Top New Cigars (March 20, 2023)

New cigars are blooming…see must-try smokes that have just released!

It’s here! It’s really here!

While everyone is off to the local greenhouse buying flowers and seeds for spring, I’m over here eyeing up some other plants…of the delicious variety. Three of these new cigars I’ve smoked recently have been especially noteworthy. First, we’ll talk about the hard-to-find Blackened by Drew Estate, an arson-inspired release from Asylum, and finally, Warped founder, Kyle Gellis honors his father’s 70^th birthday.

Me? I’m just hoping I can smoke outside in a t-shirt soon. A man can dream. Now for the reviews!

Which new cigars are you smoking right now? Let me know in the comments below.
 

Blackened (Metallica) by Drew Estate

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro
Filler: Nicaragua Maduro & Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro

A few months after Drew Estate’s anticipated Blackened release and the dust is finally starting to settle. You might even be able to get your hands on a box! Blackened (for those living under the proverbial rock) is a three-way partnership between Drew Estate, Metallica’s James Hetfield, and BLACKENED®American Whiskey, which Hetfield co-founded.

We reviewed it a few weeks back via a special edition of #NowSmoking and found its smoke to be heavy on the strength with notes of leather, earth, dark chocolate, and coffee among a slew of spices. Who knows how long we’ll see them in stock…all we know is, it’s practically a requirement for Drew Estate and metal fans alike.

Asylum Devil’s Night

Wrapper: Honduras Corojo
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras

Named for the infamous blazes that used to dot the Detroit skyline on Halloween eve, Devil’s Night by Asylum brings some heat of its own. The blend is all-Honduran and includes Christian Eiroa’s authentic and proprietary Corojo leaf as the wrapper, giving the cigar a sweet, yet peppery disposition. Expect flavors of nuts, white pepper, earth, and wood—all with an underlying natural sweetness throughout. And with only 1000 packs made, Asylum fans will burn through Devil’s Night faster than a fire through a dumpster.

Don Reynaldo 70^th by Warped

Wrapper: Dominican Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua

To celebrate his father’s milestone birthday in 2022, Warped founder, Kyle Gellis, released Don Reynaldo 70^th. The original Don Reynaldo blend debuted in 2014 and has since been one of Warped Cigars’ most successful blends.

“Without him,” wrote Gellis on social media, “I don’t believe my road would have [led] me to where I am and Warped’s formation. From a young age he always had a cigar, and always had [me] sit with him while he smoked and told me from a consumer standpoint what was what. From construction, consistency, and flavor profile, I learned all of this from a very young age.”

DR 70^th draws both warm and smooth with smoke that is predominantly sweet. Additionally, I found notes of cashews, pepper, earth, and an inviting medium body. Not a bad way to spend a birthday. Many happy returns, Reynaldo!