Drew Estate will release a few new items at the upcoming PCA Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas later this month. These include another collaboration with Metallica frontman James Hetfield and new vitolas in the Liga Privada 10 Aniversario Selección de Maestro series.

Shade to Black

Drew Estate’s latest enigmatic creation takes form in Blackened Cigars by Drew Estate S84 Shade to Black.

Unveiled during its Freestyle Live event, the Shade to Black marks Drew Estate’s second collaboration with Metallica’s James Hetfield. Previously, in 2022, Drew Estate partnered with Hetfield and Rob Dietrich of Blackened Whiskey for Blackened Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate.

Details on the Shade to Black cigars were scant during the live event, but it was revealed that they feature a Connecticut-shade wrapper. Specifics such as sizes and pricing were not disclosed, though Drew Estate assures that the cigars will hit shelves before the month’s end. Notably, the cigars will be available to all retailers, unlike the M81 cigars which are exclusively offered to Drew Estate Drew Diplomat Program member stores.
The name “S84” holds significance, with ‘S’ representing shade and ’84’ paying homage to 1984, the year of Metallica’s sophomore album release, “Ride the Lightning,” featuring the iconic track “Fade to Black.”

Jonathan Drew, Drew Estate’s co-founder and president, lauded the collaboration, highlighting the expertise of Hetfield, renowned master distiller Rob Dietrich, and the passionate commitment of James Hetfield to every aspect of his craft.
Willy Herrera, Drew Estate’s master blender, praised the S84 blend’s distinctive characteristics, noting its surprising depth and flavour profile, contrary to the usual expectations of Connecticut shade wrappers.

While the S84 will officially debut later this month, aficionados have already had a taste of the blend. In January, Drew Estate introduced its Freestyle Live pack, featuring three unbanded versions of the Shade to Black S84. Buyers of these packs, both consumers and retailers, had the chance to participate in various giveaways, with winners announced during the Thursday night broadcast.

Liga Privada 10 Aniversario Selección de Maestro

Drew Estate is expanding its Liga Privada 10 Aniversario Selección de Mercado line, exclusively available outside the U.S., with the introduction of two new vitolas.
Joining the previously released Toro (6 x 52), the Liga Privada 10 Aniversario Selección de Mercado Robusto (5 x 54) and Corona Doble (7 x 54) are now part of the line-up, all presented in 10-count boxes.

The Selección de Mercado blend offers a variation of the Liga Privada 10 Aniversario blend. Its wrapper features a criollo-seed grown in the Connecticut River Valley, while the binder comprises Mexican San Andrés leaf. Notably, the filler blend incorporates tobaccos sourced from Honduras and Nicaragua, diverging from the Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania tobaccos, including Green River One Sucker ligero, used in the regular 10 Aniversario blend, renowned for its potency.

Jonathan Drew, Drew Estate’s co-founder and president, expressed enthusiasm for delving into the international cigar culture as part of the company’s broader strategy to strengthen the Drew Estate brand on a global scale. He emphasized the brand’s evolution from its local roots in Brooklyn to becoming a significant player domestically and now venturing into the international market while remaining true to Drew Estate’s foundational mission, the Rebirth of Cigars.