Blackened

by Drew Estate

Iconic, industry-defining creatives. Boundary-pushing mentalities. A tobacco brand that needs no introduction. Combine these together and you get a cigar that doesn’t just sell itself, it brings a legion of loyal fans with it. The Blackened line by Drew Estate is far more than a celebrity collaboration. James Hetfield, the legendary lead singer of Metallica and Rob Dietrich, the Master Distiller and Blender of BLACKENED American Whiskey, kept a record lasting more than two years journaling their tobacco explorations as they sampled countless varietals sent to them by Jonathan Drew, the founder and president of Drew Estate. Through this incredibly intricate process, the trio formulated a cigar that Dietrich says is meant to be shared while enjoying music, fellowship, and the little moments of life worthy of celebration. To understand this cigar’s profile, one must first understand each co-collaborator, their background and what they bring to the table. Hetfield co-founded one of the world’s most recognizable bands, Metallica, and for decades has produced some of the most memorable, arena-rocking music known to mankind resulting in more than 100 major music awards and 10 platinum records. Dietrich, a former roadie and veteran of U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, is known for and has been creating some of the most unique flavor combinations in the spirit industry, most notably BLACKENED Whiskey. This includes a trademarked process called Black Noise, a sonic enhancer that uses low hertz sound waves aiding the whiskey to draw more flavors from inside the barrel. Last but not certainly not least, Drew, president and co-founder of Drew Estate with can-do attitude whose accolades include market disrupter and 2021 recipient of Tobacco Business’s Legacy Award is by no way an oversight. So, it’s no coincidence that when they signed off on a cigar that bears their name, it’s going to garner massive attention. This line features an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper and some of the boldest, most complex tobacco in the Drew inventory harvested from Nicaragua. Smokers can expect a beautiful combination of cocoa, leather and espresso, which reverberates throughout the cigar’s lifespan. While it may primarily catch the attention of Metallica’s devoted fanbase, this is a cigar for any afficionado who enjoys the darker and bolder ends of the flavor spectrum. Shop Santa Clara and discover all the intimate details that have gone into making this collection unforgettable, right down to the box. The signage for this release calls on the mysterious, hand-stitched font that accompanies much of Metallica’s album artwork in a beautiful copper color against black packaging. Hetfield calls the cigar “unapologetic,” which may be the absolute best reason to run out and buy them now. It is a pure expression of truly creative minds who aren’t worried about conforming to the industry’s expectations.