Drew Estate Blackened Shade to Black S84 Toro

The Drew Estate Blackened Shade to Black S84 Toro is the second chapter in a powerhouse collaboration between Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate, Metallica’s James Hetfield, and Blackened Whiskey’s Master Distiller Rob Dietrich. After the hit M81, this S84 project took over two years of fine-tuning the blend, with Hetfield and Dietrich tasting and journaling alongside Drew to lock in every detail.

Crafted at La Gran Fábrica Drew Estate in Nicaragua, the 6×52 Toro layers a silky Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro binder, filled with a blend of Nicaraguan Maduro and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro tobaccos. From the first puff, you'll pick up creamy notes of coffee, cedar, and natural tobacco sweetness, evolving mid-smoke to reveal toasted nuts, soft pepper, hay, and a hint of citrus zest. The final third leans richly toward cedar and earth, finishing with a restrained spice. Despite its depth, it remains medium-bodied, with a silky smooth draw, sharp burn, and polished construction. For a perfect pairing, try this stick with a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. The beer’s citrusy hops and crisp bitterness cut through the cigar’s creaminess, while its malty backbone echoes its nutty and earthy tones. It’s a rock-solid combo—bold, balanced, and unforgettable.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.