Drew Estate has announced that it has finally shipped the Pappy Van Winkle-branded cigars, but not before changing quite a few things. It starts with the name, now Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, changed from Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve from when the project was announced in November. Maybe. While the press release made no mention of “Family Reserve,” the boxes and other artwork keep it, along with the “Barrel Fermented Cigars” part. Whatever the reason, the name tweak is likely due to the fact that the blend has completely changed. In November, the company announced a cigar with an Ecuadorian habano wrapper and Nicaraguan fillers. When asked, a spokesperson told halfwheel that neither the cigar nor any of the tobacco in it was aged in barrels. Now, aging in barrels has become a central part of the company’s announcement of the new blend. The new cigar uses dual Mexican San Andrés and “tapa negra” wrappers over a blend of fire-cured Kentucky and Nicaraguan tobaccos. Jonathan Drew, co-founder of Drew Estate, explained to halfwheel that both the top leaf and the filler tobacco are grown in Hopkinsville, Ky. and smoked in barns for 14 days. A video on a Pappy Van Winkle Cigar website explains that ...
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