M81 Blackened by Drew Estate Cigar
This is a full-bodied, rich premium cigar made as a collaboration between Drew Estate founder Jonathan Drew, Metallica’s James Hetfield, and BLACKENED American Whiskey master distiller Rob Dietrich. It’s built around dark maduro leaves for maximum strength and flavor.
Blend and construction
• Wrapped in a Mexican San Andrés maduro, known for deep, oily earthiness.
• Binder is Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf maduro.
• Filler is a mix of Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro tobaccos — including some of the boldest ligero leaves around.
Flavor and body
• Medium-full to full strength smoke.
• Notes of dark chocolate, espresso, leather, earth, pepper and toast are common.
• The blend is described as intense, dark, rich, and balanced for experienced smokers.
Sizes
• Multiple formats including Corona, Robusto, Toro, Corona Doble, and sometimes Flying Pig or Perfecto shapes in special releases.
Ratings and reception
• Has received high scores from reviewers, including in the low-to-mid 90s from cigar rating publications.
Background
• M81’s name nods to Metallica’s founding year, 1981, and grew out of years of sampling and testing by the trio who helped create it.
People who enjoy bold maduros or strong flavor profiles often pair this with whiskey, dark beer, coffee, or similar drinks. Some smokers find it excellent, others feel it’s strong or uneven, but it’s widely recognized and talked about among premium cigar enthusiasts.
