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Unlit Impressions

  If there were a category for the shiniest stogie on the shelf, then the Emerald would already be up for a lifetime achievement award. Sleeved in a stamped green foil paper print that looks a lot like an old-timey tin ceiling, the glimmering shell hides a reddish-brown wrapper that is both mottled and unrefined in areas. Bumps and snags stick out here and there, and while the oiliness of the cigar does impress, the actual product itself does not match the glitz and glamour of what is being marketed. 

Bovine hide smelling straight from the cellophane, the wrapper reminds me more of a funky farmhouse broadleaf than an Ecuador-grown habano. Dank soil, grass, wet hay, rotting logs, and the faintest snort of bittersweet cocoa cascade over my nostrils. Wisely, I set the cellophane aside and allowed the cigar to acclimate to the humidity in my cigar studio for a few days by placing it in the cedar-lined confines of my trusty Maxwell travel case. This effectively removes much of the animal arse smell, and while the dark terroir aromas do still linger, their reduced intensity allows the milder cocoa, coffee, and cinnamon spices touches inside the outer tobacco leaf to be noted.

Dried prunes, cinnamon raisin toast with a coating of salted butter, sweet cream, caramel brewer malts, molasses, and half-dried fermented hay make the foot smell a hell of a lot more appetizing than the wrapper. Unlit pulls produce more mocha, raw milk, cedar, chalky soil, and a mixture of cinnamon and chewy leather. 

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Initial Smoke

An open draw puts a blanket of mild-bodied smoke over the tongue, with not a touch of spiciness or bitterness to be detected anywhere on the mouth or nose. Milky, but in a watered-down 2% gallon jug format, the smoke that flows forth falls upon a mixed berry compote taste combined with caramelized sugars and the slightest tease of mocha. 

1st Half

Hardwood tannins and the drying sensation that comes with them start this cigar's journey toward medium with a gentle nudge. Lingering on the front and center of the tongue is that sweetness from light-up. By the time you reach the twenty-minute mark, this brown sugar flavor has turned into more of a malted milk taste than one of mocha, with a hint of baking spices and light leather keeping the power and flavor bar well below medium.

Although a bit of funkiness can be found here and there, it is only a glancing blow toward the end of a retrohale or upon the finish and is easily overcome by the addition of a rather obscure summertime staple: Suntan lotion. 

This mixture of coconuts and essential oils blends with bittersweet cocoa nibs and light roast coffee for but a fleeting moment though, and after five minutes or so disappears, never to return. Body is medium by now and flavor as well, with strength showing no sign of catching up. Retrohales remain extraordinarily smooth and not a bit spicy, just a bit one-sided and predictable each time.

2nd Half

Balsa and cedar wood start the second half off on the dry side, and despite there being an odd metallic taste accompanying the two, this helps keep the cigar from being too heavy feeling. This proves to be a great arrival time, as the blend suddenly grows a bit darker in flavor shortly thereafter, with dank soil and a blend of bittersweet chocolate and coffee stepping out.

These flavors continue down the length of the barrel until the lower band and parting puffs are reached, with little deviation or acceleration in strength, body, or flavor to be detected. 

Parting Puffs

Once you hit parting puffs though, a sudden smack of dark chocolate-covered coconut and creamy nougat comes out. This is joined by burnt caramel, tropical dried fruits, and a dusting of white pepper spice. The return of cinnamon and its spice intensity can also be detected, along with malted milk and more hardwood undertones, which form a balance between sweet and round and dry and firm. 

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Although they may have been a bit on the softer side, both box-pressed cigars I burned behaved pretty damn well the majority of the time. As no surprise, the fluid feel of the draw is ideal for those who favor a massive pull of smoke with each puff, and as advertised, the body never measured anywhere above medium. 

But while there was never any need for a torch relight or touch-up in my sample cigar, the review stick did refuse down the length of the seam in the final third and further into parting puffs. The ash also flaked heavily the more I puffed, and issues with dropped ash, rapid combustion, and high temps told me that the looseness felt prelight was a definite factor. 

Final Thoughts 

Despite all of its glitziness and grandeur, Rocky Patel's Emerald feels a bit unpolished at times and misses its mark when it comes to captivating the senses. Yes, it does perform as advertised, and remains well within the realm of medium every moment, if not a bit lower in the beginning. But that's not enough to keep me interested, especially when I now know that the very last of the final third and parting puffs can provide the palate with all of the complexity I crave, while still adhering to strict "medium-grade intensity mandates" the entire time. 

I must say that this cigar does make for an excellent option for fledgling stogie smokers and those who claim that "dark cigars are too strong." It's malty and mocha enough to keep you coming back for more, and smooth to the point of being silky at times, without ever growing heavy or intense. 

But with its rough finish, soft bunch and binding, jagged burn issues, and general lack of depth and complexity, I fear that my high hopes for this blend have been downgraded by my first-hand experience with this smoke. Not once, but twice.

Stogie Specs