From the M*A*S*H episode"Fade Out, Fade In:" COL. POTTER: Cigar? RADAR: Will it stunt my growth? COL. POTTER: Whattya got to loose? RADAR: Is it Habit forming? COL. POTTER: Nah, I've smoked 5 cigars a day and never got the habit! RADAR: That's good to know! (After lighting cigars, Radar makes a puzzled look) COL POTTER: Nothin' like a good cigar on a clear morning! RADAR: Or Cream of Wheat. Later, Radar was found over the hill, sick from his first cigar...

Main Menu
Menu

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Drew Estate Blackened M81 Corona
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: McBryde

80
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member 05Venturer (Kent).  The cigar provided for this round is the Drew Estate Blackened M81 Corona.

Blackened M81 Cigars by Drew Estate are the product of three passionate smokers combining forces creating a specialized and memorable blend. What makes Blackened so special is that every leaf in it is a Maduro. From filler to wrapper, it's Maduro all the way down!

Blackened M81 creation began with a friendship. That between James Hetfield, lead singer of Metallica, and Rob Dietrich, the master distiller behind BLACKENED American Whiskey. The two often smoke cigars together and discussed what they'd like to see in a good smoke. Turning to Jonathan Drew, the trio began to develop Blackened M81. Using impressively bold Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro tobacco for its filler. Held together by a livewire Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro binder. It's finished with an oily and decadent Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper. Ideal for those with bold palates.



Drew Estate Blackened M81 Corona

Brand:
Drew Estate
Name:
Blackened M81 Corona
Length:
5
Ring Gauge:
43
Country of Origin:
Nicaragua
Filler:
Nicaragua
Pennsylvania
Binder:
Connecticut Broadleaf
Wrapper:
Mexico
Color:
Maduro
Strength:
Medium-Full
Shape:
Petit Corona
Notes:
https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/enter-cigar-man-metallica-s-james-hetfield-and-drew-estate-create-blackened-cigar
This cigar was enjoyed with Dr. Pepper

Pre-Light: 10 Points of 10 Possible

The pre-light scent of the cigar had a slight floral smell to the cigar. The cigar had a dry look to it, with a what I would call a toothy/ small warty wrapper. The cigar was not overly soft or hard, and after the cut, it drew perfectly. The pre-light draw tasted of leather, hay, oak and strong tobacco flavors.

Lighting and Burn: 12 Points of 15 Possible

The cigar started off a little uneven, but evened out in the second third. There was a strong dark grey ash throughout the cigar. The burn I thought was a little fast, but it was a corona sized cigar, so I attributed it to that. There was lots of thick white smoke, and It only needed one light for the whole cigar.

Construction: 30 Points of 30 Possible

The construction of the cigar seemed very well put together. The wrapper was nice, not overly oily, but a little toothy. The cigar drew well, both pre-light and post- light. I like the idea of an all maduro leafed cigar.

Flavor and Aroma: 28 Points of 45 Possible

I thought that the cigar had moments of fullness, but mostly it was a heavy medium bodied cigar.

For the first 1/3, you get a kick of white pepper off the start. There was a smoky wood flavor mixed with leather after the initial pepper hit went away that was the flavor profile for this almost entire cigar. There was a distinct dryness in the mouth feeling during this first third of the cigar.

The 2nd 1/3 was characterized by the same smoky wood flavor profile, but it picked up a little hint of dark chocolate and hay this third.

At the first of last 1/3, the pepper showed back up again, and then went away fairly quickly. The same smoky wood, leather and hay rounded out the last third.

I found myself smacking my mouth and my tongue together to figure out what flavor I was getting that just seemed out of place. It was the hay flavor that just kept hanging around.


Summary

Overall this was a well built little cigar, that I had high hopes for. I could find no fault with the cigar on construction and the look and feel of the cigar. It was flawless there. The place where I got stuck with this cigar was the endless hay taste that I thought would go away but never did, and the dryness of mouth I got from smoking it. If you like a smoky, woody, hay flavored cigar, this is your go to!

I will be trying another one of these in the future in hopes that it was just this cigar like this in flavor, as the idea of an all maduro leaf cigar just excites me!

Thanks for including me in on this one Kent!


   
Privacy Policy     Terms of Service
Copyright © 2007-2024 Cigar Geeks, Inc. All rights reserved.