Blackened Cigars is a relatively new premium cigar brand, created as a collaboration between Drew Estate—a renowned cigar manufacturer—and Blackened American Whiskey, a company co-founded by Metallica’s lead guitarist, James Hetfield, and master distiller Rob Dietrich.
The cigars are part of a crossover effort between the worlds of cigars, whiskey, and music, blending passion from each area to create a unique smoking experience.
The first release, the Blackened M81 Maduro by Drew Estate, made its debut in 2022. The “M81” refers to Metallica’s founding year (1981), while the Maduro name highlights the cigar’s dark and oily wrapper.
This cigar is entirely made from Maduro tobacco, including the wrapper, binder, and filler, delivering a deep, rich smoking experience.
The blend is composed of a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, a Broadleaf binder, and Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf fillers. Flavor-wise, Blackened cigars are known for their bold, robust profiles, offering notes of espresso, dark chocolate, leather, and earthy spices.
The combination of Drew Estate’s craftsmanship and Hetfield’s creative input ensures the cigars cater to both hardcore cigar aficionados and Metallica fans alike. The brand reflects a synergy between music and cigars, with each smoke intended to evoke the powerful, dark, and complex essence of Metallica’s music.
Blackened cigars are marketed as a premium offering, designed for those who appreciate full-bodied cigars with a depth of flavor and richness. As part of Drew Estate’s portfolio, the construction and quality are typically top-tier, following the company’s high standards.
Asia Marketing Services represents Drew Estate in Asia.
