Cigar Review: Emilio AF1

Toro, 6" x 50 ring gauge / MSRP $6.95
The time has come to familiarize myself with another cigar companies blends, this time Emilio Cigars. Gary Griffith was kind enough to contact me through Twitter (@EmilioCigar) and ask if I'd like to sample their smokes. He sent me one each of three different cigars that I will do a short review on this week. At this point, I do not have easy access to more of these, but if I find any of them especially to my liking, I'll be sure to get my hands on them when I can and feature them with a drink pairing or something else in the future. First up is the AF1, named for the blender, A.J. Fernandez, who is getting around quite a bit these days between his San Lotano lines, Man o War lines, a few other projects...and these. According to the website, filler is Nicaraguan...according to what our friend Barry over at acigarsmoker.com says, the binder is, too, and the wrapper is a Mexican San Andres Maduro.

The wrapper on this cigar is dark...really dark. It was slightly oily with small to medium veins and the cigar feels really solidly packed...hopefully that doesn't cause draw problems. The aroma from the wrapper is very faint, perhaps a little leather or earth, but that's about it; from the foot I got a deep, dark chocolate aroma, though...very nice! I used my v-cutter on this stogie and got a really good prelight draw that had some chocolatey sweetness as well as plenty of earthiness...and the distinctive flavor that signals Mexican wrapper...I can't thoroughly describe it, but it's a bitter earthiness that is very unique.

Lighting up was quick and easy with just a singe-flame torch. I immediately got cocoa powder and a rich sweetness on the palate, along with some bitter earthiness underneath. On the retrohale, I got more earthiness with a strong black pepper. As I got into it a little more, I was surprised to find the chocolate flavor was richer than on many Mexican-wrapped cigars in the past. Before the first third was over, though, that note had died down a bit and the more typical bitterness had increased...although not so much that it wasn't enjoyable...it seemed to strike a very nice balance between the two sides.

Construction was very good as the second third started; the ash had held on for nearly an inch and the burn line was very straight for a Maduro. The draw was nearly perfect. During the second third, the sweetness receded to the point where is was just a subtle background element. Instead I got a strong earthiness and a rich espresso bean flavor with notes of unsweetened cocoa powder mixed in. Although it had more of the bitter notes of the Mexican leaf, the fact that it wasn't just earthiness added to the enjoyability of the smoke. I did start to feel a bit of nicotine strength before the third was over, which was unexpected.

The last third was a continuation of the second in terms of flavor, but by now the AF1 was starting to show its strength as I got a fairly substantial nicotine buzz. The body had started medium to full, but was now strictly in the full range, reminding me a lot of a Man o War, but with the distinctively Mexican wrapper. All in all, I enjoyed this cigar; while Mexican leaf is still not one of my favorites, it's good to know it can be used to very good effect like it is here...and on a cigar that retails for less than $10. Body and strength levels would keep this cigar away from newer smokers, but for those with more experience, it is a powerhouse that packs a lot of flavor. I was going to keep this short, but ended up writing a full review...ah well, that's the way it goes! Check in tomorrow as I check out the AF2.

Body: 9/10
Strength: 8/10
Complexity: 8/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10