Drew Estate began in 1996 in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, when founder Jonathan Drew started selling cigars from a small kiosk. What began as a modest operation eventually grew into one of the most recognizable names in the cigar industry.
Today, the company operates La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua, producing a wide range of blends that helped reshape modern cigar culture. From traditional Nicaraguan profiles to infused cigars that introduced new audiences to premium tobacco, Drew Estate built its reputation on bold ideas and creative blending.
The portfolio now includes everything from ultra-premium Liga Privada cigars to fan favorites like ACID, Tabak Especial, and Herrera Estelí. Variety is part of what makes the brand so interesting. Some smokers reach for rich, full-bodied Nicaraguan blends, while others prefer something aromatic or mellow.
The cigars below highlight several standout blends from across the Drew Estate lineup, offering a look at the creativity and range that helped make the company so influential.
1. Liga Privada by Drew Estate No. 9 Robusto
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Robusto
Size: 5 x 54
Strength: Full
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Maduro
Binder/Filler: Brazilian Mata Fina / Honduras, Nicaragua
Wrapper Type: Connecticut Broadleaf
The Liga Privada No. 9 helped establish Drew Estate as a serious player in the premium cigar marketplace. Originally blended for company executives, the cigar quickly gained a reputation among smokers once it reached the public.
A dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper surrounds a Brazilian binder and a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers. The Robusto opens with dense smoke and bold notes of espresso, dark chocolate, and earth, with black pepper adding depth.
Full-bodied and rich, the No. 9 remains one of Drew Estate’s most respected cigars and a benchmark for modern maduro blends. Drew Estate recommends pairing with root beer or aged bourbon.
2. Herrera Esteli Habano Toro Especial
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Toro
Size: 6 x 52
Strength: Medium - Full
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Colorado
Binder/Filler: Nicaragua / Nicaragua
Wrapper Type: Ecuadorian Habano
The Herrera Estelí Habano marked Willy Herrera’s first major release after joining Drew Estate, and it quickly became one of the company’s most respected traditional blends.
An Ecuadorian Habano wrapper surrounds Nicaraguan binder and fillers grown on farms known for producing flavorful tobacco. The Toro Especial opens with cedar and light pepper before settling into notes of roasted nuts and baking spice.
Medium to full in strength, it carries the kind of refined profile many smokers reach for when they want plenty of flavor without overwhelming intensity.
3. Acid Kuba Kuba Robusto
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Robusto
Size: 5 x 54
Strength: Mild - Medium
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Colorado Claro
Binder/Filler: Nicaragua / Nicaragua
Wrapper Type: Indonesian Sumatra
Few cigars are as recognizable as the ACID Kuba Kuba. Drew Estate helped popularize infused cigars with the ACID line, and this cigar remains the flagship.
An Indonesian Sumatra wrapper surrounds Nicaraguan fillers that are infused with botanical oils and herbs, creating an aromatic smoke unlike most traditional cigars. Sweet floral notes, vanilla, and exotic spice dominate the profile, while the wrapper adds a touch of natural tobacco sweetness.
Even smokers who typically prefer traditional cigars often keep a few Kuba Kubas in the humidor for something different.
4. Tabak Especial Corona Dulce
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Corona
Size: 4 3/4 x 46
Strength: Mild - Medium
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Colorado Claro
Binder/Filler: Nicaragua / Nicaragua
Wrapper Type: Connecticut Shade
Tabak Especial grew out of Jonathan Drew’s fascination with the coffee culture of northern Nicaragua. After moving to Estelí in the late 1990s, visits to coffee farms throughout the Segovia region inspired the idea of bringing premium tobacco and Nicaraguan coffee together in a single cigar.
A silky Connecticut Shade wrapper surrounds Nicaraguan binder and fillers infused with rich coffee flavor. The Corona Dulce releases aromas of espresso, cocoa, and cream as soon as it is lit.
Smooth and mellow, it delivers a dessert-like profile that pairs naturally with a morning coffee or an after-dinner drink.
5. Drew Estate Chateau Real Gran Templar
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Toro
Size: 6 x 50
Strength: Mild - Medium
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Claro
Binder/Filler: Nicaragua / Nicaragua
Wrapper Type: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Chateau Real represents Drew Estate’s take on a more traditional cigar style. The blend focuses on balance and smoothness over sheer strength.
An Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper covers a Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The Gran Templar produces notes of cedar, toasted nuts, and light spice with a creamy texture.
Mild to medium in strength, it offers an easygoing smoke that works well earlier in the day but still holds its own in the evening.
6. Liga Undercrown Connecticut Shade Gran Toro
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Toro
Size: 6 x 52
Strength: Medium
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Colorado Claro
Binder/Filler: Sumatra / Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Wrapper Type: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
The Undercrown Shade introduced a lighter direction for the Undercrown line, which first gained attention with the darker, fuller-bodied Undercrown Maduro. Blended by Willy Herrera, the Shade version offers a Connecticut wrapped profile while still delivering the flavor smokers expect from Drew Estate.
An Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper surrounds a Sumatra binder and a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. The Gran Toro produces notes of cream, vanilla, caramel, and gentle pepper with a smooth, steady burn.
Balanced and approachable, it’s the kind of cigar many smokers reach for when they want something mellow that still carries plenty of character.
Drew Estate's Influence
Drew Estate built its reputation by pushing the cigar world in new directions. The cigars on this list highlight just a small part of that influence, offering a glimpse of the creativity and range behind many great blends.
About the Author:
The Atlantic Cigar Staff is a team of seasoned cigar aficionados with over 25 years of experience. As part of the Atlantic Cigar family for decades, our team lives and breathes premium cigars.
We keep a close eye on what our customers are buying, reordering, and raving about. The data tells us a lot about which cigars truly stand out. Then we smoke them ourselves to see how they stack up. Every recommendation comes from a mix of real customer insights and first-hand experience.
Between decades in the industry and plenty of time spent with a lit cigar in hand, our team shares honest opinions to help both seasoned smokers and curious newcomers discover something worth adding to the humidor.