At long last, the Drew Estate Blackened M81 Maduro Robusto has landed on UK soil. After turning heads in the US, this bold collaboration is finally available to British cigar lovers in 2025 and it’s been worth the wait! This cigar is the result of a unique collaboration between three passionate individuals: James Hetfield, co-founder of Metallica; Rob Dietrich, Master Distiller of BLACKENED American Whiskey; and Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate. The partnership began with Hetfield and Dietrich, who frequently enjoyed cigars together. Dietrich introduced Hetfield to Drew, and the trio connected over their shared vision and stories. Over two years, they sampled various cigars, kept detailed notes, and ultimately crafted the BLACKENED M81 cigar, reflecting their collective passion for music, fellowship, and life. The name “M81” pays homage to Metallica’s founding year, 1981, with “M” representing Metallica and “81” denoting the year. The BLACKENED M81 cigar features a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper, a Connecticut Broadleaf maduro binder, and a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf maduro tobaccos, including the boldest Pennsylvania Broadleaf ligero in Drew Estate’s inventory. This all-maduro blend delivers a dark, bold, rich, and powerful smoking experience with alluring notes of espresso, leather, and dark chocolate. British cigar lovers, it’s time to turn up the volume! Wrapper - Mexican San Andrés Maduro Binder - Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro Filler - Nicaraguan Maduro, Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro Strength - Full Profile - Bold and complex, featuring notes of espresso, dark chocolate, leather, and subtle black cherry Length - 5 inches Ring Gauge - 50 Vitola - Robusto Burn Time - Approximately 30 - 45 minutes