During their latest “Freestyle Live: Special Edition” broadcast, Drew Estate, joined by James Hetfield of Metallica and Rob Dietrich of BLACKENED American Whiskey, revealed that the mystery cigar in their latest Freestyle Live Event Packs was the all-new BLACKENED Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate.
BLACKENED Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate is a collaboration between Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate; James Hetfield, Metallica co-founder, singer and guitarist; and Rob Dietrich, the Master Distiller and Blender of BLACKENED American Whiskey. The collaboration began with Hetfield and Dietrich, who frequently enjoy cigars together.
It is really a fun social thing for me, a fellowship, to have a few buddies sit around with a few sticks. My buddy, Rob Dietrich, BLACKENED's Master Distiller, and I frequently enjoy cigars together and he introduced me to Jonathan from Drew Estate. The three of us connected and shared each other's vision and story about where we've been, what we like to see and what is important to us now, and we all came up with what a BLACKENED ‘M81' Cigar would look and taste like. I love the Maduro leaf and I'm super excited for everyone to try this.
James Hetfield
Dietrich and Drew have been friends for over a decade and always wanted to combine their talents to collaborate on something special, and this was the perfect opportunity. Drew Estate sent samples to Hetfield and Dietrich who kept cigar journals to critique the cigars and identify what they liked and disliked about each one. After two years of enjoying and sampling cigars together, the group decided on the exact flavor profile that would become BLACKENED Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate.
This was a project that was purely born from passion …for music, for fellowship, for life, and all the in-between moments within. James, Jonathan and I worked together to create what we feel like is the perfect cigar. The result is truly a monster of flavor—all-maduro, designed with definitive depth for darker and bolder palates.
Rob Dietrich
BLACKENED Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate focuses on Maduro leaves, starting with a thick and oily Maduro wrapper that's grown in the rich volcanic soil of Mexico's San Andres Valley. The blend includes a thick Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro binder and a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro tobaccos, including the boldest Pennsylvania Broadleaf ligero in Drew Estate's tobacco inventory.
Hetfield, Dietrich, and the DE team have dedicated an immense amount of time into this historic brand. BLACKENED Cigars ‘M81' by Drew Estate reveals layer-after-layer of Maduro's deepest, darkest, most magical, and mysterious character that narrates a defining story of just one thing … passion!!!
Jonathan Drew
The cigars come in copper-accented black 20-count boxes. BLACKENED Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate will be sold in four vitolas: Robusto (5 x 50) $9.45, Toro (6 x 52) $9.85, Corona Doble (7 x 50) $10.35, and Corona (5 x 43) $9.15. These will be available exclusively to Drew Diplomat Program participants beginning on Sept. 29.