Brand evangelist, digital marketer, cigar and spirits expert specializing in consumer tasting and educational events. Matthias made the long trek from his hometown of Portland, Oregon to New York City in 2007, and in nine years has hosted more than 120 events and helped promote and launch dozens of cigar and whiskey brands in the U.S. In 2016, he joined the Cigar Journal Tasting Panel, blind-reviewing pre and new release cigars.
After more than 6 months of seeing Emilio Cigars pop up on my Facebook and Twitter feeds, I caved and decided I’d give the AF1 and AF2 a try. This is the first of two reviews. As far as pairings go, I originally decided to just have some water on hand. The AF1 surprised me so much that I ended up going inside to make a fresh pot of coffee – at 8pm. Disclaimer: these cigars were provided free of charge by Gary Griffith, head of Emilio.
Blend Specifics: Wrapper: San Andreas Maduro Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan
Appearance & Construction
Perhaps the most notable aspect of most cigars is the band. Not so with this cigar. The band is humble, with black and gold letters. What is noticeable, however, is the dark wrapper. The cigar is springy to the touch, a bit more than average. Smell on the foot is predominantly hay, nuts, cherry, and cocoa. There was also a good bit of plume.
Doodling with smoke
Taste & Smoking Characteristics
The first thing I notice when I put this cigar in my mouth is the immediate tingling on my lips. The smoke kicks off with a spicy punch, but remains cool. I’m actually really appreciative of the looser draw at this point as I’m really bringing in a lot of flavor on each puff. After about a minute, the cocoa notes become pretty obvious, though on second glance what I really taste is nice, smooth, dark chocolate. Very pleasant.
About an inch in, the spice has really backed down, letting the dark chocolate take center stage and I am really enjoying this stick. I went inside to make myself a pot of coffee, figuring it would pair well with this stick. And boy was I right.
About halfway through this cigar, I notice the spice picking up again. A welcome transition even though I was enjoying that smooth cocoa so much. Near the end, the dark chocolate again takes center stage. Absolutely fantastic.
Conclusion
I loved this cigar, but I should point out that that is primarily because this cigar showcased one of my favorite flavor-profiles: smooth espresso and dark chocolate. If you’re into that profile, then you just can’t go wrong with this cigar. If you enjoy cigars with a brighter profile, this might not be the cigar for you. However, if you’re in the mood to branch out into a different profile, this IS the cigar for you.
A few days after smoking my first Cremo cigar, I received an email from President of Cremo Cigars, Walter Santiago, thanking me for taking the time to review his cigars. Our review of the Cremo will be out later this week, so stay tuned. He also let me know that Cremo is running a give-away for a box of free Cremo cigars. Details are below!
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Cremo Cigars
The weather is getting nice and people are lighting up cigars, which means one thing: CONTEST TIME! Here at Crémo Premium Cigars we know that summer is coming and you can enjoy more cigars out on your deck, in your favorite lounge, or at home in a comfortable chair. The only thing missing is a Crémo. Great day, great place, so you need a great cigar. We have a goal of 1,000 “likes” on our Facebook page. To get there we are holding a contest for the first 1,000 people that like our page.
Once we hit the 1,000 mark, we will draw from that crowd and they will win a FREE BOX!
The sooner we get to 1,000, the sooner we can get that box out to you. If you’re the lucky winner, you not only get a box of cigars, you also get to choose which size you want! So, if you like Robustos, the Excelsior is coming your way. Toro more your size? Intrepidus will be in the mail. More traditional size? Then our Corona Gorda, Magnum Opus, will be shipped to you. Whichever size you prefer, you are sure to enjoy these fine cigars.
We hope to see you on our fanpage as well as enjoying a Crémo.
One of our goals at FineTobaccoNYC has always been to encourage the culture of fine tobacco wherever it is found, and also to preserve the spirit of the connoisseur. So, when I kept bumping into an incredibly unique type of hand-crafted cigar art online, I had to know more. What I found is more proof that when the art and enjoyment of fine tobacco evolves from a hobby into a passion, new products, works of art, and traditions are born. That is the basic story of David Gerena, a graffiti artist who grew up in the Bronx and now paints cigar art for clientele around the country.
I caught up with David to learn more about his life in the art world, his passion for cigars, and his vision for merging cigars and painting. Throughout the course of the interview, I found David to be winsome and good-humored, a true brother of the leaf. Below is his story.
Kaos
FT) Tell me a bit about your artistic background. What was it that got you into art?
DG) I’ve been drawing ever since I had a Crayola in my hand.It’s something I naturally gravitated to. The Flintstones animated TV seriesand Marvel comics helped fuel my passion as a kid. I studied “How To Drawand Paint” books at a young age which helped me with shapes and shadowsearly on. In elementary school in The Bronx NY I was the kid that wasalways doodling. I spent my time making flip animations in the class text books—notexactly what the school had in mind. In junior high school around 1980 I gotinto graffiti, eventually gaining recognition through my murals in NYC underthe graffiti tag name KAOS.
FT) Graffiti, huh? Did that ever earn you a sprinting match with the police?
DG) [laughs] I’ll take the fifth on that one.
David’s Graffiti art in NYC
FT) Ok, so it sounds like art has always been an important partof your identity. Tell us a bit about your love of cigars.
DG) I started smoking cigars when I was around 17 years old. Noone around me smoked cigars. My friends smoked cigarettes, so I tried one butdidn’t like the taste. I saw the Berrings at the local grocery store in thealuminum tubes as a step up from their other selections of Te-Amo and Blunts.So I got a Berring and found it enjoyable. From there I went to Macanudo HydePark Cafe’s. I’ve tried a lot of cigars since then. I prefer a medium/medium cigar in a 5″-6″x 55g-60g. My box is full of Fuente Don Carlos #2’s, King B’s, WOAM’s, and Short Stories. Some Padron ’26’s and ’64’s, and to break it up the mild/medium CAO Gold Vintage Bouchons.
“Skull Smoker”
FT) Glad to hear your taste has improved since your days smoking Berrings! At what point did your passion for cigars merge with your passion forart?
DG) I’ve always smoked while painting and one day without a topic to paint I decided to pay homage to one of my favorite cigars the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story.
FT) With so many cigars to choose from, how do you decide which cigar to paint, or what story to tell?
DG) Each cigar has a story to tell , and those stories are the inspiration. “If cigars could talk” right? [laughs] I’m just the messenger, I put it on canvas. I’m actually painting all types of cigars now. Through my painting I’m meeting a lot of brothers of the leaf (BOTL) who are recommending some good smokes. I definitely wouldn’t paint a cigar I personally didn’t enjoy. Besides that, if a BOTL commissions me to paint a smoke he likes, I’ll paint it.
FT) So you do craft custom artwork for clients?
DG) Yeah I do commissioned paintings aside from my own. I also enjoy doing murals for clients because it gets me out of my studio. It’s a nice break, traveling to new places, meeting new people. I have plans for some art shows coming up. Those are fun and I enjoy the energy.
FT) Tell us a little bit about your favorite piece of cigar art that you have created.
DG) Each one has a different meaning for me so it’s really hard to pick just one. I just finished a painting of an old cigar roller’s hand rolling a cigar I’m really diggin’. I’m fond of the cigars laying in a setting, letting the cigar and it’s surroundings tell a story…Then again the paintings with people smoking are nice. It’s really hard to decide. Being a cigar aficionado I love them all.
FT)What is it about your technical style that makes you a unique artist?
DG) As a self taught artist, Marvel Comic books and The Flintstones animated television series were my tutors as a child. Later as a teenager graffiti spray-paint cans became my pallet and my passion.
The subjects in my work maintain a somewhat flat appearance yet cast shadows. My shapes dance between 2D and 3D, large flat plains of color coexist with chiseled surfaces. The distinction between the two is occasionally blurred. My paintbrush strokes are mostly squared and rarely do I use more than three different size brushes in one painting. The colors change with each stroke as much as possible. In some small areas of my paintings I like to leave the canvas unpainted. I also use a dry brush, the paint catches the weave and shows the texture of the canvas. The different application techniques of materials add another dimension to the painted image.
In life there are roots, in my style of painting those roots lay in Graffiti, but one must grow. Nowadays I prefers oils and canvas as my medium. Brushes and oils have allowed me to branch out and extend the reaches of my vision beyond the spray-can. Those visions are sometimes distorted, other times crystal clear, yet they always tell a story.
FT) Do you have any long-term goals with your painting?
DG) Ultimately I’d like to help animals by starting a charity. I have a soft spotfor Pit Bulls. I have three of which two are rescues. They’re such a misunderstood breed, and so over-bred. The shelters and pounds are filled with them.
FT) If you could have your cigar art displayed anywhere, where would it be and why?
DG) I think the MOMA (Museum Of Modern Art) in NYC right next to a Picasso would be pretty cool. Being from NY and a painter practically my whole life, it’d be one serious opening party for me. Really though, some of my new stuff I have comingout of people smoking would fit right in. MOMA, are you listening?
FT) Thanks for taking the time to sit down and share your passion for cigars. On afinal note, where can the cigar aficionado’s reading this view and buy yourart?
DG) My work can be seen at my website www.revolutionpaint.com/paintings. All my contact info is there. Anyone looking for an original oil painting, a commissioned piece, or print can reach me through my website. My work can also be seen on www.facebook.com/davidgerenapainter. People can feelfree to friend request me on Facebook. I usually post pics as I’m painting, andlinks to Youtube videos I’ve made. When I’ve finished video taping a painting I post those up. These videos show the paintings in progress, smoking as I paint, with cameos by my dogs every so often. Good Times…
FT) Thanks for the interview, David. We’re looking forward to seeing more of your art released soon!
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FineTobaccoNYC – Gerena style
David is what I would consider a pioneer in the emerging cigar art community. It was refreshing to talk to someone who is on the cutting edge, but who also is very down to earth and truly passionate for cigars.
After the interview, David had a surprise prepared for me. Apparently, he used some of his graffiti talent to create a piece of artwork specially for FineTobaccoNYC. I want to give him a huge shout out for his work and for his time. I’d recommend taking a few minutes to dropping by his website, viewing his art, and maybe even purchasing it if you’re looking to create that special aficionado vibe.
In the work of anyone reviewing cigars, chances are you’ll find yourself with many great cigars to choose from. In over a year and a half, I have, to my great shame, never reviewed a La Aurora cigar. So, after stocking up on a few of their sticks, my first up for review is the La Aurora 107 Corona. The 107 is somewhat legendary among seasoned smokers, and now I can say I know why. And now it is my pleasure to explain the reasons from my perspective.
The setting for this review will be hard to beat. A beautiful early-summer day with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline, Buena Vista Social Club in the background, and a hot cup of coffee all combined to make this a memorable experience.
Appearance & Construction:
I can’t say that the construction on this cigar is entirely flawless, but with how beautiful the dark, golden brown Ecuadorian wrapper is, I can’t say I care. The cigar invites the smoker in with rich color tones, slight toothiness, oiliness and a rough texture that feels good on the fingers. In fact, the cigar was so inviting that I almost slobbered on it when I put it in my mouth (ok, I admit it: I actually did slobber on the cigar – it smelled that good). It is triple-capped and slightly springy when squeezed gently. The cigar has a beautiful band, with a lion’s head taking center stage, flanked by red, white, and gold. The smell of the wrapper is exquisite – notes of sweetness, rich chocolate, and natural tobacco. From what I can tell, the draw on this cigar tends to range from perfect to slightly loose.
Taste & Smoke Characteristics:
The texture of the smoke all throughout this cigar is what I would describe as creamy smoothness. This is interesting considering the spice that builds throughout the cigar. I consider this to be a pretty complex cigar. The cigar opens with a very unique granola, which some reviewers have accurately described as having hints of cinnamon. About half an inch into the cigar, I’m surprised by a very interesting flavor that reminds me of the torched, top layer of creme brulee. Delicious. Throughout the smoke, though, one note eluded me – something like a lightly buttered caramel. As the cigar burns low, the spice picks up pleasantly. Then, the experience is over, and I am sad until I realize I have 5 more in my box.
The original cigar holder
Conclusion:
I would recommend this cigar to anyone. The price point is great, the cigar delivers huge amounts of flavor and complexity while not overwhelming the smoker. I’m looking forward to smoking many more of these.
A few months back we released this question for debate from our readers. So far, it looks like the general consensus is that Cuban cigars are indeed overrated. But the margin on the votes is not incredibly large. Cast your vote and tell us why you do or don’t think Cubans are overrated.
