Blackened M81 Corona Doble - Box of 20

Corona Doble is the longest format in the M81 line, a full 7 x 50 that gives the blend's naturally dark, full-bodied character the most room of any size to develop across a single smoke. The name Blackened itself is a direct reference to a Metallica song from the band's 1988 album "...And Justice for All," and M81 honors the year Metallica formed in 1981. This size specifically pairs a voluptuous Pennsylvania Broadleaf leaf, sometimes referred to by growers as "Green River One Sucker" tobacco, with hearty Nicaraguan-grown filler, all beneath a Connecticut Broadleaf binder and the velvety dark Mexican San Andrés wrapper found across the entire M81 collection.

The opening draws can feel a bit understated for some smokers, but the cigar reveals itself quickly, salty cocoa flavors emerging early before evolving into a full-bodied smoke built around spicy, dark roasted coffee notes, all genuinely well balanced despite how pronounced they become. Rolling waves of chocolate and espresso bean carry the core of the smoke, with pepper adding a pleasing spicy edge throughout. Sweet cinnamon and nutmeg strike a genuinely nuanced counterpoint to the intensity, and earth and wood notes provide a consistent undertone from a smooth opening through to a vigorous finish.

Construction consistently earns praise at this size, an easy, desirable draw and, according to more than one reviewer, close to perfect execution overall. It's fair to note reception isn't universal, at least one reviewer found it a fair-priced but unremarkable maduro compared to other options at a similar cost, though the majority describe this as a genuinely potent, well-crafted smoke worth the extended time commitment its size demands.

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Flavor progression:

1. Opening: a more understated start gives way quickly to salty cocoa flavors, chocolate and espresso bean building alongside a pleasing pepper edge
2. Mid-smoke: sweet cinnamon and nutmeg add a nuanced counterpoint to the intensity, earth and wood providing a steady undertone
3. Close: dark roasted coffee notes deepen through the final third, the smoke finishing smooth yet vigorous rather than harsh

Key Features:

1. Brand: Blackened by Drew Estate
2. Line: M81 Maduro to the Core
3. Collaboration: James Hetfield (Metallica), Rob Dietrich (Blackened Whiskey), Jonathan Drew
4. Released: 2022
5. Development Time: 2 years
6. Recognition: 95 points (line-wide, Cigar Aficionado), #7 Cigar of the Year 2023
7. Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, Estelí, Nicaragua
8. Country of Origin: Nicaragua
9. Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés (Maduro)
10. Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
11. Filler: Nicaraguan Maduro, Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro
12. Construction: Handmade
13. Vitola: Corona Doble (Churchill)
14. Size: 7 inches x 50 ring gauge
15. Strength: Full
16. Flavor Profile: Chocolate, espresso, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, earth, wood
17. Smoke Time: Approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours
18. Box Count: 20 cigars
19. Price per Cigar: approximately $7.25