IPCPR 2019: Drew Estate

On the surface, not much has changed about the Drew Estate booth at this year’s IPCPR Convention & Trade Show compared to last year: the water tower still dominates everyone around it, the music was still blaring even before the doors open and there is barely even room to walk around during most of the day. However, if you dig a little deeper into things, there are some obvious but subtle differences that combine together to make a fairly large impact.

Yes, the music is still blaring, but it is noticeably lower than in years past; yes, the water tower is still the dominant feature of the complex, but it has been relocated from the center of the booth to the front right side; yes, there is very little room to move at times, but that there are also more walls on the sides of the booth–it is not nearly as open as last year—to accommodate a brand new feature, albeit one you might miss entirely if you just made a quick run through of the booth: an entirely separate walled-in section dedicated to the ACID brand and its 20th anniversary happening this year.

ACID 20

Drew Estate is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the ACID brand, and as such, there is a new cigar. The 5 x 52 box-pressed robusto incorporates an infusion that is “truly unique, and worthy of the double decade title” according to the company and is packaged in chrome boxes of 20.

• Wrapper: Mexico (San Andrés)
• Binder: Indonesia
• Filler: Nicaragua

• ACID 20 (5 x 52) — $11.52 (Box of 20, $230.40)

Production: n/a

Release Date: September 2019

ACID Kuba Arte

Along with the aforementioned ACID 20, Drew Estate is commemorating the 20th anniversary of the brand by collaborating with five different graffiti artists from Brooklyn to produce seven limited edition water tower boxes.

There are 20 Kuba Arte cigars packaged inside each water tower, and each water tower design is limited to just 1,750 units that are scheduled to ship to retailers in September.

• Wrapper: Broadleaf Maduro
• Binder: Indonesia
• Filler: Nicaragua

• ACID Kuba Arte (5 13/16 x 54) — $11.90 (Box of 20, $238)

Production: 12,250 Boxes of 20 (245,000 Total Cigars)

Release Date: September 2019

ACID Accent Jay Street Posse

The first of two different ACID Accents Collection blends that will serve as the company’s collection of regional releases for its popular infused brand, the ACID Accent Jay Street Posse will be available exclusively to retailers located within a 50-mile radius of New York City.

• Wrapper: Sumatra
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• ACID Accent Jay Street Posse (4 1/2 x 52/62) — $9.20 (Bundle of 10, $92)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: August 2019

ACID Accent B-More 410

As with the Accent Jay Street Posse above, the ACID Accent B-More 410 is a new regional release for Drew Estate, but this cigar will only be available to retailers located in Maryland.

• Wrapper: Sumatra
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• ACID Accent B-More 410 (4 1/2 x 60) — $8 (Bundle of 10, $80)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: August 2019

ACID & Tabak Especial Frenchies National Launch

These are getting their national launch at the trade show after being an exclusive for Kwik Trip on March 1. Both are 3 1/4 x 20 cigarillos offered in 10-packs, but the ACID Frenchies will also be sold in packs of five.

• ACID Frenchies (3 1/4 x 20) — $1 (Pack of 10, $10)
• ACID Frenchies (3 1/4 x 20) — $1.10 (Pack of 5, $5.50)
• Tabak Especial Frenchies (3 1/4 x 20) — $1 (Pack of 10, $10)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: September 2019

Drew Estate BOTL.org 2019

While it might not seem like it after you finish reading this post, there are fewer overall new products from Drew Estate this you compared to 2018, but one of the most anticipated for me was the return of the BOTL line. Originally released in 2012 as an homage of sorts to both the idea of the Brothers of the Leaf as well as an online forum that bears the same name, the new version incorporates the same blend as well as the same three vitolas as the original release, albeit at lower prices. While it is described as a limited edition, the company is not disclosing production numbers.

• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
• Binder: Ecuador (Connecticut)
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Drew Estate BOTL.org 2019 Corona (5 1/4 x 42) — $9.33 (Box of 15, $140)
• Drew Estate BOTL.org 2019 Corona Gorda (6 x 46) — $10 (Box of 15, $150)
• Drew Estate BOTL.org 2019 Lancero (7 x 38) — $10.67 (Box of 15, $160)

Production: n/a

Release Date: August 2019

Sweet Jane Fat Bottom Betty Toro

Coming in at 6 x 50, the Sweet Jane Fat Bottom Betty Toro is a larger version of the Sweet Jane Fat Bottom Betty line, which is offered in vitolas 5 inches or shorter.

• Wrapper: n/a
• Binder: n/a
• Filler: n/a

• Sweet Jane Fat Bottom Betty Toro (6 x 50) — $9.50 (Box of 10, $95)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: August 2019

Sweet Jane Dia de los Muertos

Another extension for Drew Estate’s Deadwood line of cigars, the Sweet Jane Dia de los Muertos is a 6 x 50 box-pressed toro that will only be offered to Drew Estate lounges.

• Wrapper: n/a
• Binder: n/a
• Filler: n/a

• Sweet Jane Dia de los Muertos (6 x 50) — $9.09 (Box of 20, $181.94)

Production: 1,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)

Release Date: October 2019

Tabak Especial Dulce Gordito

A new 6×60 vitola for the line Tabak Especial Dulce packaged in 10-count boxes that are shipping this month.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Tabak Especial Dulce Gordito (6 x 60) — $10.29 (Box of 10, $102.90)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2019

Tabak Especial Negra Gordito

A new 6 x 60 size in the darker blend.

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

• Tabak Especial Negra Gordito (6 x 60) — $10.29 (Box of 10, $102.90)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2019

Undercrown Dogma New Packaging

Same cigar, same bands, same size, new exterior packaging.

Undercrown Shade Perfecto

After debuting in 2015, the Undercrown Shade line has come to encompass 11 different vitolas. The latest is the Undercrown Shade SUPREMA, a 6 x 50/54 perfecto that is packaged in boxes of five. It also is described as having “a bolder profile on the palate compared to core sizes” and is scheduled to begin shipping to retailers in September.

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

• Undercrown Shade Perfecto (6 x 50/54) — $9.60 (Box of 5, $47.99)

Production: n/a

Release Date: September 2019

Undercrown ShadyXX

Meant to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Shady Records, the music label founded by Eminem and Paul Rosenberg, the Undercrown ShadyXX follows the Undercrown ShadyXV that debuted in 2014. While that version was limited to 5,000 cigars sold only in Detroit, the new release will be sold nationally to Drew Diplomat Retailers.

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

• Undercrown ShadyXX (5 x 50) — $10.40 (Bundle of 10, $$104)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: August 2019

Gift Box Sets

There are five different gift box sets being released: the Undercrown Maduro, Undercrown Shade and Tabak Especial boxes each include five cigars, a branded lighter and cutter exclusive to the sets priced at $47.99 each. In addition, the Kentucky Fire Cured Swamp Thang Toro Limited Box and Kentucky Fire Cured Just a Friend Sweets Limited Box are packaged in a crafted wood display boxes that include 10 cigars priced at $72 each.

New Tubos for Eight Different Lines

GALLERY OF IMAGES

Eight of Drew Estate’s most popular lines are getting new packaging in the form of 6 x 52 tubos. Each of the tubos will be offered in 25-count cardboard trays designed for placement in either a humidor or on counters near the register.

• ACID Kuba Deluxe Toro Tubo (6 x 52) — $12 (Bundle of 25, $300)
• Undercrown Maduro Toro Tubo (6 x 52) — $8.92 (Bundle of 25, $223)
• Undercrown Shade Toro Tubo (6 x 52) — $8.92 (Bundle of 25, $223)
• Undercrown Sun Grown Toro Tubo (6 x 52) — $8.92 (Bundle of 25, $223)
• Tabak Especial Dulce Toro Tubo (6 x 52) — $9.28 (Bundle of 25, $232)
• Tabak Especial Negra Toro Tubo (6 x 52) — $9.28 (Bundle of 25, $232)
• Kentucky Fire Cured Just a Friend Tubo (6 x 52) — $7.50 (Bundle of 25, $187.50)
• Kentucky Fire Cured Just a Friend Sweets Tubo (6 x 52) — $7.50 (Bundle of 25, $187.50)

Humidified Five-Packs

In addition to all of the new cigar releases, Drew Estate announced it was adding five-packs of humidified bags for 10 different blends. Each of the resealable bags contains not only the cigars but also a Boveda Active Humidification pack in order to “ensure product freshness from the time it leaves Nicaragua to the time it is smoked as well as allowing for “placement anywhere in the retail environment.”

While all of the five-packs will ship with a custom countertop merchandising solution as well as clip strips that can be hung in any retail location, Drew Estate will also supply brand new “Manhole Cover” displays upon request.

• Undercrown Shade Toro (6 x 52) — Pack of Five Cigars, $44.60
• Undercrown Maduro Toro (6 x 52) — Pack of Five Cigars, $44.60
• ACID Kuba Kuba (5 x 54) — Pack of Five Cigars, $49.25
• ACID Kuba Maduro (5 x 54) — Pack of Five Cigars, $49.25
• ACID Cold Infusion (7 x 44) — Pack of Five Cigars, $42.55
• ACID Toast (6 x 52) — Pack of Five Cigars, $48.40
• ACID Blondie (4 x 38) — Pack of Five Cigars, $27.50
• La Vieja Habana Cuban Corojo Bombero (6 x 54) — Pack of Five Cigars, $22
• Tabak Sampler Negra — Pack of Five Cigars, $38
• Tabak Sampler Dulce — Pack of Five Cigars, $38

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: September 2019