danthebugman
BoM Nov '10
Couple of weeks ago I decided I was going to smoke a cigar that I had been holding for "just the right time". Seeing as how "just the right time" crops up so infrequently I decided I was going to smoke this cigar "just because".
What you're looking at is a vintage Emerson cigar. I haven't been able to track down many details on it. In fact about the only thing I've been able to find is that it's probably circa 1950's. Still that makes this stick considerably older than I am, In fact my dad was probably sill in diapers when this stick was rolled!
Taking the stick from the cello I was greeted with the surprisingly strong aroma of hay. I hadn't expected a cigar this old to have quite that strong of aroma. It's the kind of aroma that you get in the hay loft of an empty barn that's been vacant for a while. It's an aroma that takes me back to when I was a kid and played in barns such as those. The wrapper is a light tan color, smooth to the touch, and contained a few rather large veins.
The cigar was about 5 x 34 or 36. Not terribly sure of that, I don't have one of those nifty gauge sheets, but it was definitely a smaller gauge. Perfecto shaped, with a hole in the head...sorry Mr. Cutter, you'll have to sit this one out.
Cold draw didn't give me much of anything flavor wise, but I had expected as much from a cigar this old. The draw was spot on though, just a touch of resistance.
This cigar took flame like no cigar I've ever lit before. It literally took only a few seconds. Initially there was a burn woody taste, but that quickly faded and gave way to simultaneously the most wonderful and subtle profiles I've ever experienced in a cigar. There was a core hay flavor that was joined by a slightly sweetened cinnamon and nut on the retro-hale. If you've read some of my other reviews or seen some of my comments, you'll know I'm not a fan of Connecticut wrappers. This profile is pretty damn close to what some of the better Connecticut wrapped cigars give me, but this cigar put them all to shame. I sat in my porch swing, smoked my cigar, and thought about all the things that have happened while this has been sitting in someone's humidor...
Approaching the second third and you can see for yourself how great the burn is on this thing. And booming out smoke! The flavors have all remained the same, but started to transition to a slightly more woodsy core flavor in the second third and took on a creamier feel. It's weird to try to describe my experience. I feel as if I'm contradicting myself when I try, but while the flavors are faint they are definitely there and are very very noticeable.
In the last third the cigar returned to it's core flavor of hay, though it was different...more of a musty hay. The nuttiness that had accompanied the cinnamon on the retro was gone and the cinnamon took on a less sweet aroma. The burn has been superb, they really knew how to craft 'em even back then. The ash has held strong, falling in 1.5" - 2" clumps.
If you've not gathered at this point that I absolutely loved this cigar, the next pic should drive it home...
The sad conclusion to a great afternoon smoke. I don't have a single bad thing to say about this cigar, except this...I want more and I haven't the slightest idea of where to look. This is probably a good thing though as I don't think I could bring myself to pay the price tag. Definitely a very memorable smoke.
Dan
What you're looking at is a vintage Emerson cigar. I haven't been able to track down many details on it. In fact about the only thing I've been able to find is that it's probably circa 1950's. Still that makes this stick considerably older than I am, In fact my dad was probably sill in diapers when this stick was rolled!
Taking the stick from the cello I was greeted with the surprisingly strong aroma of hay. I hadn't expected a cigar this old to have quite that strong of aroma. It's the kind of aroma that you get in the hay loft of an empty barn that's been vacant for a while. It's an aroma that takes me back to when I was a kid and played in barns such as those. The wrapper is a light tan color, smooth to the touch, and contained a few rather large veins.
The cigar was about 5 x 34 or 36. Not terribly sure of that, I don't have one of those nifty gauge sheets, but it was definitely a smaller gauge. Perfecto shaped, with a hole in the head...sorry Mr. Cutter, you'll have to sit this one out.
Cold draw didn't give me much of anything flavor wise, but I had expected as much from a cigar this old. The draw was spot on though, just a touch of resistance.
This cigar took flame like no cigar I've ever lit before. It literally took only a few seconds. Initially there was a burn woody taste, but that quickly faded and gave way to simultaneously the most wonderful and subtle profiles I've ever experienced in a cigar. There was a core hay flavor that was joined by a slightly sweetened cinnamon and nut on the retro-hale. If you've read some of my other reviews or seen some of my comments, you'll know I'm not a fan of Connecticut wrappers. This profile is pretty damn close to what some of the better Connecticut wrapped cigars give me, but this cigar put them all to shame. I sat in my porch swing, smoked my cigar, and thought about all the things that have happened while this has been sitting in someone's humidor...
Approaching the second third and you can see for yourself how great the burn is on this thing. And booming out smoke! The flavors have all remained the same, but started to transition to a slightly more woodsy core flavor in the second third and took on a creamier feel. It's weird to try to describe my experience. I feel as if I'm contradicting myself when I try, but while the flavors are faint they are definitely there and are very very noticeable.
In the last third the cigar returned to it's core flavor of hay, though it was different...more of a musty hay. The nuttiness that had accompanied the cinnamon on the retro was gone and the cinnamon took on a less sweet aroma. The burn has been superb, they really knew how to craft 'em even back then. The ash has held strong, falling in 1.5" - 2" clumps.
If you've not gathered at this point that I absolutely loved this cigar, the next pic should drive it home...
The sad conclusion to a great afternoon smoke. I don't have a single bad thing to say about this cigar, except this...I want more and I haven't the slightest idea of where to look. This is probably a good thing though as I don't think I could bring myself to pay the price tag. Definitely a very memorable smoke.
Dan
