Initial Smoke

But let's ignore the ho-hum band design for a sec and talk about what that "foot lock" does for ignition. Having smoked at least a half-dozen GPC cigars in recent months, I must say that this little patent of theirs is no gimmick. Not only does the foot ignite evenly every time, but it also catches quickly, allowing the aromatics off the wrapper to hit the senses before anything else. 

On the Emerald, this means traditional corojo notes of cedar, light soil, citrus, black tea, and a touch of turbinado sugar for sweetness. There is some black pepper bite to be found on retrohales, but it isn't anything beyond what you'll find on your steak dinner, and the floral tastes and smells that quickly build are bright and refreshing. While the body of the smoke is undeniably mild and not a touch sharp whatsoever, the finish is fairly milky and medium, with a delicious dose of tropical fruitiness to be found deeper down. 

Tobacco Nerd Note: The 1502 Line is named after the year in which Christopher Columbus discovered what is modern-day Nicaragua. Not only does this explain why there is a Christian code of arms on each band and box, but it also sheds some light on why the majority of the leaf in each blend in the 1502 lineup hails from Nicaragua. GPC prides itself so much on its Nicaraguan heritage, that founder Enrique Sánchez often takes a Nicaraguan flag to events for displaying in the company's booth.

1st Half

After fifteen minutes or so, tobacco tastes turn away from corojo for a moment so that the habano side of the wrapper can stretch its legs. Rounder in flavor, but still very light in body, the transition to a setlist of leather, craft cola spices, hearty wholegrain breads, and another spin of the pepper grinder wheel all coalesce. Despite having a descent draw earlier on, smoke flow gradually grew more restrictive as the first third wore on in my review cigar, and the need for the poker off my Overland Pro torch lighter became apparent. 

With the cigar pulling as it should, the tastes and smells of that San Andrés leaf in the filler suddenly come out, and it is all almonds and dried hardwood. Creamier in texture, and rather roasty, body builds to a mild-medium grade, and is very retrohale-worthy at this point. It's a basic blend of smells that border on being single-sided, which could work wonders for milder cigar smokers and novices, but may struggle to garner points with experienced smokers looking for added complexity.  

2nd Half

Smoke becoming a bit oilier, the shift in the midst of the second third is just as much about recalibration as it is about adding new cigar flavor profiles. While the texture of the smoke is a little heavier, flavors remain bright and frisky. Tastes of sour and yellow apple finally spill forth, followed by a bit more wholegrain toast, stronger spiced cola notes, and a mixture of hardwood scrap and roasted barley. 

Body remains mild-medium for much of the time, with the oiliness of the smoke being the only added weight. Flavors are a good bit more forward at medium-full throttle, and while the draw continues to be good, the burn line wavers and large flakes bloom outward from the ash in areas.

Parting Puffs

Still growing dry and roasty, the closure to this blend lets you down easy. Retrohales are primarily where you will find those cola spices and pinches of black pepper now, even though the tongue still tingles under the guise of licorice and leather. This is, without a doubt, the strongest section of the cigar, and would serve as a good meter for testing how much a mild cigar smoker can handle. 

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Although there was never the need for a touch-up with my torch lighter, the ash on this blend preferred to go where it pleased, creating waves everywhere it went. Ash flakes weren't much of an issue in the first half, but by the second third, the cigar started molting like a caged cockatoo.  

Burn rates and heat levels were also an issue, as the cigar combusted at a swift rate, despite not feeling underfilled. While one might presume that this was the byproduct of the use of a poker halfway into the first third, the sample cigar I smoked just a few days prior burned at an almost identical rate, and therefore, I remain skeptical that this had anything to do with it.

Smoke-related assessments were solid, though, with points being allocated for the blend's ability to balance creaminess with lighter-bodied attributes. Fluffy and increasingly oily as you go, this stick does a damn fine job of placing a priority on keeping its head in the clouds.

Final Thoughts

Would I say that this is the perfect gateway blend for getting mild cigar smokers to branch out and try red leaf tobacco for a change? Indubitably. Is it going to be the right blend for every single one of these people? Not a chance. Everyone has their own idea as to what a mild cigar should be, both in flavor and aroma, as well as in body and texture as well.

What I can say with confidence is that the GPC 1502 Emerald is not a strong cigar whatsoever, and it prefers to give you a plethora of spices instead of spiciness. Yes, your tongue might tingle a touch, but it's a playful sensation and not overly intense, even at the end when the tingles grow stronger. 

This leaves us with a roasty, aromatic "zero calorie" corojo cigar. A blend that provides the majority of the flavors and aromas you would find in the regular version, but with none of the full-strength intensity. Do I feel that it's a little too subdued at times, and not nearly as sweet as I would prefer? Yes. Did it burn a bit quicker than expected and flake a fair deal? By a tad, definitely. But I still would smoke one again if I wasn't craving something strong and super oily. 

So, even though I personally prefer a more medium-full body in a corojo, as well as far bolder flavors and transitions, I admire where GPC is coming from. They have produced a smoke for a specific section of the market that few companies have been able to tap into, and for the most part, have succeeded in making it quite enjoyable. Now, to see what the 1502 Ruby, 1502 Black Gold, and 1502 XO have to offer, as we move from mild to wild, and onward to the ultra-aged vintage premium cigar smoking options offered by GPC.