmokingStogie, in 2008. 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, and it was one of the predecessors to halfwheel, which I co-founded.