Drew EState New Nica rustica:

Drew Estate Unveils Nica Rustica Shade on Freestyle Live

During a recent episode of Freestyle Live, Drew Estate officially revealed the newest addition to its Nica Rustica portfolio: Nica Rustica Shade. This latest release brings a fresh take to the brand, offering a smoother, more accessible profile while maintaining the signature boldness fans expect.

The cigar features a shade-grown Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper, paired with a Mexican binder and a multinational filler blend from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Pennsylvania. According to Drew Estate’s brand director, An Phan, the profile falls into the mellow-to-medium strength category, making it approachable yet flavorful.

Master blender Willy Herrera described it as a unique departure from the company’s other Connecticut shade offerings. “It’s a great fit for the Nica Rustica lineup,” he said. “This cigar has enough depth for seasoned smokers but remains smooth enough for those who are just starting out.”

Though Nica Rustica Shade is expected to arrive at retailers in September, some enthusiasts have already had a sneak peek via unbanded samples included in Drew Estate’s Freestyle Live packs released in July. These early releases offered a mystery smoking experience, later revealed to be part of this new line.

While pricing and vitola details are still under wraps, brand manager Ian Blanken emphasized that the cigar will be “very approachable” in terms of cost.

This marks the third installment in the Nica Rustica series, which launched in 2013 with the original Broadleaf version. That cigar featured a U.S.-grown Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, a San Andrés binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. The series expanded in 2022 with the Nica Rustica Adobe, which introduced an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over a Brazilian binder and Nicaraguan filler blend.

With Nica Rustica Shade, Drew Estate continues to evolve the line—this time appealing to a wider range of palates while staying true to its rustic roots.