For Willy Herrera, his start with cigars came early in life at his family’s cigar making business in Miami, called El Titan de Bronze. There he learned to blend and roll cigars, eventually taking on limited projects for big name brands looking to produce a boutique run of a particular vitola. Jonathan Drew proposed that he keep doing that, although on a much larger scale, by creating his own lines at Drew Estate in Nicaragua.
Thus he became known as “Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera.”
In truth, however, it was only after his first blend was a success that he could really claim the title. In fact, it can take years to put together a truly worthwhile blend that’s enjoyable, but is also going to succeed with aficionados on the open market, where each stick has to compete with the best of the best to earn a place in our humidors.
When Willy first joined Drew Estate, he worked hard to make that dream a reality, taking home tons of experimental blends and ultimately filling up six humidors and a number of 120-quart coolers (much to his wife’s annoyance). The quest for a righteous blend knows no real bounds, and nothing less than excellence will do. The effort was well worth it, though, as the first release under the Herrera Estelí line for Drew Estate was a smash success. It pulled in a 94 rating and was named Cigar Aficionado’s #8 Cigar of the Year.
A star was reborn.
Willy brings in heavy Cuban influence when blending, so expect a cigar that calls to mind the big island that’s one of the beating hearts of the cigar world. He’s also a big eater and recommends that if you’re ever in Miami, you hit up El Exquisito and think about getting the Oxtail cooked with moro.
Your whole day, from meals to smokes, is all set with Willy. You’re in good hands.
Please browse our selection of Herrera Estelí cigars at your leisure.
