Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Toro by Drew Estate

The boys at Drew Estate have done it once again. This ultra-premium smoke you have in your shipment today was made in collaboration with Drew Estate and the Van Winkle family. Julian Van Winkle, the President of the coveted Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, recalls how the cigar came to fruition: “I was invited to Cigar Aficionado’s A Night to Remember by Jonathan Drew in 2016 and was presented with a wooden box of cigars with white bands that read, Exclusively for my friend Julian by Willy Herrera-Sincerely, Jonathan Drew. I loved this blend because of its balance. Shortly thereafter, my family and I visited La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Nicaragua where I smoked the same blend most of the trip. By the end, I knew that this would be the Pappy Van Winkle “Tradition”.”

This smoke starts with a premium blend of extensively aged fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, which is hugged by an Indonesian binder and a gorgeous, thick and oily Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper. Medium to full-bodied, expect a rich and spicy blast upfront that unfolds to make way for balanced notes of almonds, wood, and fresh coffee bean, with a hint of a caramel finish. Bold, balanced, and rich, try pairing it with your favorite Pappy Van Winkle whiskey or another whiskey, such as Angel’s Envy.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.