Tag Archives: Subculture Studios

News: Jessi Flores to Leave Drew Estate

It’s hard to imagine Subculture Studios without Jessi Flores at the helm, but I suppose we’ll have to get used to the idea. I met Jessi in 2011 at Cigar Safari, briefly, as I missed the tour of his studio while I was with my son at Esteli’s version of the emergency room (search back through the archives for that story), but he made a big impression. I was fortunate enough to acquire one of his Acid canvases from around 2005 last year which proudly hangs in my office. I’m proud to have met him. We wish Jessi the best of luck in his future endeavors, as if he needs it, he’s a talented dude!

My own photo from 2013 at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate

Drew Estate, a global manufacturer and distributor of premium cigars announced today that Jessi Flores, Director of Subculture Studios, is leaving the company to pursue new business ventures.

Jessi is a twenty-year veteran, having joined Drew Estate in 1999 after founder Jonathan Drew discovered his unique style of street art on the walls of Estelí, Nicaragua.  During his tenure, Mr. Flores has been a driving force behind the growth of Subculture Studios, the well-recognized and often-awarded art studio of Drew Estate.“My years at Drew Estate have been incredible, and I am so proud to have played a role with our employees, our customers and our loyal fans to make Drew Estate the best company in the cigar business,” said Flores.  “The most special part of the experience has been working with the many artists of Subculture Studios, and seeing them grow as artists, as people, and as friends.  I know that I leave Subculture in great hands, and that it will continue to create innovative and beautiful art for Drew Estate.  I want to thank everyone at Drew Estate and all fans of Subculture Studios for an unbelievable twenty-year ride together.  I especially want to thank Jonathan Drew for taking a chance on a young street artist.  Now is the right time for me to pursue new opportunities.”

“Beyond building Subculture Studios into a game changing artistic workshop, Jessi’s creative spirit and extraordinary artistic talent have been a centerpiece in the culture of Drew Estate itself,” said Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate.  “After so many years of singular focus, we understand Jessi’s need to expand his scope of creativity and explore new ventures.”

Drew Estate CEO Glenn C. Wolfson added, “It is a testament to Jessi’s many years of focus and hard work that he is able to move forward at this time in his career knowing that his legacy at Subculture Studios will be well protected by the marvelous cadre of artists that he personally recruited and trained over the years.  We are pleased to announce that Richard “Dog” Diaz, will be taking over responsibility for the creative design work of Subculture, and Marvin Montoya, will be taking over responsibility for artwork production and logistics.  Both Dog and Marvin have been key artists and leaders at Subculture for many years, and we have total confidence that their experience and skill sets will keep Subculture producing show stopping art for years to come.”

“The entire team at Drew Estate is thankful for Jessi’s valuable contributions to the growth of the company since its early years,” said Wolfson.  “He will always be a part of the fabric of Drew Estate, and we wish him the very best as he embarks upon his journey into new business ventures.”

ABOUT DREW ESTATE

Founded in New York City in 1996, Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing tobacco companies in the world. Under their mantra “The Rebirth of Cigars”, Drew Estate has led the “Boutique Cigar” movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco industry with their unique tobaccos and blending styles that attracting new and traditional cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Herrera Estelí Norteño, Isla del Sol, Kentucky Fired Cured, Liga Privada, MUWAT, Larutan by Drew Estate, Nica Rustica, Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, Tabak Especial, Undercrown, Florida Sun Grown, and Java by Drew Estate.

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Davidoff and Bobalu Cigars and a Wooden Indian Drew Estate Event

Davidoff_Yamasa_ToroAnother week is in the books, and I felt the urge to revisit the Davidoff Yamasa toro on Thursday. I smoked this at a launch party that Davidoff had at their lounge in Las Vegas, which, of course, was not nearly large enough to contain the crown there in air-conditioned comfort, so a large part of the event was outside. I kinda like the Las Vegas heat for a while, it’s not totally uncomfortable, but add in some misting fans, loud DJ music, and a crowd, it’s not any kind of environment to get a good handle on a cigar. I had a busy week at my day job, so I figured it was time to give the Yamasa Toro another go.  To recap the Yamasa story in a nutshell: 20 years ago Henke Kelner decided to try to grow tobacco in a swampy area in the Yamasa Valley in the Dominican Republic. After many years Davidof_Yamasa_Samplerof trying, apparently they got it right and produced the Davidoff Yamasa into their Black Label series this year. It’s a good smoke. It’s as elegant and well made as one expects from Davidoff, and it’s got a lot of flavors of earth and wood, with some spice.  This is another Davidoff cigar I received a sampler of in ridiculous (meant in a good way), over the top packaging.  The pentagonal box, containing a five sided star-shaped box which unfolds to reveal the four sizes in the line and a box of cigar matches is amazing, yet highly impractical! I’m told the Pyramid is the best of the bunch, not sure why I didn’t select that one…another time.

 

Bobalu_Tres Capa_toroFriday I decided to dig into some of the cigars I recently purchased from Bobalu Cigar Co. in Austin, Texas. I featured some of their cigars a few months ago and felt like they had some offerings that intrigued me enough to make a purchase. Remember, there’s a special deal just for my readers where you can get a free triple flame lighter with a purchase (I forgot to take advantage of this when I ordered!). Their Tres Capa caught my eye, I have to admit, the combination of the Candela, Connecticut and Habano wrapper leaves in a barber pole configuration makes for a very attractive cigar. I don’t seek out barber pole style cigars, but I liked the look. This was a really nice, milder cigar, with some great, smooth flavors. They didn’t ask me to say this, but they have a special on their site for a 10 pack for $39.95 with a torch lighter, which is a nice deal for some very good, made in the US of A cigars.  I got a box pressed maduro and an Oscuro lined up to try to so stay tuned. I have a few reasons I’d like to visit Houston someday, and now Austin is on my list, not that they are close to one another, are they?

 

NicaRustica)_2016DE-WI EventYesterday I stopped in to the Wooden Indian Cigar shop in Havertown, PA where they were having their annual Drew Estate Charity Event and pigroast. It was a packed house and featured Pedro Gomez from Drew Estate, Broc Jackson, the young man who makes the jewelry that all the Drew guys wear, as well as many others in the cigar industry, and Hollis Thomas, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and is on the local sports radio station (apparently, I don’t follow football at all, but I sat down next to this guy, not knowing who he was and he seemed like a fun guy. His go-to smoke is a short story, which I found interesting as it showed he was in it for the flavor and not the look, as it’s hard to find that little cigar in his formidable hands…). I bought some cigars, and lit up a Nica Rustica El Brujito and schmoozed for an hour or so. Every year they have this big event with auctions of great Drew Estate cigars and artwork by Jessi Flores at Subculture Studios, and this year they raised over $6000 for Drew Estate Charities, as well as raising $800 in cash and cigars for Cigar For Warriors. In the picture here you can see some of the auction items in the background. Dave and his staff at the Wooden Indian always have great events, it’s probably my favorite shop in the area.

 

That’s all for today, I smoked another IPCPR show sample last night, but I didn’t really dig it, so I’m not going to mention it…probably not the cigars fault, it just wasn’t for me, an I was disappointed because I though it would be! I hate it when that happens. Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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