Kentucky Fired Cured Flying Pig Debuting at IPCPR 2014

Drew Estate fans will get another pig. The company has announced that it will be releasing its signature Flying Pig vitola in the MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured blend at this year’s IPCPR convention and trade show.

It’s the fourth retail iteration of the 4 1/8 x 60 double perfecto—following releases in Liga Privada No. 9, T52 and Undercrown blends—and it will be the first one to be classified with any sort of regular production status. That said, company co-founder and chairman Jonathan Drew told halfwheel production was very limited, to a single pair. Pricing is said to be consistent with other Flying Pig releases, which likely means in the $12-13 range.

In another first, it will be made at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate. Historically, the MUWAT brand has been produced solely at Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A., this includes the MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured, which was introduced last year, it uses a blend of tobaccos centered around the use of fire cured tobaccos from Kentucky, which provide a unique smoky and meaty flavor.

While it will get its first national look at the Las Vegas trade show in mid-July, the first time consumers will have the opportunity to purchase the cigar is at an event at Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe in Louisville, Ky.

“The choice was an easy one,” said Drew in a press release. “Kentucky is obviously a major inspiration for the Kentucky Fire Cured line, and that inspiration comes through in everything from the blend profile to the iconic imagery. The tobacco that gives the Kentucky Fire Cured line its distinctive smoky aroma and flavor is grown right here in Kentucky.”

Formally, it’s the national release party for the Kentucky Fire Cured Pig, but the cigars were not ready so Drew Estate brought the Undercrown Flying Pigs instead, a cigar once limited to a small release in Europe. It’s the latest in a growing list of signs that the Undercrown Flying Pig, like the KFC Flying Pig, will get a national release although the company has made no official announcement. Attendees of the event will be able to pre-order the cigars tonight.

Drew Estate is stressing that the Kentucky Fire Cured Pig will be available to all of the company’s accounts. It is expected to begin shipping in September.

Update (Sept. 1, 2014) — The press release by Drew Estate incorrectly identified the Flying Pig vitolas is 3 15/16 inches in length, it is actually 4 1/8 inches.

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.