Drew Estate

Drew Estate stands as one of the most innovative and disruptive forces in the premium cigar industry, credited with leading dynamic industry-wide change and creating unparalleled adult consumer experiences. Known for their revolutionary approach that combines New York hustle with Nicaraguan craftsmanship, Drew Estate has fundamentally changed the way cigars are enjoyed across the world. The brand operates the largest cigar factory in Nicaragua and among the largest premium, handmade cigar factories globally, producing everything from flavor-infused ACID cigars to the critically acclaimed Liga Privada series. Their commitment to building community and culture, rather than simply selling cigars, has established them as pioneers of 'The Rebirth of Cigars' movement.

Background

Drew Estate was born under the Manhattan Bridge in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York in 1995, where founder Jonathan Drew Sann and his partner and fraternity brother Marvin Samel opened a small, 16-square-foot cigar kiosk in the World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan. The company began producing their first brand of cigars, La Vieja Habana, with a small initial order made locally at La Rosa Cigars on Sixth Avenue and 30th Street in Manhattan, before moving production to a friend's factory in Miami. After Hurricane Mitch struck Central America in 1998, devastating their production pipeline and leaving the company facing bankruptcy, Jonathan Drew moved to Nicaragua in the fall of 1998 and opened Drew Estate's first factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. This move led to the creation of ACID cigars, which became a genuine hit with an entirely new market, combining bold, flavored cigars and wild art from up-and-coming DUMBO artists. The company officially opened La Gran Fabrica in 2006, and was later acquired by Swisher International in 2014, though it maintains its rich history of independence and irreverence.

History

The cigar industry before Drew Estate was a very different place where cigars were treated as commodities to be advertised and sold, lacking the brotherhood and sisterhood that are integral to the contemporary cigar world. The company's big break came with the launch of the now-iconic ACID brand, which revolutionized the cigar industry with its infused flavor profiles using essential herbs, oils and botanicals. Drew Estate found success in the premium cigar industry when it released Liga Privada in 2007, followed by brands such as Undercrown, Herrera Esteli and Norteño. After being acquired by Swisher, they rehired Jonathan Drew as president in 2017, demonstrating the founder's enduring connection to the brand.

Reputation

Drew Estate has received numerous awards and accolades, with Liga Privada consistently earning 90+ ratings and being named as one of the best cigars in the industry. Since its founding, Drew Estate has been credited for leading dynamic industry-wide change while creating unparalleled adult consumer experiences in premium cigars. Despite the bombastic culture generated by Jonathan Drew, Drew Estate has generated a net positive effect on the cigar industry and is attributed as having caused a rebirth of cigars - without the success of ACID, the cigar industry might have contracted in the early 2000s. The brand's innovative approach and unique flavor profiles have won them a dedicated following and solidified their place as a leader in the premium cigar market, maintaining a loyal customer base thanks to their distinctive flavor offerings and high-quality craftsmanship.