8 Best Drew Estate Cigars (All Budgets and Tastes)

Drew Estate cigars are all about making cigars feel relevant again. They bring unique and exciting twists to classic smokes – and they’re one of the most popular brands for younger, more adventurous cigar fans. 

A lot of flavored cigars can be a little gimmicky, but the best Drew Estate cigars offer something a little different without compromising on what makes cigars special: high-quality tobacco and a well-balanced flavor palate.

I’m a coffee addict, so my favorite Drew Estate cigars are the Java range. They beautifully pair espresso and cocoa notes in a rich Maduro wrapper for a lightly sweet stogie that feels like smoking a mocha.

If that sounds down your alley, you check out the Java Mint as well. It brings in a little bit of freshness to the coziness and is one of my go-to’s for an after-dinner treat. 

The most popular Drew Estate range is their Acid cigars. These sweet smokes are what really made Drew Estate blow up in the first place, and they’re a great pick for beginners looking for something tasty and accessible that’s still a proper cigar.

All of these stogies are reasonably priced, too. If you buy a box, they usually work out at between $5 and $8 per stick.

So, let’s get into it and work out which one is best for you.

Java – Best Drew Estate Cigar Overall

This collaboration between Acid Cigars and Rocky Patel delivers delicious coffee and chocolate flavor in a shimmering Maduro wrapper. It’s the perfect smoke for Gents who are looking for a natural-tasting flavored cigar that doesn’t compromise on its tobacco flavor.

• Best Price: Check Famous Smoke Shop Here

Javas have a great ratio of binder to filler, meaning the flavored notes offer just enough while still allowing the true taste of the Nicaraguan wrapper to shine.

It doesn’t taste artificial at all – this stick smokes like a premium mild-bodied cigar with the aftertaste of a mocha coffee in your mouth. The coffee and cocoa notes aren’t overpowering or in your face like some other flavored cigars can be

Javas pairs very nicely with a neat bourbon, too. The light sweetness in the Maduro wrapper balances out the stiffness of the whiskey perfectly. You’ll struggle to spend an hour more pleasantly than you would with this pairing.

This isn’t the sort of cigar that’s going to blow anyone’s head off, and it’s a permanent fixture in my humidor for moments I want to share a mild smoke with a rookie. Even my wife, who doesn’t smoke, enjoys a Java with me on an evening with a nightcap. 

Strength	Medium
Shape	Corona
Size	5 x 42
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Flavor	Coffee
Wrapper Origin	Brazilian
Wrapper Leaf	Mata Fina

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Acid Blondie Cigar – Best Drew Estate Cigar for Beginners

They say blondes have more fun, and you’ll find that to be true with the Acid Blondie if you prefer lighter tobacco blends.

• Best Price: Check Famous Smoke Shop Here

This one is pretty sweet due to the sugar syrup gum that holds the cigar together. With most flavored cigars the sweetness tends to fade as you smoke, but it’s consistent throughout the Blondie.

It’s more floral and gourmand than most of the smokes on this list – think Palma Violet candies and you won’t be far wrong.

The lighter tobacco blend makes the blondie ideal for newer smokers who find other cigars too harsh.

If you’re looking for something light, fun, and accessible, you won’t be disappointed. 

Strength	Medium
Shape	Corona
Size	4 x 38
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Natural
Flavor	Infused
Wrapper Origin	Connecticut
Wrapper Leaf	Cameroon

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Acid Kuba Kuba – Another Popular Sweet Acid Pick

A creamy sweetness that delights (but never overpowers), with excellent build quality and a consistent draw throughout the whole smoke.

• Best Price: Check Famous Smoke Shop Here

The Kuba Kuba is a little larger than the Blondie, so better for you if you’re looking for a longer session with the boys. 

The idiosyncratic sweetness is still there, but this time it’s a little creamier – not dissimilar to a shot of Bailey’s liquor. Again, the sweetness serves as a complement to the rich tobacco notes, rather than as a substitute to mask the flavor. 

The smoke experience is, as I’ve come to expect across the range, stellar. The draw is noticeably consistent, with zero relighting required.

• Check out our full guide on the best sweet cigars for more.

Strength	Mellow
Shape	Robusto
Size	5 x 54
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Natural
Flavor	Infused
Wrapper Origin	Indonesian
Wrapper Leaf	Sumatra

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Fat Bottom Betty – Best Drew Estate Cigar for Something More Serious

The Fat Bottom Betty is a great pick for smokers looking to graduate to something a little more complex. The sweetened tip will divide opinion, but this is a top-tier smoke that ebbs and evolves throughout the 45-minute session.

• Best Price: Check Famous Smoke Shop Here

They’re also chunky. Each cigar comes in at 5” and weighs 54 grams, so the fat bottom reputation certainly isn’t plucked out of thin air.

The Connecticut Maduro leaf wrapper is a beautiful dark brown tone. It’s sleek and smooth, harboring the oils from the tobacco leaf which lend a sheen to the exterior.

When you put a Fat Bottom Betty to your lips, you’ll get a sense of what it’s all about – before you even light it. They use a characteristic sweetened tip, similar to the one Drew Estate use in their Acid line. 

The tip had basically worn off by the time I was a third of the way through the cigar. The blend itself is incredibly warm and creamy, with notes of coffee and earthiness interspersed with dark chocolate sweetness. It’s wonderfully balanced with touches of incense and florals that add some sophisticated nuance

Nicaraguan pepper and nutmeg emerge towards the end of the smoke, for a spiced final act that newcomers and veterans alike will appreciate.

Strength	Mellow
Shape	Robusto
Size	5 x 54
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Flavor	Infused
Wrapper Origin	Connecticut
Wrapper Leaf	Broadleaf

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Java Mint – Best Drew Estate Cigar for Winding Down

This is my go-to smoke for after a meal when you want something dessert-like without cheating on your diet.

• Best Price: Check Famous Smoke Shop Here

Java Mints take the same chocolate-mocha flavor of the original Java smokes, but with a twist of refreshing spearmint. They remind me a little of After Eight chocolates – a little treat that still feels classy.

When you put this stogie to your lips you’ll notice a subtle sweetness, but I found it to be way lighter than I expected. This is not a sickly sweet smoke at all; just enough to round out the tobacco and make this an easy blend for everyone to enjoy. 

These long-filler stogies are beautifully constructed, with a great even draw that delivers a velvety body of fragrant smoke. I usually get people telling me Java Mints smell nice, even from people who don’t smoke at all.

So if you’re looking for a light, minty treat that you can share with friends, this is the smoke for you.

Strength	Medium
Shape	Robusto
Size	5 1/2 x 50
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Flavor	Coffee
Wrapper Origin	Brazilian
Wrapper Leaf	Mata Fina

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Drew Estate Tabak Especial – Another Great Coffee Flavored Drew Estate Cigar

Another coffee-infused cigar, but this time without the chocolate dimension. This is pure espresso-y goodness resting on a bed of Sumatra and Nicaraguan smoky goddess.

• Best Price: Check Famous Smoke Shop Here

This is the sort of stogie that makes you think you’re smoking a cup of coffee. They’re perfect for the morning as you’re waking up and plotting your day.

Tabaks come with a choice of two wrappers, depending on what sort of strength/sweetness you’re looking for:

• Negra: A darker Maduro wrapper that is rich and slightly sweet. Better for when you have time to sit and enjoy the decadence. Full-bodied.

• Dulce: A bronze Connecticut wrapper for a smoother, more mild smoke. More appropriate for beginners who are looking for something uncomplicated. Medium-bodied.

Both skins undergo a delicate aging process to bring the very best out of the tobacco and are identically packed with coffee-infused filler. I wouldn’t put either variant above the other in terms of quality – it’s just a question of personal preference.

Both are perfect as daily smokes that bring awesome flavor at a good price. The famous Drew Estate sweep cap grabs your attention from the second it touches your lips and adds just the right amount of sweetness to the dominant coffee accord.

They last for between 20 and 30 minutes, which makes them a great on-the-go option. A cool, easy draw that never gets hot or prickly – even down to the nub.

I also really appreciate the two-way humidity packages these arrived with. They felt factory fresh, and it means you can store these stogies without a humidor for at least a couple of months.

The only downside is that these smokes only come in packs of 10 – so you’ll have to buy a couple at a time because you will get through them.

Strength	Medium
Shape	Robusto
Size	5 x 54
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Natural
Flavor	Coffee
Wrapper Origin	Connecticut
Wrapper Leaf	Connecticut Shade

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Factory Smokes Maduro Robusto – Best Maduro Drew Estate Cigar

This is an excellent Maduro for the price. This Nicaraguan treat delivers shades of cocoa and suede in a medium-bodied blend, with just a hint of sweetness to mellow things out.

• Best Price: Check Famous Smoke Shop Here

It burns with a beautiful aroma that even non-smokers seem to enjoy, too.

The guys at Drew Estate know how to make expertly constructed budget cigars, and the construction and burn here are familiarly impeccable. To the draw, this thing feels like something from Padron or Davidoff.

There are obviously better Maduros out there – but for the price, this is a five-star cigar. Shockingly good.

I only have one complaint – I’ve found that one or two of these have had a tight draw as a fluke. Nothing a little fit of finger rolling doesn’t fix, though.

• Check out our full guide on the best Maduro cigars for more.

Strength	Full
Shape	Gordo
Size	6 x 60
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Proprietary
Wrapper Leaf	Maduro

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Kentucky Fired Cured Sweet Fat Molly – Best Smoky-Sweet Drew Estate Cigar

This smoky-sweet stogie reminds me of sitting around a campfire with my buddies. The fire-cured tobacco brings notes of cocoa and pepper for a unique, tangy flavor that pairs perfectly with whiskey or bourbon.

• Best Price: Check Famous Smoke Shop Here

For a niche stick, the construction here is on point. Kentucky Fire Cured gives me the perfect burn every time I light up, with sturdy white ash that lasts for at least a couple of inches.

It’s a perfect after-dinner smoke when I don’t fancy dessert but still want a sweet treat in the evening.

The sweetness comes from a tip that stays consistent throughout the whole smoke. It’s just light enough to cut through the smokiness, without overpowering or tasting too artificial.

• Check out our full guide on the best sweet cigars for more.

Strength	Medium
Shape	Double Robusto
Size	5 x 56
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Flavor	Sweet Tip
Wrapper Origin	Mexican
Wrapper Leaf	San Andres

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What You Should Know About the Best Drew Estate Cigars

Where are Drew Estate Cigars Made?

Drew Estate CIgars are made in the La Gran Fabrica factory in Nicaragua. 

Founder Jonathan Drew moved to Nicaragua in 1998 with a dream of revolutionizing the cigar industry.

He went from a New York City apartment to sleeping on the floor in a cigar factory, without knowing a lick of Spanish, and spent the next couple of years learning everything he could about crafting beautiful stogies.

Nowadays, the Drew Estate factory is one of the largest in the world, with the capacity for aficionados to visit, take tours and participate in smoking sessions.

Who Owns Drew Estate Cigars?

Drew Estate got bought out by Swisher back in 2014, but they’re still keeping a hold of the unique identity and mold-breaking smokes.

Since the deal, Drew Estate has been able to take advantage of the economies of scale to become even more popular in the US, popping up in more stores every year as they continue to disrupt the industry.

What’s the Best Place to Buy Drew Estate Cigars

It’s hard to believe with over 17 million cigar smokers just in the US that there are little more than a dozen credible places to buy cigars online. Now of course there are small shops all over that sell online cigars, but just don’t come up on any broad google search.

Most will let you down somewhere – if they have good shipping, they’re expensive. If they’re the right price, you’ll lack a proper guarantee.

My favorite online cigar store – Famous Smoke Shop – strikes a great balance, and most importantly – they’re reliable.

There’s nothing worse than your cigars arriving late, not showing up at all, or receiving dried-out stogies in terrible condition.

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