Blackened M81 Lancero (7 x 40) Cigar

BLACKENED M81 is the original release in Drew Estate's BLACKENED series — a collaboration between Metallica's James Hetfield, BLACKENED American Whiskey master distiller Rob Dietrich, and Drew Estate founder Jonathan Drew, with the name a nod to 1981, the year Metallica formed. The blend took roughly two years to dial in. Announced in September 2025, the Lancero is the first time the M81 has ever been rolled in a 7 x 40 format — a limited release for Drew Diplomat retailers that Jonathan Drew called "a guitar solo in cigar form."

Maduro to the core: a thick, oily Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper over a Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro binder and Maduro long-fillers from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania, including some of the boldest Pennsylvania Broadleaf ligero in Drew Estate's inventory. Blended by Willy Herrera and hand-rolled at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua. Lancero format, 7 x 40, limited in production and presented in 15-count boxes.

The slim 7 x 40 format shifts the wrapper-to-filler ratio, pushing espresso, dark cocoa and earth closer to center stage than in the thicker vitolas. Drew Estate describes the Lancero as delivering deep, concentrated flavor from foot to head, with the M81 version hitting rich, dark and heavy. The core blend is known for notes of espresso, leather and dark chocolate.

Alcoholic: a bourbon, an aged rum, or a porter. Non-Alcoholic: a dark-roast coffee.

A satisfying smoke. Allow ~45–75 minutes.