After the success of the first collaboration between Drew Estate and BLACKENED Whiskey, the two companies are teaming up once again for another premium cigar release. In March 2024, Drew Estate began shipping the Connecticut Shade-wrapped Blackened “S84 Shade to Black.” Similar to the first BLACKENED cigar, this is another collaboration and 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.
“‘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,” commented Metallica’s James Hetfield.
“This collaboration of artistry just keeps kicking the door in on innovation,” adds BLACKENED Whiskey’s master distiller and blender Rob Dietrich. “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!”
The BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black features a Connecticut Ecuador wrapper that sets it apart from the previous BLACKENED M81. This new iteration still has some of the qualities of the original M81 cigar due to its use of a Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro binder and Nicaraguan Maduro and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro filler leaves.
This cigar is presented in 20-count boxes and is available in four sizes: Robusto, 5 x 50; Toro, 6 x 52; Corona Doble, 7 x 50; and Corona, 5 x 43. The suggested retail price per cigar ranges from $9.75 to $11 before applicable taxes.
“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,” commented Jonathan Drew, founder and president of Drew Estate. “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.”
The new S84 Shade to Black is available to all retailers across the U.S. For more information on this and other releases from Drew Estate, visit drewestate.com.