Cigar Extra: Emilio Cigars La Musa Corona

Corona, 5.5” x 46 ring gauge / MSRP $7.80
For 2011, I named the Emilio Grimalkin Robusto one of my "Cigar of the Year" Runners-Up. Since then, the cigar has undergone a couple changes. First the name...company owner, Gary Griffith, decided to change from the fairly inscrutable (and almost unpronounceable) archaic word for an old, gray cat to a name inspired by a dear friend of his: La Musa. Of course, then things get interesting (and unpronounceable again); this first release (the same exact blend as Grimalkin) is called La Musa Mousa ("mousa" being pronounced the same as "musa"), the second in the series is La Musa Melete (which will surely prove challenging to some of my friends at Burns), and I've been told the third will be even harder to enunciate. Good times! The other change since my original review posted was the emergence of a Corona and a limited edition Lancero. I haven't been able to try the Lancero as of this writing, but I have had a few Coronas.

"Corona" is a term used loosely here. I think a more appropriate way of thinking about this particular cigar would be "Corona Gorda," with its fairly thick ring gauge. The wrapper was dark in color, oily in texture and leathery in aroma. Taking a drag on the unlit cigar, I got flavors of earth, dried berries and cocoa powder. Things got even better when I lit La Musa Corona. It exploded with flavors of hay, earth, and leather on the palate, along with a searing (but completely enjoyable) pepper spice on the retrohale.

I paired the La Musa Mousa Corona with Bulleit Bourbon and it was a nice pairing, although I have to say I prefer this cigar with Chattanooga Whiskey's 1816 Reserve. The cigar continued to deliver strong, full flavor of coffee, cocoa powder, earth, and pepper spice...all the things you would expect from a Nicaraguan puro. Everything I loved about the Grimalkin Robusto is here in this Corona, but it is all more focused and clear. Simply put, if that was a 10/10 and runner up for cigar of the year for 2011, this would have gone to 11 and been the winner of the prize. Truly fantastic stick...I've smoked through half a box in the month since I got them.

Full Disclosure: I do provide graphic design work for Emilio Cigars, but this is not just a commercial...I really do feel this way about these cigars.