Blackened “M81” by Drew Estate is an intriguing project that brings together three exceptionally talented and passionate cigar enthusiasts: Jonathan Drew, founder and president of Drew Estate; James Hetfield, co-founder, singer, and guitarist of Metallica; and Rob Dietrich, master distiller of Blackened American Whiskey. The collaboration began with Hetfield and Dietrich, who often enjoy cigars together. Having been friends for nearly a decade, Dietrich and Drew had always wanted to combine their talents to create something special, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
The development of this project took approximately two years, with Drew Estate sending samples to Hetfield and Dietrich, who would smoke the cigars, take notes, and provide feedback to determine the exact flavor profile that eventually became the masterpiece—Blackened “M81.”
These cigars reveal layer after layer of the most exciting and mysterious characteristics of Maduro leaf. They feature a dark, oily Maduro wrapper grown in the rich volcanic soil of Mexico’s San Andrés Valley, a blend with a Maduro Broadleaf binder from Connecticut River Valley, and a filler composed of Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Maduro Broadleaf tobaccos, including the strong, nicotine-rich Ligero Broadleaf Green River One Sucker from Pennsylvania.
Maduro to its very core, Blackened “M81” by Drew Estate is dark, rich, and powerful, with enticing notes of espresso, leather, and dark chocolate.
The “M” in the name refers to the cigar’s wrapper (Maduro), and “81” is the year Metallica was formed.













