Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black Review

The Pilgrimage to Momentary Peace

The journey to The Oasis this evening carries a particular weight. February has always been the cruelest month in our corner of corporate America—annual projections still fresh enough to seem intimidating, winter's persistent grip making each commute an exercise in patience, and the holiday season far enough in the rearview mirror that its rejuvenating effects have thoroughly dissipated. Tonight's expedition through rush hour traffic takes on the qualities of a pilgrimage, each mile bringing us closer to temporary sanctuary from the accumulated pressures of adulthood.

As we approach The Oasis, the metal playlist providing soundtrack to the drive seems particularly appropriate, given tonight's featured attraction: the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black. This collaboration between Metallica's James Hetfield, BLACKENED Whiskey's Master Distiller Rob Dietrich, and Drew Estate founder Jonathan Drew promises a unique intersection of musical and tobacco artistry—a Connecticut-wrapped evolution of their previous M81 release that pays homage to one of Metallica's most iconic tracks while potentially providing the perfect balance of flavor and strength for a Thursday evening escape.

The designation "S84" carries deliberate significance, calling back to 1984's "Fade to Black" from the album "Ride the Lightning." The anticipation builds with each mile, the promise of experiencing this musical-inspired blend becoming the focal point that makes the commute bearable. After navigating the final stretch of congested roadways, The Oasis appears like a mirage in an urban desert—its warm lighting and promise of unstructured time creating an almost gravitational pull after days of rigid scheduling and constant availability.

Visual Assessment: First Impressions

Inside The Oasis, attention immediately turns to tonight's featured cigar. The Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black presents itself in striking contrast to the original M81, its elegant white packaging creating a visual counterpoint to the earlier release's darker presentation. The cigar itself features a golden-tan Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper that exhibits subtle veining and a silky texture when held between thumb and forefinger.

The construction appears impeccable—firm when gently squeezed but with just enough give to suggest proper humidity and rolling technique. The box-press format maintains clean edges and precise corners, demonstrating attention to detail that extends beyond mere function into aesthetic consideration. The seams are nearly invisible, with only minimal veining disrupting the wrapper's smooth surface.

Most striking is the banding—minimalist black and white designs that communicate premium quality without resorting to unnecessary flash. The primary band carries the simple "BLACKENED" designation, while the foot band proudly displays "S84 SHADE TO BLACK" with the Drew Estate logo on its reverse. The monochromatic approach creates a sophisticated appearance that aligns perfectly with The Oasis's own understated elegance.

The pre-light aroma brings notes of sweet hay, cedar, bread, and subtle fruit—an inviting bouquet that elicits appreciative nods from around The Oasis. The cold draw has just enough resistance to suggest proper construction, delivering flavors of bread, nuts, and a hint of earthiness that promises complexity once flame meets tobacco. As final preparations for ignition commence, conversation throughout The Oasis naturally turns to the fascinating collaboration that produced this cigar.

The Collaborative Creation

Before bringing fire to foot, a moment to appreciate the partnership behind this creation seems appropriate. The S84 Shade to Black represents the continued collaboration between three distinct creative forces: James Hetfield of Metallica providing musical inspiration and palette guidance, Rob Dietrich bringing expertise from BLACKENED Whiskey's distillation process, and Jonathan Drew contributing his tobacco innovation and production capabilities.

This cigar serves as the sophomore release following their successful M81 "Maduro to the Core" collaboration, which garnered significant acclaim upon its 2022 debut. While that earlier offering embraced full-bodied maduro intensity, this S84 creation takes a different approach—wrapping the same core of Pennsylvania and Nicaraguan maduro tobaccos in an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade leaf to create what Drew himself has described as "a deep, dark, rich Connecticut that's smooth as silky velvet, plush with triple plushness."

The journey to The Oasis each week represents an intentional choice to carve time from increasingly demanding schedules for authentic experience and genuine connection. Similarly, this collaboration brings together distinct personalities and expertise from music, spirits, and tobacco to create something that transcends their individual contributions—a testament to what becomes possible when passion overcomes the logistics of distance and competing priorities.

While the M81 release was initially available exclusively through Drew Diplomat Program retailers, this S84 expression has received wider distribution, making the journey to experience it more accessible—a fortunate development for those of us gathering at The Oasis this evening to temporarily set aside professional and domestic obligations for a few precious hours of contemplative enjoyment.

First Third: Initial Revelations

With proper toasting and careful rotation to ensure even ignition, the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black awakens with generous smoke production that immediately transforms The Oasis's atmosphere. The initial flavor profile presents an intriguing contradiction—the expected creaminess of a Connecticut wrapper balanced against surprising complexity from the maduro core beneath.

The opening profile includes:

A pronounced white pepper spice that provides immediate brightness without overwhelming
Creamy notes reminiscent of toasted bread with butter
Cedar undertones that provide structural foundation
Subtle hay and grassiness characteristic of quality Connecticut leaf
A surprising earthy richness that hints at the maduro fillers waiting to express themselves

Around The Oasis, appreciative nods acknowledge the unique balance being achieved—this is clearly not an ordinary Connecticut smoking experience. The burn line establishes itself with impressive evenness, creating a clean delineation between consumed and unconsumed portions. The ash builds with remarkable solidity, suggesting proper combustion dynamics and leaf structure.

The draw provides ideal resistance—substantial enough to create proper smoke density but effortless enough to prevent fatigue. Even in these early puffs, the S84 Shade to Black demonstrates remarkable balance, maintaining the approachability expected from Connecticut wrappers while hinting at hidden depths that will unfold as the experience progresses.

As the first third develops, subtle transitions emerge—the initial pepper gradually recedes, allowing buttery notes to move forward. This early evolution confirms that despite its Connecticut wrapper, this creation will provide the complexity typically associated with darker offerings, making it an ideal companion for these Thursday evening gatherings where we seek temporary reprieve from daily demands.

Middle Third: The Evolution

As the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black progresses into its midsection, The Oasis settles into its familiar rhythm. The accumulated stresses of the workweek have largely dissipated, replaced by the particular mindfulness that premium cigars demand—attention to nuance, appreciation for craftsmanship, and the simple pleasure of existing without productivity requirements.

The flavor profile continues its fascinating evolution:

The Connecticut wrapper's creaminess intensifies, delivering a silky mouthfeel that coats the palate
Nutty characteristics emerge, creating a cashew-like oiliness particularly evident on the retrohale
The pepper maintains presence but transitions from white to black, adding sophistication
Subtle honey sweetness provides counterpoint to the earthy foundation
A touch of mineral salinity develops on the finish, extending the experience between puffs

Perhaps most remarkable is how the S84 Shade to Black diverges from typical Connecticut experiences at this stage. Rather than remaining one-dimensional, it continues to develop new facets with each puff—a testament to the careful blending of the Connecticut wrapper with its maduro core. The construction continues to impress, with the burn maintaining perfect evenness despite the challenges often presented by box-pressed formats.

Throughout The Oasis, conversation has evolved from perfunctory work updates to more substantial topics—music appreciation, whiskey preferences, philosophical musings. This cigar seems to encourage contemplation, its balance of approachability and complexity creating an ideal environment for meaningful exchange without pretentiousness.

At the midpoint, the smoke remains cool and flavorful, with no hint of harshness or bitterness. The balance achieved between the Connecticut wrapper's refinement and the maduro filler's intensity creates a unique smoking experience that defies easy categorization—much like The Oasis itself exists as neither fully public nor completely private space, but something uniquely in-between.

Final Third: The Conclusion

As the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black enters its final movement, a bittersweet awareness filters through The Oasis—recognition that this temporary reprieve, like the cigar itself, approaches its natural conclusion. Soon enough, we'll return to our respective responsibilities with their endless demands and expectations.

But for now, the cigar commands complete attention with its concluding performance:

The flavor profile intensifies rather than diminishes, with the maduro core asserting more prominence
Pepper notes regain some strength, providing welcome reinvigoration as attention might naturally wane
Coffee and dark chocolate notes emerge more distinctly, creating richness that belies the Connecticut wrapper
The initial hay and grass notes transform into a more complex tobacco sweetness
The creaminess maintains its presence, preventing palate fatigue despite the increasing intensity

Even in these final inches, the cigar maintains its structural integrity—no unwelcome harshness, no excessive heat, just a well-orchestrated conclusion to a premium experience. The smoke remains cool and flavorful down to the final reluctant puff, a testament to quality construction and blending expertise.

Throughout The Oasis, conversations have reached that comfortable depth that only emerges when guard-lowering substances meet genuine camaraderie. Insights and admissions that would never surface in daylight professional contexts flow freely here, creating connections that transcend superficial networking and remind us why we continue making this weekly pilgrimage despite increasingly demanding schedules.

As the final puffs of the S84 Shade to Black deliver their farewell flavors, there's collective acknowledgment that this collaboration between musical and tobacco artistry has successfully created something worthy of attention—a blend that manages to honor both Connecticut tradition and maduro depth without compromising either.

Technical Evaluation: Performance Metrics

Within The Oasis, appreciation for craftsmanship runs deep. Whatever professional expertise we bring from our outside lives, here we become temporary aficionados of combustion dynamics and agricultural alchemy. The Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black's technical performance deserves particular recognition:

Burn: Exceptionally even throughout, requiring no touch-ups despite the box-pressed format that often creates burn challenges—a consistency rarely found in daily life where constant adjustment seems necessary.

Draw: Perfect resistance from first puff to last—delivering substantial smoke without requiring excessive effort, an ideal balance that enhances rather than distracts from the flavor experience.

Ash: Impressively solid with a clean light gray coloration, holding well beyond expectations before cleanly detaching—a structural integrity that speaks to proper rolling techniques and leaf selection.

Smoke Output: Abundant without becoming overwhelming—creating an aromatic presence that enhances The Oasis's atmosphere without dominating adjacent conversations.

Smoking Time: A satisfying 70-75 minutes for the robusto format—providing substantial escape without risking suspicion about extended absence from various obligations.

Value Consideration

With a price point of approximately $10 per cigar ($200 for a box of 20 robustos), the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black represents reasonable value in today's premium cigar market. While not inexpensive, the quality of construction, complexity of flavor, and distinctive collaborative pedigree justify the investment for these Thursday evening respites.

The journey to The Oasis each week carries its own costs—time carved from busy schedules, creative explanations crafted for temporary disappearances, occasionally strained domestic negotiations—but experiences like this cigar make the investment worthwhile. The relative accessibility of this wider release (compared to the more limited M81) creates greater opportunity for repeated enjoyment, allowing this collaboration to become a potential regular rotation option rather than merely a one-time curiosity.

For context, many cigars offering comparable construction and complexity often command prices 30-50% higher. This accessibility makes the S84 Shade to Black an excellent candidate for both special occasions and regular visitation—a versatility increasingly valuable as discretionary spending faces growing scrutiny in our collective households.

Beverage Companionship

The journey to The Oasis is incomplete without proper liquid accompaniment for the featured cigar. Tonight's exploration revealed these optimal companions for the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black:

Ideal Matchups:

BLACKENED Whiskey (naturally) whose subtle sweetness and complexity harmonize perfectly with the cigar's balanced profile
Lighter roast coffee that complements rather than competes with the cigar's own nuances
Craft IPAs with citrus notes that accentuate the wrapper's brightness
Bourbon with pronounced vanilla characteristics that enhance the cigar's natural sweetness
Club soda with lime for those moments when cleansing the palate becomes necessary to fully appreciate the next puff

Around The Oasis, premium spirits flow with the same appreciation for craftsmanship as the cigars themselves. Tonight's consensus favorite pairing was, unsurprisingly, BLACKENED American Whiskey, completing the artistic collaboration between Metallica, Drew Estate, and Rob Dietrich's distillation expertise.

Comparative Context

The journey to The Oasis provides perspective—distance from daily demands creates space for appreciation and analysis. Similarly, this Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black is best understood in relation to other notable offerings:

BLACKENED M81: While sharing the same maduro core, the M81 delivers more immediate intensity, while the S84 offers greater complexity and evolution—different expressions of the same creative vision, like acoustic versus electric performances of the same musical composition.

Undercrown Shade: Both feature Ecuador Connecticut wrappers, but the S84 provides substantially more body and complexity thanks to its maduro core—a distinction similar to comparing a standard album release with a special collector's edition containing additional content.

Camacho Connecticut: Both blend Connecticut wrappers with stronger fillers, but the S84 achieves better integration between these potentially competing elements—a harmony that resembles well-coordinated band performances versus talented musicians who haven't quite found their collective rhythm.

My Father Connecticut: Both represent premium Connecticut offerings, but the S84 leans more into its maduro core while the My Father emphasizes pepper—different philosophical approaches to solving the same challenge of creating a Connecticut that transcends traditional mildness.

Ideal Occasions

The Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black seems particularly well-suited for:

Evening relaxation when you desire complexity without overwhelming strength
Morning sessions paired with coffee when you need something substantial but not overpowering
Introducing maduro enthusiasts to quality Connecticut experiences
Occasions where you'll be sharing with smokers of varying experience levels and preferences

The journey to The Oasis serves different purposes for each traveler—for some, it's purely recreational; for others, it's practically medicinal in its necessity. This S84 creation similarly adapts to various needs, providing pleasure, distraction, or contemplative focus as required.

Storage Recommendations

The journey to The Oasis requires certain preparations—cleared schedules, manufactured explanations, occasionally elaborate planning. Similarly, these cigars benefit from appropriate storage conditions: standard 65-70% humidity and similar temperature. The Connecticut wrapper requires particular attention to humidity levels, as its thinner construction makes it more susceptible to damage than maduro alternatives.

Unlike some premium offerings that demand extended aging before delivering their potential, the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black arrives ready for immediate enjoyment—a refreshing quality in our age of delayed gratification. That said, some enthusiasts report that a few weeks of rest allows the flavors to harmonize even more effectively, suggesting that patience (while not required) remains rewarding.

The box-pressed format makes these particularly efficient for humidor storage, maximizing space utilization while minimizing the risk of wrapper damage—practical considerations for those of us whose cigar collections continuously threaten to outgrow their allocated space despite our best intentions at restraint.

Memorable Moments

The journey to The Oasis accumulates meaning through repeated trips, creating a tapestry of shared experiences and memories. This Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black has already woven itself into that collective history:

The evening when conversation turned to favorite albums, sparking passionate debate about Metallica's evolution over decades—a discussion perfectly complemented by this collaboration's balance of innovation and respect for tradition
That moment when the bourbon enthusiast detected subtle whiskey influences in the cigar's profile, leading to an impromptu comparative tasting that enhanced appreciation of both forms
The unexpected satisfaction of discovering a Connecticut-wrapped offering that satisfied even the most dedicated maduro devotees in our circle

Each Thursday adds another chapter to The Oasis's ongoing story—some memorable for the cigars, others for the conversation, most for the simple pleasure of temporary escape from responsibility.

Presentation Assessment

The Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black comes in striking white 20-count boxes that create effective visual contrast with the original M81's darker packaging. The presentation is elegant without being ostentatious, with black lettering providing sharp definition against the white background.

The banding deserves particular appreciation for its minimalist approach—simple black and white designs that communicate premium quality without resorting to unnecessary embellishment. This design philosophy mirrors The Oasis itself: comfortable quality without pretension.

Throughout The Oasis, creative repurposing of cigar boxes has become something of a competitive sport—converted humidors, storage for accessories, display cases for memorabilia, and occasionally elaborate desktop organizers. The clean lines and striking contrast of these boxes make them particularly desirable for aftermarket applications, extending their useful life well beyond the last cigar.

Blend Composition

The journey to The Oasis requires navigating various elements—traffic patterns, work schedules, domestic expectations. Similarly complex is the composition of this premium cigar:

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade – providing creaminess and visual elegance
Binder: Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro – delivering structure and initial depth
Filler: A blend of Nicaraguan Maduro and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro – creating complexity and power beneath the refined exterior

This thoughtful combination demonstrates how seemingly contrasting elements can achieve remarkable harmony when properly integrated—a philosophy equally applicable to The Oasis, where diverse professional backgrounds and personal histories find common ground through shared appreciation for quality and momentary escape from ordinary demands.

The innovative approach of wrapping traditionally stronger maduro components in a Connecticut leaf represents a creative reimagining of conventional expectations—asking what becomes possible when tradition meets experimentation, much like Metallica's own musical journey over decades.

The Final Assessment

After thorough evaluation throughout this journey with the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black, it scored an impressive 91/100 on The Oasis's entirely subjective scale.

Here's the breakdown:

Appearance/Construction: 24/25 (Exceptional visual appeal and structural integrity)
Draw/Burn: 23/25 (Remarkable consistency requiring no attention)
Flavor Profile: 22/25 (Complex, balanced, and engaging from start to finish)
Value Proposition: 22/25 (Excellent quality-to-price ratio in today's market)

For context, The Oasis reserves scores above 95 for cigars of mythical perfection rarely encountered in reality. A score in the low 90s indicates a cigar worthy of regular attention—one that justifies the effort required to reach The Oasis in the first place.

Bottom Line From The Journey

The Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black represents an impressive achievement in collaborative creativity—successfully blending Connecticut refinement with maduro depth to create a unique smoking experience that transcends conventional category limitations.

If you're looking for a medium-to-full bodied experience that delivers complexity without overwhelming strength, excellent construction, and a price that respects your budget, this innovative creation deserves serious consideration. The combination of quality craftsmanship, distinctive flavor profile, and accessibility makes it a standout option for both special occasions and regular visits to your personal version of The Oasis.

As tonight's journey concludes and preparations begin for the inevitable return to reality, the consensus is clear: this cigar made the trip worthwhile. The effort required to reach The Oasis—the creative scheduling, the occasionally elaborate explanations, the prioritization of self-care over endless productivity—was thoroughly justified by the experience of the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black.

Your Turn To Join The Journey

Have you tried the Drew Estate BLACKENED S84 Shade to Black? Drop a comment below or connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and X where we post weekly about cigars, grilling, and occasionally remember our kids' birthdays.

For more reviews, cigar recommendations, and to join our growing community of enthusiasts escaping adult responsibilities one premium tobacco product at a time, visit Brown's Life or check out our more extensive commentary and reviews at Beyond the Humidor.

Until next time at The Oasis, may your burns be even, your excuses credible, and your journey always worth the effort.

This review is based on a single journey to The Oasis, where multiple cigars were purchased at retail price. Our opinions may have been influenced by varying blood alcohol content levels and the quality of snacks provided.