By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- Expansion move: Drew Estate launches “Drew Dominicana” with a farm and a 73,000-square-foot factory
- Supply strategy: Project adds proprietary Dominican tobacco to the company’s sourcing mix
- Timeline: Facility expected to go online in early 2027
Drew Estate is planting a new flag in the Dominican Republic, marking one of the company’s most significant expansions.
Long tied to Nicaragua, where its Estelà factory anchors its operations, the company announced plans to develop a new 73,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the Dominican Republic alongside a new tobacco farm in Villa Gonzalez, with both operating under the banner “Drew Dominicana.”
“Everything changes today,” said Jonathan Drew Sann, co-founder and president of Drew Estate. “Nicaragua will forever be our homebase – but today, with us planting our official flag in the Dominican Republic – we are on to something very big, purposeful, and powerful.”
The Dominican Republic is the world’s largest exporter of premium cigars, supported by a well-established infrastructure for tobacco cultivation, fermentation, and manufacturing. By establishing its own farm and factory, Drew Estate is positioning itself to gain greater control over tobacco sourcing while tapping into the country’s distinct leaf profiles, according to halfwheel.
“This project represents years of work behind the scenes,” said Maarten Van der Linden, the company’s head of tobacco procurement. “Dominican tobacco has incredible depth and character, but only when you invest properly. We’re working with the best professionals to develop truly exceptional tobacco.”
The agricultural operation will be led by Manuel Peralta, a veteran best known for his decades of work in Davidoff’s Dominican operations.
Drew Estate said the broader Drew Dominicana project will serve as a hub not only for tobacco cultivation and cigar production but also for consumer-facing experiences—an increasingly important component of premium cigar branding.
The company has already begun integrating Dominican tobacco into its portfolio. Recent and upcoming blends—including Deadwood Dominicana, Dominicana Buenas Noches and Undercrown El Tigre Dominicano—feature Dominican leaf, with plans to eventually transition production of those lines to the new facility.
Leadership framed the expansion as a milestone moment. “There have been so many important developments throughout my 10 years as CEO… but this is certainly one of the most exciting,” said Glenn Wolfson. “Every department… has been working to drive this project forward.”
While Drew Estate built its identity around Nicaragua—particularly its EstelĂ-based production and distinctive branding—the addition of Dominican operations signals a broader evolution.
“We are meeting a moment of evolution, head-on… as we embrace a new season of learning and organizational growth,” JD Sann said, adding that the company’s culture will now include “a vibrant, additional layer of Dominican influence.”
The facility is expected to open in early 2027, though an exact timeline has not been finalized.
