The Smoking Syndicate: Drew Estate Blackened M81 Robusto

Drew Estate introduced the Blackened M81 cigar line last year which is a collaboration with Rob Dietrich, master distiller and blender of Blackened American Whiskey, Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate, and lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Metallica, James Hetfield. The cigar gets it name from the first track off Metallica’s ….And Justice for All album released in 1988 and M81 which M is for Metallica and their founding year of 1981. All three had a major hand in coming up with the blend of the Blackened cigar.

From Drew Estate about the collaboration:

Dietrich and Drew Estate President Jonathan Drew have been friends for many years. It was Dietrich who introduced Metallica lead singer James Hetfield to Drew. The idea was floated about creating a cigar brand. From there, the wheels were put in motion to create a cigar that shared the vision of the Blackened Brand. Drew provided cigars from the Drew Estate portfolio to sample and Hetfield and Dietrich kept cigar journals to critique the cigars and identify what they liked and disliked about each one. Eventually they were able to settle on the flavor profile which was the Blackened M81.

Rob Dietrich also blended the companion whiskey also called Blackened. Will Cooper also reviewed this cigar in the toro size earlier year and it made #21 on Coop’s Cigar of the Year list for 2023.

Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: San Andres Mexican
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Pennsylvania Broadleaf, Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
MSRP: $9.45
Cigars purchased at B & B Tobacconist in Asheville, NC

Final Score: 91