The newest addition to the Drew Estate portfolio is the Blackened “S84 Shade To Black”. The name “84” is a nod to Metallica’s 2nd album, Ride the Lightning, which was released in 1984. The “S” represents Shade. The name “Shade to Black” is an obvious nod to the song Fade to Black on that second album which also was the first power ballad by Metallica.
Following the resounding success of Drew Estate’s partnership with BLACKENED Whiskey on BLACKENED Cigars “M81 Maduro to the Core” in 2022, Drew Estate has announced the new, Connecticut Shade wrapped brand release and shipping of BLACKENED “S84 Shade to Black.” The cigars are a passion project between Rob Dietrich, the Master Distiller & Blender of BLACKENED Whiskey; James Hetfield, Metallica co-founder, singer and guitarist; and Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate.
Hetfield and Dietrich worked closely with Drew, a friend of Dietrich’s for over a decade, to create the perfect blend for the cigar. The “BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black” takes aficionados on a nuanced journey with its deliciously smooth and inviting blend.
James Hetfield of Metallica shared his excitement stating,
“‘Shade to Black’ is more than just a cigar for us, it’s a celebration of passion and a tribute to the craftsman who strives for excellence in their lives.”
Echoing this sentiment, Rob Dietrich, Master Distiller and Blender of BLACKENED Whiskey, added,
“This collaboration of artistry just keeps kicking the door in on innovation! The ‘S84 Shade to Black’ is a powerhouse of a cigar, and there are times where vision and reality not only coexist, but thrive to excel and change the very landscape of an industry. This is that kind of cigar! It is a flavorful tango of the palate, balancing the easy taste of the Connecticut Shade wrapper with the rich maduro of the binder and filler. I couldn’t be more honored to work with such like-minded creators, and I think once the world has tasted this epic cigar, people will agree that there is a dynamic new player in the Blackened Drew Estate line-up!”
Wrapped in a luxurious Connecticut Ecuador cover leaf, the consumer experience of this expression is distinctly different from the original – while still retaining foundational qualities of M81 due to the Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro binder and Nicaraguan Maduro and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro filler leaves.
The full blend is described as:
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder: USA Connecticut Broadleaf
- Filler: USA, Nicaragua
Presented in elegantly designed, 20-count boxes, BLACKENED “S84 Shade to Black” by Drew Estate is available in the same beloved sizes as M81:
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $10.00/cigar
- Toro (6 x 52) – MSRP $10.50 /cigar
- Corona Doble (7 x 50) – MSRP $11.00/cigar
- Corona (5 x 43) – MSRP $9.75/cigar
Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate exclaimed,
“I just walked inside our humidor here at headquarters and viewed the new white Blackened box sitting alongside the original black Maduro. All I can say is ‘WOW!!’ It’s so in your face, I love it. The new S84 Shade to Black is a must-try for any Connecticut Shade smoker. It’s like a deep, dark, rich Connecticut that’s smooth as silky velvet, plush with triple plushness. Rob Dietrich, Blackened’s Master Distiller, has been one of my best friends for almost 15 years. He brought Hetfield into the mix and I brought Willy and the DE brand team. This project is dope. We’re having fun with it.”
For this review I sampled 3 of the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade To Black toros which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade To Black is draped in a beautiful golden tan, smooth to the touch, wrapper that exhibits minimal veins. It has excellent packing and roll with just the right give from head to foot. Construction is completed with a well applied double cap.
Two bands adorn the cigar, both use a black and white motif. The primary band is the footer band that boldly declares this as the “S84 SHADE TO BLACK” while a thin black and white band is applied on top of the cigar identifying it as part of the BLACKENED series.
Running the barrel along the nose I noted a sweet hay like note while the foot exudes a pleasant and inviting fruit and spice note.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar with my Les Fines knife blade cutter and gave the cigar some cold draw puffs which I found to be spot on with restriction and offering rich pepper notes and a hint of sweet butter.
Using the soft flame of a lit cedar spill, i warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of nasal awakening pepper notes. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial puffs offer a nasal awakening pepper blast
- Vibrant cinnamon notes, quickly start to settle in the core of the profile
- Light grey ash forms on top of medium thick char line
- Sweet fruit essence builds midway through the first third
- The sweetness and cinnamon notes are most prominent in the early profile
- The ash fell in a decent chunk revealing a well-formed burn cone
- Caramel notes deep in first third add to the early pleasurable experience
- Slight wave in the burn
- Cinnamon and fruit notes continue into the second third
- Lingering nut on the palate
- Touch of creaminess midway
- Moving through the second third there is a mild honey note enticing the palate
- The final third brings forth a deeper peppery spice
- Medium in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 35 minutes
Final Analysis
The initial puffs of the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade To Black Toro deliver a sharp, peppery rush that awakens the senses, quickly followed by vibrant cinnamon notes that settle at the core of the profile. As the first third unfolds, a subtle sweetness emerges, accompanied by a fruity essence that gently builds in intensity. The cinnamon and sweet notes dominate the early profile, enhancing the overall experience. As the first third progresses, caramel undertones join the mix, further elevating the pleasurable complexity of the smoke. Moving into the second third, the cinnamon and fruit notes continue their presence, while a lingering nutty flavor sits on the palate. Midway through, a touch of creaminess softens the profile, adding to the balance. As the second third deepens, a mild honey note emerges, enticing the taste buds with its sweetness. In the final third, the profile intensifies, bringing a deeper, more pronounced peppery spice that adds a satisfying finish to the experience. I found the S84 to be a much more approachable smoke than the original M81. This is worth a box buy. I rate this a 95.
Point Deductions: (-1) Slight jag/wave in burn
Bonus Points: (+1) Pleasurable and balanced across multiple samples; (+1) Box Buy
