Drew Estate Announces Second Collaboration With Metallica’s James Hetfield, Shade to Black S84 (Update)

Drew Estate’s latest mystery cigar is Blackened Cigars by Drew Estate S84 Shade to Black.

As part of its Freestyle Live event, the company announced the Shade to Black, the company’s second collaboration with James Hetfield of Metallica. In 2022, the company partnered with Hetfield and Rob Dietrich of Blackened Whiskey for Blackened Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate.

Blend-wise, it uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper over a Connecticut broadleaf binder and Pennsylvania broadleaf and Nicaraguan maduro fillers. It will be offered in the same sizes as the M81:

• Blackened Cigars by Drew Estate S84 Shade to Black Corona Doble (7 x 50) — $11 (Box of 20, $220)
• Blackened Cigars by Drew Estate S84 Shade to Black Toro (6 x 52) — $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)
• Blackened Cigars by Drew Estate S84 Shade to Black Robusto (5 x 50) — $10 (Box of 20, $200)
• Blackened Cigars by Drew Estate S84 Shade to Black Corona (5 x 43) — $9.75 (Box of 20, $195)

As for the name, S stands for shade and 84 is a reference to 1984, the year that Metallica released its sophomore album, “Ride the Lightning,” which featured the song “Fade to Black.”

“You have a master distiller whose blended products throughout the world, considered one of the best in the world,” said Jonathan Drew, co-founder and president of Drew Estate, during the Freestyle Live event. “You have a master blender, one of the best in the world and then you have James. This guy is a passionate guy. Every song he makes, every product, everything he does, it’s like he’s breathing his life into it.”

“Yeah, it’s got a light wrapper, but man, it’s just flavor in your mouth,” said Willy Herrera, Drew Estate’s master blender. “It just coats your palate, which is not typical for a Connecticut shade.”

While S84 will go on sale later this month, many people have already smoked the blend. In January, Drew Estate began selling its latest Freestyle Live pack, which featured three unbanded versions of the Shade to Black S84. Consumers who purchased the packs and retailers that purchased the packs were entered into various giveaways with winners announced during Thursday’s night broadcast.

Drew Estate says the cigars will be available to all retailers; the M81 cigars are only offered to stores that are part of the Drew Estate Drew Diplomat Program.

Update (March 15, 2024) — Added details from a press release. This story was originally published on March 14, 2024.