by | May 9, 2021 · 2:01 pm

La Gloria Cubana Colección Reserva Presidente Prime Living Ariticle

You’ll have to excuse me, my day started with a migraine, then I just finished typing my post up and then it vanished so I have to start over, so I’m a little irritated. So I’ll re-write that post later and post an article that was published in the Spring 2018 issue of Prime Living magazine. This near the end of my four year run as the cigar feature writer for that magazine. That was a fun gig, and I enjoyed having a cigar article published in a mainstream publication. Most of my articles are still on their site, Prime-living.com, but take some digging to find.

 

La Gloria Cubana Colección Reserva Presidente

by 

“Colleción Reserva speaks to the legacy of La Gloria Cubana and proves that while so much has happened with the brand, nothing has changed.” – Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr.

 

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr., like many cigar makers, left Cuba early in life and came to America. He had dreams of being a jazz drummer, and after trying his hand in New York City, he moved back to Miami to work with his father at his El Credito factory in Little Havana. In the mid ’90s, his La Gloria Cubana cigars were highly rated by the new magazine, Cigar Aficionado, and the brand took off. Eventually Ernesto built a factory in the Dominican Republic to meet the demand.

 

In a few short years, La Gloria Cubana became one of the most popular brands in the United States, and in 1999 the company was purchased by the company which owns it now, General Cigar Company. Ernesto worked for General Cigar Company for several years before “retiring,” then eventually returning to the cigar industry with E.P. Carrillo Cigars.

 

Several months ago I had the pleasure of talking with Ernesto Carrillo at a local cigar shop, and one of the points he made was that there is a lot of cooperation in the cigar industry, from other cigar companies helping him source tobacco when he was just starting out to this latest collaboration with the company that he sold his highly successful brand to previously.

 

Last year, General Cigar Company collaborated with Ernesto Carrillo to produce the La Gloria Cubana Colección Reserva, manufactured at EPC’s Tabacalera La Alianza in Santiago, Dominican Republic, based on a blend Ernesto created in the ’80s, which was one of my favorite cigars, the El Rico Habano.

 

The Presidente is a large cigar, with tremendous balance and flavor—I’ve tasted cinnamon, sweet honey and earthy flavors. The cigar brings back memories of the El Rico Habano and La Gloria Cubana cigars of the cigar boom of the ’90s.

La Gloria Cubana Colección Reserva Presidente

Size: 7.5” x 54

Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

 

That’s all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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by | May 7, 2021 · 6:11 pm

News: Drew Estate 25th Celebration Bash Set for Texas on September 25th

It’s hard to believe that Drew Estate is celebrating 25 years this year. It’s harder still to believe that 1996 was 25 years ago! Check out the celebration plans. I doubt I’ll be going to the celebration, but who knows, things could change!

 

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Drew Estate and The Rebirth of Cigars Movement. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the company is inviting you, consumers, retailers and cigar media to its epic blow-out birthday bash, entitled “DE25.” DE25 will be held on Sept. 25 at the Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas, part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan area. The DE25 celebration will include the unveiling of Drew Estate’s newest brands, with a first-to-experience approach for consumers and trade partners together.

 

Guests who purchase tickets to attend DE25 will receive an onslaught of “packages” worthy of the company’s single biggest milestone event in its history. Before the event, ticket-holders will first receive at their homes a pre-party package of goods that includes exclusive, next level DE25 swag. Later, upon arrival at the Southfork Ranch (made famous in the television show “Dallas”), atten

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dees will receive a numbered commemorative box that is sure to become a serious collector’s item that contains 9 premium Drew Estate cigars. Additionally, guests will receive a very high-end DE25 backpack filled with DE25 branded items, including first-class cigar accessories, plus other surprises that we cannot divulge today.

 

The DE25 event extravaganza will begin at 2 p.m. with a tailgate pre-party. Attendees will enjoy appetizers,

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Drew Estate cigar brand sensory activations and other new experiences that the company is planning to roll out exclusively for the event, all the while savoring their favorite Drew Estate cigars. The celebration will ramp up at 6 p.m. when guests are invited inside the beautiful event space for the full-monty experience, including live music performances, a full dinner, lots of great spirits … and even more Drew Estate swag and cigars. During DE25, Drew Estate will debut its new major brand releases, as well as several new cigar sizes to existing brands, giving guests the exclusive opportunity to be the first to see, touch and smoke them.

 

 

From Wynwood, Miami, Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate says “I imagine that most people are drawn to DE because of our company culture, lifestyle brand, and product innovation … but first and foremost we are a company with a huge heart, which has served as our North Star through 25 orbits around the Earth’s sun. I look forward to DE25 in the deepest sense, to spend this emotional and proud moment with each of you. I can’t wait to see everyone with us, together, on this historic day.”

 

Since 1996, Drew Estate has led The Rebirth of Cigars Movement, shaking up the premium cigar industry in a disruptive and irreverent New York style that invites everyone to be themselves and celebrate their uniqueness, while enjoying a premium cigar. Based on innovative brands, experiential events, and a heavily embraced company cult

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ure, the Drew lifestyle brand has grown from a small retail kiosk selling premium cigars inside the World Trade Center into a cigar-making juggernaut with one of the world’s largest cigar factories, La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua.

 

Every step of the way, Drew Estate has relentlessly worked to strengthen its connection with loyal fans, as well as the family of brick & mortar retailers who sell them. Far from being a self-congratulatory slap-on-the-back, DE25 will be a massive extravaganza of gratitude and appreciation for the good people who believe in Drew Estate and continue to journey with the company, one glorious puff at a time.

 

DE25 attendance will be limited to 2,500 guests. Drew Diplomat members and Drew Estate retailers may purchase tickets at a discounted “Early Bird Special” rate of $350 beginning on May 7 at 3 p.m. Eastern through May 13. Tickets go on sale for the general public on May 14 and cost $400. General admission tickets may be purchased at drewestate.com/de25 starting May 14th.

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 attr

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act 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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by | · 5:56 pm

News: Drew Estate Unveils Undercrown 10 to Commemorate its “Decade of Dedication”

Here’s some Friday news. Last night on Drew Estate’s Freestyle Live event they announced this cigar. The cigar was included as a “mystery cigar” with the Freestyle Live pack, and I smoked it and it was really good. I was fooled though, I didn’t think it was a San Andrés wrapped cigar, it tasted more Broadleafy to me, and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. Whatever I think, it was San Anrés and is a great cigar, and I look forward to it’s release. I can remember hearing about the Undercrown back in 2011 when I was at Cigar Safari for the first time. I dig it.

 

Drew Estate is commemorating ten years of Undercrown with the global release of Undercrown 10, a bold new ultra-premium addition to Undercrown’s current premium lineup of Maduro, Shade and Sun Grown expressions.

 

To celebrate the brand’s anniversary in 2021, Drew Estate is getting “All Dekked Out,” a tag line that denotes Undercrown 10’s elegant packaging and reinforces the pride of Undercrown’s ten years of excellence. The new, sophisticated packaging is surpassed only by Undercrown 10’s complex, rich and bold blend of ultra-premium aged tobaccos that includes the highest priming of Mexican San Andres dark wrapper, the very finest Broadleaf binder from the Connecticut River Valley, and a tripa blend of select and rare Nicaraguan tobaccos.

 

“Undercrown 10 offers smokers an experience of Mexican hot chocolate … naturally sweet with hints of raisin and cacao … waves of intense black pepper … along with notes of sun-dried cherries, espresso, woodiness and earthiness,” says La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate Factory Spokesman, Pedro Gomez.

 

Undercrown 10 will debut with four core vitolas: Toro (6 x 52), Robusto (5 x 50), Corona (5 x 43) and Corona Doble (7 x 50), each available in 20-count boxes. A limited-edition Undercrown 10 “Factory Floor Edition” (6 x 46 Lonsdale) will additionally debut in July. The Undercrown 10 Factory Floor Edit

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ion is packaged in commemorative 20-count boxes, and includes a unique “tobacco leaf library,” offering each lucky purchaser the opportunity to see, smell and touch the very leaves that Drew Estate’s torcedores painstakingly chose for Undercrown 10’s new powerhouse blend. Finally, the Undercrown 10 Tuani Belicoso (6 x 52) will be exclusively available in a special 2-count presentation coffin/box at Undercrown 10 events hosted by Gomez.

 

 

Jonathan Drew, Drew Estate’s Founder and President pontificates, “Undercrown is a noble prince of a brand, both humble and loyal, who is now to become a king. The new UC10 expression represents its super-premium platform, sealing the brand’s destiny … as the good king whose brand promise is gratitude for our talented team at La Gran Fabrica. The new UC10 is so incredibly important to Drew Estate that we gave it two slogans, ‘A Decade of Dedication’ and ‘All Dekked Out.’ Add those two slogans to ‘Born on the Factory Floor,’ and the Shakespeare really unfolds.”

 

Born on the factory floor at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Undercrown brand is a passionate testament to the creative talent, dedication and self-determination of Drew Estate’s torcedores. Blended with many of the same rare vintages found in Liga Privada, Undercrown quickly became a grand slam for Drew Estate as consumers felt a deep personal connection to the grass-roots firebrand that celebrates the typically unheralded working-class heroes employed at the Drew Estate cigar factory.

 

Undercrown 10’s core vitolas will ship to retailers beginning in May. MSRPs for the Undercrown 10 cigars will be: Robusto $235/box or $11.75/cigar; Toro $240/box or $12/cigar; Corona Doble $270/box or $13.50/cigar; and Corona Viva $210/box or $10.50/cigar. Undercrown 10 Factory Floor Edition will debut in July with an MSRP of $272/box or $13.60/cigar.

 

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

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tobaccos and blending styles that attract 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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by | May 4, 2021 · 5:17 pm

News: Drew Estate Re-Imagines, Re-Packages, and Re-Releases the Nica Rustica Brand

Here’s something that may not be well known, but Nica Rustica might be my favorite Drew Estate cigar. I’ve often said that I’d happily buy two or three before I’d buy a Liga Privada, just because I find them to be just as good a cigar at a far better price. I do think they were better with the wild “rustica” tobacco in the blend, not many people got to try that back in 2013, before they were released, bu that tobacco was impossible to source in a sustainable manner, as it grows wild along side the road. It really added something special to the cigar though. The final version ended up being darned good, and I hope they don’t mess it up. The new packaging looks spiffy!

 

Drew Estate unveils a top-to-bottom relaunch of its affordable Nica Rustica brand with a newfound commitment to the trade and consumer, including a detailed roadmap to take the beloved cult brand to the next level !!

 

From the Wynwood Safehouse in Miami, Florida, Drew Estate Founder and President, Jonathan Drew confesses, “We did NO JUSTICE to this beautiful brand the first time around, but now you’re hometown heroes, Drew Estate, are ready for redemption as we re-launch Nica Rustica with a newfo

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und conceptual lens, commitment to excellence, and overarching strategy that I personally warranty to make the good people of Estelí super proud of us. Come join Willy, Pedro, Frank and me for the big debut on the Drew Estate Freestyle Live: Special Edition, which will air on Thursday, May 6th, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Drew Estate’s Facebook Live page (facebook.com/drewestatecigar).”

 

Founded upon a message of tribute to the people of Estelí, Nicaragua, the completely new packaging and artwork has been hand painted by Subculture Studios’ lead artist Richard “Dog” Diaz, celebrating the home to La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate and

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the good people who live there.

 

“The Pride of Estelí” … rugged, robust, rustic and always satisfying, Nica Rustica Broadleaf Selection is a medium-to-full bodied smoke that’s unpolished, unrefined and perfect for hardcore tobacco lovers. As part of Nica Rustica’s relaunch, graffiti artist Diaz draws his inspiration from the colorful colonial houses that make up Estelí’s lively, winding street barrios. Drew Estate is replacing Nica Rustica’s traditional black-bundle packaging with classy wooden boxes that adorn Diaz’s artwork. The “El Brujito” image of a shaman (or witch doctor) that was carved in stone by Pre-Colombian indigenous folk living near Estelí more than 6,000 years ago is retained in some parts of the presentation, but respectfully minimized in the new rendition.

 

People who have grown to love Nica Rustica need not worry, as the Nica Rustica blend will remain unchanged and will retain its dark, rustic, spicy and robust flavor profile, though it will now be known as Nica Rustica Broadleaf. Nica Rustica Broadleaf features a Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Medium wrapper, Mexican San Andres Negro binder and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos from Estelí and Jalapa, with availability beginning in July for three sizes: Belly (7 1⁄2 x 54, Belicoso), El Brujito (6 x 52, Toro) and Short Robusto (4 1⁄2 x 50). Each vitola will be packaged in 25-count boxes.

 

 

Jonathan Drew continues, “When Drew Estate opened its doors in Estelí in 1998, the mission, philosophy and mantra was to unite New York City and Nicaragua to birth a cigar company unlike any that the world has ever experienced. From our earliest days, the most important core value was our bond to Estelí, the newly proclaimed ‘Mecca of Cigars.’ Nica Rustica has always been a high tribute to our Nicaraguan colleagues and community, as well as toward its boundless future. This redo is long overdue, and we nailed it in every aspect. We are investing huge Swisher money behind this brand, believe that.”

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Nica Rustica provides excellent value for premium cigar smokers, from beginners to aficionados. Belly has an MSRP of $161.93/box or $6.48/cigar; El Brujito’s MSRP is $143.93/box or $5.76/cigar, and Short Robusto has an MSRP of $125.93/box or $5.04/cigar. The re-imagined Nica Rustica cigars will be available beginning in July.

 

ABOUT DREW ESTATE

Founded in New York City in 1996, Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing tobacco companies in the world

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. 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 attract new and traditional cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Ni

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caraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, He

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rrera 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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by | · 5:05 pm

News: Joya de Nicaragua to Release Diplomatic Favorites: Numero Uno L’Ambassadeur and Le Premier

Drew Estate has been loading up with news ahead of the Thursday Freestyle Live show where they will be talking about all  these cool things. This is one that I like because I like the Numero Uno, I mean, for a Connecticut wrapped cigar and all! Really there’s only a handful of shade cigars I gravitate to, and this is one. 

 

Originally given exclusively to world leaders by Nicaraguan ambassadors on official missions, Joya de Nicaragua’s Numero Uno has become a favorite for cigar enthusiasts everywhere since its introduction in the United States in 2019. Numero Uno has received numerous awards, becoming the top cigar of 2018 and 2019, and was recently named the No. 6 cigar in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 list of 2020 with a 95-point rating. The 2021 release of the limited edition Numero Uno cigars will be showcased by Juan Ignacio Martinez, Executive President of Joya de Nicaragua, and the Drew Estate team during Freestyle Live: Special Edition on May 6, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern on Drew Estate’s Facebook page (facebook.com/drewestatecigar).

 

Numero Uno is part of Joya de Nicaragua’s Obras Maestras line

. The highly acclaimed cigar Numero Uno cigar is available in two sizes: L’Ambassadeur (6 5/8 x 44, Lancero) and Le Premier (6 7/8 x 48, Churchill). Numero Uno features a smooth, Ecuador Connecticut wrapper and Nicaragua binder and filler tobaccos to create a mellow-

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to medium-bodied and flavorful smoking experience with lots of rich creaminess.

 

“It is very exciting for us to announce that we are preparing the annual batch of Numero Uno for the United States. Receiving another iconic award this year, now by Cigar Aficionado, reaffirms that our commitment to quality is recognized by the industry and cigar lovers around the world, and we are happy we were able to guarantee the annual allocation plus additional boxes to satisfy the overwhelming demand for the fantastic cigar,” says Martinez.

 

The 2021 a

nnual release will offer a limited amount of each vitola, exclusively for Drew Diplomat Program participants. The 2021 Numero Uno limited edition cigars will be available beginning in August. The MSRP for L’Ambassadeur will be

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$15.75/cigar and $16.95/cigar for Le Premier.

 

About Joya de Nicaragua

Joya de Nicaragua is a family-owned tobacco grower and cigar factory. Established in 1968, it is the first and most authentic premium handmade cigar manufacturer from Nicaragua. Based in Estelí, many regard Joya de Nicaragua as the patriarch of the Nicaraguan cigar industry, and its cigars are sold in more than 55 countries around the world. The company’s commitment to quality, along with its skillful and resilient people, have been rewarded with the industry recognition of “Cigar Factory of the Year” for the last three years in a row.

For more information, visit joyacigars.com.

 

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 attract 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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