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Drew Estate Blackened M81 $83.84 $92.22

Single $18.63 $18.63 / cigar 5-Pack $83.84 $16.76 / cigar Full Box $316.71

Add to Cart $83.84

Wrapper

San Andres (Mexico)

Binder

Connecticut Broadleaf (USA)

Filler

Nicaragua & Pennsylvania (USA)

Origin

Nicaragua

Initial Smoke

Still slightly more than a sliver spicy, and feeling ultra-smooth on the tongue and nose, the M81 takes me off guard once again as it gets underway. Lush layers of dried loam, tanned leather, and sweet molasses spill across the palate, with resplendent cedar scents drifting from each retrohale. There's a dark fruit note underneath it all that makes me think of dried dark cherries sitting in a bowl filled with figs and dates. Samples of soil, cocoa, and bitter black come out as the ash builds, but these are all secondary and aid in building strength more than flavor.

1st Half

Body building to medium, with strength just a few headbangs behind, the first third's flavors build with all of the speed and precision of a Kirk Hammett guitar solo. Leather may still be the strongest cigar flavor profile on stage, but it now has some backups, with licorice, spicier cedar, and a darker, stickier fruit core coming to the front. It may be almost identical to initial impressions, but the way in which the coffee, cocoa, and decomposed rainforest floor hit the senses is on a whole other level by now. So while the same chords are being played, the amp has been cranked up a few clicks.

Sensationally smooth and immensely satisfying, the movement into the second third gets sweeter and nutty, with the taste of dark roasted peanuts and a spicier herbal aftertaste strutting about behind. Vintage leather still has its way with the tongue, though, and the flavor of premium coffee comes at you harder than ever, and holy shit is it delicious. It's this classic San Andrés maduro taste and smell, and while it is definitely darker than before, it isn't overly heavy in body or strength. 

2nd Half

Horns up and tempo set to stun, the energy in the pit is far more intense than what was felt in the first half of the set. Stronger, but still hyper-focused and devoid of any mistakes along the way, the coffee-heavy side of the cigar reaches a rhythm that strums along to the beat of sweet cinnamon and creamy nutmeg. Transitions may be minimal, but the extra additions that do surface are stacked with flavor and fit perfectly into the overall composition of the cigar.

As the soil grows to a point where it can finally match the coffee and leather top notes, another burst of spiced fruits and cedar crowd-surfs across the palate. Repetition isn't always a good thing, but in this case it works well, and that combo of creamy cocoa, bitter coffee, strong soil, oiled leather, and sticky-sweet dried cherry flat-out rocks. Body has nearly reached medium-full, with flavor and strength riding right alongside, with the overall impression of the cigar being clean and centered. 

Parting Puffs

Oh, here we go. There's that creamy cortado taste I was hoping to encounter. Blended up with that dark roast peanut note and engaging earthiness, the magnitude of the blend settles on parting puffs being the most powerful point within the stick. Oily, spicy, strong, and bigger in body, with a mysterious herbal sweetness on the finish, this last section of the cigar is easily the most unique moment. Low in heat, and just as clean as before, with not a sign of char or tar, the need for poker to keep going is the only consideration one must fret over.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Although a second cut and a poke were required to open the draw up to the point where smoke could have enough flow, this and the occasional ash drop were the only burn problems I came across in my review cigar. Smoke textures and burn quality were picture-perfect, and the blend combusted cleanly all the way up until the last puff.

Final Thoughts

Celebrity cigars are hit or miss when it comes to living up to the hype, but in the case of the Blackened M81, the whole experience meets and then exceeds expectations. The blend is just as hardcore as it is precision-built and flavorful. Transitions may not be its strong suit, and remixes of the tastes and smells found earlier on may be routine, but they are so smooth and well-timed that I didn't mind.

Yes, there are some additions to the set list as the gig goes on, but they are minimal, allowing the key notes that make a quality San Andrés maduro so desirable to take center stage. This results in a cigar flavor profile that builds in power and smoking pleasure as it grows in body, resulting in an extremely satisfying smoke session.

I also liked how the blend starts off lighter and more leisurely than in-your-face, and then gradually grows darker and heavier as the burn line moves southward. There also weren't any moments when the blend tasted off or muddled, with a winning maduro mixture resulting in several smiles as the smoke combusted.

In closing, I must say that this blend does mellow nicely with some age, without losing its integrity. However, for those wanting more of the "maduro to the core" experience, I suggest smoking this one sooner rather than later. This will give you more of the potent final moments of the blend far sooner, and amps up the peppery, soil-strong sides of the cigar considerably. Whichever path you choose, you are guaranteed to get a really good series of flavors and aromatics, making the M81 one of the better maduro blends we stock at Klaro.