The cigar had some clear blemishes to the wrapper on both samples with a toothy and somewhat coarse appearance, but still with a even roll and light pack. The draw was very relaxed with a medium to medium-full body and a lightly chewy texture. Burn was very good with a nice gray stack o’ dimes ash. Despite its rather humble look, this precocious stick was at times bursting with bold flavor notes that kept my attention. The second sample did have a heavier presence of charred wood that did overwhelm the flavor balance, brining the overall score down a few notches. Smoke time: 50 minutes
Emilio Cigars was founded by Gary Griffith, who prior to his retirement from the industry also distributed brands such as Ezra Zion, Nomad, 1502, Epicurean, and Guayacan. In 2019, Black Label Trading Co. and James Brown took over production, marketing, and distribution of the the brand – including all core lines and limited production projects.
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres / Binder: Nicaraguan / Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: Robusto / Size: 5 x 50
Factory: Fabrica Oveja Negra / Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Charred wood, vinegar, and barnyard
Dried blueberry, earth
Earth, campfire, tea leaves
Charred mesquite and hickory wood, a dark roast black coffee, black pepper, tamarind, with peaty notes and black tea on the finish
Retrohale: savory black pepper, mesquite, oak
Charred sugar, a funky-tangy espresso, curry spice, malty cocoa, grapefruit rind on the finish
Retrohale: mocha macchiato, a pronounced musty cedar, Dr. Pepper effervescence
Savory and slightly bitter charred cedar wood, heavy espresso, a reemergence of tamarind, bitter almonds, curry spice, nut shells
Retrohale: peaty smoke, tonic fizz, cedar
