Cigar: El Mejor Emerald
Vitola: Robusto 5.5x50
Pig tail cap and shaggy foot.
Cedar wrap in cello.
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Honduran Corojo
Price: Joe Cigar deal at 10 for 19.95 shipped. CI has boxes for $49.99.
Setting: Sitting in the sun room starting at 4pm. About 48 degrees out and raining. Listening to the Dog Watch Radio show.
Pre-Light: Very attractive cigar with a corojo wrapper, pig tail cap, and a shaggy foot. Wrapper was smooth with light veins and a light color that contrasted with the darker nicaraguan tobacco in the foot. Cigar was fairly soft to the touch but always sprung back to shape. Cut was easy with my beautiful Palio and draw was free as I was expecting from a loose, shaggy footed cigar. Pre-light taste was sweet and oaty, kinda reminded me of cheerios.
First third: Right after the light there was a ton of creamy smoke. My first thought was SMOOTH. Medium in body and kind of sweet oaky flavors with a little bit of spice, maybe from the nic ligero that's supposed to be in there. Once it hit the wrapper, I was amazed at how much the corojo taste kicked in. Reminded me of a tad lighter version of my beloved Camachos. But the spice really kicked up a notch. Oaky flavor has pretty much dissapated by the end of the first third and the spice and a bit of pepper are really taking over. The shaggy part of the ash looked like the end of the cigar exploded as you got into the wrapper. But burn was great and the ash from the wrapper is holding firm with white and gray parts.
Second third: Body is really starting to kick up into the full end of a medium full. Taste is really nice and smooth but full of the rich corojo flavor. Smoke production is still copious, but with a very light resting smoke. The finish is nice and thick, but not overpowering. Spice is starting to kick up a notch, just on the side and tip of the tongue. Ash is holding firm and burn is nice and even. No touch ups or re-lights required yet.
Final third: Starting do develope some leather in the flavors. This is a pretty complex cigar. Once I try to figure one flavor out another one seems to raise it's head. You can tell they put a bit more of the ligero near the head as the spicy tastes are continuing to kick up as is the pepper, though it is staying on the tongue and not really going to the back of the throat. The sweetness is completely gone now. Things are still in the medium full range. The burn is getting a bit wavy, but still not requiring any touch ups. With about an inch or so to go it started to get a bit harsh. I did a purge with the lighter and after a pretty cool flamethrower effect the harshness pretty much went away but the cigar is definitely getting into the full range at the end.
Final thoughts: Finished at 5:47. I was really interested in this cigar because I'm a big fan of the El Mejor Espresso line. I find it to be "gruff but lovable" and an incredible value. And they age spectacularly. I was a bit worried about smoking this one relatively fresh from the store, but overall I really enjoyed this cigar. I'm really interested in seeing what it becomes in a few months of sitting. It really had that corojo taste I enjoy in my Camachos, just with a tad less spice and strength. These are a really great cigar for the money and you can get some pretty good deals on them on cbid, though I see that going up as more people try it. Very impressed.
Smoke again: Yes
Buy again: Yes
Reccommend: Yes
Vitola: Robusto 5.5x50
Pig tail cap and shaggy foot.
Cedar wrap in cello.
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Honduran Corojo
Price: Joe Cigar deal at 10 for 19.95 shipped. CI has boxes for $49.99.
Setting: Sitting in the sun room starting at 4pm. About 48 degrees out and raining. Listening to the Dog Watch Radio show.
Pre-Light: Very attractive cigar with a corojo wrapper, pig tail cap, and a shaggy foot. Wrapper was smooth with light veins and a light color that contrasted with the darker nicaraguan tobacco in the foot. Cigar was fairly soft to the touch but always sprung back to shape. Cut was easy with my beautiful Palio and draw was free as I was expecting from a loose, shaggy footed cigar. Pre-light taste was sweet and oaty, kinda reminded me of cheerios.
First third: Right after the light there was a ton of creamy smoke. My first thought was SMOOTH. Medium in body and kind of sweet oaky flavors with a little bit of spice, maybe from the nic ligero that's supposed to be in there. Once it hit the wrapper, I was amazed at how much the corojo taste kicked in. Reminded me of a tad lighter version of my beloved Camachos. But the spice really kicked up a notch. Oaky flavor has pretty much dissapated by the end of the first third and the spice and a bit of pepper are really taking over. The shaggy part of the ash looked like the end of the cigar exploded as you got into the wrapper. But burn was great and the ash from the wrapper is holding firm with white and gray parts.
Second third: Body is really starting to kick up into the full end of a medium full. Taste is really nice and smooth but full of the rich corojo flavor. Smoke production is still copious, but with a very light resting smoke. The finish is nice and thick, but not overpowering. Spice is starting to kick up a notch, just on the side and tip of the tongue. Ash is holding firm and burn is nice and even. No touch ups or re-lights required yet.
Final third: Starting do develope some leather in the flavors. This is a pretty complex cigar. Once I try to figure one flavor out another one seems to raise it's head. You can tell they put a bit more of the ligero near the head as the spicy tastes are continuing to kick up as is the pepper, though it is staying on the tongue and not really going to the back of the throat. The sweetness is completely gone now. Things are still in the medium full range. The burn is getting a bit wavy, but still not requiring any touch ups. With about an inch or so to go it started to get a bit harsh. I did a purge with the lighter and after a pretty cool flamethrower effect the harshness pretty much went away but the cigar is definitely getting into the full range at the end.
Final thoughts: Finished at 5:47. I was really interested in this cigar because I'm a big fan of the El Mejor Espresso line. I find it to be "gruff but lovable" and an incredible value. And they age spectacularly. I was a bit worried about smoking this one relatively fresh from the store, but overall I really enjoyed this cigar. I'm really interested in seeing what it becomes in a few months of sitting. It really had that corojo taste I enjoy in my Camachos, just with a tad less spice and strength. These are a really great cigar for the money and you can get some pretty good deals on them on cbid, though I see that going up as more people try it. Very impressed.
Smoke again: Yes
Buy again: Yes
Reccommend: Yes