Metro Cigar News Fall 1999

A.C.I.D. & Drew Estate take New York

Industrial Design Artist A.C.I.D. Scott Chester brings new,
innovative ideas to the world of motorcycle design,
photography and cigars.
A.C.I.D. has gotten a pretty bad rap over the years. In the movies it's something used to get rid of bodies; gangsters threw it in the faces of their enemies; and during the psychedelic years it transported users to another planet.

But not any more.
If you hurry out to your local cigar purveyor you might be able to find one in his humidor. But "hurry" is the active word in this case.

The new line of cigars by Drew Estates, A.C.I.D., has been introduced to critical review by the professionals and those who plunk down their green for a good smoke. As a result, they have been in short supply as of yet.

"I like the Japanese because they
have always had a high appreciation
for art," he says.

Left to Right: Ashman Walcott, Marvin Samel, Barbara Thorson, MCN, and A.C.I.D. Scott Chester
But good news is on the horizon; an ample supply is on the way up from Nicaragua.

Perhaps the reason ACID has hit the market like fireworks at a Fourth of July celebration is the eclectic combination of people behind it.

The genesis behind the name is more gentle that it might imply. Here's how it all began.

Scott Chester, an innovative designer, had named his company after his daughter, Arielle Chester Industrial Design (A.C.I.D.). Now everyone knows that she's really hot stuff. The name ACID also stuck as a nickname for Scott.

Marvin Samel, Co-Founder and Executive V.P. of Drew Estates

Scott, a graduate of the High School of Art & Design in New York, the Center for Creative Studies, also holds a degree in automotive design from the College of Art Design.

While participating in a program entitled City as Schools, Chester began working for another agency, where it was he who actually designed the Tic-Tac display seen on so many store counters.

Chester began to design and paint motorcycles, working primarily with Japanese bikes. "I like the Japanese because they have always had a high appreciation for art," he says.

His intricate designs on motorcycles have become popular for many upscale owners who appreciate A.C.I.D.'s art, including famed clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger, who has it displayed in the window of Bloomingdale's in Manhattan.

One client desired the motorcycle's gas tank look like a rear view of a woman's torso (complete with a pair of real panties).

He has also designed motorcycles for (what he calls is "soda series") Welch's Grape Soda, Mountain Dew, Sprite and Dr. Pepper, as well as Heineken, Coors Light and Sunoco.

Although the average motorcycles takes about five weeks to complete, he's got a six-month waiting period for new orders.

In addition to the many talents A.C.I.D. has acquired, he will be designing his own line of motorcycle gear and clothing, and of course will be the namesake for the new line of cigars developed by Drew Estate.

Ashman Walcott, A.C.I.D. design artist & photographer

He eschewed the artsy climes of The Village, SOHO and NOHO for the up and coming ambiance of DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass), with its new community of artists, designers and cobblestone roads. And, oh yes, the killer view of the waterfront, and Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, and the city skyline lit up at night. Chester is one of the first to set up shop in the area, almost 6 years ago. The area is being reconstructed almost brick by brick, and the neighborhood is on the rise not only for art-related hopefuls but well known artists such as Kenneth Cole as well.

But more talent was on the horizon. A.C.I.D. took his motorcycle with a design patterned after "Chucky," the devilish little doll of horror movie fame, into a bike shop where he met Ashman Walcott.

"I saw that paint job and started saving my lunch money," Ashman laughed.

He had been dividing his time between Brooklyn and Kingston, Jamaica, where he was born. He attended Parsons School of Design and earned a degree in commercial photography before teaming up with Chester. He now does graphic design, photography and marketing for A.C.I.D.

Both were amused to later learn that they had gone to the same public school in Brooklyn.

Sitting in an outdoor café about a block from the studio, watching the passing parade of vehicles, was almost the same as a live commercial for A.C.I.D.'s motorcycle creations. Literally one motorcycle after another passed by wearing his designs and logo.

Coincidentally, in the same DUMBO building, upstairs from Scott's studio, was the office of Drew Estate Cigars partners Jonathan Sann and Marvin Samel.

Jonathan, who lives in Nicaragua for 6 months and Manhattan for the other six, is president and co-founder of Drew Estates. He has a long history in the cigar business (Jonathan Drew). He is the former owner of a shop at the top of the World Trade Center. He is the creator and master blender for the fast-growing La Vieja Habana ("the old Habana") line, produced by Nick's (Nick Perdomo) Cigar Co.

To oversee production for Drew Estates, Jonathan has a home in Nicaragua near the factory in Esteli and he has the responsibility for all overseas operations.

Marvin, who is in charge of all national sales, is executive vice president with added responsibility for the day-to-day operations in Manhattan.

An A.C.I.D. creation parked in front of Brooklyn café (for the record... owned by a female!)

Jonathan and Marvin were in the process of developing their new line, studying herbal aromatics when they developed a cigar similar to that of Lars Tetens, but one that they were able to retail for only a quarter of the price.

A.C.I.D. and Drew Estates had been co-existing in the same building for a while and Scott, Marvin and Jonathan had gotten to know each other. They'd often sit in each other's office for a quiet and relaxing smoke to let the day's pressures drift away.

Scott, an avid extremist, had just returned from a trip to Brazil and was recounting a near-death experience he had, to Jonathan and Marvin. He was surfing a remote beach and was taken down by a huge wave. The surfboard came around and smacked Scott in the head, disorienting him.

He thought he would never make it through, but he was saved by a passerby. Then and there he decided that life was too short and that he would do everything he had wanted to, but never had time for. He would live for the day and enjoy life.

As they were listening to Scott's experience in Brazil, the idea of bringing in Scott to represent the A.C.I.D. line of cigars as their symbolic figure, if you will, came to be.

The melding of the disparate talents and personalities meshed well and the young men formulated the new line.

The executive staff at Drew Estates has been drawn from a small circle of friends. Michael Hyatt, who is vice president of Logistics and Operations, is the bean counter who handles all the books and supervises the complicated shipping schedule. Jonathan, Marvin and Michael happened to be fraternity brothers in college.

Brian Jones, A.C.I.D. Assistant

There are others who were not joined at the hip with the trio but who are, nonetheless, important cogs in the Drew Estate/A.C.I.D. picture.

Owen Rothstein is vice president in charge of marketing and public relations while David Donato, the horticulture expert, met Jonathan and Marvin at Three Little Indians Cigar store. They not only shared a love of cigars, but also a love of The Knicks, where they became friendly while attending games together. David Chavis is the inside man with responsibility for sales, quality control and works with the sales representatives and Brian Jones holds down the fort as A.C.I.D.'s assistant.

The combination of these abilities and talents shows through in their commitment to work and making a success of Drew Estates and A.C.I.D. cigars. The well spoken, educated partners are frequently found in their offices quite late at night working on current projects.

When ever possible, they'll take a break and trek up to the building's roof simply to drink in the view and marvel at the spectacular city skyline.

Look up next time you pass through DUMBO and you might spot a wisp of smoke curling skyward from the roof a building filled with diversity and talent.

Check out Drew Estates & A.C.I.D.'s Websites at:
www.drewestates.com
www.acidnyc.com

Barbara Thorson
Publisher