Cigar News: Drew Estate Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Arrives at Drew Diplomat Retailers

Drew Estate’s Pappy Van Winkle Tradition cigar, a limited production cigar that pays homage to Van Winkle family, has arrived at Drew Diplomat retailers. The Van Winkles are best known as owners of the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery and makers of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon and rye products.

The cigar also had a formal kickoff at today’s Drew Estate Kentucky Barn Smoker.

The Pappy Van Winkle Tradition is the second release under Drew Estate’s Pappy Van Winkle line. The first release, the Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Barrel Fermented, featured Kentucky Fire Cured barrel-fermented tobacco and was sold directly from Pappy & Co. The Tradition is a blend done by Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera and was actually developed prior to him officially joining Drew Estate. The blend was gifted to Julian Van Winkle, President of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery by Drew Estate co-founder Jonathan Drew.

The new Pappy Van Winkle Tradition is a more conventional blend featuring an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper, Indonesian binder, and a combination of aged fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

The Pappy Van Winkle Tradition has seven sizes. Four will be available to Drew Diplomat retailers in the following sizes: Coronita (4 x 46), Robusto Grande (5 1/2 x 54), Toro (6 x 50), and Belicoso Fino (5 x 50). In addition, a Churchill (7 x 48) size is being made available to Drew Diplomat Spirits Retailers.

There are also two “Not for Sale” sizes in the form of Lonsdale (6 1/2 x 44) and Corona (5 1/2 x 44). The Lonsdale will be an event-only cigar for Drew Diplomat Rewards Events in October, November and December 2017. The Corona will only be available personally from Jonathan Drew and Julian Van Winkle.

In the following video, Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera discusses the differences between the Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented and Pappy Van Winkle cigar.