Drew Estate
Nicaraguan cigars spanning infused creations and traditional blends
- Founded
- 1996
- Founded by
- John Drew
- Family
- Swisher
- Made in
- Nicaragua
- Factory
- La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, Estelí, Nicaragua
- Lines here
- 26
Shop this brandBoxes from $60
The house
The story of Drew Estate
John Drew started Drew Estate in 1996 from a 16-square-foot stall at the World Trade Center. The company subsequently established cigar production in Nicaragua, including La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Estelí.
Drew Estate developed a portfolio encompassing infused cigars and traditional blends. Its lines include ACID, Java, Factory Smokes, Undercrown, Herrera Estelí and Liga Privada. Java is made for Rocky Patel by Drew Estate, while Herrera Estelí blends are associated with master blender Willy Herrera.
Swisher acquired the Miami-based Drew Estate Tobacco Company in 2014. Following upheaval after the acquisition, John Drew returned as president in 2016.
In 2026, Drew Estate announced a new Dominican factory and exclusive farm under the name Drew Dominicana, planned for early 2027.
Milestones
Moments that made the house
- 1996
Company started
John Drew started Drew Estate from a 16-square-foot stall at the World Trade Center.
- 2014
Acquired by Swisher
Swisher acquired the Miami-based Drew Estate Tobacco Company.
- 2015
Tienda Exclusiva produced
The small-batch Tienda Exclusiva was made at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Estelí for Riverside Cigars.
- 2016
John Drew returns
John Drew was brought back as president following upheaval after the acquisition.
- 2026
Dominican expansion announced
Drew Estate announced a new Dominican factory and exclusive farm under the Drew Dominicana name.
Drew Dominicana planned
The new Dominican factory and exclusive farm were announced as coming in early 2027.
Craft
How they make them
The supplied examples document both hand-rolled long-filler and hand-rolled mixed-filler cigars. Java Mint uses Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos, with mocha, coffee, vanilla and mint infusions; Factory Smokes examples use Indonesian mixed fillers beneath Maduro or Habano wrappers. The Herrera Estelí H-Town Lancero combines a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Brazilian Mata Fina binder and Nicaraguan fillers.
Details
Things most people don't know
- Starting footprint
- John Drew started the company from a 16-square-foot stall at the World Trade Center.
- Ownership
- Swisher acquired Drew Estate Tobacco Company in 2014.
- Presidential return
- John Drew returned as Drew Estate president in 2016.
- Java collaboration
- Drew Estate makes the Java cigar line for Rocky Patel.
- Factory Smokes construction
- Documented Factory Smokes examples are hand rolled with Indonesian mixed fillers.
- Dominican expansion
- Drew Estate announced a Dominican factory and exclusive farm named Drew Dominicana.
In the humidor
Drew Estate up close
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