Blind Review: Blackened Cigars ‘M81’ by Drew Estate

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A musician, a master distiller, and a cigar maker met at a lounge. This sounds a lot like the beginning of a stereotypical joke. However, in this case, it would be the start of one of the more ambitious collaborations I have witnessed since I started smoking cigars. This project Blackened started with Rob Dietrich, Blackened American Whiskey Master Distiller, the middleman, who brought together his partner James Hetfield (co-founder, lead singer, and guitarist of Metallica), and his friend Jonathan Drew (co-founder of Drew Estate Cigars). The M81 derives from the band name ‘Metallica’ and 1981, the year the band was formed. The project took about 2 years of sampling and tweaking until they got to the exact profile they were looking for.

In a press release, Hetfield stated, “BLACKENED Cigars ‘M81’ by Drew Estate is a dark, bold, and unapologetic collaboration into what Rob, Jonathan, and I believe is the perfect full-bodied cigar”.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Blackened Cigars ‘M81’ by Drew Estate
  • Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
  • Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
  • Filler: Nicaragua Maduro & Pennsylvania broadleaf
  • Size: Corona Doble (7″x 50)

Appearance & Construction

The light brown color cigar reminds me a lot of Fall foliage, which is appropriate for the month we are in, November. The surface feels oily and grainy, like sandpaper. Visually, I am very impressed with the quality of the wrapper leaf: no veins or blemishes. I can hardly tell where the seam begins and ends.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

There is a combination of citrus and cocoa powder scent off the wrapper. Of the foot of the cigar, I get sweet and tart stone fruits with a good amount of pepper spice flooding my olfactory. Once I cut off the cap, I went for a cold draw and got leather, oakwood, and dry apricot.

I take out my Visol duel jet lighter and start slowly toasting the foot of the cigar. A stream of silky smoke glides past my nose, and I get an alluring sweet, and creamy scent from it. The first puff of the cigar is better than what I anticipate it to be: creamy smoke with tree bark, roasted peanut shell, dark leather, and lingering white pepper spice. There is a savory and meaty characteristic to the tobacco while puffing on it, and it has a refreshing citrus on the finish. The retrohale is very satisfying, with an abundance of black pepper spice along with caramel and cedarwood on the finish.

As predicted, the construction is immaculate. The burn line is razor sharp, the airflow is a perfect 7 out of 10 restrictiveness, and this cigar produces a copious amount of smoke. The only negative is that I can’t pair this delicacy with a dram of scotch or a cup of espresso since I am reviewing this cigar.

I arrived at the second third and was instantly reminded of when I traveled to New Orleans. As if I am sipping on a cup of coffee at Cafe du Monde, I get sweet and bitter chocolate, chicory, oakwood, leather, and black pepper spice. There is still a lot of spice on the retrohale with caramel, citrus tang, and cedarwood.

Once I got to the final third, the cigar decided to give my palate a break. The cool smoke has flavors of roasted peanuts, cedarwood, cocoa powder, and a hint of spice. And through the final retrohale, I got a sendoff with toffee, cedarwood, and red pepper spice.

Conclusion

As if this cigar is imitating one of many masterpieces composed by James Hetfield, whereas the first third is the intro, the second third is the many verses and bridges, and the final third is the outro. In terms of flavor, the Blackened M81 by Drew Estate did just that. The brazen flavor of sweet and dark cocoa, the unique chicory, and the plentiful amount of spice meld well with one another. The citrus on the finish refreshes my palate and encourages me to puff on.

Final Rating: 92

Blind Review: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story

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The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story is manufactured by Imperial Brands’ U.S. subsidiary Altadis U.S.A. in La Romana, Dominican Republic at the Tabacalera de Garcia factory. The Romeo y Julieta marque was established in Cuba in the year 1875 by Inocencio Alvarez and Manin García. It wasn’t until the brand was acquired by José “Pepin” Rodriguez Fernández, former head of the Cabañas factory in Havana, and his firm, Rodríguez, Argüelles y Cia, in 1903, that the company truly became world renowned.  Historically known as Sir Winston Churchills favorite cigar brand with its correlating Churchill vitola, the brand was actually more well known for their figurados (perfectos and piramides). The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story is the company’s first barber poll cigar and is currently available in a perfecto and toro.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut/ Ecuador Habano
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua/ Dominican
  • Size: 4 1/4 x 46

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a small barber poll perfecto with a salmon taper and a triple cap. It will remind you exactly of a pirouette cookie. It feels very awkward in hand and has a lightweight feel.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cigars wrapper smells of hay/straw.  The foot is tapered into a nipple with not much aroma.

The cold draw is tight with a slight cedar on the breath.

One lick from a soft flame with a slight draw are enough to combust the tapered foot.

Because of the tight draw and tapered foot, there is not much of a first puff. Not much air flow at all.  As the burnline engulfs the wider ring gauge, I get a very flavorful coffee and cream flavor that is both sweet, nougaty, and cedary.  Also nuances of graham cracker and toasted almond ice cream bars.  As mentioned, the cigar is awkward, and I feel like a freaking cartoon character smoking this thing. As I’m knee deep in insecurities the cigar suddenly goes out.  Hmmm… Two licks from a soft flame with a little draw get the cigar lit again.  Other then this hiccup, the cigar holds heat well with “alright” smoke production.  The draw seemed to have opened up a bit, but not much.  Still tons of flavor. The darker wrapper ribbon, when in combustion, gives a little spice to the smoking experience and really adds to the complexity of smoke that tastes like a dessert.  There is a leather aroma in the air, and the retrohale is nougat and graham cracker.

On the second third, the draw is still tighter then I prefer, yet the smoke production is thick.  I have to touch up a little bit of wrapper leaf detachment, but its no big deal.  The aroma now reminds me of a pipe tobacco or hot cocoa.  There is strawberry hard candy and leather on the tongue with a lingering sweetness. The cigar really reminds me of many of the Romeo y Julieta Churchill’s that I came up in the game smoking.  Ash build up was solid up until now, but it is becoming increasingly flaky.

Last third, required a lot of babysitting.  The draw has only tightened even more, and the smoke is hot, ruining the flavors somewhat.  The sweet coffee with cream are still present but with a harsher charred backdrop.  A little bit of a tongue singing experience, but the sweetness keeps you coming back for more. I am still enjoying the smoking experience. As long as I am patient in the last leg of this cigar, the heat maintenance stays cool and I can still enjoy the toasted almond extasy.

Conclusion

What do you know?! I was right! I was smoking a Romeo y Julieta. The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story is soon to be a fan favorite to anyone looking for a light creamy smoke with sweetness and complexity.  A lot of the construction issues I ran into with the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story, were easily ignored because of the array of flavors which provided an indulgent smoking experience.  For those of you who fell in love with the Romeo y Julieta brand during the last cigar boom, and miss how a Romeo y Julieta Ecuador Connecticut shade wrapper used to taste, it seems they were able to recreate it somehow.  I smoke a Romeo y Julieta Connecticut Churchill once a year for old times sake, and though the sweetness is still there, the complexity can be lacking.  The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story was truly a sight for sore eyes.  Did I mention I hate barber poll cigars? Enjoy!

Final Score: 89

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Blind Review: Illusione Allegria Robusto

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The Illusione Allegria Robusto are made by Illusione Cigars which is owned and operated by Dion Giolito. They are manufactured in Aganorsas’ world renowned factory in Nicaragua known as Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A., the factory formerly known as TABSA.  Allegria is actually known as the “sister” line to the famous Illusione OneOff brand.  A Nicaraguan puro as well, they differ when it comes to the tobacco blend and are meant to be stronger by introducing higher leaf primings.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Illusione Allegria Robusto
  • Wrapper: Corojo ’99
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: 5 x  52

Appearance & Construction

The cigar wears a heavily striated and blotchy colorado wrapper over a tightly packed body. The cigar is triple capped and comfortable in the hand.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cigar wrapper smells like straw bales and the foot smells like cedar.

The cigar has a great loose draw with faint cedar and spice on the breath.

The cigar toasts well under a single flame torch, yet gives me some trouble combusting.

First puff is very spicy and toasty.  The first third is completely dominated by toast, pepper, and leather.  The cigar has a great draw as mentioned.  It hold the heat well, with a flawless burn line and great smoke production.  I am also getting a nice nicotine buzz right-off-the-bat as well.

The second third is still dominated by a strong backbone of black pepper, with some savory and sweet notes.  It’s like tangy burnt Starbucks coffee with a “pump” of whatever fake go-go juice they offer during the holidays.  The cigar however, was not self-correcting a minor canoe burn that ended up being a major issue.  Though I’ve only raved about the loose draw up until now, the cigar needs more then just a “sip” to keep the party going. Moving on, the cigar develops a very woody profile with some marshmallow as well.  The wrapper leaf also rarely burns in tandem with the filler.  Shame….

Last third opens up with another canoe in the burn line. This only adds to the heat maintenence issue I began to deal with at the half way mark.  The cigar tastes like burnt toast and hazelnuts.  When the cigar remains its cool and collected nature it is sweet and even reminiscent of a Padron 2000 maduro.  A little purging of the cigar goes a long way.  However, the cigar struggled to maintain heat, and all my efforts to keep up with the mess seemed to only punish my tongue.

Conclusion

What appeared to be a powerful flavor bomb of a smoke fell pray to many construction issues.  The Illusione Allegria Robusto -from the start- I would have pegged to be a 90+ smoke, but it was more a tale of two cigars. The cigar filler VS. the cigar wrapper.  The funny thing is I had treated myself to a mail-call a few weeks ago of several 2022 releases with the Illusione Allegria Robusto being included in the shipment.  It came in perfectly humidified condition, just like the blind one I just smoked, and I remember tossing it after the second third for the same handful of issues.  As an Illusione fanboy who is also partly Spaniard and grew up with a lot of Flamenco in my home, I hate to give the Illusione Allegria Robusto the cold shoulder.  Maybe some other time I guess…Enjoy!

Final Score: 80

Blind Review: Casa 1910 Cuchillo Parado

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The Casa 1910 Cuchillo Parado is manufactured for Casa 1910 Cigars at an undisclosed factory in San Andrés Tuxtla in the state of Veracruz. The company owner is not known, however, the master blender is Juan Manuel Santiago Casillas, better known as Manolo Santiago, who worked as a marketing manager for Importadora y Exportadora de Puros y Tabacos S.A. de C.V. The Casa 1910 Cuchillo Parado is a Mexican puro and is named after a town in the sate of Chihuahua, Mexico where the Mexican Revolution began.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Casa 1910 Cuchillo Parado
  • Wrapper: Mexican Sumatra (3 years aged)
  • Binder: San Andreas (5 years aged)
  • Filler: San Andreas
  • Size: 5 x 50

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is wearing a very light and papery wrapper that almost reminds me of cellophane. A little hard on the eyes. It is a sturdily packed robusto with a triple cap.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cigars wrapper smells like chocolate as well as on the foot.

The cold draw is decent with dank cedar on the breath that reminds me of opening my garage in the summer after a rain storm.

The cigar toasts well but takes its time to combust.

First puff is very light on the tongue with cedar and honey.  There is some pepper as it heats up with notes of cocoa and a little bit of a metallic backbone to the smoke. The cigar has fantastic heat maintenance so far with a straight burn line.  Smoke production is perfect with lots of savory, tangy, and citrusy notes full spectrum.

The second third is marked with leather, cocoa, and strawberry hard candy on the finish.  There is also a faint marshmallow note.  The cigar has a solid ash build up, until it breaks off with a honeycomb.  I guess I’ve been enjoying the smoke too much.  Just when you think your the slowest smoker alive…I guess this cigar is truly meant to be “sipped” on.

The last third, is leathery, woody, and earthy. It can get harsh at times, but not as harsh as a more full bodied smoke, which this is not. There is espresso, but no bitterness on the tongue. I am still getting lots of leather and cedar on the aroma and retro as well.

Conclusion

The Casa 1910 Cuchillo Parado was actually a cigar I had been meaning to try and I’m glad it lived up to the hype.  As an assistant wine maker, a puro cigar is the equivalent to a single varietal wine from a distinct wine region. I prefer puros above all else, and hope they find more US market share in this current cigar boom, since they seem to fair well in European cigar markets. The Casa 1910 Cuchillo Parado reminded me a lot of the lighter bodied puros that Curivari Cigars offer, namely the Grand Cru, Gloria De Leon, and EL Gran Rey.  My only problem with this smoke is the $15 MSRP.  The Curivari cigars I mentioned are half the price. However, if youre looking to give Mexican Sumatran seed wrapper a try and are curious about how smooth San Andreas can be outside of its current maduro exploitation on the shelves, I would totally recommend you give the Casa 1910 Cuchillo Parado a try.  Enjoy!

Final Score: 90

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Blind Review: Los Statos Deluxe Robusto

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The Los Statos Deluxe Robusto is manufactured by General Cigar Company at their HATSA, SA factory in Danli, Honduras and is distributed by Scandinavian Tobacco Groups subsidiary Forged Cigar Co.  Los Statos Deluxe, historically was of pre-embargo Cuban fame until it lay dormant for years only to be registered in the new world market as a medium+ value smoke.  Since not only having his brand, Room 101 Cigars, acquired -but also being hired as STG’s creative director- Matt Booth sought to reimagine the Los Statos Deluxe brand for todays consumer.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Los Statos Deluxe Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
  • Size: 5 x 50

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a simple single cap chocolate maduro robusto with a hard rustic profile.  The cigar is packed solid and is very lightweight in hand.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The wrapper smells sweet with chocolate and cedar on the foot.

The cigar has a loose draw with cedar and spice on the breath.

The cigar toasts and combusts ideally.

At first puff the cigar has very deep and dark impressions of wood and black coffee that is both spicy and sweet.  The loose draw on the cigar, keeps me on guard when it comes to heat maintenance, but is a none issue.  The burnline is razor sharp with fantastic smoke production.  It is full bodied on the tongue with billowing mahogany and pepper. The aroma is leather, and the retro is toasted bread. A little touch up was needed for some minor wrapper detachment but self-corrected beautifully.

The second third surprises me when the so-far sturdy ash build up suddenly drops to the ground. However, the burnline stays flawless and the cigar hold its temperature immaculately. The cigar is a thick and rich smoking experience.  It grips your tongue with hot cocoa and throat tingling spice. I’m not complaining, but it can dry your mouth out at times.  Stay hydrated! Across the board, the cigar also picks up a floral and perfumey characteristic with more leather on the aroma, and toast on the retro.

Last third picks up the pace with a nice comforting fireplace nuance on the tongue. There is lots of toast, leather, and sweet perfume throughout. The cigar can also be zesty and citrusy at times. The ash build up becomes a little flaky, but holds on strong and does its job.  A nice steady smoke.

Conclusion

Now after 20+ years of being in this cigar game, who would have thought one my highest rated cigars to date would have been blended by none other then Matt Booth.  The Los Statos Deluxe Robusto was a job well done.  Bar none.  I have nothing bad to say about the cigar.  It was a work horse of a robusto, and though it has the same tobacco blend as the Sancho Panza cigars that I poorly rated, the Los Statos Deluxe met all the marks I look for in a medium-full smoke. Those at Fine Tobacco NYC, have long known that I am not a fan of Room 101 and their branding. Though me and Matt Booth share the same love for writing smut and expanding upon the art of conversation with uncomfortable yet artfully placed adjectives and nouns, I had for years refused to smoke even one of his offerings.  When it comes to the Los Statos Deluxe Robusto, haters need to sit the fuck down!  I had a very enjoyable time smoking this cigar.  Yes, this past year has been hard on my cigar addiction and gas prices have robbed me of my weekly Plasencia and Padron habits. I have often wondered if working in some bundle-smokes in my rotation had actually changed my palate for the worse? Maybe even made me a poor reviewer. Who knows?! All I can say is, if your a strong broadleaf fan like myself, Matt Booth damn near convinced me Ecuador Sumatra can somehow quench that thirst similarly. He also managed to do it all for $8. I need not apologize any more for this high rating.  I believe in ghosts and UFO’s.  Elvis is still alive! I was there! I know what I saw! Enjoy!

Final Score: 93

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