Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigar
(Photo Credit: Drew Estate Tobacco Company)

A little over five months ago, Drew Estate announced a partnership with Pappy & Company to produce a small batch cigar to be sold exclusively by Pappy & Co.  The cigar was designed to be “the perfect choice for pairing with any of the Van Winkle bourbon and rye products. Today, the company announced the availability of this cigar, but not without some significant changes since it was initially announced.

Originally the company announced the cigar would be an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan tobaccos.  The company has now incorporated some of its Kentucky grown Fire-Cured tobacco that has been fire-cured, then barrel fermented.  Drew Estate is now emphasizing more of the barrel fermentation component of the blend.  The cigar is being produced at Drew Estate’s La Gran Fabrica factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. A press release described the blend as follows:

This historic cigar features Kentucky seed, Kentucky grown tobacco that was fire cured and then barrel fermented. The blend includes a barrel fermented “tapa negra”-style wrapper over a Mexican San Andres base wrapper, as well as aged Nicaraguan filler tobaccos.

In the same press release, Drew Estate President Michael Cellucci commented on the final blend, “It took numerous iterations for us to be satisfied with the final blend. We are excited to bring the Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented cigar to market with the barrel fermented wrapper, something that has never been featured on a premium cigar in this way. We think everyone who smokes this blend will be as excited as we are about it.”

Drew Estate Founder Jonathan Drew also commented, “our relationship with the Van Winkle family has significant meaning to the Drew Estate legacy. Anyone who knows me, knows JD loves brown spirits, so when we received the opportunity to work with the legendary Van Winkle family, I was truly inspired. We can’t wait to share this important premium tobacco expression, the best of both worlds.”

The sizes and pricing remain the same as initially announced. The cigars are available in ten count boxes in a 5 1/4 x 52 Robusto ($130.00 per box) and 6 x 54 Toro ($150.00 per box).

The name of the cigar has slightly changed as well.  It is being called Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigar as opposed to Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve.