Drew Estate: Bestseller
Drew Estate: All items
Drew Estate Cigars: A Dream Comes True…
This brand includes a wide range of series and blends, which would be too extensive to present here. That’s why you can find detailed information on the pages of each series. But who or what is actually behind Drew Estate? Two men, one dream – that’s how the success story of the American cigar brand Drew Estate began.
The two men are Jonathan Drew and Marvin Samel, and their dream was to own their own cigar factory called La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate. Unlike many other renowned cigar manufacturers, they couldn’t build on the legacy of their ancestors, nor did they come from Cuba. Their career began in a tiny 5 m² kiosk in the World Trade Center in New York City. One can easily imagine how arduous and difficult such a journey must have been. But their passion for cigars and for the country Nicaragua helped them fight their way through, step by step.
In the beginning, the situation was often tense, the risk high, and the two like-minded brothers had to endure many hardships. They recall that Jonathan Drew traveled to Estelí, Nicaragua, in late 1998—hoping for a rebirth in the cigar world. With only a handful of cigar rollers and very little startup capital, the "Crazy Gringo" started his journey there, trading his New York apartment for a mattress in the attic of the factory—without even knowing much Spanish!
A Cool Cigar Brand: The Rise of Drew Estate
Meanwhile, Marvin held the fort in Brooklyn, sitting in his makeshift office and trying to raise the necessary capital. He wrote, begged, and borrowed money from anyone willing to give them a chance—family, friends, and even some less-than-scrupulous characters.
In the spring of 1999, Jonathan returned to Brooklyn—carrying several promising blends for Drew Estate’s new cigar lines. These were spectacularly different from traditional blends, and they needed to be presented that way. Enter Scott "Acid" Chester, a trendy designer who also became the namesake of the new series: the Acid cigars were born. For this, high-quality tobacco was infused with aromatic essences—excuse me, “infused.” After their release, the U.S. cigar world was turned upside down.
Flavored Cigars
The counterpart to the flavored Acid series was introduced in 2000 with Natural by Drew Estate, marketed in Germany under the name Larutan. Even before Acid, there had been La Vieja Habana in 1998. However, production was temporarily halted due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua. In 2001, the brand made a stylish Art Deco comeback—another important milestone for Drew Estate. That same year, Forbes magazine named Drew Estate among the hottest brands, alongside Apple and Harley-Davidson! Over the years, more series followed, and in 2004, the company reached a turning point. It had grown significantly, leading to a move from cramped New York conditions to fun and sun in Miami. At the same time, a new man joined the team: Steve Saka. His mission was to take the company to the next level. Slowly, their original dream of owning their own factory began to take shape.
Drew Estate’s “La Gran Fabrica” – Investing in the Future
For nearly ten years, the old factory in Estelí had served as their home, producing several million cigars. But in 2006, they found a beautiful piece of land overlooking a valley and tobacco fields. They purchased it for their new factory, which was inaugurated in July 2007. It is one of the most impressive cigar factories in Central America, the largest in Nicaragua, and, at nearly 30,000 m², ranks among the five largest premium cigar factories in the world. Every day, 94,000 hand-rolled cigars are produced there!
A lot of attention was also given to the aesthetic appeal of La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate. Stunning architecture, an open and bright working environment, and hand-painted murals impress visitors. Jonathan Drew and Marvin Samel invite every aficionado to experience it firsthand, enjoy the unique atmosphere in the Grand Hall, and listen to the rhythmic clicking of the hundreds of chavetas (the half-moon knives used to cut wrapper leaves).
At a Glance: All Drew Estate Cigars
The Liga Privada series was originally developed as a private blend for Steve Saka, then CEO of Drew Estate. Liga Privada No. 9 and T52 are now among the most coveted cigars worldwide. With intense flavors of earth, leather, and coffee, they offer a powerful, complex smoking experience. Since they use rare tobaccos, they are strictly limited and available only in select stores.
As demand for Liga Privada grew, the torcedores sought a daily alternative. Thus, the Undercrown was born—a cigar with its own unique blend but similar character. The series includes several variations: the sweet and dark Undercrown Maduro, the spicy Undercrown Sun Grown, and the creamy, nutty Undercrown Shade.
